Death and the Poet
(2025)(The second book in the Publius Ovidius Mystery series)
A novel by Fiona Forsyth
'An absorbing tale of friendship, corruption and murder, shot through with humanity and deep emotion. The remote imperial outpost of Tomis is vividly recreated and Fiona Forsyth’s portrait of the exiled poet Ovid, now joined by his formidable wife Fabia, is a triumph.' R.N. Morris
'The setting (Tomis) far from the heart of the nascent Empire - but still close enough to be affected by events in Rome, is brilliantly presented...Grips from the first page.' Peter Tonkin
14 AD.
When Dokimos the vegetable seller is found bludgeoned to death in the Black Sea town of Tomis, it’s the most exciting thing to have happened in the region for years. Now reluctantly settled into life in exile, the disgraced Roman poet Ovid helps his friend Avitius to investigate the crime, with the evidence pointing straight at a cuckolded neighbour.
But Ovid is also on edge, waiting for the most momentous death of all. Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome, is nearing his end, and the future of the whole Roman world is uncertain.
Even as far away as Tomis, this political shadow creates tension as the pompous Roman legate Flaccus thinks more of his career than solving a local murder.
Avitius and Ovid become convinced that an injustice has been done in the case of the murdered vegetable seller. But Flaccus continues to turn a deaf ear.
When Ovid’s wife, Fabia, arrives unexpectedly, carrying a cryptic message from the Empress Livia, the poet becomes distracted - and another crime is committed.
Assisted by Fabia, the investigators get closer to the truth. But the truth will come at a price.
Ovid hopes for a return to Rome - only to discover that he is under threat from an enemy much closer to home.
Fiona Forsyth studied Classics at Oxford before teaching the subject for 25 years. Fiona is also the author of the Lucius Sestius Mysteries.
Praise for Fiona Forsyth:
'Tightly-written, well-researched, fast-moving, and showing an excellent eye and ear for character and dialogue. A joy to read.' David Wishart
'Beautifully written and utterly absorbing, Forsyth has created a stunning depiction of the end of the republic and birth of the Roman Empire.' Jemahl Evans
Genre: Historical Mystery
'The setting (Tomis) far from the heart of the nascent Empire - but still close enough to be affected by events in Rome, is brilliantly presented...Grips from the first page.' Peter Tonkin
14 AD.
When Dokimos the vegetable seller is found bludgeoned to death in the Black Sea town of Tomis, it’s the most exciting thing to have happened in the region for years. Now reluctantly settled into life in exile, the disgraced Roman poet Ovid helps his friend Avitius to investigate the crime, with the evidence pointing straight at a cuckolded neighbour.
But Ovid is also on edge, waiting for the most momentous death of all. Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome, is nearing his end, and the future of the whole Roman world is uncertain.
Even as far away as Tomis, this political shadow creates tension as the pompous Roman legate Flaccus thinks more of his career than solving a local murder.
Avitius and Ovid become convinced that an injustice has been done in the case of the murdered vegetable seller. But Flaccus continues to turn a deaf ear.
When Ovid’s wife, Fabia, arrives unexpectedly, carrying a cryptic message from the Empress Livia, the poet becomes distracted - and another crime is committed.
Assisted by Fabia, the investigators get closer to the truth. But the truth will come at a price.
Ovid hopes for a return to Rome - only to discover that he is under threat from an enemy much closer to home.
Fiona Forsyth studied Classics at Oxford before teaching the subject for 25 years. Fiona is also the author of the Lucius Sestius Mysteries.
Praise for Fiona Forsyth:
'Tightly-written, well-researched, fast-moving, and showing an excellent eye and ear for character and dialogue. A joy to read.' David Wishart
'Beautifully written and utterly absorbing, Forsyth has created a stunning depiction of the end of the republic and birth of the Roman Empire.' Jemahl Evans
Genre: Historical Mystery
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