Todd's latest Claudia Seferius irreverent adventure is an improvement on the last. We find our fiery, wilful, high maintenance sleuth off to visit her mother-in-law, Larentia, who has just announced her intention to marry a man a lot younger than herself. To Claudia's alarm this raises the possibility of her losing her independence and financial security. Not something that can be tolerated! Her journey to Tuscany lands us with a murderer whose fixation on the Etruscan gods has led to the deaths of three teenagers. Possible motives abound with the overly emotional boyfriend of one of the deceased declaring it was he who caused the death. His fiercely military father refuses to believe it, going out of his way to ensure no suspicion falls on his son. In the meantime, Claudia herself is regretting bringing her niece, Flavia, and her latest earthy boyfriend along for fear they are next in line.
With the impending celebrations of the local god, Fufluns, the persistent presence of the mysterious Candace who claims to commune with dead and the arrival of a sandal-wood smelling member of the security police, Claudia finds herself trying to unravel the litany of bad events affecting the townsfolk, uncovers an attempt at revenge that goes back years and gives Orbilio's heart strings a nasty tug when he thinks she might want to marry him.
I like Todd's series despite the obsession with all her villains being insane and instructed by higher powers to carry out their nefarious deeds. The `will they? won't they?' dance of Marcus and Claudia is also wearing thin. Take their relationship further, Todd! Whilst the series is not akin to Saylor, David or Roberts, it has its place in the pantheon of Roman murder mystery and is a delightful read on that hot sunny afternoon.
More, please.