I have to admit that I am not someone who usually reads short stories, but as I suffered some pretty serious "Roman Mysteries" withdrawal symptoms after I finished The Slave Girl from Jerusalem, I decided it was Trimalchio's Feast or nothing and I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed the short stories and also Caroline Lawrence's author's notes and interview. My favourite story was The Case of the Talking Statue as it had the drive and pace of the full length novels. Trimalchio's Feast had me laughing out loud and in many ways was a touching demonstration of the close friendship between Flavia, Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus. Finally, Death by Vespasian, which is set after Slave Girl from Jersualem and written in the form of a letter from Bato to Titus, was a great read and in a small way indicates things to come in the Beggar of Volubilis. Can't wait for the next book!