ANCIENT TIMES - FICTION
"Venus Throw" 
By Steven Saylor
This is yet another book in the ambitious series centered on a private investigator, Gordianus the Finder, in Ancient Rome.
The 52 BC Gordianus meets his old mentor from Egypt, Dio. Dio is an ambassador from Egypt and fears for his life. Most of his delegation has been murdered of scared off. It is suspected that the person behind the killings is the exiled king Ptolomy, who is supported by Pompey. When Dio turns up dead, Gordianus is hired by Clodia to pin the murder on Cicero's ex-friend Caelius (he jilted her).
Gordianus starts digging and as usual, things are
not what one would expect. There is a great trial in the Forum at the end of the
book where the mud and lies fly thick.
Some of Gordianus's early life is revealed as well as that of Alexandra and how
he met her. Great fun and as usual for Saylor's books, based on historical
characters and actual events.
Reviewed by Kenneth S. Smith 8/21/2000
Available from:
Ivy Books
Published by Ballentine Books
A Division of Random House
http://www.randomhouse.com
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