The Sibylline Silver

Rebecca Brooke

Summary

Rome, 41 AD.  The Forum bustles, a symphony of sights and smells, but amidst the familiar clink of silver, Drusilla Attia, Rome’s keenest numismatist, detects a dangerous dissonance.  A veteran’s payment feels…wrong.  The coins are perfect replicas, yet lack the whisper of true silver, a discrepancy only Drusilla perceives.  A chilling certainty grips her: a sophisticated counterfeiting operation is poisoning Rome’s economic heart.  Driven by professional pride and the unresolved grief of her father’s unsolved murder, she embarks on a clandestine investigation.Each coin becomes a clue, each transaction a potential trap.  One denarius bears an almost invisible inscription – a fragment from a lost Sibylline prophecy, foretelling chaos.  This cryptic message suggests a conspiracy far grander than mere forgery. Seeking aid, Drusilla turns to Valerius Corvus, a disgraced former magistrate seeking redemption.  He initially dismisses her concerns, but the meticulous evidence and Rome’s teetering stability ignite a reluctant fire within him.Their partnership, a volatile mix of intellect and instinct, navigates the treacherous currents of Roman society. The teeming Subura becomes their hunting ground, where whispers can be deadly.  Informants emerge: a tavern owner with a web of spies, a disgruntled scribe, a Vestal Virgin tormented by visions of Rome's doom. Each piece of information reveals a larger, more sinister picture – a conspiracy reaching the highest echelons of power, threatening the very foundations of the Republic.From the squalor of the slums to the opulent villas on the Palatine Hill, their investigation exposes corrupt senators, ambitious magistrates, and even whispers of Praetorian Guard involvement.  A poisoned stylus meant for Drusilla finds its mark in Valerius, a chilling reminder of the stakes.  As they delve deeper, Drusilla unearths a shocking truth about her revered father: he was entangled in the very conspiracy she seeks to expose, its architect even, seeking to expose corruption before he was silenced.Their pursuit culminates in a lavish banquet hosted by Emperor Claudius, a decadent spectacle masking the conspirators’ final act. Disguised as servants, Drusilla and Valerius infiltrate the feast, uncovering the counterfeit operation and the devastating truth about her father’s intentions.  Torn between loyalty and justice, Drusilla makes a split-second decision amidst the ensuing chaos, exposing the plot and forever changing the empire.  In the aftermath, trust, the true currency of civilization, lies shattered. The clink of a coin now carries a new resonance – a chilling reminder of the fragility of power and the enduring fight for justice in a world where whispers can topple empires.

Available since: 11/06/2024.

Print length: 359 pages.

Other books that might interest you

The Mysterious Affair at Styles...

James Harvey

In the seemingly tranquil confines of a picturesque Essex country estate, the wealthy matriarch Emily Inglethorp has been murdered in her bed. The doors were bolted from the inside. The suspects are many, ranging from a mysterious new, younger husband to an array of dependent stepchildren. And the method? A lethal, agonizing dose of strychnine poison. 
When the traumatized family finds themselves trapped in a web of suspicion, greed, and shattered alibis, there is only one man who can unravel the meticulously planned crime. Enter Hercule Poirot, the eccentric and brilliant Belgian detective, whose uncompromising logic and keen eye for the smallest of details will turn the household upside down. 
In The Mysterious Affair at Styles, author James Harvey delivers a masterclass in classic detective fiction. From mysterious coffee cups and charred wills to hidden romances and midnight arguments, every character has a secret, and every clue matters. Can you piece together the puzzle before the meticulous detective reveals all? 
Prepare for a captivating, twists-and-turns journey into the golden age of mystery, where the most damning evidence is often the thing that goes entirely unnoticed.

Show book

The Secret

Katerina Diamond

THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER 
‘Diamond is the master of gripping literature’ Evening Standard 
‘The Queen of Grip-lit is back… All hail the new Queen of Crime!’ Heat 
‘A web of a plot that twists and turns and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat’ Sun 
Can you keep a secret? Your life depends on it… 
When Bridget Reid wakes up in a locked room, terrifying memories come flooding back – of blood, pain, and desperate fear. Her captor knows things she’s never told anyone. How can she escape someone who knows all of her secrets? 
As DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles search for Bridget, they uncover a horrifying web of abuse, betrayal and murder right under their noses in Exeter. 
And as the past comes back to haunt her, Grey must confront her own demons. Because she knows that it can be those closest to us who hurt us the most… 
Perfect for fans of Cara Hunter and Angela Marsons. If you love The Secret, don’t miss Katerina Diamond’s twisty thriller The Heatwave. 
In The Secret, Katerina Diamond, the Sunday Times bestselling author, takes readers on a thrilling journey through a police procedural filled with mystery and suspense. This bestselling book is a top psychological thriller that showcases Diamond's talent for crafting detective thrillers. 
For fans of Freida Mcfadden (The Boyfriend), Barbara Davis (The Secrets She Carried), K.L. Slater (The Bedroom Window), Valerie Keogh (The Couple in the Photograph), and Miranda Rijks (The Concierge).

Show book

Still Here

Lauren Street

They took over her town. Now they want her gone. 
 
Rita Jonas never planned to return to Still County, Wyoming. But after years with the NYPD, she's back—to care for her ailing father and reluctantly step into his old role as sheriff. 
 
She quickly learns that her hometown isn't the place she left behind. A powerful corporation, Apex Global, now controls everything—including its own ruthless private police force that doesn't answer to her. 
 
When a young woman named Lisa is found dead, the case should be simple. But the evidence doesn't add up, and an innocent homeless man is about to take the fall. As Rita fights to uncover the truth, she clashes with Apex's enforcers and the corrupt forces protecting them. 
 
The deeper she digs, the more dangerous the game becomes. Someone wants this case buried—and if Rita isn't careful, she will be too. 
 
Still Here is the first book in The Still County Thrillers, a gripping new series from Lauren Street.

Show book

Broken Homes

Ben Aaronovitch

Ben Aaronovitch's bestselling Rivers of London urban fantasy series 
A mutilated body in Crawley. A killer on the loose. The prime suspect is one Robert Weil, possibly an associate of the twisted wizard known as the Faceless Man. Or maybe just a garden-variety serial killer. Before apprentice wizard and Police Constable Peter Grant can even get his head 'round the case, two more are dropped in his lap: a town planner has gone under a tube train, and there's a stolen grimoire for Grant to track down. So far, so London. But then Peter gets word of something very odd happening on a housing estate designed by a nutter, built by charlatans, and inhabited by the truly desperate.Is there a connection?And if there is, why oh why did it have to be South of the River—in the jurisdiction of some pretty prickly local river spirits?

Show book

Home Is Where the Murder Is

Rosalie Spielman

Retired army officer Tessa Treslow has settled in with her Aunt Edna in her hometown of New Oslo, Idaho. After the disasters of the previous fall, Tessa and her family are back on their feet as they start a new dream venture: a vehicle restoration business. 
 
 
 
Tessa and the enticing local math teacher, Nick Hunt, are also working together to organize a charity run during the New Oslo Pioneer Days festival. All seems to be going well . . . until Tessa finds a dead body in the town park! 
 
 
 
The murder victim is a stranger to their small town, who claimed that she was the illegitimate cousin of Tessa's best friend, Deputy Petunia "Freddie" Frederickson. The victim's bloody finger is pointing to a mark on the veterans' honor roll sign, circling the names of Freddie and her grandfather. Complicating matters, Freddie was witnessed in an altercation with the woman just before her death, and it was Freddie's knife found at the scene. 
 
 
 
In order to help her best friend, Tessa and Aunt Edna search for the real identity of the victim. Was she actually a long-lost family member? Who would want her dead? Tessa is determined to find out . . . even if the answers lead her into the crosshairs of a killer!

Show book

Final Mistake (A Maggie Flight...

Kate Bold

This recording has been digitally produced by Kate Bold, using a synthesized version of an audiobook narrator’s voice under license. “This is an excellent book… When you start reading, be sure you don’t have to wake up early!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

CBI Agent Maggie Flight faces her most toxic case yet when a killer weaponizes marine life against beachgoers on San Diego’s coast. With each crashing wave bringing a new victim, Maggie must dive into murky waters to catch a killer before the body count rises with the tide.

FINAL MISTAKE is BOOK #3 in a new series by #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Kate Bold, whose bestseller NOT NOW (a free download) has received over 600 five star ratings and reviews. The series begins with FINAL KILL (BOOK #1).

This gripping crime series navigates through unexpected turns, heart-pounding action, and startling twists and turns. With its addictive storytelling and intricate plot, this page-turner will have you burning the midnight oil, unable to put it down until you've unraveled every last clue. Fans of Lee Child, Kendra Elliot, and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.

Future books in the series are also available.

“This book moved very fast and every page was exciting. Plenty of dialogue, you absolutely love the characters, and you were rooting for the good guy throughout the whole story… I look forward to reading the next in the series.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Kate did an amazing job on this book and I was hooked from the first chapter!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I really enjoyed this book. The characters were authentic, and I see the bad guys as something we hear about daily on the news... Looking forward to book 2.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This was a really good book. The main characters were real, flawed and human. The story went along quickly and wasn't mired in too many unnecessary details. I really enjoyed it.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Alexa Chase is headstrong, impatient, but most of all brave with a capital B. She never, repeat never, backs down until the bad guys are put where they belong. Clearly five stars!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Captivating and riveting serial murder with a twist of the macabre… Very well done.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“WOW what a great read! Talk about a diabolical killer! Really enjoyed this book. Looking forward to reading others by this author as well.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Page turner for sure. Great characters and relationships. I got into the middle of this story and couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to more from Kate Bold.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Hard to put down. It has an excellent plot and has the right amount of suspense. I really enjoyed this book.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Extremely well written, and well worth buying and reading. I can't wait to read book two!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Show book