Lindsey Davis, Murder in Purple and Gold, (Hodder and Stoughton, 2026)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8962855285
Indomitable Roman lady detective triumphs again
Floralia (April) 90 CE. Roman lady detective Flavia Albia stumbles upon a corpse near the Circus Maximus and enters the glamorous and competitive world of chariot-racing.
The victim is Lepo, young star charioteer of the Purples, and suspicion falls upon his rival on the Golds, Agathon. The two have raced against each other 32 times, and their feud is legendary. The Golds hire Albia to clear their man’s name.
The emperor funds both teams, and Domitian sees any trouble in the racing world as beiing directed at him. Rivalry between the six factions (including Red, Blue, Green, White) permeates every corner of the city. Big prize money is won in the races, and big gambling money is riding on them, too.
Various members of Albia’s extended family and informants help her with clues, plus staff of the chariot teams and stables. Both Lepo and his elder brother Alceius had trained with their father Pedanius. At the Robigalia games, there was a false start, leading to a disqualification of the Blue team. Could be sabotage? Like all murder mysteries, she finds out things in bars. It climaxes, excitingly, with a chariot race.
Albia is the narrator; her Voice is colloquial, and it is quite humorous. I especially loved the little comments, both funny and revealing, on people’s character. Eg ‘I was now certain that Licinius Ierenus beat his slaves… carefully, so no marks showed.’
I love that besides her career as a detective, Albia is a Domina with two small children (adopted), a husband, and a household of servants to berate. There have been umpteen books in the series, and backstory is handled charmingly, as if allowing readers intimacies. The writing is full of great phrases (e.g. ‘Porcius flung his hair around in another negative’). It’s full of energy and delicious cultural detail.
This review first appeared in Historical Novels Review.
Susie Helme 
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