"Against this richly textured backdrop is played out a story of low-down greed and grubby deals, of backhanders and protection rackets, that pulls of the trick of feeling modern, exciting and plausible." The Sunday Times 20020802 "Lindsey Davis combines an engrossing plot with pithy dialogue and a comic (though not cartoonish) depiction of the past in all its gory splendour." The Guardian 20020802 "Modern, exciting and plausible." Sunday Times "As always, Davis weaves a plot full of humour, surprises and domestic irony." TLS