First-century Smyrna comes alive as the scene of a horrific murder. Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, and Luke, travelers in a caravan bound for Rome, become investigators when no Roman magistrates are available. Suspects abound: gamblers, arcane priestesses and Christians. What is the secret of one of the victim'ss own slaves, a beautiful blond, and the German giant shadowing her?

All Roads Lead to Murder: A Case From the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger

Bell, Jr, Albert A

Johnson, William Martin

Literature & Fiction

High Country Publishers

First-century Smyrna comes alive as the scene of a horrific murder. Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, and Luke, travelers in a caravan bound for Rome, become investigators when no Roman magistrates are available. Suspects abound: gamblers, arcane priestesses and Christians. What is the secret of one of the victim'ss own slaves, a beautiful blond, and the German giant shadowing her?

All Roads Lead to Murder: A Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Mystery

Darkhouse Books

Assigned by Emperor Domitian to search for blood heirs to the Emperor Augustus, Pliny and Tacitus seek solutions to layers of mysteries. Why is a humble workman’s death important to the ruler of Rome, and what connects him to Pliny’s household? How do Domitian’s suspicions relate to Pliny’s old friend and mentor? Is Tacitus’ father-in-law Agricola a villain, victim or savior? Like a sinister red line slashed through a carefully prepared manuscript, the legacy of Augustus marks the connections. Will the answers save the peace of Rome, or mark its doom? Praise for the series: Outstandingly researched and laden with suspense, this journey into ancient Rome by history professor Bell could be one of the masterpieces of the historical mystery genre. Lindsey Davis and Steven Saylor will hold readers over until the third casebook of Pliny the Younger publishes. Highly recommended for all collections. —Jo Ann Vicarel, Library Journal, Starred Review Wonderful historical mystery set in the Roman Empire ... Historical figures come alive in [Bell’s] expert hands. —Bob Spear, Heartland Reviews: Five Hearts Colorful characters, both fictional and historical, ... reveal the sordid web of money,greed and ruthlessness hidden behind the facade of civilization. —Suzanne Crane, The Historical Novels Review Superlative job of leading the reader into his Roman world, ... A winner all around! —Margaret F. Baker, Past Tense, the publication of the Historical Mystery Appreciation Society Masterful blend of history and mystery. ... wonderful book. with splendid characters, vivid history and a fair and puzzling mystery. I heartily recommend it.—Barbara D’Amato, award-winning author of three mystery series, Past President of Mystery Writers Internationals and Sisters in Crime International Bell promises us a series, and this reviewer for one looks eagerly forward to the next installment! —Irene Hahn, Romahost, About.com

The Blood of Caesar: A Second Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger (Cases from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger)

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

While out hunting, Pliny discovers a man’s body. He appears lifeless, but Pliny cannot find a cause of death. Even though he locks it in a stable, in the morning the body is gone. Strangers appear at Pliny’s door, claiming to be the man’s children. One sings siren songs and claims his “father” is immortal. Another may be an empusa, a shape-shifting, blood-drinking monster. Bodies pile up: a fifteen year old murder, a faceless man floating in the bay, and the “lifeless immortal,” this time with his throat cut. Was he killed for his blood? Clues include a whore’s status as a “friend” of Pliny’s family and an acrostic in Hebrew. Pliny and Tacitus must discover how the murders are connected to each other and to Pliny’s nemesis Marcus Aquilius Regulus. Praise for the books of the series: Outstandingly researched and laden with suspense … one of the masterpieces of the historical mystery genre. … Highly recommended for all collections.–Library Journal starred review Brings to the reader the many cultures that were yoked under the politics and power of ancient Rome. ... to reveal the sordid web of money, greed and ruthlessness hidden behind the facade of civilization. –Suzanne Crane, The Historical Novels Review Superbly crafted, wonderfully written murder mystery ... a thrilling detective story meticulously back-grounded with accurate historical detail. –Midwest Book Review Wonderful historical mystery set in the Roman Empire ... helps the reader experience what it was like to live during Roman times. Historical figures come alive in his expert hands. – Bob Spear, Heartland Reviews: Five Hearts Superlative job of leading the reader into his Roman world … The plot “worked”, and the dialogue seemed just right.A winner all around! – Margaret F. Baker, Past Tense, of the Historical Mystery Appreciation Society

The Corpus Conundrum: A Third Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger (Cases from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger)

A few years after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, where he lost his adoptive father and mentor, Pliny the Younger is asked by his friend Aurelia to help her husband Calpurnius, who has been accused of murder in Naples. He has solved previous crimes, but never before has so much time and distance elapsed before his arrival on the murder scene…nor has he carried so much emotional baggage. With the help of his wisecracking sidekick Tacitus, he now must investigate cunning plots by some descendants of Augustus, which include murders and babies switched at birth. One fortunate circumstance in Pliny's detective activities is that the hardened ash crust makes good impressions of hand- and foot-prints. But now, for the first time, Pliny must swallow his phobias and ghastly memories and face a deadly challenge in the ruins of a buried villa.

Death in the Ashes: A Fourth Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger

United States

Perseverance Press

Plinyâ€™s servant Aurora, who is also the forbidden love of his life, has played Good Samaritan to a woman who claims to be searching for her missing husband. Thinking he can help the woman, Pliny steps in, assisted, as usual, by his friend Tacitus. But the situation turns into a web of deception and intrigue when they discover evidence of a horrific murder while searching in the countryside for clues to the whereabouts of the missing man. After Aurora is injured, Plinyâ€™s involvement becomes personal. Heâ€™s even desperate enough to ask Regulus, his longtime sworn enemy, for help when the case brings him to the malevolent attention of the emperor Domitian.

The Eyes of Aurora: A Fifth Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger

On the shores of beautiful Lake Como in Roman Italy, a Greek tragedy has taken place. Twenty years later, a skeleton falls out of a wall in Plinyâ€™s villa, bearing mute witness to family secrets and crimes. Pliny the Younger is intelligent about everything but women. He agrees to his wifeâ€™s and motherâ€™s wishes to marry off his lover, Aurora, to another slave, but neglects telling her until the wedding! To add to his problems, when building a wing onto his Lake Como villa, workmen discover a skeleton. As is Plinyâ€™s habit, he launches a scientific investigation of the crime, but soon receives anonymous warnings and threats to cease. Then his wife, Livia, is kidnapped! â€¢ As in the earlier books, a glossary of Roman terms and a list of historic and fictional characters are included

Fortune's Fool: A Sixth Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger

Pliny the Younger hoped to improve relations with his unpleasant wife and her mother by investing in a warehouse on the Tiber with them. Now the building has collapsed due to heavy rains. Pliny discovers several dead people inside, including a man with a narrow red “equestrian” stripe on his tunic, indicating aristocracy. He wasn’t killed by the cave-in, however, but by a knife wound in his back. When Pliny gives the body a forensic examination, he finds two more puzzling things: a circumcision (unusual in Rome), and thirty pieces of silver in his sewn-closed mouth. To further complicate matters, Pliny’s servant and lover, Aurora, finds a live baby in the wreckage. What connection does the funeral of a consul have with these events? Queen Berenice of Judaea, the mistress of the late emperor Titus, soon enters the story with her sons―one of whom is an assassin, a member of the Sicarii. He’s determined to avenge the defeat of his people and the destruction of their temple―no matter who might get in the way....

The Gods Help Those: A Seventh Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger

What You Wish For: A Walker Farm Mystery

Children's Books

Mysteries & Detectives

Lorcis, slave of decadent Roman aristocrats, unknowingly holds a clue to her past, a clue precious to the early followers of Jesus. Aided by a fellow slave and Pliny the Younger, in his first appearance in Bell's fiction, she undertakes a journey that leads from the ashes of Vesuvius and the bloody horrors of the Colosseum to the emperor Domitian's palace and the secret meetings of the Christians. This first historical fiction by Albert A. Bell, Jr was first published in an earlier version by Abbey Press under the title Daughter of Lazarus.

The Flute Player

Religion & Spirituality

Christian Books & Bibles

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