Persona Non Grata by Ruth Downie

Even in ancient Rome, family ties can strangle—and secrets can kill.

When Gaius Petreius Ruso, a weary Roman army medic, is summoned home to southern Gaul, he expects to heal wounds of the heart and family. Instead, he walks into a web of deceit, financial ruin, and murder. His estranged family is under suspicion after the death of a wealthy neighbor, and soon Ruso must play detective in a world where loyalty is bought, and justice bends to power.

As he unravels the truth, Ruso faces the dangers of both Rome’s political machine and the quiet betrayals of those closest to him. Blending razor-sharp wit with historical precision, Persona Non Grata delivers an intelligent, suspenseful mystery that brings the ancient world vividly to life.