A Bitter Chill

Aurelia continues to run her inn; it is four years after the attacks on the inn.  Her brother, Lucius, secretly comes to visit and to warn her and Albia that he must go under cover to investigate a conspiracy against Caesar.  In order to do that rumours about him being disgraced are going to be floated about.  Also, the two women are going to be implicated.  They are to expect people coming to check on them.  He also warns them that the Shadow of Death is the one who is behind the rumours.

Aurelia has also been warned of the Wolf-pack, men who are operating outside the law and are in the area.

Shortly afterwards as a snow storm is beginning, a fractious family arrives at the inn.  They are rich, and are searching for their son to prevent him from marrying a local girl.  It puts the staff of the inn into turmoil.

The following day one of the hay ricks goes up in flames, and the servant of the visiting senator is found murdered in the senator's bed.  Can Aurelia and Albia prove their innocence?  To top off the ill matters, the leader of a gang drops by to offer Aurelia a protection service.  She refuses it.

The gang later captures the son and two slaves demanding a ransom for them.  When Aurelia and the senator's secretary go to meet with the kidnappers, Aurelia can't stop thinking that the secretary is in collusion with the kidnappers.

Things turn serious when the senator is poisoned at a Saturnalia banquet.  Albia is accused.  Can Aurelia and Quintus prove her innocence and find the true murderer?  As they discuss the murder they realise that there are numerous potential culprits.  Can they find the culprit before there are more deaths.

Once again, author Jane Finnis has written an excellent historical murder mystery.  The reader is left guessing right up to the last minute, due to the many potential culprits.