Lindsey Davis - The Accusers

Nobody was ever convicted of the murder of Rubirius Metellus, but nobody was wrongly condemned either. Saffia was dead, so she was beyond the courts. If Licinius Lutea escaped temporarily, he had become a target for the most patient of predators. So perhaps despite the efforts and machinations of my prosecuting colleagues, justice would one day be done.

The state had its own perspective. The following year, Ti Catius Silius Italicus was awarded a powerful post as proconsul of the province of Asia, while C. Paccius Africanus became proconsul of Africa. These were the Empire's chief prizes – honourable governorships where unscrupulous men could, by applying the right kind of diligence, acquire enormous wealth.

But that would be only greedy and corrupt proconsuls, of course.

M. Didius Falco: a principled informer (who needs the money)

Helena Justina: the guardian of his ethics

Julia Junilla and Sosia Favonia: their children (never ill; never naughty; never loud)

Albia: a British visitor, who has seen nothing yet

Nux: a dog, who owns Falco

The Sacred Geese of Juno | and The Augurs' Sacred Chickens | religious poultry's free range omelette producers

Ma: a mother shamed by impiety

Verontius: Falco's brother-in-law, as straight as a Roman road

D. Camillus Verus: Helena's father, a senator with memories

Julia Justa: her mother, a matron with connections

A. Camillus Aelianus | and Q. Camillus Justinus | Falco's Associates, on a long learning curve

Ursulina Prisca: a valued client; very litigious

L. Petronius Longus: Falco's friend in the vigiles, a useful contact

Anacrites: Falco's enemy, a useless spook

Glaucus: Falco's trainer, who has seen it all

Ti Catius Silius Italicus: a high class lawyer (with a dubious past)

C. Paccius Africanus: a trusts expert (with a shady reputation)

Honorius: a legal idealist (heading for disillusion?)

Marponius: a judge with encyclopaedic knowledge

Bratta: an informer's informer

Procreus: an accuser's accuser

Euphanes: a sickly herbalist

Rhoemetalces: an apothecary who takes his own medicine.

Claudius Tiasus: a funeral director with a chipped nymph

Biltis: a professional mourner, taking an interest

Spindex: a funeral clown; not laughing much

Olympia: a fortune teller; therapist to the nobility

Scorpus: aka 'Old Fungibles'; a wills expert

Scythax: the vigiles doctor, prescribing caution

Aufustius: a banker with profligate clients

Euboule: a wetnurse who fosters doubts

Zeuko: her daughter, keeping it in the family

Perseus: a door porter who knows too much

Celadus: a steward who knows what the last meal was

Julius Alexander: a loyal land agent who knows where the loot is