... a startling new genre of mystery: the Roman noir. Written in a fresh and uncompromising voice, here is a novel as evocative of ancient times as it is masterful in crafting a mystery as entangled and ingenious as any modern story.
I look forward to vanishing again into the world she has created. Don't miss your chance to do the same.
James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Judas Strain

What a series this is going to be! Imagine Ellis Peters re-written by Elmore Leonard and you'll have some notion of this gem of a novel—and it moves like a gladiator on speed.
Ken Bruen, Barry and Shamus Award-winning author of Priest

... this unforgettable tale brings the past eerily alive while leaving you hungering for the next book in what surely will be an exciting series. Stanley is a terrific writer.
Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Spymaster

A Notable Debut in Writer's Digest (July-August, 2008)

" takes the reader on a colorful tour of this singular culture high and low, from jails and brothels to the corridors of power. First-timer Stanley is sure-footed and enthusiastic about history " and crafts a satisfyingly intricate puzzle " Kirkus

... the author, with her background in classics and archaeology, has a good sense of time and place. The staccato movement of the narrative is very reminiscent of the hard-boiled detective genre she is trying to reinvent as "Roman noir" ...
Library Journal

The Roman conquest of Britain continues to interest writers, and Stanley has come up with a different angle, focusing on Arcturus, a half-British, half-Roman doctor who is the physician of Agricola, the provincial governor. A Syrian spy, widely believed to be carrying a message terminating Agricola's tenure, is found dead. But where is the message? And why was he carrying all this money?
There's lots of action, with threads involving Arcturus' servant, the spy's reluctant fiancee, a badly run brothel and the secret lives of those who follow the "old" (Druidic) religion. There's also plenty of blood, cruelty and political machination in this well-done story that will keep the reader guessing for many chapters.
Roberta Alexander, Contra Costa Times/San Jose Mercury News