Afflicted by classic paranoia, the self-styled Master and God sees enemies everywhere. As he vents his suspicions, no one is safe.

A reluctant hero, Gaius Vinius Clodianus is hand-picked for high rank in the Praetorian Guard a brave man striving for decency in a world of corruption and deceit.

Flavia Lucilla, tending the privileged women at court, hears the intimate secrets of a ruler who plays with the lives of his subjects as if he were indeed a careless god.

In the dark shadow of Domitian's reign, Clodianus and Lucilla play out their own complex tale of resilience, friendship and love.

Unwilling witnesses to Domitian's descent into insanity, these ordinary people must choose between their sworn duty to protect the Emperor and an act of courage that will change the future of Rome.

The masterful new Roman epic from the bestselling author of the Falco series

About the Author
Historical novelist Lindsey Davis is best known for her novels set in Ancient Rome, including the much-loved Marcus Didius Falco series, although she has also written about the English Civil War, including in 2014 A Cruel Fate, a book for the Quick Reads literacy initiative. Her examination of the paranoid reign of the roman emperor Domitian began with Master and God, a standalone novel, leading to her new series about Flavia Albia, set in that dark period. Her books are translated and have been dramatized on BBC Radio 4. Her many awards include the Premio Colosseo (from the city of Rome) and the Crime Writers' Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement. Most recently she was the inaugural winner of the Barcino (Barcelona) International Historical Novel Prize.

Reviews

Praise for MASTER AND GOD:

'The narrative is rapid and the story well told with much sharp-edged detail. You can open this book and step right into a convincing yet extraordinary past.'

* Independent *
'Davis's descriptions of Rome are vivid and lively...this is a great yarn' * Daily Mail *
'While this book is a departure from her usual Falco novels, the trademark charm, piercing intelligence and ready wit are as abundant as ever... dramatic and enthralling, all the more so for being full of historical fact. The characters are intriguing and three-dimensional, and the whole is told with a humour and insight which means the reader will find the book impossible to put down.' * www.thebookbag.co.uk *
'An intimate portrait of resilience, friendship and love' * Sunday Examiner, Australia *
'Best known for her Falco mysteries, Davis stays in ancient Rome with this juicy novel about the emperor Domitian. The imperial city and it capricious elite prove much more enjoyable to visit than they ever would have been to inhabit.' * i, Independent *
'Rome comes alive as a seething, beautiful, dangerous city in this brilliant and gripping thriller from the seasoned pen of Lindsey Davis.' * www.thegoodbookguide.com *



Book Information
ISBN 9781444707342
Author Lindsey Davis
Format Paperback
Page Count 496
Imprint Hodder Paperback
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Weight(grams) 340g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 130mm * 36mm