All Roads Lead to Murder (2002 Bell), novel

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All Roads Lead to Murder: A Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger (2002) is a novel by Albert A. Bell.

Abstract

A Roman traveler on the road to Smyrna is murdered. Pliny, his friend Tacitus, and Luke, in the caravan, become investigators when no Roman magistrates are available. Suspects abound: gamblers, arcane priestesses, and Christians.

"The ancient Roman world comes to life in this complex tale of horrific murder. Pliny the Younger and Tacitus are returning from a posting by caravan and break the journey in Smyrna. In the morning one of their number is discovered with his heart cut out. The authorities assume his slaves are responsible and prepare to take action, torture and death for all the man's slaves. Pliny is convinced not all is as it seems; the man did not die from having his heart removed and the guilty party is not among his slaves. More than a sense of justice motivates Pliny to work quickly; at risk is a beautiful, and innocent, young slave girl. Pliny calls in the help of Tacitus and others in the caravan, Luke the biblical physician and his young companion. First in the award-winning series of Pliny Mysteries: Cases from the Notebook of Pliny the Younger."--Publisher description.

Editions

Published in the United States (2002), with drawings by William Martin Johnson from the first edition of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880 Wallace), novel.