I came here just to mention the Falco and Flavia series of books by Ms. Davis! They are wonderful, funny mysteries that show the “worm’s eye view” of the mean streets of urban Rome, which was very much a modern metropolis in its time. No Liz Taylor palace intrigues here (well there’s some spycraft) but you might find out if the copper-smith was killed by the baker’s son or one of those Greek sailors from Mycenae! Just stay out of the trans-Tiber region after dark, and watch your step on the Aventine hill or you’ll step in something nasty!
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