Part of Cicero
First published 2006
Tiro opens the door to find a terrified Sicilian stranger on a bitter November morning. The man brings news of corruption that will change everything for Tiro's master, the ambitious young senator Marcus Cicero. At twenty-seven, Cicero burns with desire for imperium, the supreme power that governs Rome. The Sicilian tells of Verres, a corrupt governor who has plundered Sicily without mercy. Cicero sees his chance and takes the case, knowing it could make his career or destroy him. Tiro watches as his master prepares for a courtroom battle against some of Rome's most dangerous men. Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus circle like wolves, each pursuing their own schemes. The Senate seethes with intrigue and corruption flows like wine through every election. Cicero must use every weapon he possesses: his brilliant oratory, his political cunning, and his ability to read the hearts of powerful men. Tiro chronicles it all, capturing his master's blend of compassion and calculation, vulnerability and ambition, as Cicero fights his way toward the summit of Roman power.
Genres: historical-fiction, political-thriller, ancient-history, legal-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, political-intrigue
Setting: Rome, Sicily
Period: Ancient Rome
305 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster