by Alan Rodgers
First published 2002
Matilda Gray knows Roman and Celtic artifacts better than most museum curators. She can spot a fake Celtic torque from across a room and date Roman coins by their patina. But her expertise has drawn her into something darker than dusty exhibition halls. The illegal antiquities trade operates in shadows, where stolen treasures change hands for enormous sums and people who ask questions disappear. When a woman dies after learning too much about these stolen relics, Scotland Yard detective Gareth March needs Matilda's specialized knowledge. The victim knew secrets about the underground market that someone killed to protect. March sees this case as his chance for promotion, but he cannot crack it alone. He must rely on Matilda to navigate the world of collectors, dealers, and thieves who traffic in Britain's ancient heritage. Together they pursue leads through auction houses and private collections, where legitimate scholarship meets criminal enterprise. The deeper they dig into the victim's discoveries, the more dangerous their investigation becomes.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, detective, antiquities, academic
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, enemies-to-lovers, investigation
Setting: Britain, Scotland Yard
Period: contemporary
276 pages · Hardcover · Wildside Press