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Murder in Purple and Gold

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Murder in Purple and Gold

By: Lindsey Davis
Narrated by: Jane Collingwood
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When Flavia Albia stumbles upon the murdered corpse of a young man near Rome's famous Circus Maximus, she is about to embark on one of her most dangerous and complicated cases.

Rome and the Romans are obsessed with chariot racing. Lepo was the rising star of the Purples, a new team created by the psychotic Emperor Domitian with big money backing. Suspicion immediately falls on Lepo's greatest rival, Agathon, a young man emerging from a rival team, the Golds. Convinced of his guilt, a lynch mob is hunting him.

The Golds faction hire Flavia to clear their man's name. He appears to have an alibi for the night of the murder but, as Flavia soon finds out, nothing is as it seems in the dangerous and glamorous world of the charioteers in which fortunes can be won or lost in seconds and violent death in the arena is always just one race away.©2026 Lindsey Davis (P)2026 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Ancient Crime Fiction Equestrian Sports Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Horse Racing Mystery Sports Crime Murder
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Critic reviews

Davis's writing is funny, irreverent, entertaining, gripping and always fascinating
Life, death and detective work in first century Rome is described in all its glory through Lindsey's wry and twinkling eyes and the whole thing is an absolute delight . . . Gives Ben Hur a run for its money
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I loved this humorous look at Roman chariot racing and the parallels with the world of modern football.

Lindsey Davis's writing is brilliant

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The narrator for this series of stories is perfect. Managed to convey emotion and all the characters are different. Really enjoyable listening.

Fabulous story, excellent narration.

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I love this series of books and this one doesn’t disappoint. The detail of an ancient Rome, the characters and the side plots are all deliciously sprinkled with humour. All wrapped in a chariot race murder mystery. Lindsey Davis develops the main characters well with new additional characters introduced, bringing the complex Roman world she builds to life.

Another great addition to the series!

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These stories bring Ancient Rome to life with contemporary language and real life characters, full of humour and grit. More please

Flavia Albia wins again

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Love all these books from Falco to Flavia, fun listening to her early news & the memories that brings. Beautifully read as always.

Horses, murder & humour!

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