The Graveyard of the Hesperides, by Lindsey Davies

In the week leading up to their wedding, Roman sleuths Flavia Albia and Tiberius Manlius Faustus discover a mass grave in a beer garden undergoing renovations. The semi-reluctant bride leaves the nuptial preparations to her teenage sisters as she plunges into another murder mystery in the underbelly of Rome. Each Davis novel is gently educational, but never didactic, about an aspect of ancient Roman society. This one examines the murky world of prostitution, as well as dipping back in to construction and policing, and concluding with marriage rituals. Divine retribution almost spoils the wedding party, but our indomitable heroes battle through, as ever. Always fascinating, amusing and entertaining, Lindsey Davies' books contain relatable parallels to modern times. Will we next see Flavia Albia struggling to balance work with motherhood? It is to be hoped so.