“The Curse of the Pлавциеvs” is a novel from the famous historical cycle by Danila Comastrа Montanari, where a Roman patrician Publius Aurelius Statius acts—a convinced Epicurean, a worshiper of the fair sex, and a born detective. Behind him are years in the imperial army, long journeys, stormy debates in the senate—and all of this helps the amateur sleuth unravel the most complicated crimes.
The son of a wealthy fish merchant, Gnaeus Plavcius, is found dead in a tank of moray eels. And this is only the first tragedy in a series of terrible events occurring at the villa of old Gnaeus. It is known that the Plavciys are burdened by a curse from ancient times, but Publius Aurelius doesn’t believe in fate or ominous predictions. In investigating these mysterious murders, he is helped by a crafty rascal, Castor, and the charming Pomponia.