In Death and a Crocodile, author Lisa Betz invites readers to ancient Rome on a hunt to solve a murder with an unconventional cast of characters.
I came across this book at a time when I wanted a narrative that was both set in Roman times and explored what it was like to follow Christ in those days, but didn't think I could find one I would really enjoy. It made coming across this book a memorable experience, and I was up until one in the morning, if I remember correctly, because I sorely wanted to know how the mystery played out. And play out it did. From the first interaction between Livia and the advocate, I was eager to see the path they would take in recognizing each other's strengths instead of constantly butting heads, and I was eagerly anticipating their interactions.
I did come across some things that sounded too modern, such as "any luck" and "graffiti," and I did wish the setting had been more immersive, but most readers likely won't be bothered by modern elements, as the mystery takes center stage.
As far as the faith content, it seemed to me that the protagonist shifted focus from living out her faith to finding someone who accepted her for who she was, whether or not that man shared her faith or was a godly influence. Not only did neither of the eligible men profess Christ, but this also didn't seem to be a problem for her in the least. She didn't consider whether it might be wrong for her to be unequally yoked or to make some of the other decisions she made, and neither did her church family speak up.
However, this might be an intentional growth opportunity for the characters, depending on how the series continues.
The book also begins with a delightful section that functions as a handy catalogue of character bios. It was the first thing that drew me into the book, and I still enjoy flipping through it knowing how the lives of the characters, even the sausage thief of a cat, will intersect. It sets the tone nicely for the smooth writing style and the humor weaved into the suspenseful narrative.
Recommended for fans of historical fiction, mysteries, intersperced sarcastic observations, and spunky heroines.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review courtesy of CrossLink Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. A positive review was not required.

Content includes dead bodies (not graphic as I could tell), public urination, mentions of gods, goddesses and idol worship, the protagonist lying about going to worship the temple idols, and mentions of brothels. ( )

Death and a crocodile is the story of Livia, a young single woman living in ancient Rome. She’s engaged to marry a man she feels she cannot love. Then, just before her betrothal becomes official, her life is turned upside down by the murder of her landlord father. Livia, while very much immersed in her life as a well-bred Roman lady, also bucks societal expectations by disobeying her male relatives, being kind to slaves, becoming a Christian, and actively seeking to find out who murdered her father.

Despite being a murder mystery, this novel is what we used to call when I worked in public libraries a “gentle read”. It’s very hard to find a murder mystery that doesn’t contain a lot of blood, violence, crude language, and various types of adult content. This is a book that largely avoids all of that. It is true that Livia’s father’s body is bloody when he is returned to his family, another family member is beaten, and Livia herself is physically threatened, and her maid is knocked-out, but none of what is described would likely be upsetting to even very sensitive readers. Suspense and mystery are built without employing any attention to the gory details of a murder or extensive examinations of bodies or crime scenes. This is a book that can be recommended to younger readers who might be up to the challenge of a longer and more involved book or anyone who is bothered by the blood, violence, and gore that is common in murder mysteries.

Overall the plot, characters, and resolution to the story are satisfying. While the movement of the plot seems to drag a bit in the middle of the book, this is not a serious distraction. I am not familiar enough with what is known about family life and the social mores or norms of ancient Rome so I can’t evaluate the historical accuracy or probability of the situations and relationships described in the book. Even if there were historical inaccuracies, the story can stand on its own as a murder mystery. However, based on the information provided at the back of the book, the author has researched how early Christians lived. So, it seems reasonable to assume that the historical context of the story is accurate.

One somewhat puzzling aspect of this book is that Livia is a Christian and she attends some Christian meetings. This fact didn’t seem to be necessary or add to the plot. Perhaps it might be just one more way that Livia was different than the average Roman. While it is true that Livia learns to be less superficial as the plot progressed, that change could have happened without being a Christian. Based on the write-up about the author at the back of the book, it is likely that the details were included to make the book interesting to Christian readers.

In conclusion, this novel is a good gentle read for mystery lovers of all ages. ( )

I received this book as a Library Thing Member Review copy. It is in many ways a standard mystery story - two men dead connected by former business activities, the daughter of one of them is determined to find who killed her father. So far so standard, but the murders both look like thefts gone wrong, the time period is Rome 1 AD, and the young woman belongs to the upper classes and can not walk the streets without at the very least a maid and often also a bodyguard to accompany her. The historic detail in this novel is excellent, from the social mores to the methods of writing (wax tablets for notes and most letters, scrolls for permanent information), the whole book is a pleasure to read. The author kindly offers a list of the characters at the front of the book, and information on Roman words at the back. i would label this as a cosy mystery. Highly recommended. ( )