Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Kindle
$0.00
or $7.99 to buy

Paperback
$14.99

$14.99 with 17 percent savings

List Price: $17.99

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

FREE delivery Tuesday, May 14 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Select delivery location

In Stock

$$14.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Ships from

Amazon.com

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.

Read full return policy

Payment

Secure transaction

Payment

Secure transaction

We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more

Details

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

$1.35

Item in very good condition! Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc... Item in very good condition! Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc... See less

$3.98 delivery May 15 - 16. Details

Select delivery location

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

$$14.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Details

${cardName} not available for the seller you chose

${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}.

Ships from and sold by glenthebookseller.

Other sellers on Amazon

New & Used (16) from $1.35 + $3.98 shipping

Follow the author

Assaph Mehr

+ Follow

More books from this author

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Murder In Absentia (Stories of Togas, Daggers, and Magic) Paperback – October 1, 2015

by Assaph Mehr (Author)

4.4 219 ratings

Book 1 of 2: Stories of Togas, Daggers, and Magic

See all formats and editions

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$14.99","priceAmount":14.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"DgIujIRjqGE0LdgjeTOh50qHUEuLc45BX9gFbY6yTtVEnUAqTx6TX9IzzNv7ogr8Xdbwf3IxxDz7CFTsBJoIJDDaULVHjg3Mv%2Fk2g4g56jTGCnHdZC4xGDElg%2BoWlVqQ3Fkb2wCE5ySUiwJQdz%2Bjmg%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$1.35","priceAmount":1.35,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"1","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"35","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"DgIujIRjqGE0LdgjeTOh50qHUEuLc45BGrLlZEgH6vRgdTWECypF6f7hxcWIUDaCSuE1Kwww2P7q3J6AlllQZ0%2BKJtXJSZ%2BNxlurdEzYpX8jd0RJt6F5wIHscd86FvW%2Fzlm7mUN72BHu%2FstMe%2BzXtuenhj6vXDKplRasEl5A0%2FuNwOhi%2BY8YY%2BvvLDgbUPS1","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

This is a story of Togas, Daggers and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy."Mehr creates a vivid cast and an equally vivid setting in which magic just seems to fit in perfectly."-- Richard Knaak, NYT best-selling author ofauthor of Legends of Huma"Mehr's imagined world based on ancient Rome feels at once familiar and dreamlike."-- Ruth Downie, author of the Medicus series of Roman mysteries"Hardcore Historical Fantasy - Felix the Fox is Sherlock Holmes in Ancient Times"-- Jonathan Maas, award-winning author ofFlareA young man is found dead in his bed, with a look of extreme agony on his face and strange tattoos all over his body. His distraught senator father suspects a cult death, and knows who to call for discreet resolution.Enter Felix the Fox, a professional investigator. In the business of ferreting out dark information for his clients, Felix is neither a traditional detective nor a competent magician -- but something in between. Drawing on his contacts in shady elements of society and on his aborted education in the magical arts, Felix dons his toga and sets out to discover the young man's killers.Murder In Absentia is set in a fantasy world. The city of Egretia borrows elements from a thousand years of ancient Roman culture, from the founding of Rome to the late empire, mixed with a judicious amount of magic. This is a story of a cynical, hardboiled detective dealing with anything from daily life to the old forces roaming the world.

Frequently bought together

Murder In Absentia (Stories of Togas, Daggers, and Magic)

$14.99

Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

In Numina: Urban Fantasy in Ancient Rome (Stories of Togas, Daggers, and Magic)

$14.99

Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

Total price:

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Try again!

Details

Added to Cart

Choose items to buy together.

Assaph Mehr
72
Paperback
15 offers from $4.54

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For those who like to cross genres a bit, Murder In Absentia by Aussie writer Assaph Mehr is a skillful blending of historical fantasy with mystery set in a realm very much like ancient Rome. In fact, fans of the Falco mysteries by Lindsey Davis should very much enjoy this novel, first in a series featuring the intriguing Felix the Fox. Mehr creates a vivid cast and an equally vivid setting in which magic just seems to fit in perfectly."-- Richard Knaak, NYT best-selling author ofauthor of Legends of Huma
"Mehr's imagined world based on ancient Rome feels at once familiar and dreamlike. In Egretia, magic is real and potentially deadly. While rival incantatores have been banned from calling up competing winds to speed ferries across the bay -- they've drowned too many innocent sailors -- the powers of magic appear to have fallen into malevolent hands. Failed incantator Felix the Fox is investigating a mysterious death in a growing atmosphere of menace. I can�t help thinking the idea of Death by Magic might be closer to the mindset of some of the ancient world than our modern rationality."-- Ruth Downie, author of the Medicus series of Roman mysteries
"YESSS! Harry Dresden in a toga. A bit lighter on the magic usage, but every bit as colorful and intriguing!"-- Leslie Conzatti (author of Princess of Undersea), Erin Michelle Sky (author of The Intuitives), and a surprising number of Dresden Files fans
"Hardcore Historical Fantasy - Felix the Fox is Sherlock Holmes in Ancient Times"-- Jonathan Maas, award-winning author ofFlare
"Mehr is a master alchemist, blending the real and surreal on a captivating flight of fantasy."-- Cynthia Celmer
"This book gave me a 'book-hangover' - I could not get my head out of the world of Felix for days after finishing it! I hope that there will be more stories coming, of Felix's past and future. I like authors that create real human characters!"-- R.M., Israel
"Finished Murder In Absentia twice now. A truly remarkable story which draws you in and makes it so you never want to leave."-- Fuchsia Carter, UK

"For a history buff like me, it was the perfect blend of historical trivia and good old-fashioned murder mystery. A sheer delight to read."-- W. Klijn, Australia

From the Author

This is a story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - the book I always wanted to read. It balances my favourite genres of historical fiction set in ancient Rome, dark urban fantasy, and hard-boiled murder mysteries.

I took great pains to research elements of culture and life in ancient Rome, but have chosen to make this novel a unique blend of historical fantasy. Set in a world all of itself, I was not tied to a particular year in Roman history, and instead able to venture into speculative fiction with a lot of "what ifs".

I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
In fact, I would love to hear from you! Writing is a solitary process, and connecting with readers is one of the greatest joys that come of it.

Videas Lumen!
Assaph

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Purple Toga Publications (October 1, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 308 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0994449313
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0994449313
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.9 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.77 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,215,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,863 in Greek & Roman Myth & Legend
- #14,005 in Hard-Boiled Mystery
- #17,049 in Historical Fantasy (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 219 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Assaph Mehr

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

I have always been fascinated by ancient Rome, from the time I was in primary school and first got my hands on Asterix. This exacerbated when my parents took me on a trip to Rome and Italy - I whinged horribly when they dragged me to "yet another church with baby angels on the ceiling", yet was happy to skip all day around ancient ruins and museums for Etruscan art.

A few years ago I randomly picked a copy of a Lindsay Davis' Marcus Didius Falco novel in a used book fair. I fell in love with Rome all over again, this time from the view-point of a cynical adult. When I decided to sit down and write a novel, the setting was clear in my mind.

---

Assaph now lives in Tasmania, Australia with his wife, kids, two cats, one dog, and - this being Australia - assorted spiders. By day he is a software product manager, bridging the gap between developers and users, and by night he's writing - he seems to do his best writing after midnight.

To contact Assaph, visit his home page on Egretia (.com)

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

219 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Linda

Grab your shield and go on an adventure with Felix the Fox!

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2016

Verified Purchase

Warning: Possible spoilers in my review

I purchased this book myself and wrote the review after reading the book.

Murder in Absentia is fantastic first book for a series. It’s an intelligent murder mystery, which delights the senses and expands your thinking.
Assaph Mehr has put great effort, in this first book, to introduce the reader to Felix the Fox and the world he lives in. This first novel, based on Mr. Mehr’s love of Ancient Rome, is a mix between fantasies, a murder mystery, with a little magic thrown in for good measure. Some people may have an issue with a book covering many of these genres, even while describing places so familiar in the real world, but I think it gives credence to real history. In our own history, we too have lands of fantasy (Atlantis), political crimes of passion and seduction (Samson and Delilah / Cane and Able), and of course, we know about magic (Merlin the Magician and the infamous Salem Witch Trials). No world, fantasy or not, is without a history of murder and magic, it just so happens, Mr. Mehr knows how to gracefully bring them all together for our enjoyment.

The detailed maps, descriptions of the city, and incredibly detailed research, will take a reader into another world, which I did not want to leave. This detail will work greatly as more books are published in this series. The reader will already be accustomed to the rich detail and will be begging for more stories of Felix.

Felix the Fox is the troubled first person character who is called to investigate the murder of the son of a politician. This type of task would be tricky in any time period, but throw the investigation into a fantasy land, similar to Ancient Rome, full of magic, and the investigation becomes a job only Felix would want to touch. This is the perfect job for Felix. He already has a checkered past and is a man of many talents, he is the perfect person to handle a political powder keg. With his many hidden skills, Felix may be the only one who could survive such an investigation.

This isn’t the typical murder mystery at all. The entire book is written in first person, so the reader gets to follow Felix in everything he does and thinks, even when it might not be directly related to the case. Even modern day detectives have to eat and talk to CIs, Felix does the same (while fighting Pirates and finding illegal information along the way). I found this type of writing to be exciting. Instead of the reader (or viewer of TV Crime) knowing who the killer is, the reader had to follow Felix to the very end. This was as much fun for me trying to find the killer, as I’m sure it was for Felix. I’m now kind of jealous of his life. I wish I could write more without spoiling the book. It's just that good.

Some people may find the high-brow writing, the first person account, and the intricate details, too demanding, but to me this type of writing was refreshing. Many books are like dessert after a long day. Mr. Mehr’s new series is for those readers who want a main meal prepared by a skilled Chef.

Most murder mysteries feed the story to the reader like a mother feeding a baby. This isn’t that kind of book. The reader will need patience and a love for reading, and a real mystery, to completely enjoy this story. But don’t be frightened off. Mr. Mehr has given a great amount of time to introduce his new readers to his type of writing. He has provided maps, notes, and even added a translation guide to the back of the book. The new reader does not need to know Latin, nor know anything about Rome to enjoy this story. When there are questions, Mr. Mehr has insured the reader can find the answers when needed. In fact, now that I have read the book, I think reading the notes, reviewing the translations, and looking over the maps first, before reading the book, may offer the reader a more enjoyable experience (Seriously, those notes are incredible to read).

If the typical mystery book has become boring to you or you are looking to “level up” on your reading abilities, this is the book for you.
I know I’m looking forward to grabbing my shield and having more adventures with Felix.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

ReadsInTheGarden

Memorable trip to a complex, fantastical world

Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2018

Verified Purchase

Set in a fantastical place called Egretia, which Mehr tells us borrows heavily from ancient Rome and Alexandria, though with artistic freedom, this tale of magic and mystery kept me on the edge of my seat. And as the events unfolded and the complex plot evolved, the story only gathered speed. I have to say I enjoyed the mood and drive of this book immensely.
Mehr has taken the time for meticulous world-building, and has given thought to detail. All the descriptions of food, clothing, sceneries, and habits lent themselves to the imagination and made my mind wander to ancient times. At times, I felt a little overwhelmed, even, by all the detail, but on the other hand, I enjoyed the imaginary visit to ancient times. In his foreword Mehr tells us he has appropriated latin terms for Egretia, which I thought added interesting originality and gave the world of Egretia an authentic, real-life feel. I could really taste and feel the fates of people trodding these dusty streets. From a modern point of view, some of the characters’ attitudes toward certain things could be considered shocking, I felt—such as attitudes toward prostitutes or people of ‘lower class’, as well as gladiator fights—but then, these details did create an authentic-seeming world reminiscent of ancient Rome, I would imagine. The magical system, and in fact the whole idea of putting a magical school in a fantastical Ancient Rome, was very original and nicely carried out. I loved the idea of everyone from wicker basket makers to oyster divers calling up magic, and yet, an institution controlling it.
Some of my favourite scenes were the visit to the sibyl and the oyster diving.
There were some instances of realistic character-writing that touched my heart. The way the lost son, Caeso, was first depicted, before the fatal incident (the heartfelt teenage rebellion), and then the father’s reaction—I could just see this pair in my eyes, and the father’s sorrow moved me. Later on, Caeso’s endeavours were shed more light on, and as a reader, I ended up feeling deep sympathy for the poor guy. Also, the friendship between our Felix the Fox and the somewhat unique character of Araxis was interesting, with the subplot that was vowen in. I’m not sure which way to lean concerning my opinion about the female characters; but then, we only got the point of view of the narrator, Felix The Fox, and all these impressions were his. In any case, when writing about the characters, Mehr gives us backstories that make these people real. That’s one of the things I loved best about this book, the real feel, the people, the world—perhaps surprisingly, in a way, as it was very much a plot driven story, not to mention, a detective plot; in which it succeeded wonderfully, as well, I thought. I was eagerly awaiting what I would find at the next turn.
My impression was a bit like a mixture of gripping detective story, 18th century society novel (because of the socialising and people entertaining each other), and a tale about grand themes and the fallibility of youth, mixed with ancient scrolls about life on Forum Romanum. All in all: a book that kept me thoroughly entertained. I’ll definitely be making time to read book 2.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Fabrice

Une excellente histoire de détective privé dans un monde romain alternatif

Reviewed in France on June 27, 2021

Verified Purchase

Des caractères bien définis avec un super détective privé, une description parfaite de la cité d'Egretia, une description tellement détaillée vous avez la sensation de vivre dedans. J'ai adoré toute l'histoire

Translate review to English

BEEJ

It was an excellent investment. This is a story which took me ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2017

Verified Purchase

Murder in Absentia: by Assaph Mehr
Kindle £2.99 paperback £10.99
Togas, Daggers and Magic, that’s what the lead in on Amazon says and that fascinated me enough to buy the Kindle edition. It was an excellent investment. This is a story which took me well out of my comfort zone and could have left me floundering in an unfamiliar world of Latin terms and strange practices. But the characters are so comfortable with their world and so at home with the society they inhabit that I was carried along with them into the twists and turns of the plot. The son of a wealthy family dies in mysterious circumstances and a local investigator is called in to unearth the truth without the family name being besmirched. To learn more you must read this page turner, follow the clues and hit the brick walls along with Felix the Fox. You will not need a classical education as the Latin is neatly woven into the context and there is sufficient description of place and custom for you to follow in the detective’s footsteps. Kick off your sandals, recline on your couch and with the aid of a slightly watered cup of wine enjoy this wonderful fantasy.

One person found this helpful

Barbara Underwood

Immensely enjoyable

Reviewed in Australia on March 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

It was hard to put this book down once I started reading, and even after I had finished, my thoughts lingered in the world of Felix the Fox in Ancient Rome. Some knowledge of Ancient Rome is not a requirement for enjoying this novel because the story, characters and writing style are so engaging that they more than satisfy the most demanding of readers. It is written in the first person, allowing the reader to see and experience life in Ancient Rome through the eyes of a man hired to investigate the mysterious death of a wealthy man’s son. Yet this is not the average detective mystery set in an historical or fictional setting which could be transplanted anywhere in time and place. The story and characters are skilfully crafted to create a perfect world for the reader; world based on Ancient Rome, complete with magic and mythical creatures, and a plethora of Latin words and names. As such, it is immensely entertaining and also amusing at times, while still keeping the reader in suspense as Felix the Fox continues to search for answers in his investigation. This particular case leads Felix into the world of forbidden magic, mysterious rites and a cabal which meets secretly, all of which sound very authentic and convincing, allowing the reader to become fully immersed in Felix’s world. I had so much fun in this world that I am greatly looking forward to all the books in this series!

One person found this helpful

Siddharth Somaiya

About 50-70 pages too long

Reviewed in India on September 24, 2021

Verified Purchase

Too much filler for my liking. The length could have been shorter and the writing more streamlined.
I didn't like the old fashioned hard boiled detective book trope about the hero being irresistible to women of all ages.
The setting was good but having to check the glossary multiple times in the beginning took away the novelty.
The story itself and characters were decent. I'd like to see more of Felix, Araxus, Dascha and Borax.

Felicity

Magic, mystery & murder in a parallel Rome

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2017

Verified Purchase

This murder mystery is set in the fantasy city of Egretia, and follows the investigations of one of its citizens, Felix the Fox.. Egretia is in essence a parallel Rome, but one where magic plays a real and intrinsic part of daily life, not just in the minds and beliefs of the characters, but in evident reality, and is used in everything from seafaring to beekeeping. Egretia is full of the sights, sounds, smells, & harsh realities of the ancient world, and does not pander to our modern sensibilities in their portrayal through the narrative of the protagonist, Felix the Fox. Felix is an engaging companion, but my favourite character by far is his elderly slave woman Dascha. Though she barely speaks & her role is limited, she is in fact a pivotal character. It is quite clear that Felix relies on her very heavily, and she exhibits impressive presence of mind when he needs it the most. My favourite moment? When Felix grans a snack of squid on a stick - brought back memories of Pratchett's (mayherestinpesce) CMOT Dibbler- another author who masterfully blurred the lines between fantasy & reality

One person found this helpful

See more reviews

Return this item for free

Follow the author

Image Unavailable