Tracy Higley, historical fiction author of The Incense Road, says "Death and a Crocodile" has everything I love in historical fiction—a feisty heroine, a fascinating setting, and mysterious goings-on. Betz's story is an intriguing journey into ancient Rome, with a character facing challenges similar to our own. Recommended!

Death and a Crocodile is a lighthearted mystery set in first-century Rome, featuring an amateur sleuth, a cast of eccentric characters, and an unrepentant, sausage-snatching cat. When Livia's father dies under suspicious circumstances, she sets out to find the killer before her innocent brother is convicted of murder. She may be an amateur when it comes to hunting dangerous criminals, but she's determined, intelligent, and not afraid to break a convention or two in pursuit of the truth. Plus, she's adopted a radical new faith that encourages her to that believe a woman and a handful of servants can actually solve a murder. Can she uncover the culprit before powerful men realize what she's up to and force her to stop? Or will her snooping land her in deadly peril?