Blood of a Gladiator Read online

  Though Leonidas was freed long before the Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum) was constructed, I of course had to take an extensive tour of it, going to the underground tunnels and cells where the gladiators and animals were kept, as well as to the arena floor. The amphitheater’s oval was elongated so that all seats had a great view.

  I stood on the Colosseum floor, looking up at the ring of seats, and imagined it filled to capacity, with the roar of the crowd eager to witness violence and blood.

  All I could think was, “Not for me!” I’ll leave the fighting and the adulation to Leonidas and his colleagues.

  I chose to set these books in the reign of Nero because so much happened during that time: the great fire, the building of the Golden House, the Jewish revolt, the revolt of Boadicea, and the revolt of Vindex that led to Nero’s downfall.

  Many more novels for Leonidas are planned as he adapts to his new life and he and Cassia learn more about each other.

  Mystery, murder, mayhem, intrigue, and Roman history await!

  If you’d like to be kept informed of when new books are released, please sign up for my email blasts at:

  http://eepurl.com/5n7rz

  Also by Ashley Gardner

  Leonidas the Gladiator Mysteries

  Blood of a Gladiator

  Blood Debts (novella)

  A Gladiator’s Tale

  * * *

  Captain Lacey Regency Mystery Series

  The Hanover Square Affair

  A Regimental Murder

  The Glass House

  The Sudbury School Murders

  The Necklace Affair

  A Body in Berkeley Square

  A Covent Garden Mystery

  A Death in Norfolk

  A Disappearance in Drury Lane

  Murder in Grosvenor Square

  The Thames River Murders

  The Alexandria Affair

  A Mystery at Carlton House

  Murder in St. Giles

  Death at Brighton Pavilion

  The Custom House Murders

  * * *

  Kat Holloway “Below Stairs” Victorian Mysteries

  (writing as Jennifer Ashley)

  A Soupçon of Poison

  Death Below Stairs

  Scandal Above Stairs

  Death in Kew Gardens

  Murder in the East End

  * * *

  Mystery Anthologies

  Past Crimes

  About the Author

  Award-winning Ashley Gardner is a pseudonym for New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ashley. Under both names—and a third, Allyson James—Ashley has written more than 100 published novels and novellas in mystery, romance, historical fiction, and fantasy. Ashley's books have been translated into more than a dozen different languages and have earned starred reviews Publisher’s Weekly and Booklist. When she isn’t writing, she indulges her love for history by researching and building miniature houses and furniture from many periods.

  More about her series can be found at the website: www.gardnermysteries.com. Stay up to date on new releases by joining her email alerts here:

  http://eepurl.com/5n7rz

  Copyright

  Blood of a Gladiator

  Copyright © 2020 by Jennifer Ashley / Ashley Gardner

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.

  Cover design by Kim Killion