Dog-Headed Death

Dog-Headed Death by Ray Faraday Nelson is part of the Gaius Hesperian Mysteries series. The story features Centurion Gaius Hesperian, a reflective and compassionate member of Emperor Nero's palace guard who is known for his unusual approach to detective work. Unlike his peers, Hesperian refrains from torturing witnesses, which makes him stand out in the brutal world of ancient Rome.
The plot kicks off when Odysseus Memnon, a Greek-Egyptian shipping magnate, is murdered in his Alexandrian mansion shortly after announcing his conversion to a new evangelistic cult and his intention to donate all his wealth to it. Hesperian is tasked with solving the mystery of Memnon's death, navigating through the complexities of the cult and the political intrigue of the time.
This historical mystery blends the rich backdrop of ancient Rome with the suspense of a whodunit, making it an engaging read for fans of both historical fiction and detective stories.