THE CLEANSING:
A Novel of Ancient Rome
“A shocking true story…and a scathing indictment of religion in politics.”
Kate Quinn, bestselling author of The Alice Network and The Rose Code.
“Richly immersive, the story grabbed me from the start and never let go.”
Ben Kane, bestselling author of Hannibal of Rome and the Spartacus series.
“Few authors bring the ancient world to life with such clarity.”
Stephanie Dray, NYT bestselling author of My Dear Hamilton and Becoming Madame President.
The Cleansing is based on the shocking true story of a Vestal Virgin in ancient Rome facing a death sentence after being falsely accused of having sex. When 50,000 Roman soldiers fall in a single day at the Battle of Cannae, priests claim there can be only one reason the gods abandoned Rome: a Vestal Virgin has broken her vow of chastity. And they blame Opimia (Mia), the strongest and most defiant of the six sacred priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of fire.
Accused of a crime she did not commit, Mia must defend herself in a hostile religious court filled with Rome’s most powerful leaders bent on distracting the mob from their own mistakes. Will she be buried alive to appease the gods? Or find a way out with guidance from the mysterious Sybil of Cumae?
A story with unnerving relevance to today’s unrelenting political and religious clashes.
“Original, exceptional, deftly crafted and a simply riveting read from cover to cover, “The Cleansing” will hold a very special attraction for readers with an interest in a suspense thriller set in an Ancient Rome where the game of thrones is a blood sport — and there’s no guarantee of fairness or success.”
Midwest Book Review
“A shocking true story…and a scathing indictment of religion in politics.”
Kate Quinn, bestselling author of The Alice Network and The Rose Code
“Richly immersive, the story grabbed me from the start and never let go.”
Ben Kane, bestselling author of Hannibal of Rome and the Spartacus series
“Few authors bring the ancient world to life with such clarity.”
Stephanie Dray, NYT bestselling author of My Dear Hamilton and Becoming Madame President
“Alvear turns a forgotten footnote of history into a fierce, page-turning indictment of purity culture—both ancient and enduring.”
Eliza Knight, bestselling author of Confessions of a Grammar Queen and The Mayfair Library
This haunting tale of slaughter, fire, and the dangers of state sponsored superstition is more relevant than ever.”
Rob Cain, host of Ancient Rome Refocused blog and podcast Ent
“Inspires introspection and reflection even as its plot races onward, keeping the reader in thrall. It remains fiercely and disturbingly relevant in the modern world.”
Sophie Perinot, bestselling author of Medici’s Daughter, Ribbons of Scarlet, and A Day of Fire
