Agents of Rome - Book One

"A gripping and exciting read, well-researched and convincing." Peter Tonkin, author of The Ides.

Philippi

42BC

Caesar is dead and his successors crave vengeance.

The massed legions of Octavian and Mark Antony face off against Cassius and Brutus.

Primus pilus Titus Villius Macer is ordered to probe new defences thrown up by the assassins' auxiliaries.

His success wins him an audience with the young general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, who sends him on a mission to his native Sicilia, which is ruled by the pirate Sextus Pompey.

Macer's homecoming is different to what he expects, however. His wife has changed - and so has the governance of the island.

The soldier becomes a spy and is drawn into a plot, which will test his mettle and loyalty, involving piracy and assassination.

A race against time and sea-battle await the veteran.

Nest of Vipers is the first book in the Agents of Rome series of novellas.

Recommended for fans of Ben Kane, Conn Iggulden and S. J. Turney.

Alistair Forrest is a journalist, editor and author of Libertas. He lives in the Channel Islands.

Praise for Alistair Forrest:

'Libertas is a fast-moving tale of fortitude, survival and eventual retribution told against the background of Rome's bloody civil war.' Douglas Jackson, author of Glory of Rome.

"Libertas is a good read: pacy, exciting and often funny. Forrest makes us care about Munda. He captures the tragedy of a people dragged into the horror of a vicious war brought about by circumstances over which they had no control and could hardly understand." Lynn Guest, Historical Novel Society.

'A gripping and exciting read, well-researched and convincing.' Peter Tonkin, author of The Ides

Nest of Vipers

Philippi. 42BC.

Caesar is dead and his successors crave vengeance.

The massed legions of Octavian and Mark Antony face off against Cassius and Brutus.

Primus pilus Titus Villius Macer is ordered to probe new defences thrown up by the assassins' auxiliaries.

His success wins him an audience with the young general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, who sends him on a mission to his native Sicilia, which is ruled by the pirate Sextus Pompey.

Macer's homecoming is different to what he expects, however. His wife has changed - and so has the governance of the island.

The soldier becomes a spy and is drawn into a plot, which will test his mettle and loyalty, involving piracy and assassination.

Viper Pit

Rome. 38BC.

Pirates have cut off Rome’s grain supplies, antagonising the new Caesar, Octavian.

Pacts and compromises have failed, so now Octavian must go to war to eradicate the threat.

But can his impoverished navy overcome a superior fleet, commanded by Sextus Pompey?

His spymaster, Agrippa, has placed a man inside Pompey's camp – but former centurion Titus Villius Macer must choose where his loyalties lie.

Viper’s Revenge

36BC.

Rome has tired of Sicilian pirates disrupting their grain supplies.

Twice the new Caesar, Octavian, has tasted defeat at the hands of the pirate chief, Sextus Pompey.

To combat the problem, Octavian creates a naval base and a new fleet manned by thousands of freed slaves.

But Rome is a hotbed of treachery, and when a trusted admiral sails into the new harbour to attack the enemy's shipyards, one of Octavian’s most senior spies is cruelly exposed.

Titus Villius Macer, former centurion of the Fifth Alaudae legion, must race against time to save his family from the vengeful Sextus.

The agent of Rome must bloody his sword once again, and so must his trusted friends as Rome’s new navy and twelve legions from Africa close on the pirates’ stronghold in a pincer movement.

Scores will be settled on land and sea in the Battle of Naulochus, the climax of a world-changing conflict and the making of New Rome.

Alistair Forrest is a journalist and editor. He is the author of Libertas and Line in the Sand.

Praise for Alistair Forrest:

'Libertas is a fast-moving tale of fortitude, survival and eventual retribution told against the background of Rome's bloody civil war.' Douglas Jackson, author of Glory of Rome

'Libertas is a good read: pacy, exciting and often funny. Forrest makes us care about Munda. He captures the tragedy of a people dragged into the horror of a vicious war brought about by circumstances over which they had no control and could hardly understand.' Lynn Guest, Historical Novel Society

'Action-packed historical fiction. From the first few savage pages, the reader is right there beside Titus. The action keeps on coming until the tense and brutal conclusion.' Derek Birks, author of The Last of the Romans

36BC

Rome has tired of Sicilian pirates disrupting their grain supplies.

Twice the new Caesar, Octavian, has tasted defeat at the hands of the pirate chief, Sextus Pompey.

To combat the problem, Octavian creates a naval base and a new fleet manned by thousands of freed slaves.

But Rome is a hotbed of treachery, and when a trusted admiral sails into the new harbour to attack the enemy's shipyards, one of Octavian’s most senior spies is cruelly exposed.

Titus Villius Macer, former centurion of the Fifth Alaudae legion, must race against time to save his family from the vengeful Sextus.

The agent of Rome must bloody his sword once again, and so must his trusted friends as Rome’s new navy and twelve legions from Africa close on the pirates’ stronghold in a pincer movement.

Scores will be settled on land and sea in the Battle of Naulochus, the climax of a world-changing conflict and the making of New Rome.

Alistair Forrest is a journalist and editor. He is author of Libertas, Line in the Sand and the Agents of Rome series.

Praise for Alistair Forrest:

'Libertas is a fast-moving tale of fortitude, survival and eventual retribution told against the background of Rome's bloody civil war.' Douglas Jackson, author of Glory of Rome

'Libertas is a good read: pacy, exciting and often funny. Forrest makes us care about Munda. He captures the tragedy of a people dragged into the horror of a vicious war brought about by circumstances over which they had no control and could hardly understand.' Lynn Guest, Historical Novel Society

'A gripping and exciting read, well-researched and convincing.' Peter Tonkin, author of The Ides

Agents of Rome - Book Two

“Action-packed historical fiction. From the first few savage pages, the reader is right there beside Titus. The action keeps on coming until the tense and brutal conclusion.” Derek Birks, author of The Last of the Romans

Rome 38BC

Pirates have cut off Rome’s grain supplies, antagonising the new Caesar, Octavian.

Pacts and compromises have failed, so now Octavian must go to war to eradicate the threat.

But can his impoverished navy overcome a superior fleet, commanded by Sextus Pompey?

His spymaster, Agrippa, has placed a man inside Pompey's camp – but former centurion Titus Villius Macer must choose where his loyalties lie.

The veteran who once saved the pirate leader’s life is torn between a friendship rapidly turning sour and his pledge to serve Rome.

Titus and his reliable second-in-command, Crispus, must employ guile – and bloody their swords – to navigate the conflict and protect those closest to them.

But sometimes the greater battle is how a man deals with betrayal where he least expects it.

Alistair Forrest is a journalist and editor. He is author of Libertas, Line in the Sand and the Agents of Rome series in which Viper Pit is the sequel to Nest of Vipers.

Praise for Alistair Forrest:

'Libertas is a fast-moving tale of fortitude, survival and eventual retribution told against the background of Rome's bloody civil war.' Douglas Jackson, author of Glory of Rome

'Libertas is a good read: pacy, exciting and often funny. Forrest makes us care about Munda. He captures the tragedy of a people dragged into the horror of a vicious war brought about by circumstances over which they had no control and could hardly understand.' Lynn Guest, Historical Novel Society

"A pacy and entertaining follow-up. A must-read for fans of the genre." Richard Foreman, author of Spies of Rome

“Adds blood, history and humanity to the classic tale.” Richard Foreman.

1000 BC.

His mother is reviled as a whore and his half-brothers despise him.

The best Dhavit of Beth Lechem can do is escape. But just as life couldn’t get much lower for the youth they call Leper, he is recruited as a spy. His mission – to find out about the superior weapons and invasion plans of the warlike Philistines.

When he is betrayed, Dhavit is thrown into an arena with two other misfortunates to fight a pair seemingly invincible warriors. Only speed and quick wits can save him.

Dhavit believes he is chosen by the gods and finds himself revered in the Philistine court, whose rulers want to declare war on his people.

At the head of the Philistine forces is the famed Golyat, a man bred for war and destruction.

A vicious conflict for supremacy is sure to follow.

Two armies will go to war. But also two soldiers - Dhavit and Golyat.

A king and country will rise.

Alistair Forrest is a journalist, editor and author of Libertas and Nest of Vipers. He lives in the Channel Islands.

Praise for Alistair Forrest:

'Libertas is a fast-moving tale of fortitude, survival and eventual retribution told against the background of Rome's bloody civil war.' Douglas Jackson, author of Glory of Rome.

"Libertas is a good read: pacy, exciting and often funny. Forrest makes us care about Munda. He captures the tragedy of a people dragged into the horror of a vicious war brought about by circumstances over which they had no control and could hardly understand." Lynn Guest, Historical Novel Society.

"A gripping and exciting read, well-researched and convincing." Peter Tonkin, author of The Ides.

'Libertas is a fast-moving tale of fortitude, survival and eventual retribution told against the background of Rome's bloody civil war.' Douglas Jackson, author of Glory of Rome

SPAIN 45BC.

Julius Caesar’s crack legions bear down on an obscure Spanish town, Munda, at the climax of Rome’s civil war.

Against him are ranged the massed forces of Pompey the Great’s sons, Gnaeus and Sextus. To the victor, the spoils.

Caught up in the conflict is an unlikely hero, Melqart. Near fatally wounded in the battle, his family is sold into slavery and his people oppressed by Arsay One-Eye, a foe crueller than Caesar.

Melqart’s quest to free his family takes him to Sicily and the shores of Africa, as he encounters enemies and allies alike.

Ultimately, the Spaniard must return to his homeland and confront Arsay.

Melqart and his people must free themselves, or die trying.

Recommended for fans of Anthony Riches, Ben Kane and Conn Iggulden.

"Forrest has the gift of the true story-teller the ability to engage his readers interest from the very first sentence." Sir Patrick Cormack FSA, MP

"Libertas is a good read: pacy, exciting and often funny. Forrest makes us care about Munda. He captures the tragedy of a people dragged into the horror of a vicious war brought about by circumstances over which they had no control and could hardly understand." Lynn Guest, Historical Novel Society

"I am in hog heaven with books like Libertas" Nan Hawthorne, That's All She Read

Alistair Forrest forged a career in journalism with two UK newspapers before switching to magazine editing and writing historical fiction.