Last Hour

A battle-hardened soldier has just 24 hours to expose a deadly conspiracy at the heart of the Roman Empire in this brilliantly gripping historical thriller from Sunday Times bestseller and Ancient Rome expert, Harry Sidebottom. A lone figure stands silhouetted atop the Mausoleum of Hadrian. Behind him, the sun is setting over the centre of the known world. Far below, the river is in full flood. The City of Rome lies spread out before him on the far bank. Footsteps pound up the stairs. He's been set up. An enemy is closing in; he is cornered. He jumps.Bruised and battered, he crawls out of the raging river. He is alone and unarmed, without money or friends, trapped in a deadly conspiracy at the heart of the Empire. The City Watch has orders to take him alive; other, more sinister, forces want him dead. As the day dies, he realises he has only 24 hours to expose the conspirators, and save the leader of the world. If the Emperor dies, chaos and violence will ensue. If the Emperor dies, every single person he loves will die.He must run, bluff, hide and fight his way across the Seven Hills. He must reach the Colosseum, and the Emperor. He must make it to The Last Hour.Kiefer Sutherland's 24 meets Gladiator in this breathless historical thriller - for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Ben Kane, Simon Scarrow and Conn Iggulden.Praise for The Last Hour and Harry Sidebottom:'An amazing story of bloodlust, ruthless ambition and revenge' - The Times 'Relentless, brutal, brilliant, this is Jack Reacher in ancient Rome' - Ben Kane'Epic' - Mary Beard'A ripping story...this transplanting of 24 to Ancient Rome is a great success' - Daily Telegraph 'A cracking tale. More twists and turns than the Tiber itself' - Rory Clements'An extraordinarily vivid take on the ancient world' - Evening Standard 'Grabbed me from the start. I loved it' - Donna Leon'The best sort of red-blooded historical fiction' - Andrew Taylor

The best sort of red-blooded historical fiction - solidly based on a profound understanding of what it meant to be alive in a particular time and place., An exceptionally gifted story-teller drawing on prodigious learning., Absorbing, rich in detail and brilliant., Swashbuckling as well as bloody, yet curiously plausible ... a real gift for summoning up a sense of place., Ancient Rome has long been a favourite ­destination for writers of historical military -fiction. Much the best of them is Harry ­Sidebottom.

Harry Sidebottom teaches Ancient History at Oxford University. His career as a novelist began with his Warrior of Rome series, which has sold over half a million copies. His next series, Throne of Caesars, was equally acclaimed. His latest novel, The Burning Road, is available to pre-order now.