A Murder on the Appian Way is a historical novel by American author Steven Saylor, first published by St. Martin's Press in 1996.

Upon looking at the mangled corpse of Clodius and hearing his widow Fulvia’s cry, the mourning mob lead his funeral bier into the very heart of the Senate House before lighting it on fire.

Eventually, he finds himself summoned by Fulvia, Clodius’ widow, who shares her account of her husband’s death based on eyewitnesses who escaped the skirmish.

Escorted to the Great One’s villa outside the city walls, Pompey hires Gordianus to find out the truth behind Clodius’ death by heading to the scene of the crime.

Nearing Bovillae, they encounter an innkeeper, a priest, and a priestess who share their accounts of the skirmish between Milo’s men and Clodius’.

On the advice of the priestess, the trio head to the House of the Vestals on Mount Alba nearby to speak with the Virgo Maxima who reveals that a disguised woman came and made an offering of thanks for Clodius’ death.

As part of his payment, he requests ownership of the two stable boys he met at Clodius’ villa who saved their master’s son.

A few days later, Eco insists that Gordianus attend the latest contio where the mysterious prisoners of Milo's publicly testify after escaping his villa where they were imprisoned for two months.

Cicero defends his actions, stating that he convinced Milo to kidnap Gordianus and his son rather than killing them—therefore saving their lives.

Admitting that he wrote the note to Bethesda, out of fondness for Gordianus, Cicero nonetheless stands by his actions to protect the republic.

Avoiding this new surprise, Gordianus decides to head back to Mount Alba and collect the two slave boys from Clodius’ villa.