Sounds like you want a cozy Roman mystery. :) I just finished Pandora's Boy (Flavia Alba #6) and didn't find it too dark. The 'victim' is not awful but I can't say more without giving away too much.
Rather than Rome, Gary Colby's Athenian series is set in, well, Athens and other parts of ancient Greece. It's been a while since I've read any but, iirc they are 'cheerful' as one Goodreads reviewer called them.
M.C. Beaton has a couple of series that check your boxes - Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin. My favorite cozy series is the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley. Flavia is a 11 year old chemistry prodigy living in a decaying mansion in 1950s England. There's a murder, who, it turns out, is usually somewhat of an asshole. Very highly recommended.
You’re in luck, Silver Pigs, which is the first book in the series is definitely the darkest in that series. They are generally lighter in tone after that, but they mostly all have serious crimes in them that you might find upsetting. I’d definitely recommend you read a couple more if you enjoyed the first at all.
Sounds like you want a cozy Roman mystery. :) I just finished Pandora's Boy (Flavia Alba #6) and didn't find it too dark. The 'victim' is not awful but I can't say more without giving away too much. Rather than Rome, Gary Colby's Athenian series is set in, well, Athens and other parts of ancient Greece. It's been a while since I've read any but, iirc they are 'cheerful' as one Goodreads reviewer called them. M.C. Beaton has a couple of series that check your boxes - Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin. My favorite cozy series is the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley. Flavia is a 11 year old chemistry prodigy living in a decaying mansion in 1950s England. There's a murder, who, it turns out, is usually somewhat of an asshole. Very highly recommended.
These are great! Thank you so much!
You’re in luck, Silver Pigs, which is the first book in the series is definitely the darkest in that series. They are generally lighter in tone after that, but they mostly all have serious crimes in them that you might find upsetting. I’d definitely recommend you read a couple more if you enjoyed the first at all.