A Bitter Chill
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It's freezing in late December, 95 A.D. Roman settlers in Britannia are preparing to celebrate Saturnalia. Innkeeper Aurelia Marcella runs a mansio near Eboracum (modern York) in consort with her mostly absent brother and her younger sister, Albia. Aurelia finds her plans for a peaceful holiday shattered when her brother makes a surprise midnight appearance. His news? An enemy in Rome is spreading rumors that the family is plotting against Caesar. To add to Aurelia's woes, the mansio is threatened by a sort of protection racket. Then a party of rich, demanding travelers related to the provincial governor rolls up at the door. Their nearly murderous quarrels, and their quest for a rebellious heir spill over into Aurelia's household. And then, at the Saturnalia feast, one of the party dies and Albia becomes the chief suspect. Outraged, Aurelia must contend with conspirators-and threats-of all stripes to solve a very political murder. "[Finnis'] second period mystery again uses topnotch writing and research to get under the skins of the Romans and their increasingly restive Brit charges." -Chicago Tribune Jane Finnis worked for some years in London as a freelance broadcaster for BBC Radio. Now settled in East Yorkshire with her husband Richard, she spends much of her time researching and writing about the Roman Empire. www.janefinnis.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The author Jane Finnis was born in Britain, in what she describes in her own words as "God's Own Country, Yorkshire." As I too am from Yorkshire it is not a statement I am about to argue with. She studied history at London University and then stayed on in the capital and worked for some years as a freelance broadcaster for the BBC. She is now settled back in Yorkshire, close to the coast. She has always had a love of the Roman era and when she finally found time to do some writing, it seemed to be the obvious period in which to set her books.
This the second book in the Aurelia Marcella mysteries follows the story of Aurelia an innkeeper in the north of Britain not far from York, or as the Roman's called the city Eboracum. The north has never taken to the Roman customs in the same way as southern Britain but as far as Aurelia is concerned that is not a reason to avoid celebrating Saturnalia. However Aurelia's plans for a quiet holiday are shattered by the midnight arrival of her brother.
His sudden arrival is to tell his sister that someone in Rome is spreading rumours that the family is plotting against Caesar himself. As if this is not enough trouble for the family, Aurelia's inn is being threatened by some sort of protection racket. Then to cap it all a party of demanding travelers related to the provincial governor turn up at the door.
There quarrels spill over into the household and then to heap more misery onto Aurelia's shoulders one of the group dies at the feast of Saturnalia and Aurelia's younger sister, Albia is the chief suspect. It would seem that Aurelia is going to need all the help she can get to clear the family name and prove her younger sister Albia's innocence . . .
This the second book in the Aurelia Marcella mysteries follows the story of Aurelia an innkeeper in the north of Britain not far from York, or as the Roman's called the city Eboracum. The north has never taken to the Roman customs in the same way as southern Britain but as far as Aurelia is concerned that is not a reason to avoid celebrating Saturnalia. However Aurelia's plans for a quiet holiday are shattered by the midnight arrival of her brother.
His sudden arrival is to tell his sister that someone in Rome is spreading rumours that the family is plotting against Caesar himself. As if this is not enough trouble for the family, Aurelia's inn is being threatened by some sort of protection racket. Then to cap it all a party of demanding travelers related to the provincial governor turn up at the door.
There quarrels spill over into the household and then to heap more misery onto Aurelia's shoulders one of the group dies at the feast of Saturnalia and Aurelia's younger sister, Albia is the chief suspect. It would seem that Aurelia is going to need all the help she can get to clear the family name and prove her younger sister Albia's innocence . . .
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
fantastic historical mystery
17 Sep 2005
Format:Hardcover
The Roman settlers in the province of Britannia near the town of Ebornacum (later known as York) in Dec 95 AD are getting ready to celebrate the holiday Saturnalia. Nobody is more excited than innkeeper Aurelia Marcella who expects no overnight customers due to the inclement weather. She is very disappointed when a very important Roman family comes up from Londinium to search for their runaway son who wants to marry a local girl and not the woman his parents chose for him.
Aurelia's sister is shocked to learn that her fiancé Candidus is the rich Roman son of a senatorial family. A confrontation leads to the threat of him being disinherited but he chooses love over money. When his father's slave is killed in the patriarch's bed, Aurelia and her sister are accused of the murder. When a second slave is murdered, it verifies the patriarch's fear that someone is trying to kill him. Aurelia agrees to help in the investigation once she is cleared of any suspicion but the killer strikes again mounting a full scale investigation with Aurelia's sister and Candidus as two of the prime suspects.
Readers who liked the first book in this series GET OUT OR DIE will find A BITTER CHILL is even more exciting. It is a fantastic historical mystery that gives insight into the Roman culture adjusting to life in the back water provinces. The characters are well drawn and the support cast plays key roles and are as important to the storyline as the protagonist. Aurelia is an independent businesswoman who would have been at home in twenty-first century America instead of a Roman province where women were considered second citizens.
Harriet Klausner
Aurelia's sister is shocked to learn that her fiancé Candidus is the rich Roman son of a senatorial family. A confrontation leads to the threat of him being disinherited but he chooses love over money. When his father's slave is killed in the patriarch's bed, Aurelia and her sister are accused of the murder. When a second slave is murdered, it verifies the patriarch's fear that someone is trying to kill him. Aurelia agrees to help in the investigation once she is cleared of any suspicion but the killer strikes again mounting a full scale investigation with Aurelia's sister and Candidus as two of the prime suspects.
Readers who liked the first book in this series GET OUT OR DIE will find A BITTER CHILL is even more exciting. It is a fantastic historical mystery that gives insight into the Roman culture adjusting to life in the back water provinces. The characters are well drawn and the support cast plays key roles and are as important to the storyline as the protagonist. Aurelia is an independent businesswoman who would have been at home in twenty-first century America instead of a Roman province where women were considered second citizens.
Harriet Klausner
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
A FINE HISTORICAL MYSTERY
1 April 2007
Format:Hardcover
This is Jane Finnis second historical adventure set in the Britannia of Roman times. It is another winner. We are in the first century of modern dating. The location is set near Eboracum, a Roman town that evolved over the years into the city of York. The story concerns the family, workers and slaves, of a local innkeeper named Aurelia Marcella, her younger sister Albia, and her much-traveled and somewhat undisciplined older brother, Lucius.
The time of the year is December and the Roman citizens are preparing for their winter celebration, called Saturnalia. As anyone who has planned large celebrations knows, one hopes for appropriate weather, decent guests and a minimum of unplanned uproar. As soon as Lucius arrives from the garrison town one frigid night, Aurelia's flee like geese in the thrall of an autumn day. Lucius arrives at about midnight. In those times wandering about the countryside after dark was often dangerous and was looked on with great suspicion. Lucius bring unsettling news. He is fleeing an irate husband. He was discovered dallying with the wife of an important official stationed in Londinium. Now there are suspicions that the family Marcella is plotting with others to overthrow Caesar.
That there are plotters scattered across Britain is undeniable and Lucius has been sent by his superiors to go deep undercover to discover who the plotters against Caesar may be. Is there a connection between Lucius affair and the slander against his family and his new assignment? There is more to be discovered and while Aurelia worries about her brother, combats the scandal mongers, and prepares for Saturnalia, a quarrelsome group of guests arrive to stay at the inn.
It's almost all too much for the bright and intrepid Aurelia. But this is after all, a novel and we know Aurelia will solve the mystery. She has too, because the author's growing audience wants to read more adventures of this charming, intelligent and witty innkeeper.
Jane Finnis has suggested that those who consider history as a dead topic are in error, and here is ample evidence of the charm, the wit and the fascination any reader can find in these novels of ancient Roman times.
The time of the year is December and the Roman citizens are preparing for their winter celebration, called Saturnalia. As anyone who has planned large celebrations knows, one hopes for appropriate weather, decent guests and a minimum of unplanned uproar. As soon as Lucius arrives from the garrison town one frigid night, Aurelia's flee like geese in the thrall of an autumn day. Lucius arrives at about midnight. In those times wandering about the countryside after dark was often dangerous and was looked on with great suspicion. Lucius bring unsettling news. He is fleeing an irate husband. He was discovered dallying with the wife of an important official stationed in Londinium. Now there are suspicions that the family Marcella is plotting with others to overthrow Caesar.
That there are plotters scattered across Britain is undeniable and Lucius has been sent by his superiors to go deep undercover to discover who the plotters against Caesar may be. Is there a connection between Lucius affair and the slander against his family and his new assignment? There is more to be discovered and while Aurelia worries about her brother, combats the scandal mongers, and prepares for Saturnalia, a quarrelsome group of guests arrive to stay at the inn.
It's almost all too much for the bright and intrepid Aurelia. But this is after all, a novel and we know Aurelia will solve the mystery. She has too, because the author's growing audience wants to read more adventures of this charming, intelligent and witty innkeeper.
Jane Finnis has suggested that those who consider history as a dead topic are in error, and here is ample evidence of the charm, the wit and the fascination any reader can find in these novels of ancient Roman times.
Excellent Roman Mystery
8 May 2011
Format:Hardcover
As the title indicates, the story
is set in the depths of winter. Innkeeper Aurelia's hopes for a peaceful
and joyous Saturnalia are shattered by rumors of political plots, brigands
running a protection racket, and demanding noble guests involved in
murderous quarrels. I was held spellbound by the complex plot and superb period
detail as well as the varied cast of characters, and delighted to be able to
attend vicariously a Saturnalia feast and a Roman wedding.
is set in the depths of winter. Innkeeper Aurelia's hopes for a peaceful
and joyous Saturnalia are shattered by rumors of political plots, brigands
running a protection racket, and demanding noble guests involved in
murderous quarrels. I was held spellbound by the complex plot and superb period
detail as well as the varied cast of characters, and delighted to be able to
attend vicariously a Saturnalia feast and a Roman wedding.
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