- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Headline Book Publishing (7 Mar 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0755305183
- ISBN-13: 978-0755305186
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 14 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,350,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
It's AD 188, and a tiresome three-day journey to the forested outskirts of the Empire is the last thing Libertus, freedman and pavement-maker, wants to make. Not only are there wolves and bears, but Celtic rebels may well regard the lone coach as fair game. But when Marcus Septimus asks Libertus to join him on official business, he knows he can't refuse his benevolent patron. En route to the garrison town of isca, they stop at Venta: a simmering cauldron of social unrest where the Silures tribe, loyal to the memory of former chief Caractacus, seethes under Roman occupation. In the busy market square, Libertus is shocked by the glimpse of a familiar face. His pursuit of the figure leads him down a dangerous path and, before he knows it, into a murky world of racketeering, treason and murder...
About the Author
Rosemary Rowe is the pseudonym of an author who has successfully published novels in another genre. Born in Cornwall, she lived for twenty years in New Zealand. A highly qualified academic, she has written more than a dozen bestselling textbooks as Rosemary Aitken.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The author's knowledge and feel for Roman Britain is second to none and her storytelling keeps the reader asking for more. This latest book is no different and I enjoyed it immensely.
AD 188 and Britain is without a Roman governer. Until a new governor is installed Marcus Septimus is one of the most important men in Roman Britain. He is also the patron of Libertus, one-time slave and mosaic (pavement maker) artist. Marcus has called on Libertus on more than one occasion to help solve crimes among the Romans and Britains.
Libertus is asked by Marcus to accompany him from Glevum to Isca on official business and although Libertus is busy with his work, he knows that it would be foolish to refuse.
On the way they make a stop at Venta. The place is simmering with unrest towards the Romans, where the Silures are loyal to their former chieftain Caractacus. While there Libertus is shocked to see a man whose funeral he attended not long ago. The man runs away and pursuit of him leads Libertus into danger not only to himself but all the party who are travelling with him . . .
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The seventh Libertus mystery from Rosemary Rowe has our aged sleuth paying a visit to Venta Silurium as part of his patron's entourage and promptly getting caught up in a hotbed of insurgency. He only manages to get involved when he sees a man whose funeral he attended earlier that month alive and well in the town's forum. An inquisitive chase through the town results in him being hopelessly lost, running into the town's leading madam and then being waylaid by some hot-headed youths who threaten to kill him as a spy of one of the local gangs.
All in all a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
After enduring a night in the cells and a farcical trial where he is acquitted, Libertus and Marcus go on a trip into the nearby forest and end up with all their horses stolen, locating the body of the slave Promptillius and encountering a local set of Silurians who suspiciously protest undying love for all things Roman. Once our sleuth manages to sit down for five seconds he realises what is going on with the overly stupid Optio and Lyra, the madam, avoids being poisoned and brings the culprits to justice whilst Marcus chafes at the irritation of being delayed in his journey.
This is quite a weak effort from Rowe in the sense it just trundles amicably along with no real sense of murder thriller. The characters elicit little empathy, just irritation and Libertus is in danger of becoming overly obsequious. A little spine would be useful. He could learn from Cadfael. The series is an enjoyable addition to the ever increasing ancient murder mystery but is lightweight when compared to the likes of Marcus Covinus, Gordianus the Finder, Metellus the Younger. It is more at a level of Claudia Seferius but lacks a little fire. Enjoyable for the fan of the genre.
All in all a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
After enduring a night in the cells and a farcical trial where he is acquitted, Libertus and Marcus go on a trip into the nearby forest and end up with all their horses stolen, locating the body of the slave Promptillius and encountering a local set of Silurians who suspiciously protest undying love for all things Roman. Once our sleuth manages to sit down for five seconds he realises what is going on with the overly stupid Optio and Lyra, the madam, avoids being poisoned and brings the culprits to justice whilst Marcus chafes at the irritation of being delayed in his journey.
This is quite a weak effort from Rowe in the sense it just trundles amicably along with no real sense of murder thriller. The characters elicit little empathy, just irritation and Libertus is in danger of becoming overly obsequious. A little spine would be useful. He could learn from Cadfael. The series is an enjoyable addition to the ever increasing ancient murder mystery but is lightweight when compared to the likes of Marcus Covinus, Gordianus the Finder, Metellus the Younger. It is more at a level of Claudia Seferius but lacks a little fire. Enjoyable for the fan of the genre.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Not Libertus' best outing
23 Sep 2005
Format:Hardcover
The seventh Libertus mystery from Rosemary Rowe has our aged sleuth paying a visit to Venta Silurium as part of his patron's entourage and promptly getting caught up in a hotbed of insurgency. He only manages to get involved when he sees a man whose funeral he attended earlier that month alive and well in the town's forum. An inquisitive chase through the town results in him being hopelessly lost, running into the town's leading madam and then being waylaid by some hot-headed youths who threaten to kill him as a spy of one of the local gangs.
All in all a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
After enduring a night in the cells and a farcical trial where he is acquitted, Libertus and Marcus go on a trip into the nearby forest and end up with all their horses stolen, locating the body of the slave Promptillius and encountering a local set of Silurians who suspiciously protest undying love for all things Roman. Once our sleuth manages to sit down for five seconds he realises what is going on with the overly stupid Optio and Lyra, the madam, avoids being poisoned and brings the culprits to justice whilst Marcus chafes at the irritation of being delayed in his journey.
This is quite a weak effort from Rowe in the sense it just trundles amicably along with no real sense of murder thriller. The characters elicit little empathy, just irritation and Libertus is in danger of becoming overly obsequious. A little spine would be useful and he could learn from Cadfael.
The series is an enjoyable addition to the ever increasing ancient murder mystery but Libertus is lightweight when compared to the likes of Marcus Covinus, Gordianus the Finder, Metellus the Younger being more at a level of Claudia Seferius. Worth reading for any fan of the genre.
All in all a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
After enduring a night in the cells and a farcical trial where he is acquitted, Libertus and Marcus go on a trip into the nearby forest and end up with all their horses stolen, locating the body of the slave Promptillius and encountering a local set of Silurians who suspiciously protest undying love for all things Roman. Once our sleuth manages to sit down for five seconds he realises what is going on with the overly stupid Optio and Lyra, the madam, avoids being poisoned and brings the culprits to justice whilst Marcus chafes at the irritation of being delayed in his journey.
This is quite a weak effort from Rowe in the sense it just trundles amicably along with no real sense of murder thriller. The characters elicit little empathy, just irritation and Libertus is in danger of becoming overly obsequious. A little spine would be useful and he could learn from Cadfael.
The series is an enjoyable addition to the ever increasing ancient murder mystery but Libertus is lightweight when compared to the likes of Marcus Covinus, Gordianus the Finder, Metellus the Younger being more at a level of Claudia Seferius. Worth reading for any fan of the genre.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
The kidnapping is getting tiresome
13 Jan 2007
Format:Paperback
Every single book in this series has Libertus being kidnapped or thrown in jail at some point. Come on! Am I to believe that he has managed to live as long as he has as both a slave then a freedman without learning how to take better care of himself and to be more aware of his environment? Then he's able to use his skills of awareness and logic to solve mysteries? I just don't buy it after so many book. I'm also not convinced that all the over the top patron and client behavior is reasonable -- Marcus Septimus is not his former master so why does he spend so much time with him again? Where is his real patron, his former master? Anyway, I do still like the major characters and I'm pleased that the plots have allowed their lives to develop toward a new family.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Just as Good as the Other Libertus Books
10 Aug 2005
Format:Hardcover
The author's knowledge and feel for Roman Britain is second to none and her storytelling keeps the reader asking for more. This latest book is no different and I enjoyed it immensely.
AD 188 and Britain is without a Roman governer. Until a new governor is installed Marcus Septimus is one of the most important men in Roman Britain. He is also the patron of Libertus, one-time slave and mosaic (pavement maker) artist. Marcus has called on Libertus on more than one occasion to help solve crimes among the Romans and Britains.
Libertus is asked by Marcus to accompany him from Glevum to Isca on official business and although Libertus is busy with his work, he knows that it would be foolish to refuse.
On the way they make a stop at Venta. The place is simmering with unrest towards the Romans, where the Silures are loyal to their former chieftain Caractacus. While there Libertus is shocked to see a man whose funeral he attended not long ago. The man runs away and pursuit of him leads Libertus into danger not only to himself but all the party who are travelling with him . . .
AD 188 and Britain is without a Roman governer. Until a new governor is installed Marcus Septimus is one of the most important men in Roman Britain. He is also the patron of Libertus, one-time slave and mosaic (pavement maker) artist. Marcus has called on Libertus on more than one occasion to help solve crimes among the Romans and Britains.
Libertus is asked by Marcus to accompany him from Glevum to Isca on official business and although Libertus is busy with his work, he knows that it would be foolish to refuse.
On the way they make a stop at Venta. The place is simmering with unrest towards the Romans, where the Silures are loyal to their former chieftain Caractacus. While there Libertus is shocked to see a man whose funeral he attended not long ago. The man runs away and pursuit of him leads Libertus into danger not only to himself but all the party who are travelling with him . . .
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