- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Headline; First Edition edition (5 April 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0755327438
- ISBN-13: 978-0755327430
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 14.2 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 736,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"A cracking tale with a fast-moving plot." --Conn Iggulden, author, "The Gods of War"
--This text refers to the
Mass Market Paperback
edition.
Product Description
Rowe's clever whodunits continue to delight fans of historical crime, with Libertus and Junio proving a formidable and popular detective team.
In Roman Britain, AD 189, every slave knows his lot in life depends solely on the morals – or lack of morals – of his master. Fortunately for one young Glevum slave, Junio, his owner, former slave turned pavement-maker Libertus, believes heartily in rewarding years of loyalty and service. Junio is to be granted his freedom in an elaborate ceremony at the Basilica Law Court. And what better moment than the manumission to announce the lad’s engagement? But the young couple’s happiness is threatened by a terrible omen: the gruesome discovery of a corpse, hastily concealed in a shallow grave. Who is it? And, more importantly, who will go to any lengths to cover up their heinous crime? Determined to solve the mystery before the impending nuptials, Junio joins his mentor Libertus in trying to piece together a truly masterful mosaic of murder…
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Rosemary Rowe is a pseudonym of Rosemary Aitken, a highly qualified academic who has written many best selling text books on the English language. Why so many modern day author's need to write books under a pseudonym is probably a closely guarded secret between them and their accountant, or am I being too cynical? No matter Rosemary Rowe aka Rosemary Aitken has a string of books, in fact this is the ninth featuring Libertus, a former slave and now a craftsman pavement maker, or to the uninitiated a maker of tile mosaics. He is also the Roman Britain equivalent of Sherlock Homes and is called upon frequently to solve mysteries for his patron Marcus Septimus.
AD 189, and in the main the lot of a slave in Roman Briton is not a particularly happy one, but fortunately for one young Glevum slave, Junio, his master Libertus, once a slave himself, believes wholeheartedly in rewarding loyalty and service. Junio is to be granted his freedom at an elaborate ceremony at the Basilica Law Court. The moment of his manumission that will make Junio a free man also seems an ideal time to announce the boy's engagement to be married, but will the young couple's future happiness be threatened by a terrible omen? The body of a corpse is found. The body has been hastily concealed in a shallow grave. What is the identity of the body and who is trying to cover up the deed?
Libertus is determined to solve the mystery before the nuptials take place and Junio is only too eager to help his master and avoid the ill luck that may befall him and his future bride.
AD 189, and in the main the lot of a slave in Roman Briton is not a particularly happy one, but fortunately for one young Glevum slave, Junio, his master Libertus, once a slave himself, believes wholeheartedly in rewarding loyalty and service. Junio is to be granted his freedom at an elaborate ceremony at the Basilica Law Court. The moment of his manumission that will make Junio a free man also seems an ideal time to announce the boy's engagement to be married, but will the young couple's future happiness be threatened by a terrible omen? The body of a corpse is found. The body has been hastily concealed in a shallow grave. What is the identity of the body and who is trying to cover up the deed?
Libertus is determined to solve the mystery before the nuptials take place and Junio is only too eager to help his master and avoid the ill luck that may befall him and his future bride.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
A story of greed and murder
13 Sep 2007
Format:Hardcover
Libertus, the mosaic maker of Glevum, Britannia, must solve a murder on the property of his patron Marcus Aurelius Septimus before the Lemuria, the festival for the souls of the departed, takes place. Mystery builds on mystery. Complicating the matter, the daughter of an an irascible tribal farmer has disappeared at about the same time. As Libertus sets to work, he is constantly belittled by the haughty guest, strange things happen, more bodies are discovered, and Marcus' gatekeeper is murdered, and there seems to be obstruction all around.
As all the novels in this series, this book is written in a rather serious vein. Nonetheless, there is quite a bit to smile about, mostly about the young slaves in both households, especially the eager to please Maximus and Minimus, who are signed over to Libertus while Marcus travels to Rome and tend to finish each others sentences. Life in the villa, town life in Glevum, Libertus' little household, and the hostile British farmers whom Libertus encounters, are believably portrayed. All in all a good book by a dependable author.
As all the novels in this series, this book is written in a rather serious vein. Nonetheless, there is quite a bit to smile about, mostly about the young slaves in both households, especially the eager to please Maximus and Minimus, who are signed over to Libertus while Marcus travels to Rome and tend to finish each others sentences. Life in the villa, town life in Glevum, Libertus' little household, and the hostile British farmers whom Libertus encounters, are believably portrayed. All in all a good book by a dependable author.
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Impressive detail, less impressive story
12 Jun 2007
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Rosemary Rowe's exhaustive scholarship on Roman Britain is admirable, but doesn't really make up for a story that is unnecessarily dense and convoluted, overly burdened with mundane dialogue and generally lacking in punch and mystery. This book did not compare favorably with any of the Marcus Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis or "The Water Thief" by Ben Pastor.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
A coin for the Ferryman
13 Dec 2007
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Well-written. informative on life in Roman Britain in the later days of R oman occupatiion. Not of the quality of books by Stephen Saylot which to me are the best of this genre.
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