- Paperback: 362 pages
- Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press; United States ed edition (19 Oct 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1590581954
- ISBN-13: 978-1590581957
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 13.4 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 796,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Get Out or Die: Aurelia Marcella Mystery Series, Book 1
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Product Description
Product Description
Roman Britain in 91 AD is a raw frontier province, part of the mighty Empire ruled by Domitian Caesar. Though it is almost fifty years since the legions invaded, many native tribes still hate their conquerors and seize any chance to harass the Roman settlers who are flocking in to colonize the new province. Tension is especially high in the north, where Aurelia Marcella, a young innkeeper from Italy, runs the Oak Tree Inn on the road to York. A string of savage murders disrupts her peaceful life, and she and her Roman friends find themselves under attack from a secret native war-band whose aim is to drive all Romans out. When a traveler, Quintus, is nearly killed close to the inn, he and Aurelia must track down the rebel warriors and identify their mysterious masked leader, the Shadow of Death. Can they find and destroy him before his campaign of terror turns into open rebellion? Praise for Get Out or Die "In Finnis's lively debut...suspenseful and at times comical...the plot is timely as conquerors seek to impose civilization on a barbarian culture that doesn't appreciate the new roads and government or the increase in commerce." -Publishers Weekly "Anyone who-like author Finnis-has ever marveled at how straight and well-built many of the Roman roads of England still are should enjoy this entertaining look back." -Dick Adler, Chicago Tribune Jane Finnis has been fascinated by the past ever since as a child she walked the straight Roman roads of East Yorkshire, where she lives now with her husband Richard. She spends much of her time researching and writing about the Roman Empire. www.janefinnis.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 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.
The book is set in Roman Britain in 91 AD. The country of Britain has never really bowed to the yoke of Roman authority and even though it is almost 50 years since the Roman invasion, many of the tribes in the north refuse to take up the ways of their Roman masters like those in the south of the country.
Tension is high and a young innkeeper from Italy, Aurelia Marcella, who runs an inn called the Oak Tree on the road to York finds herself under attack from a native war band, whose aim in life is to get rid of all things Roman. A traveller is almost killed close to the inn and he and Aurelia try their utmost to track down the rebels and their mysterious leader.
I don't know whether it is because the book was set where I was born and still live but I enjoyed it tremendously. Having a woman as the lead character was I believe inspirational, particularly when other characters from other author's placed in similar backgrounds, i.e. Falco, Gordianus, etc. are all male and although Falco the character of Lindsey Davis has visited Britain he is usually to be found in the streets of Rome. A series of Roman mysteries set in England is I believe an exciting format.
The book is set in Roman Britain in 91 AD. The country of Britain has never really bowed to the yoke of Roman authority and even though it is almost 50 years since the Roman invasion, many of the tribes in the north refuse to take up the ways of their Roman masters like those in the south of the country.
Tension is high and a young innkeeper from Italy, Aurelia Marcella, who runs an inn called the Oak Tree on the road to York finds herself under attack from a native war band, whose aim in life is to get rid of all things Roman. A traveller is almost killed close to the inn and he and Aurelia try their utmost to track down the rebels and their mysterious leader.
I don't know whether it is because the book was set where I was born and still live but I enjoyed it tremendously. Having a woman as the lead character was I believe inspirational, particularly when other characters from other author's placed in similar backgrounds, i.e. Falco, Gordianus, etc. are all male and although Falco the character of Lindsey Davis has visited Britain he is usually to be found in the streets of Rome. A series of Roman mysteries set in England is I believe an exciting format.
Format:Paperback
I have to admit I am not much one for Romans. I spent half my childhood holidays being dragged around Roman sites and I hope I have a proper appreciation for their building and drainage skills, not to mention their sculpture and pots. I have read Lindsey Davis with enjoyment, but for the most part my historical preference lies in the mid 18th Century and beyond. That said I am very glad to discover Jane Finnis. Her heroine, Aurelia, the innkeeper, is a woman I should like to have met. She has a family and a context and a world that the reader is brought into. I love the Yorkshire setting and the way the author weaves the familiar into a wild-west past where the Brigantes lurk in the woods waiting to take back their land from the Roman settlers. Aurelia's world is painted so vividly that you can imagine it as you walk among the trees that still stand today. I am looking forward to reading the next books in the series. I want to know more of Aurelia and her world.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
9 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Enjoyable
28 Dec 2008
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed this book. Ms. Finnis is very knowedgeable about Roman history and roman Britain in particular. Her characters are very well drawn and I find the character of Aurelia particularly entertaining. Ms. Finnis gets more comfortable with each book in the series (I have read 3).
That said, I sort of felt like I was reading Nancy Drew or Angela Brazil. There was such a "jolly" atmosphere about the characters. The contemporary slang seemed a bit jarring, and, as a previous reviewer mentioned, it went on far too long.
All in all an enjoyable read-I would actually give it a 3.5, but I rounded up to 4.
That said, I sort of felt like I was reading Nancy Drew or Angela Brazil. There was such a "jolly" atmosphere about the characters. The contemporary slang seemed a bit jarring, and, as a previous reviewer mentioned, it went on far too long.
All in all an enjoyable read-I would actually give it a 3.5, but I rounded up to 4.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Ancient Rome-Britannia, 91 A.D.
14 Jan 2009
Format:Hardcover
Get Out Or Die
by Jane Finnis
The title refers to ominous threats left on the bodies of murdered Romans in Britain who in the year 91 A.D. are still tenuous settlers in this northern outpost of the Roman empire. Only decades after Boadicea's failed Iceni uprising against them, and with increasingly organized attacks lead by a mysterious leader called the Shadow of Death, the future of Pompeii born innkeeper Aurelia Marcella begins to look bleak. She is, however, determined to stay, and resolves to uncover the source of the disturbances. A sprinkling of romance and Roman double dealing adds to this action filled, fast paced story which takes place in a little explored historic period. It is difficult, however, to always feel one is reading about a region considered a "rough frontier. " It might have helped if instead of using modern British phraseology and expressions, the author had drawn upon letters written by British Romans to create dialogue more suitable to the period.
by Jane Finnis
The title refers to ominous threats left on the bodies of murdered Romans in Britain who in the year 91 A.D. are still tenuous settlers in this northern outpost of the Roman empire. Only decades after Boadicea's failed Iceni uprising against them, and with increasingly organized attacks lead by a mysterious leader called the Shadow of Death, the future of Pompeii born innkeeper Aurelia Marcella begins to look bleak. She is, however, determined to stay, and resolves to uncover the source of the disturbances. A sprinkling of romance and Roman double dealing adds to this action filled, fast paced story which takes place in a little explored historic period. It is difficult, however, to always feel one is reading about a region considered a "rough frontier. " It might have helped if instead of using modern British phraseology and expressions, the author had drawn upon letters written by British Romans to create dialogue more suitable to the period.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Tedious romance-historical mystery
1 Aug 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a romance-adventure novel set in Roman Britain. I found it dull, with a female main character who in no case felt right for the period or setting, and a plot that verged on a 20s boy's-own-adventure - the main bad guy operated under the name Shadow of Death. I was hoping for a well-developed and imagined picture of the social setting and daily life that might have taken place, but did not find it in this book. A reader looking for a more believable and readable mystery set in Roman Britain should look to Rosemary Rowe.
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