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Medicus and the Disappearing Dancing Girls
 
 
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Medicus and the Disappearing Dancing Girls (Hardcover)

by R. S. Downie (Author) "Someone had washed the mud off the body, but as Gaius Petreius Ruso unwrapped the sheet there was still a distinct smell of river ..." (more)
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 480 pages
  • Publisher: Michael Joseph Ltd (3 Aug 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0718149297
  • ISBN-13: 978-0718149291
  • Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.6 x 4.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 335,167 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Product Description
Emperor Trajan is dead, long live Emperor Hadrian! Gaius Petreius Ruso is a divorced and down-on-his-luck army doctor who has made the rash decision to seek his fortune in one of the inclement outposts of the Roman Empire, namely Britannia. His arrival in Deva (more commonly known as Chester) does little to improve his mood and, after a straight thirty-six hours on the wards in the Fort, he succumbs to a moment of weakness and rescues injured slave girl, Tilla. Little does he realize how this one act is going to bring nothing but trouble and far too much interaction with the irritating locals, who will insist on killing each other...With wonderful comic timing and an irresistible sense of humour, "Medicus and the Disappearing Dancing Girls" is a beguiling and unique detective novel and introduces in Ruso and Tilla the hottest pairing to come out of the Roman Empire.

From the Author
Published in the UK as Medicus(Ruso) and the Disappearing
Dancing Girls

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First Sentence
Someone had washed the mud off the body, but as Gaius Petreius Ruso unwrapped the sheet there was still a distinct smell of river. Read the first page
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Medicus and the Disappearing Dancing Girls
38% buy the item featured on this page:
Medicus and the Disappearing Dancing Girls 4.4 out of 5 stars (10)
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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Looking forward to the next in the series!, 31 Aug 2006
By Lance Mitchell (Hampshire, UK, Northern Hemisphere, Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
Medicus and the Disappearing Dancing Girls is the first of a series of novels that follows the misfortunes of a Roman Army Medical Officer, Gaius Petreius Ruso, after his posting from the warm climes of North Africa to the dreary grey drizzle of Deva (pron. Dewa); that's modern day Chester.

Ruso is down on his luck and doesn't own much more than a few mounting debts. As well as trying to support his own life in the British garrison town, he is obliged to send funds home to his brother in southern Gaul lest his family find themselves destitute and homeless.

His medical colleague at the garrison hospital, who shares his squalid house with Ruso, takes life as it comes and has a wicked sense of humour, and is no help at all. Consequently, Ruso has very little support from anyone as he tries to traverse his difficult life. Almost by accident he finds himself burdened with further unmanageable debts, becomes the reluctant owner of an injured slave, Tilla, and is in continual conflict with the hospital administrator and many of the local Britons.

There are many reflections of twenty-first century society in this book, ranging from the financial and administrative pressures on the health service to the very serious issue of the white slave trade. I am sure that these parallels are deliberately drawn by the author to provoke the reader into thoughts beyond the main storyline.

Ruso becomes an unwilling detective, trying to track down the truth behind the disappearance of several dancing girls from the local brothel and bar. The story moves at a leisurely pace and, in the main, insinuates the brutality of the age rather than going into explicit detail.

I have always been a big fan of historical novels as, with conversations and images, they bring history to life around those dry, boring dates and names that I had to learn in the school classroom. Medicus does this for me and, at the same time, introduces some interesting characters whom I very much look forward to meeting again as the series unfolds. I strongly suspect that Ruso's slave, Tilla, will become his driving force.
This is an excellent detective story, and the links between Roman Britain and Modern Britain are particularly pleasing. I would recommend Medicus to anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best book I have read in an age., 19 Aug 2006
By J. R. Harrison - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This book is simply the best one I have read for ages. I has well drawn characters and a wonderful, unusual plot. Even if you don't normally read who-dun-its or historical novels you should check out this page-turner. I hope we won't have to wait very long for the further adventures of Ruso and Tilla.
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15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Keep Them Coming, 2 Oct 2006
By J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
This is the first book in what will become the Medicus series. It is a novel set in Roman Britain and introduces a new author R. S. Downie. This is certainly her first novel, although I do not know if she has written any factual material. The fact that she is female may be an omen, after all Lindsey Davis writes what is probably the most successful Roman series with her `Falco' detective novels.

The main character in this novel and the one I am sure will become an old friend to the reader in future books is Gaius Petreius Ruso, a divorced and down-on-his-luck army doctor, who has made the rash decision of attempting to make his fortune in one of the far flung reaches of the Empire, namely Britain.

A doctor's life is not always a happy one, particularly when they are usually watching you and screaming while you take their arm off or pull their blackened teeth out. A swift tap on the head usually alleviates these problems, but is not looked upon as good medical practice.

After arriving in Diva, modern day Chester and spending hours on the wards in the fort, by some stroke of fortune or maybe misfortune he rescues an injured slave girl, Tilla. She is a pretty little thing, but brings a whole boatload of trouble with her. Not least the locals taking umbrage and starting to beat the sh-- out of one another.

As I've said before anything about Rome or Romans is a must read for me, but this book is for everybody, well researched, witty and most of all enjoyable. I can't wait to read more of Ruso and Tilla. I am sure the partnership will mature and become as enjoyable to the reader as Falco and Helena or Gordianus and Bethesda.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Keep Them Coming

This is the first story in what will become the Medicus series. It is a novel set in Roman Britain and introduces a new author R. S. Downie. Read more
Published 17 months ago by J. Chippindale

5.0 out of 5 stars Keep Them Coming
This is the first story in what will become the Medicus series. It is a novel set in Roman Britain and introduces a new author R. S. Downie. Read more
Published 18 months ago by J. Chippindale

5.0 out of 5 stars A well written historical mystery
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a perfect combination of mystery and history with neither element conflicting with the other. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Mrs. M. K. Weaver

4.0 out of 5 stars Jury is out
Gaius Petreius Ruso, an accidental detective or the main character in an accidental detective story? I'm unclear. Read more
Published on 11 Jul 2007 by Thewood

4.0 out of 5 stars a different take on medical investigation
a refreshing new view of medicine and in vestigation in Roman Britain and an attractive pair of principle characters
Published on 6 Jun 2007 by C. Woodward

5.0 out of 5 stars Keep Them Coming

This is the first book in what will become the Medicus series. It is a novel set in Roman Britain and introduces a new author R. S. Downie. Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2007 by J. Chippindale

3.0 out of 5 stars A reasonably good first effort
A reasonably good first effort, but I am not terribly impressed.

Ms Downie seems to have done a take-off on the genre popularised by Ms Lindsey Davis. Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2006 by Sir Galahad

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