| |||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a recent author for me and what a find I really love the series and have now read several of the books, not in the right order but it doesnt really matter as they are a great read - love them and this is up to the standard of the others
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Somehow I managed to read book XIII before this, but it did prove that is isn't entirely necessary to read the Metellus novels in sequence. JMR delivers another cracking read with Decius' tenure as praetor peregrinus leading him to travel down to Baiae in order to preside over cases involving non-Romans. He's barely there a few seconds when someone starts a fracas between the cult of Hecate and the Apollonian temple priests resulting in the latter either being tossed into the river "Styx" - a tourist attraction - or neatly laid out in hidden crypts for aspiring forensic sleuths to casually pore over. Whilst Caesar is the talk of the Roman Senate as he ventures towards the Rubicon, Decius has his own stream to leap over as he tries to figure out the history of cults and temples in this normally affluent holiday-spot.
Throughout, Decius exudes an exasperation at having to deal with knee-jerking aggrandisement as everyone points the metaphorical finger at everyone else whilst trying to stay cool in the blistering heat. Julia aids him immeasurably as she is fully aware of the prevalence of cults and soothsayers abounding in the countryside - a thread continued in SPQR XIII - because our murderer(s) start picking off potential witnesses one by one. Side trips to Stabiae means Decius is forced to glean most of his information at the trinculum of various wealthy Romans, who later wind up dead. Trouble is, sifting through after-dinner conversations where people have their own power games to play and the truth is safely hidden behind an inch thick layer of mendacity, means that whilst we are vaguely aware of why this is happening, to pinpoint actual culprits is an entirely different matter. Decius has another problem in that he's under a constant harangue by pseudo-haruspices or bored Roman aristocrats who then get themselves killed. As Decius bemoans "legality is about the last thing I expect to encounter in this Gordian knot of a case".
Still, the denouement befits a praetor peregrinus leaving Decius happy to saunter off to Sicily and this reader satisfied at the formula of JMR - neaty, tidy, puzzling cases with a likeable sleuth and a motley supporting cast.
There is one aspect of this novel that has grated slightly. It is the first time I've ever really picked up on the jacket but this was difficult to ignore. The painting on the front of this version is pretty poor. Shadows seem to imply the sun is in three different places and the lack of depth from the Temple steps to the cliffs is just wrong. There is no sense of perspective to the bay below. I'm no artist, so it's far better than anything I could produce, but it's pretty poor from a professional. Don't let that stop you buying the book though; it's just JMR needs to have a word with the artist if she's going to do another cover.
Throughout, Decius exudes an exasperation at having to deal with knee-jerking aggrandisement as everyone points the metaphorical finger at everyone else whilst trying to stay cool in the blistering heat. Julia aids him immeasurably as she is fully aware of the prevalence of cults and soothsayers abounding in the countryside - a thread continued in SPQR XIII - because our murderer(s) start picking off potential witnesses one by one. Side trips to Stabiae means Decius is forced to glean most of his information at the trinculum of various wealthy Romans, who later wind up dead. Trouble is, sifting through after-dinner conversations where people have their own power games to play and the truth is safely hidden behind an inch thick layer of mendacity, means that whilst we are vaguely aware of why this is happening, to pinpoint actual culprits is an entirely different matter. Decius has another problem in that he's under a constant harangue by pseudo-haruspices or bored Roman aristocrats who then get themselves killed. As Decius bemoans "legality is about the last thing I expect to encounter in this Gordian knot of a case".
Still, the denouement befits a praetor peregrinus leaving Decius happy to saunter off to Sicily and this reader satisfied at the formula of JMR - neaty, tidy, puzzling cases with a likeable sleuth and a motley supporting cast.
There is one aspect of this novel that has grated slightly. It is the first time I've ever really picked up on the jacket but this was difficult to ignore. The painting on the front of this version is pretty poor. Shadows seem to imply the sun is in three different places and the lack of depth from the Temple steps to the cliffs is just wrong. There is no sense of perspective to the bay below. I'm no artist, so it's far better than anything I could produce, but it's pretty poor from a professional. Don't let that stop you buying the book though; it's just JMR needs to have a word with the artist if she's going to do another cover.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Roberts hits the ground running with this his twelth book to feature Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger. Although enititled the younger because his Dad holds the elder title Decius is now fast moving to middle age and the trappings that that brings with it.. middle age spread, out of condition and prepared to let his manumitted Hermes do all the leg work and chasing about the country side, delving into strange tunnels that Decius would have jumped at the chance a few years earlier.
That's the beauty of this series, Roberts allows his reader to grow up with our hero and this book has that air of being written by our hero Decius as an old man reflecting on his life past who has that curse of outliving all his friends, lovers and enemies.
Is the book any good. A resounding YES Roberts has excelled his standards to give us a great read. Decius is now respected and successful after the many scrapes and 'taking one for the team sacrifices' of earlier books. Set against the backdrop of the civil war to come that will throw Pompy against Caesar. Roberts cleverly adds all those fascinating details that we all love about his books. Like the revelation that although the locality love Pompey they will not rush to join his Legions against Caesar as they know which dog will come out top! Pompey's old fat 'seen its best days years ago veterans against Caesar's battle hardened, hungry young wolves.
The main thrust of the story ably supported by Roberts expertise in background is the puzzling murder of a priest of Appolo followed by the discovery of several more. In the frame the rival cult's priests. The added twist here is that two cults co-exist like a double deckered bus on the same site the Appolo on top and underneath the title giving Oracle of the Dead's Hecate cult. Sheer genius in setting a who dunit IMHO.
Not a moment is wasted in waffle in the narrative in telling how Decius gets to the solution of the murders after deduction and court room drama.
100 per cent recommended.
That's the beauty of this series, Roberts allows his reader to grow up with our hero and this book has that air of being written by our hero Decius as an old man reflecting on his life past who has that curse of outliving all his friends, lovers and enemies.
Is the book any good. A resounding YES Roberts has excelled his standards to give us a great read. Decius is now respected and successful after the many scrapes and 'taking one for the team sacrifices' of earlier books. Set against the backdrop of the civil war to come that will throw Pompy against Caesar. Roberts cleverly adds all those fascinating details that we all love about his books. Like the revelation that although the locality love Pompey they will not rush to join his Legions against Caesar as they know which dog will come out top! Pompey's old fat 'seen its best days years ago veterans against Caesar's battle hardened, hungry young wolves.
The main thrust of the story ably supported by Roberts expertise in background is the puzzling murder of a priest of Appolo followed by the discovery of several more. In the frame the rival cult's priests. The added twist here is that two cults co-exist like a double deckered bus on the same site the Appolo on top and underneath the title giving Oracle of the Dead's Hecate cult. Sheer genius in setting a who dunit IMHO.
Not a moment is wasted in waffle in the narrative in telling how Decius gets to the solution of the murders after deduction and court room drama.
100 per cent recommended.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Oracle Of the Dead - John Maddox Roberts
Another in the series of mystery novels set in ancient Rome, in the first century BC, with the main protagonist being Decius Caecilius Metellus. Read more
Published 13 months ago by CRTE
Unholy goings-on
Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger continues his term as judge and investigating magistrate in this latest in the entertaining SPQR series. Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2009 by Iain S. Palin
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
