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When Roman junior senator Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger has a chance to join a diplomatic mission to Alexandria, he welcomes the opportunity to temporarily elude his enemies in the Eternal City-even though it means leaving his beloved Rome. Decius is just beginning to enjoy the outpost's many exotic pleasures when the suspicious death of an irascible philosopher occurs, coinciding with the puzzling and apocalyptic ravings of a charismatic cult leader. Intrigued, Decius requests and is given permission by the Egyptian Pharaoh to investigate the heinous crime. What he discovers is beyond shocking. And when the corpse of a famous courtesan mysteriously turns up in his bed, Decius suddenly finds himself entangled in a web of conspiracy far more widespread and dangerous than he ever imagined-one that threatens to bring about the downfall of the entire Empire.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After solving the mystery of the Sacrilege in Ceasar's House and with the political implications of his actions, trying to reveal the plot to subvert the senile Roman Republic by the most powerful persons of the era, Decius Caecilius Metellus junior leaves the premises of the Capital, in a "rehabilitating" embassy to the court of Rome's protegee king Ptolaemaeus of Egypt,as companion to his Senior relative Cointus Caecilius Metellus "the Cretan". A seemingly easy mission to allow him to be forgotten and safe by his dedicated and annoyed ennemies, brings the young sleuthing senator to the port of The Ptolaemean Alexandreia. The majestic description of one of the most flamboyant and grand cities of that era comes alive in front of the reader's eyes, under the quill skills and excellent historic knowledge of John Maddox Roberts. The Great Library and the Museum with the great philosophers and scientists of the era is the theatre of his first social visit, due to the interest of his betrothed Julia,niece of Ceasar, in a surprise trip to Alexandreia, and her interest of the scientific research and theory. But the young senator's fate brings him again to the entangled paths of a murderous conspiracy. Mathematician Iphicrates from Chios, one of the last pupils of Archimedes is found murdered in the Museum during a symposium. Again the natural eagerness of Metellus brings him to the dangerous tracks of the conspirators. What is the involment of 10 year old Cleopatra's older sister Verenice in it? What brings in the plot the Parthian Ambassador and an Athenean Haetera? Lots of sub plots fitting like jigsaw puzzles and the help of Julia and the Greek doctor Asclepiades mortuary skills will be enough for the Sleuthing Senator to solve the mystery of the murder and beneath it? Once more John Maddox Roberts gives us an exceptional description of an historic era even if some people may have slight objections about the "subjective" views he presents in Metellus's comments. Combined with a mystery plot and a way of writing that doesn't allow the reader to get outtracked by the vast amounts of historical data he presents and that added to the normal "predictability" of a series of mystery solving novels with a central hero... just as Roberts has proved in his previous books he can easily overcome this and provide us with the thrill of the unexpected. At the end of the book the reader will find himself delighted by a very compact and well written thriller and a lot of historical knowledge he couldn't have absorbed so easily from a school book. Just read enjoy and grab the next in the series.!!!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
John Maddox Roberts is the pseudonym of Mark Ramsay, author of numerous works of science fiction and fantasy, in addition to his successful historical SPQR mystery series. He lives in New Mexico with his wife.
Once again our hero, Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger is drawn into a web of deceit and intrigue, but this time outside the confines of his beloved Rome. Decius is given the chance to join a delegation that are on a diplomatic mission to Alexandria and he sees it as an ideal opportunity to escape the attention of his growing number of enemies in Rome.
Decius is just beginning to enjoy his visit to Egypt, with all of its exotic pleasures, when a suspicious death of a philosopher occurs, coinciding with the ravings of a charismatic cult leader. Intrigued by the death, Decius is given permission by the Pharaoh to investigate the crime, but what he eventually discovers shocks even Decius. Our hero has taken many women to his bed, but when the body of a famous courtesan mysteriously turns up in his bed, Decius is less than amused and finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy much more far reaching than he could ever have imagined.
Once again our hero, Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger is drawn into a web of deceit and intrigue, but this time outside the confines of his beloved Rome. Decius is given the chance to join a delegation that are on a diplomatic mission to Alexandria and he sees it as an ideal opportunity to escape the attention of his growing number of enemies in Rome.
Decius is just beginning to enjoy his visit to Egypt, with all of its exotic pleasures, when a suspicious death of a philosopher occurs, coinciding with the ravings of a charismatic cult leader. Intrigued by the death, Decius is given permission by the Pharaoh to investigate the crime, but what he eventually discovers shocks even Decius. Our hero has taken many women to his bed, but when the body of a famous courtesan mysteriously turns up in his bed, Decius is less than amused and finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy much more far reaching than he could ever have imagined.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a brilliant read. I devoured this book in 2 days it is that easy to read and really grabs the attention. Not a moment is wasted in plot, episodes, action and the setting
I consider myself to be well read in the Roman Sleuths series (Falco, Gordianus et al) and I can honestly say I learned a lot about 'Eygpt at the time of Ceaser's rise.
What makes this refreshing is that the author contains all the action within Alexandria a modern 'planned' city near the Nile Delta.
Maddox Roberts has done a brilliant work and I really enjoyed exploring Alexandra through a 'Subura' saturated Roman's eyes. (Read the book you will know what I mean)
If anything Alexandra is the star of the book. A nice murder is committed, investigate and solved all within a very enjoyable romp through decadent Alexandrian Society.
I really learned a lot about the Museum. I'd no idea where the term came from and Maddox Roberts not only entertains his reader but educates all in a really enjoyable style.# Cleopatra the 7th is met aged 10 and a hint of a return meeting is oh so tantalizingly hinted. (Can't wait)
Why 5 stars? well to be honest he left me with wanting more so 4 and a half would be nearer the mark?
I enjoyed the book so much I would have gladly have enjoyed another 100 pages of exploring Alexandrian life and Society or maybe.. just maybe Maddox Roberts has left the reader with that all to rare event finishing a book with regret that a magnificent story is over rather than the relief one feels after plowing through weightier tomes??
I consider myself to be well read in the Roman Sleuths series (Falco, Gordianus et al) and I can honestly say I learned a lot about 'Eygpt at the time of Ceaser's rise.
What makes this refreshing is that the author contains all the action within Alexandria a modern 'planned' city near the Nile Delta.
Maddox Roberts has done a brilliant work and I really enjoyed exploring Alexandra through a 'Subura' saturated Roman's eyes. (Read the book you will know what I mean)
If anything Alexandra is the star of the book. A nice murder is committed, investigate and solved all within a very enjoyable romp through decadent Alexandrian Society.
I really learned a lot about the Museum. I'd no idea where the term came from and Maddox Roberts not only entertains his reader but educates all in a really enjoyable style.# Cleopatra the 7th is met aged 10 and a hint of a return meeting is oh so tantalizingly hinted. (Can't wait)
Why 5 stars? well to be honest he left me with wanting more so 4 and a half would be nearer the mark?
I enjoyed the book so much I would have gladly have enjoyed another 100 pages of exploring Alexandrian life and Society or maybe.. just maybe Maddox Roberts has left the reader with that all to rare event finishing a book with regret that a magnificent story is over rather than the relief one feels after plowing through weightier tomes??
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Out of Rome for a change
This is book 4 in the SPQR series. It is highly recommended that you read the first three first (starting with "The King's Gambit"). Read more
Published 13 months ago by Printul Noptilor
Another good read
I purchased this book in paperback form one of Amazon's agents, but it arrived about four days after ordering, in pristine condition and it was reasonably priced. Read more
Published 19 months ago by CRTE
A fan of Decius
Being already fairly knowledgeable of Roman history and modern Rome too, this is just the series for me!
Published 22 months ago by Mary Roll Vallanjon
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