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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the Fifth in the SPQR series so the first question the reader will want to know is 'Do I have to read the previous 4 to understand?' The answer is No. Each book can stand by it's own merits BUT dear reader if this is your first in the series you will want to read them all they are THAT good.
(And this is from a 'seasoned' reader of Steven Saylor's Gordianus the Finder, Linsey Davis' Didius Falco and others)
This book doesn't waste a word in the telling and the tale and mystery rattles along like a runaway train.
Brought from Rhodes to solve a murder by poison Decius has to have all his wits and guile to solve and survive Rome.
Although the telling really moves fast Roberts cleverly weaves in some fascinating aspects of Roman life around 70BC. Rome is founded on Italian soil and some of the old religious cults still flourish it seems. The plot twist and swerves and there are a couple of interesting dead ends but my do we have fun getting there. To quote Decius ' a good hunter will always return to the part where his prey was definitely on track' and so does our hero ably assisted by his fiance Julia and the Greek Physician cum forensic expert Asklepiodes. But don't let the fool you into thinking Decius has his Watson to aid him, no he is definitely a one man band.
As I've said the story rattles along and the reader finishes with regret that this great story had to end rather that and the relief at the end of some books I could mention!
Whereas others would waste another chapter to explain and close the story Maddox Roberts has that delightful gift of closing with a clap. Rather like my old Primary School teachers used to close a chapter by slapping the book closed. We always wanted to find out what happened next and Roberts leaves us desperately to seek out the next book.
Recommended? YES. Scintillating a brilliant read!
(And this is from a 'seasoned' reader of Steven Saylor's Gordianus the Finder, Linsey Davis' Didius Falco and others)
This book doesn't waste a word in the telling and the tale and mystery rattles along like a runaway train.
Brought from Rhodes to solve a murder by poison Decius has to have all his wits and guile to solve and survive Rome.
Although the telling really moves fast Roberts cleverly weaves in some fascinating aspects of Roman life around 70BC. Rome is founded on Italian soil and some of the old religious cults still flourish it seems. The plot twist and swerves and there are a couple of interesting dead ends but my do we have fun getting there. To quote Decius ' a good hunter will always return to the part where his prey was definitely on track' and so does our hero ably assisted by his fiance Julia and the Greek Physician cum forensic expert Asklepiodes. But don't let the fool you into thinking Decius has his Watson to aid him, no he is definitely a one man band.
As I've said the story rattles along and the reader finishes with regret that this great story had to end rather that and the relief at the end of some books I could mention!
Whereas others would waste another chapter to explain and close the story Maddox Roberts has that delightful gift of closing with a clap. Rather like my old Primary School teachers used to close a chapter by slapping the book closed. We always wanted to find out what happened next and Roberts leaves us desperately to seek out the next book.
Recommended? YES. Scintillating a brilliant read!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger has been sampling what he regards as the good life on the beautiful island of Rhodes, but that was never the intention of his family who exiled him there because of knack of causing trouble wherever he goes. Now he has been called back to Rome where his powers of deduction and mystery solving are sorely needed.
The head of a politically powerful family has been poisoned and as usual in these cases the number one suspect is his wife Clodia. It happens everyday, someone or other is murdered, but it is usually a stabbing or strangulation. Poison is different. Poisoning involves the laws against witchcraft. A trial of Clodia for poisoning could embarrass some of the richest and most important families in Rome.
Apart from that Decius thinks that Clodia is innocent. Our young sleuth has ever been a sucker for a pretty face, but to his credit he never lets it cloud his judgement, well until now anyway . . .
The head of a politically powerful family has been poisoned and as usual in these cases the number one suspect is his wife Clodia. It happens everyday, someone or other is murdered, but it is usually a stabbing or strangulation. Poison is different. Poisoning involves the laws against witchcraft. A trial of Clodia for poisoning could embarrass some of the richest and most important families in Rome.
Apart from that Decius thinks that Clodia is innocent. Our young sleuth has ever been a sucker for a pretty face, but to his credit he never lets it cloud his judgement, well until now anyway . . .
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you have read one in this series of novels concerning a 'snoop' in ancient Rome, at around the time Julius Caesar rose to prominence, then you have read them all ! So saying, I enjoyed this as much as the preceding 4 in the series. For those who have read the 'Falco' series these are very different: the character of the protagonist is very different (he comes from a priviledged background and is an amateur), yet like Falco he does a private life (and a public one - he is quite well known), from which the reader can learn a little of the structure of life in the republic.
To describe the plot, without, I hope, giving too much away: our hero is recalled from exile on Rhodes by his family near the feast time of Saturnalia (December), who need his investigative skills to implicate a certain person in the death of a relative. Early on he runs across his arch-enemy, who threatens him in order to clear the same person. Much of the story involves chasing (following up) female witnesses (I use the term witness loosely) around the outskirts of Rome. The identity of the killer only becomes clear near the very end of the book, and is, to my mind, a complete surprise - but I had no opinion as to which character it might be.
The paperback is very reasonably priced, and I think I purchased it direct from Amazon, and it arrived in three or four days in perfect condition.
The book is compulsive reading, and as such does not take long to read !
To describe the plot, without, I hope, giving too much away: our hero is recalled from exile on Rhodes by his family near the feast time of Saturnalia (December), who need his investigative skills to implicate a certain person in the death of a relative. Early on he runs across his arch-enemy, who threatens him in order to clear the same person. Much of the story involves chasing (following up) female witnesses (I use the term witness loosely) around the outskirts of Rome. The identity of the killer only becomes clear near the very end of the book, and is, to my mind, a complete surprise - but I had no opinion as to which character it might be.
The paperback is very reasonably priced, and I think I purchased it direct from Amazon, and it arrived in three or four days in perfect condition.
The book is compulsive reading, and as such does not take long to read !
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