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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Excellent!, 17 Mar 2000
By A Customer
I am currently reading my way through this marvellous series of books, this being the second (following 'Roman Blood') The Ancient Roman detective Gordianus the Finder travels south from Rome to the Cup of Italy, playground of the seriously wealthy, in order to solve a murder for which two slaves have been blamed. I was not disappointed with this after really enjoying the first novel. The books contain a wealth of factual historical information which is interwoven with the fiction. These are not dry historical tomes, but easy to read enjoyable 'whodunnits' which educate and entertain in equal quantities. A fast paced mystery from a superb writer.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping crime novel that explores Ancient Roman society, 18 Aug 2001
By A Customer
Arms of Nemesis is another in Saylor's Gordianus the Finder series. This one addresses the issue of Roman slavery, and Gordianus' attitudes to it while working for Marcus Crassus at his country villa solving a murder. It brings in Sparticus' slave revolt to give the social aspect of the book focus, so that while you are reading another gripping detective book, there is also the other thought provoking side. The mystery itself has the usual twists and turns, and although there is a great deal of scholarly research that is obviously behind all the details, Arms of Nemesis is incredibly easy to read. What more could you want from a book?
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Saylor is one of the gods of the pantheon., 24 Mar 2001
By A Customer
What makes Gordianus such a comfortably accessible, loveable rogue of a character? Numerous protagonists throughout the history of the literate word have surely grasped more attention than the simplistically honest, erudite philosopher and investigator whom Saylor has created. Take for example Sherlock Holmes, Brother Cadfael, the steretypical Dick Tracy archetype of the American P.I. But Gordianus shines with a radiance only mirrored by the author of the ROMA SUB ROSA series. In "Arms of Nemesis" the reader is lead along the third of the Gordianus novels, the others previous being "Roman Blood" a masterwork of the historical genre, and the astounding anthology of Roman mystery short-stories "The House of the Vestals: The Investigations of Gordianus the Finder". In both we quickly develop an irrepressible fondness for Gordianus, his once-mute son Eco, and the slow-witted but eternally loyal strong-armer Belbo. In "Arms of Nemesis" the situation in which Gordianus is placed is of a high nature, essentially the prominent high point in which he becomes renowned by the upper Roman aristocracy, one fascist aristocrat being Pompey, later on within the series. In "Arms of Nemesis" Gordianus the Finder is commissioned by Marcus Licinius Crassus, regarded as one of the largest historical and political losers of ancient Rome, to investigate the uncanny death of the overseer of Crassus's estate, South of the Gulf of Puteoli. What Gordianus discovers is the lemure of Lucius Licinius, a seedy yet amiable enough fellow, who died under the hands of two panicked slaves, whom were so utterly pompous of their dirty work that they decided to go ally themselves with the political upheaval of the Spartacan Slave Revolt...or so Crassus assumes. Throw in an undeniable meltingpot of mysteriously morose and gloom-enshrouded suspects, all of whom keep secrets in the very alcoves of their hearts, and Gordianus is indeed put in a position. He has a maximum of three days to reveal the killer--be it another, or indeed the two slaves--because if he fails in his mission, ninety-nine innocent villeins of the house of Crassus will be slaughtered because of ancient law. In this novel we first confront the affable countenence of Meto and also Bethesda's pregnancy with Diana, which rushedly leads us on to the fourth chronicle, "Catilina's Riddle." "Arms of Nemesis" is complexly written, and rarely ever pauses for an intake of breath between its rampantly and swiftly moving dialogue and prose, bringing us ever closer to Gordianus's solution. To accompany the tight plotting, we have the habitually entertaining Saylor surprises, as well as some elegantly witty speech spattered throughout the book. "Arms of Nemesis" may seem a bit overshadowed by the brilliance of "Roman Blood" but as a sequel of sorts, it really does deserve five stars. Worthy of burnishing in gold.
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