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sandin954's review
3.0
This series gets better with each book. I really like the hero, Decius Cecilius Metellus, and find the author's takes on Titus Milo and Clodius very entertaining. The plot used the Bona Dea scandal as a starting point but varied enough from history to make it suspenseful. Listened to the audio version which was narrated by John Lee who had just the right sardonic tone for the proceedings.
raptorimperator's review
4.0
Decius uncovers a conspiracy between three of the most powerful men in Rome, but is unable to stop the tide of history.
Thankfully, unlike the previous books, he didn't sleep with anyone devious women like Clodia or Aurelia, this time around. But his weakness for women did pop up in the form of Julia Minor (Caesar's fictional niece), who convinced Decius to let her become a colleague, of sorts, in his investigation. She is very strong willed, and very much his equal, and their banter was superb. She's definitely his match.
Decius acquired a new slave from a relative, a rascally teenager named Hermes, who has quite the mouth and isn't afraid of talking back to his master. The back and forth between the pair is quite amusing, and I look forward to seeing more of Hermes in future books.
I felt the storytelling improved from the last book, however--like the previous 2 books in the series--the mystery hinged too much on historical events, and involvement of real historical figures. The mystery part of the story would have benefited if these historical persons weren't involved, but more on the periphery of the story, similar to how [a:Steven Saylor|42919|Steven Saylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394768071p2/42919.jpg] and [a:Lindsey Davis|24844|Lindsey Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1269886022p2/24844.jpg] handle historical figures in their respective series.
But still, seeing how Decius arrives at the answers to his questions was still entertaining. John Maddox Roberts paints an entertaining picture of Roman life, and I enjoy his portrayal of the aforementioned historical figures that feature heavily in his books.
Thankfully, unlike the previous books, he didn't sleep with anyone devious women like Clodia or Aurelia, this time around. But his weakness for women did pop up in the form of Julia Minor (Caesar's fictional niece), who convinced Decius to let her become a colleague, of sorts, in his investigation. She is very strong willed, and very much his equal, and their banter was superb. She's definitely his match.
Spoiler
And, if the course of the ending remains in the next book, Decius may be embarking a more solid romance with her.Decius acquired a new slave from a relative, a rascally teenager named Hermes, who has quite the mouth and isn't afraid of talking back to his master. The back and forth between the pair is quite amusing, and I look forward to seeing more of Hermes in future books.
I felt the storytelling improved from the last book, however--like the previous 2 books in the series--the mystery hinged too much on historical events, and involvement of real historical figures. The mystery part of the story would have benefited if these historical persons weren't involved, but more on the periphery of the story, similar to how [a:Steven Saylor|42919|Steven Saylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1394768071p2/42919.jpg] and [a:Lindsey Davis|24844|Lindsey Davis|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1269886022p2/24844.jpg] handle historical figures in their respective series.
Spoiler
With the way it was written, I knew long before the climax that Decius would fail to achieve his aims, since I already knew the history of the persons involved.But still, seeing how Decius arrives at the answers to his questions
Spoiler
, and is then inevitably unable to stop history from unfolding as I know it does,traveller1's review
4.0
The last of the (current) series to be read by me. The novel tells the story behind Clodius' profanation of the secret women's annual, religious festival—from which all men are banned. The reason, the venue and time were used to hide a meeting behind the biggest of the Roman political scene, so that they could craft the first triumvirate.
Our hero Decius stumbles around Rome, with his new slave Hermes, uncovering this puzzle piece by piece. Again, my one criticism, the resolution was too swift. A few more pages would be been better.
Here's hoping Roberts writes more in this series.
Our hero Decius stumbles around Rome, with his new slave Hermes, uncovering this puzzle piece by piece. Again, my one criticism, the resolution was too swift. A few more pages would be been better.
Here's hoping Roberts writes more in this series.
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