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A review by raptorimperator
The Temple of the Muses by John Maddox Roberts
5.0
I really enjoyed this one, because unlike the previous 3 books, the murder mystery didn't resolve around a well-documented event in Roman history, making the mystery more of a mystery. Taking the setting out of Rome also helped. With 3 books under his belt, JMR's Decius is fully formed now, and I rather like his musings and take on the ancient world. I think this is the book where JMR really hits his stride with the SPQR series, and a lot of that was helped by crafting a story without the crutch of a key historical event in Ancient Roman history.
Here Decius gets involved in some political intrigue in the city of Alexandria as part of the official Roman envoys, staying the Roman Embassy in the Egyptian Palace complex, where he encounters Ptolemy XII Auletes (aka the Flute Player) enough times to get a commission from the Pharaoh to investigate a murder. And just his luck, Julia Minor, his betrothed, also happens to be there, accompanied by the Lady Fausta, daughter of the Dictator Sulla and now Milo's betrothed. Decius and Julia visit the famous sites of Alexandria, from the Library to the Lighthouse, as well as Alexander's Tomb. Decius even encounters a young Cleopatra, already displaying the aptitude and traits that will eventually make her one of histories most famous queens. Decius gets himself into trouble, of course; his weakness towards women ensuring that, but for somewhat different reasons than in the other books.
Unlike it's predecessors, the plot wasn't as predictable, because the story didn't hinge on a historical event that I already knew the outcome of as someone who studied Ancient Rome as my major in university. So I was far more entertained, as I didn't know what was coming, besides knowing that someway or another, Decius would find a way to get into some trouble.
Here Decius gets involved in some political intrigue in the city of Alexandria as part of the official Roman envoys, staying the Roman Embassy in the Egyptian Palace complex, where he encounters Ptolemy XII Auletes (aka the Flute Player) enough times to get a commission from the Pharaoh to investigate a murder. And just his luck, Julia Minor, his betrothed, also happens to be there, accompanied by the Lady Fausta, daughter of the Dictator Sulla and now Milo's betrothed. Decius and Julia visit the famous sites of Alexandria, from the Library to the Lighthouse, as well as Alexander's Tomb. Decius even encounters a young Cleopatra, already displaying the aptitude and traits that will eventually make her one of histories most famous queens. Decius gets himself into trouble, of course; his weakness towards women ensuring that, but for somewhat different reasons than in the other books.
Unlike it's predecessors, the plot wasn't as predictable, because the story didn't hinge on a historical event that I already knew the outcome of as someone who studied Ancient Rome as my major in university. So I was far more entertained, as I didn't know what was coming, besides knowing that someway or another, Decius would find a way to get into some trouble.