Scan barcode
allison_21's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book because it was on my parents' bookshelf, and I know it was enjoyed as they seem to have the rest of the series (or at least most of it). I wasn't too sure how a mystery novel set in ancient Rome would work, but Steven Saylor manages to make the story easy to follow and enjoy despite the far-removed setting.
The solution to the mystery itself became increasingly obvious as the novel progressed, but the character building throughout the book kept it interesting even though main plot points had already been revealed.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and will be borrowing more of the series from my parents in the future.
The solution to the mystery itself became increasingly obvious as the novel progressed, but the character building throughout the book kept it interesting even though main plot points had already been revealed.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and will be borrowing more of the series from my parents in the future.
elusivity's review against another edition
3.0
A murder mystery based on Cicero's real trial notes, primarily his rebuttal.
Meticulously researched, vividly brought alive: Rome in its last days, clinging to the title of a Republic despite having had Sulla as dictator for years, and Julius Caesar soon to come. Slaves and freedmen and nobles and politicians, prostitutes and wives and the vissisitudes of lust and love and greed.
The novel itself is full of twists and turns, but the plot and characters are relatively simple to follow. Parts of it could have done with less exposition or lecturing, but over all, an excellent first novel and window into Ancient Rome. Recommended!
Meticulously researched, vividly brought alive: Rome in its last days, clinging to the title of a Republic despite having had Sulla as dictator for years, and Julius Caesar soon to come. Slaves and freedmen and nobles and politicians, prostitutes and wives and the vissisitudes of lust and love and greed.
The novel itself is full of twists and turns, but the plot and characters are relatively simple to follow. Parts of it could have done with less exposition or lecturing, but over all, an excellent first novel and window into Ancient Rome. Recommended!
smcleish's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog here in October 1999.
The third I have read (but the first in sequence) of Saylor's Roman detective stories about Gordianus the Finder gets him involved in one of the most famous trials in history. It's famous because it made the name of Cicero, whose speech from the trial still survives.
The murder victim, Sextus Roscius the elder, is a wealthy farmer who has retired to Rome to enjoy himself while his son (with the same name) runs the farm, its profits funding the old man's taste for the high life. The two men have never liked each other very much, and when the father is murdered in a back street - on his way to a brothel - during a visit by the son to Rome, the latter is suspected to be a parricide. This particular crime carried an extremely unpleasant penalty under Roman law (a most painful execution), and so the trial immediately assumed immense public interest, and so was likely to enhance Cicero's career if a successful defence was made.
Saylor has looked carefully at Cicero's speech - the prosecution speech does not survive, and has to be inferred from the rebuttal of points from it made by Cicero - and by reading between the lines has constructed an interesting mystery novel. (Cicero's speech aims to prove the innocence of his client, rather than to identify the guilty party.) This makes Roman Blood take a place in the top rank of historical crime novels.
The third I have read (but the first in sequence) of Saylor's Roman detective stories about Gordianus the Finder gets him involved in one of the most famous trials in history. It's famous because it made the name of Cicero, whose speech from the trial still survives.
The murder victim, Sextus Roscius the elder, is a wealthy farmer who has retired to Rome to enjoy himself while his son (with the same name) runs the farm, its profits funding the old man's taste for the high life. The two men have never liked each other very much, and when the father is murdered in a back street - on his way to a brothel - during a visit by the son to Rome, the latter is suspected to be a parricide. This particular crime carried an extremely unpleasant penalty under Roman law (a most painful execution), and so the trial immediately assumed immense public interest, and so was likely to enhance Cicero's career if a successful defence was made.
Saylor has looked carefully at Cicero's speech - the prosecution speech does not survive, and has to be inferred from the rebuttal of points from it made by Cicero - and by reading between the lines has constructed an interesting mystery novel. (Cicero's speech aims to prove the innocence of his client, rather than to identify the guilty party.) This makes Roman Blood take a place in the top rank of historical crime novels.
traveller1's review against another edition
3.0
An entertaining look at an actual historical trial, set in the late Roman Republic. Well written, clever interpretation, however, I do not find lawyering that exciting, so 3 stars, not 4.
hekate24's review against another edition
4.0
Fun historical mystery. Marred somewhat by moments of awkward writing. In particular, I refer to the passage around 75% of the way in during which the narrator drones on and on and on and on about the Social Wars and Sulla versus Marius. Prior to this moment the author had seamlessly mixed historical exposition and original plot. Docking half a point for this, I was so annoyed. My wrath, this review can haz it.
There's lots to like about this, though. Cicero is as 'gray and gray morality' as he seems to be in all fictional incarnations in which I've encountered him. It's especially fun to see him as a (reckless, arrogant) young man at very beginning of his career. As narrators go, I rather like Gordianus (his "hangover cure, do you haz one?" intro seemed overdone, but he promptly calmed down, so no real harm dine) and I'm sticking with the series on that account. Tiro was pretty great and Bethesda shows promise; withholding judgement there, because her serene attitude towards slavery and... Well, everything, all seemed a bit too convenient. The mystery itself is engaging, though sometimes feels like a prop for (surprise, shock) the larger social upheaval at hand. Frankly, I think I prefer it that way. Crimes that seem to exist in a vacuum bore me.
Overall, this is a vivid and fast read, for better or for worse. Thankfully, more of the former!
There's lots to like about this, though. Cicero is as 'gray and gray morality' as he seems to be in all fictional incarnations in which I've encountered him. It's especially fun to see him as a (reckless, arrogant) young man at very beginning of his career. As narrators go, I rather like Gordianus (his "hangover cure, do you haz one?" intro seemed overdone, but he promptly calmed down, so no real harm dine) and I'm sticking with the series on that account. Tiro was pretty great and Bethesda shows promise; withholding judgement there, because her serene attitude towards slavery and... Well, everything, all seemed a bit too convenient. The mystery itself is engaging, though sometimes feels like a prop for (surprise, shock) the larger social upheaval at hand. Frankly, I think I prefer it that way. Crimes that seem to exist in a vacuum bore me.
Overall, this is a vivid and fast read, for better or for worse. Thankfully, more of the former!
oliwija's review against another edition
4.0
Den var välskriven och väldigt bra översatt. Jag gillade svägningarna i historien och också hur mycket den lyckades överraska mig. En bra historisk deckare och intressant att se hur rättvisa, lag och ordning "fungerade" i Romarriket. '
rosienotjen's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
julieputty's review against another edition
4.0
Fine and fascinating mystery with no noticeable (to me) anachronisms.
razgon's review against another edition
3.0
Great book by Steven Saylor - After reading it , I was dubious whether the events depicted in it were historical, but as far as we can tell, they are. While it is a detective novel, Mr Saylor shows how well he knows the subject matter throughout the book. I will be reading others in this series as well!
stephybara's review against another edition
3.0
This is good for what it is - a Roman mystery based on a true case argued by Cicero - and the writing is pretty good, but it seemed a bit long and dry in parts.