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raptorimperator's review
4.0
And thus ends the SPQR series. It had its ups and downs, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
There is a big time jump in-between this book and the last one. The civil war is over, and Caesar is now dictator. During the in-between, it appears the vast majority of the Metelli clan backed the wrong horse in the civil war, leaving Decius as the only survivor. His father, the Elder, much of died, because Decius is never referred to as the Younger in this story.
Caesar is setting up his new calendar, as the one Rome had was incredible out of sync. He tasked Decius to oversee the final stages of it, also having him be the one to introduce it to the populace., who aren't really thrilled with the changes. Naturally, some murders occur, and Decius is charged with finding out the culprits. He goes about this task with his loyal freedman Hermes at his side. His patrician wife, as well as Caesar's nieces, Julia Minor still features heavily as his confident and does her own investigating.
Much is made of Cleopatra's presence in Rome, and Caesar's eventually selection of an heir. I always get a kick how Decius always refers to young Augustus as that Octavius brat. He never refers to him as Augustus, when speaking as the older Decius, always "The First Citizen" and never in favorable terms. Many famous historical figures feature in this book, Brutus, Cassius Longinus, Servilia (Brutus's mother), Antonius (Mark Antony), and even Cicero has a brief appearance, along with other characters throughout the series that are still alive during this point.
The mystery is a little convoluted, but entertaining enough. Per usual, Decius arrives on things near the end, and the conclusion is a little rushed and dramatic. I'm sad to see the end, and will miss Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger and company.
There is a big time jump in-between this book and the last one. The civil war is over, and Caesar is now dictator. During the in-between, it appears the vast majority of the Metelli clan backed the wrong horse in the civil war, leaving Decius as the only survivor. His father, the Elder, much of died, because Decius is never referred to as the Younger in this story.
Caesar is setting up his new calendar, as the one Rome had was incredible out of sync. He tasked Decius to oversee the final stages of it, also having him be the one to introduce it to the populace., who aren't really thrilled with the changes. Naturally, some murders occur, and Decius is charged with finding out the culprits. He goes about this task with his loyal freedman Hermes at his side. His patrician wife, as well as Caesar's nieces, Julia Minor still features heavily as his confident and does her own investigating.
Much is made of Cleopatra's presence in Rome, and Caesar's eventually selection of an heir. I always get a kick how Decius always refers to young Augustus as that Octavius brat. He never refers to him as Augustus, when speaking as the older Decius, always "The First Citizen" and never in favorable terms. Many famous historical figures feature in this book, Brutus, Cassius Longinus, Servilia (Brutus's mother), Antonius (Mark Antony), and even Cicero has a brief appearance, along with other characters throughout the series that are still alive during this point.
The mystery is a little convoluted, but entertaining enough. Per usual, Decius arrives on things near the end, and the conclusion is a little rushed and dramatic. I'm sad to see the end, and will miss Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger and company.
stacey42's review
4.0
It's a melancholy Decius in this last SPQR book. The Republic he knew & loved is gone and Cesar is dictator. In the war between this book & the previous one, his family, the Metelli, chose Pompey and lost everything. Except him. Married to Cesar's niece in a political plan that anticipated just this scenario, Decius is safe, for now.
Cesar puts him in charge of implementing the new calendar & then investigating the murders of two of the astronomers that created it. They were murdered in a highly unusual manner that leaves everyone wondering how they managed it. The investigation leads Decius into the dangerous world of women's politics and the question of who Cesar's heir might be.
I'm so sad its over, but it ends on a high note.
Cesar puts him in charge of implementing the new calendar & then investigating the murders of two of the astronomers that created it. They were murdered in a highly unusual manner that leaves everyone wondering how they managed it. The investigation leads Decius into the dangerous world of women's politics and the question of who Cesar's heir might be.
I'm so sad its over, but it ends on a high note.
traveller1's review
3.0
Without being critical, Roberts novels seem to me to be the literary equivalent of potato chips: easy, quick, and enjoyable, even addictive.
The story: our protagonist, Decius, is closely allied to the mighty dictator, Julius Caesar, as he (Caesar) restores the Republic. Decius is tasked with implementing Caesar's new calendar, designed by a bunch of foreign (eastern) savants. This provokes a fair amount of resentment from the Romans. Not important, until two of these easterners are found dead—murdered dead.
Decius investigates, and finds a long, winding tangle of intrigue, that leads deep into the squabble over the selection of Caesar's eventual successor. The usual range of prominent Romans (and Cleopatra) are involved, all against the busy backdrop of late Republican Rome.
This novel is not central to the history of the time, no one great or powerful is a central character. Just the little people, dying.
Fun, intriguing, rich: recommended.
The story: our protagonist, Decius, is closely allied to the mighty dictator, Julius Caesar, as he (Caesar) restores the Republic. Decius is tasked with implementing Caesar's new calendar, designed by a bunch of foreign (eastern) savants. This provokes a fair amount of resentment from the Romans. Not important, until two of these easterners are found dead—murdered dead.
Decius investigates, and finds a long, winding tangle of intrigue, that leads deep into the squabble over the selection of Caesar's eventual successor. The usual range of prominent Romans (and Cleopatra) are involved, all against the busy backdrop of late Republican Rome.
This novel is not central to the history of the time, no one great or powerful is a central character. Just the little people, dying.
Fun, intriguing, rich: recommended.
catmum's review
3.0
As much as I love this series, I get the feeling that Roberts was ready to end it two books ago. This entry skips way ahead in time, to the year Caesar introduced the Julian calendar. Caesar ask Decius Metellus to investigate the murders of an astronomer and an astrologer who came to Rome to work on the new calendar. I shall miss Decius and Hermes.
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