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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
Another fun outing for Ruso and Tilla. I do find the light, modern tone of these novels occasionally a little jarring: would the ancient Romans really have called something , or is that a "modern translation" that sounds super-modern? Did Roman hospitals really work the way they're described or is there some present-projection-into-the-past going on? I can happily believe that I underestimate the modernity of ancient Rome in some ways, but sometimes it just feels implausible, whether or not that's correct.
Spoiler
Sports Night
Another excellent entry in this series featuring a doctor in the service of the Legion serving in Britannia. Ruso is a great reluctant hero and Tilla is always highly entertaining. The plot was quite suspenseful and quick moving and the look at Hadrian and his wife interesting.
By far the most twisty and turny plot of the series so far. The further development of Russo and Tilla's relationship is lovely, as is the focus on legionnaire/camp follower life and the sudden arrival of the Emperor Hadrian.
Back with the Legio XX, Ruso is doing inspection rounds. We are treated to a view of life in the various outposts and training of recruits for the Roman legions. As usual, Ruso gets dragged (reluctantly!) into looking at some unsavoury aspects of life and death.
What to Expect
Well-researched details about Roman life in Roman Britain under Hadrian (who makes a cameo appearance), murders and other nefarious deeds, a plot and sub-plots that twist and build up - all for a great read overall.
The POV of view alternates between Ruso and his (British) wife Tilla, and Downie does an excellent job in describing how these two very different people view the world. The rest of the cast are also fully realised people, and one cannot but relate to them.
What I liked
This goes for the whole series.
The absolute charm of the writing. All characters are fully fleshed, believable, with their own motivations. The writing is witty, the setting is rich, the plot thought-out, and the mysteries engaging.
These are the kind of books where you care for the characters. Downie has a knack to depict the world-views of the characters realistically, switching viewpoints from a Roman medical officer to a British peasant woman. It is clear that each character - from main to support cast - is a fully realised person, with their own agendas and biases.
The plot of the stories grips you till can't put the book down. Downie is masterfully weaving the investigations through sub-plots, distractions, daily lives, grand events - till you just have to know what happens next. Ruso may be a reluctant investigator, but he has that nagging voice in his head when things don't quite fit well, and it keeps him following and digging for the truth. Tilla has her own sense of fairness, and views on what makes the world tick.
Downie locates each book in a different town, mostly around Roman Britain
(with only two exceptions). She has clearly done her research for each location and they all come alive, with the latest modern archaeological understanding of life there seeping through her writing.
What to be aware of
These aren't the noir mysteries I normally read and recommend. While there are certainly some gruesome bits (did I mention gladiatorial combats?), these aren't your typical first-person hard-boiled detective. Rather, the stories are told in a lighter vein, in third person perspective from either Ruso or Tilla's POV. Happily, Tilla gets more page-time as the series progresses.
Ms Downie has experience with archaeology and Latin history, and it shows in her writing. She has elected to translate most Latin terms into modern English (e.g. calling a master 'my lord' rather then 'domine', or using 'doctor' for physician), which may sound a tad weird to those used to Latin terms from similar series.
Be aware that while it's not strictly necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps.
Summary
I absolutely love this series. I have no idea why it took me so long to get back to it, but I am glad I did. If you've read the previous books, this is a great continuation. If not, go back to book one (Medicus) and start reading today!
--
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1445823325p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457914061s/29500700.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
Well-researched details about Roman life in Roman Britain under Hadrian (who makes a cameo appearance), murders and other nefarious deeds, a plot and sub-plots that twist and build up - all for a great read overall.
The POV of view alternates between Ruso and his (British) wife Tilla, and Downie does an excellent job in describing how these two very different people view the world. The rest of the cast are also fully realised people, and one cannot but relate to them.
What I liked
This goes for the whole series.
The absolute charm of the writing. All characters are fully fleshed, believable, with their own motivations. The writing is witty, the setting is rich, the plot thought-out, and the mysteries engaging.
These are the kind of books where you care for the characters. Downie has a knack to depict the world-views of the characters realistically, switching viewpoints from a Roman medical officer to a British peasant woman. It is clear that each character - from main to support cast - is a fully realised person, with their own agendas and biases.
The plot of the stories grips you till can't put the book down. Downie is masterfully weaving the investigations through sub-plots, distractions, daily lives, grand events - till you just have to know what happens next. Ruso may be a reluctant investigator, but he has that nagging voice in his head when things don't quite fit well, and it keeps him following and digging for the truth. Tilla has her own sense of fairness, and views on what makes the world tick.
Downie locates each book in a different town, mostly around Roman Britain
(with only two exceptions). She has clearly done her research for each location and they all come alive, with the latest modern archaeological understanding of life there seeping through her writing.
What to be aware of
These aren't the noir mysteries I normally read and recommend. While there are certainly some gruesome bits (did I mention gladiatorial combats?), these aren't your typical first-person hard-boiled detective. Rather, the stories are told in a lighter vein, in third person perspective from either Ruso or Tilla's POV. Happily, Tilla gets more page-time as the series progresses.
Ms Downie has experience with archaeology and Latin history, and it shows in her writing. She has elected to translate most Latin terms into modern English (e.g. calling a master 'my lord' rather then 'domine', or using 'doctor' for physician), which may sound a tad weird to those used to Latin terms from similar series.
Be aware that while it's not strictly necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps.
Summary
I absolutely love this series. I have no idea why it took me so long to get back to it, but I am glad I did. If you've read the previous books, this is a great continuation. If not, go back to book one (Medicus) and start reading today!
--
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1445823325p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457914061s/29500700.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
The setting has returned to Britannia and Ruso has returned to the legion. This book also feels like it's returned to the qualities that made me like the first book so much. Hadrian is visiting and everyone is in an uproar over it - and in the midst of it, recruits are dying and both Ruso and Tila just can't let it alone.
As always, Ruth Downie's writing is complex, complicated and enormously entertaining. Historical fiction is a huge step away from my usual fantasy/sci-fi fare, and I look forward to her novels with great anticipation. my only drawback is that the gaps between novels are.....so.....large!
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another good mystery from Ruth Downie. The setting and characterisation is particularly appealing with this series and Semper Fidelis is a good addition to the story of Ruso and Tilla, although I think I enjoyed some of the earlier titles a little more than this one. The plot was engaging, but perhaps it took me a while to feel fully engaged with it. Ruso and Tilla are great characters and while the dynamic has changed a little, they are still an appealing and compelling mystery solving duo. The clash of cultures as represented by Ruso, the conquering roman and Tilla the defiant local is part of the appeal of the series. The setting of Roman occupied Britain is excellent, vividly bought to life. Long may this series continue. I am looking forward to the next novel in the series.
This was not my favorite book in this series. I like the characters a lot especially Tilly. This one brought in emperor Hadrian and his wife which was interesting. I did get a little confused at some parts as I lost track of who was who. It had some good elements but I have liked some of her others so much better.
She does well at the separate voices of her characters. There is a very military feel to the stories' setting. I'm hooked.