Reviews

The Catiline Conspiracy by John Maddox Roberts

ramsfan1963's review against another edition

informative mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

What starts out as a mystery involving the deaths of several money lenders, expands into a conspiracy to pull down the Republic of Rome. Decius makes for an interesting investigative character, but it's the day to day like in ancient Rome that makes the book most interesting. The author put a lot of time into researching roman law, social structure, religions and mores.

plantbirdwoman's review against another edition

4.0

Second in this very interesting series is a take on one of the most confusing incidents of ancient Roman history. Roberts' take on it offers new perspective on the subject and it is a fascinating read.

jamestomasino's review against another edition

5.0

I just adore the Simon Vance audible versions of these books. Roberts' knows his Rome through and through and the characters come to life in the series. I'm sure I'll be listening to them all in time.

jaina's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

stacey42's review against another edition

3.0

Decius is back in Rome and almost immediately stumbles on a conspiracy against the state. He falls in with Catiline to investigate the grumblings of men who think they are being denied their birth right to rule by new men like Cicero. Bodies pile up as the conspiracy moves forward Decius himself is expected to prove his loyalty to the cabal by killing a friend.
There isn't much of a mystery with this book as it is based on a real conspiracy and the outcome is known. It's more a matter of "will Decius survive?" But it is a good tale, told with wit, humor and a lot of period detail.
I'm currently reading SPQR by Mary Beard and she opens with the Catalina conspiracy & that made me reread this book.

chuckri's review

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

felyn's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoy this series. It's an intriguing mix of history, fiction, and drama. This second book details another(!) conspiracy to topple Rome from within. Lots of great detail.

traveller1's review

3.0

Young Decius is now a Quaestor, on his way up in Rome, but he has the ill-fortune to, again, annoy the powerful. He becomes involved with Catiline and his conspiracy to overthrow the Roman government, however, on the side of the establishment. Decius informs the consul Cicero of the conspiracy, and aids in the destruction of Catiline and his men.

catmum's review

3.0

If this had been written as an historical novel I would have rated it four stars. The history, the anthropology were great. But it was sadly lacking in mystery. Still, I enjoy the writing enough to go on to book three in the series.

christopherborum's review

2.0

As other reviewers have noted, this reads more like a textbook than a mystery. I'm all for using real events as the backdrop to a story, but the crimes in this instance were "solved" almost incidental to telling the story of Catilina. It was interesting, but not particularly entertaining.