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radella_hardwick's review against another edition
1.75
My main problem with this book is that the first-person narrator regularly digresses into teaching us about Roman customs. The most egregious, to my mind, is when he has agreed to meet someone at a specific time and there's this whole digressions about sundials, water-clocks and Roman hours being different in winter. At the end of which, the narrating character goes "I'll just guess like everyone else"!
My other major problem with this book is the frequent fourth-wall-breaks. The book begins inside the head of the protagonist, living his life in the Roman republic but then he meets a historical figure who is famous later, turns to the reader and says "I know what you're thinking".
At which point, it transpires that the protagonist is retelling this episode from his youth some 60 years later. And that doesn't work for me because the way humans retell memories is significantly less detailed than if we're a fly inside someone's head.
Also, the protagonist never works out who the killer is. It's thrust upon him when he's confronting the mastermind behind the murders and the killer tries to kill him.
And Roberts seems to think he's writing a new Bond. The sex, the street-fighting and chase scenes, and expecting the mastermind to explain their dastardly plan.
My other major problem with this book is the frequent fourth-wall-breaks. The book begins inside the head of the protagonist, living his life in the Roman republic but then he meets a historical figure who is famous later, turns to the reader and says "I know what you're thinking".
At which point, it transpires that the protagonist is retelling this episode from his youth some 60 years later. And that doesn't work for me because the way humans retell memories is significantly less detailed than if we're a fly inside someone's head.
Also, the protagonist never works out who the killer is. It's thrust upon him when he's confronting the mastermind behind the murders and the killer tries to kill him.
And Roberts seems to think he's writing a new Bond. The sex, the street-fighting and chase scenes, and expecting the mastermind to explain their dastardly plan.
acy's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
chuckri's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
jaina's review
4.0
In fairness, it's probably a 3.5 or even a 3 star read. But you know those days when you just can't be pleased and you're all pissed off and then you eat a chicken sandwich with too much mayonnaise and it's like: "oh, that's what I wanted!"
Yeah. Roman murder mystery with a delightfully snobby narrator. Who knew?
Yeah. Roman murder mystery with a delightfully snobby narrator. Who knew?
traveller1's review
3.0
The first in the series, and not the best. Detected a few, small irregularities in the text, but nothing bothersome. The story: betrayal and intrigue behind Pompey's plan to be sent east to replace general Lucullus, who defeated Mithridates. Tsk tsk, disloyalty.
Our Decius persistently, patriotically, with a sense of duty, and at no small risk to his own life, uncovers the guilty parties, who then use their wealth and power to avoid all blame. Decius is forced to flee Rome for Spain, as a flunky to his father.
Not bad, not bad.
Our Decius persistently, patriotically, with a sense of duty, and at no small risk to his own life, uncovers the guilty parties, who then use their wealth and power to avoid all blame. Decius is forced to flee Rome for Spain, as a flunky to his father.
Not bad, not bad.
segnbora's review
4.0
I like this whole SPQR series. Not only has it done better than most nonfiction books at making the politics and way of life of the late Roman Republic comprehensible, but they're very well-plotted and interesting mysteries, and Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger is a very believable investigator.
catmum's review
4.0
The King's Gambit, John Maddox Roberts, B+
SPQR #1
Rome, 89 BCE
First line: I received te captain of the ward vigiles in my atrium, as I had on every
morning since my election to the Commission of Twenty-Six.
Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger is beginning his political career overseeing the
vigiles of the Subura district. So to him come the reports of two murders and an arson.
In investigating these crimes, Decius realizes those in the highest ranks of power are
tied to the deaths of freedmen and a foreign businessman and he's his putting his own
life in jeopardy bu continuing his investigation. This is not quite as humorous as the
Falco mysteries, but I enjoyed it very much nonetheless and look forward to the rest
of the series.
SPQR #1
Rome, 89 BCE
First line: I received te captain of the ward vigiles in my atrium, as I had on every
morning since my election to the Commission of Twenty-Six.
Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger is beginning his political career overseeing the
vigiles of the Subura district. So to him come the reports of two murders and an arson.
In investigating these crimes, Decius realizes those in the highest ranks of power are
tied to the deaths of freedmen and a foreign businessman and he's his putting his own
life in jeopardy bu continuing his investigation. This is not quite as humorous as the
Falco mysteries, but I enjoyed it very much nonetheless and look forward to the rest
of the series.
ruthbrarian's review
I inherited the books from my mother and finally started reading them. They're quite fun for lighter mystery adventures. I love the Rome he creates on the page and, based on my mother's years of teaching/researching Latin & Rome and her lack of railing about major errors, I think it's fairly historically accurate. Some bits like the forensics character are entirely out-of-place, but they don't detract from the proper historical feel.
julieputty's review
3.0
The tone gets a little weird at times (I think this is just the problem with 1st person narration in historical fiction) and things just fall into the protagonist's lap in a weird way. But it's interesting if you enjoy ancient history.
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