Scan barcode
A review by nickimags
The Year of the Snake: Murder in the Senate by Maryanne Coleman, M.J. Trow
3.0
I do enjoy reading historical fiction and Ancient Rome is always a fascinating period of time to set a book, particularly a murder mystery. Having enjoyed listening to the Lindsey Davis’ ‘Falco’ series on the radio for years, also set in Ancient Rome, I had high hopes for this story.
There were all the elements of a great mystery: the mysterious death of a notable Roman Senator, the upstanding former slave who wants justice for his dead master, the nobles who saw him last and really don’t want to be troubled by this freedman and don’t forget the salacious Nero, the most notorious Roman emperor.
The descriptions of the city were brilliant, I certainly felt like I could have been walking the streets and sitting in the arena whilst I was reading. There were a few wonderfully described scenes involving gladiators, a hunt with wolves and Nero’s triumphant entrance with elephants.
I liked Caldius the freedman but didn’t feel like I got to know him, unlike Nero and his mother, the Agusta, the only characters who really jumped off the page to me.
As the blurb says it was a ‘racy whodunnit’ constantly reminding me of the Carry On films and particularly Carry on Cleo.
I’m so glad that I read this as a buddy read with Yvo@It’s all About Books as I’m not sure I would’ve enjoyed reading it by myself, especially as there were formatting problems with my arc.
Thanks to NetGalley and Endeavour Media for my digital ARC.
There were all the elements of a great mystery: the mysterious death of a notable Roman Senator, the upstanding former slave who wants justice for his dead master, the nobles who saw him last and really don’t want to be troubled by this freedman and don’t forget the salacious Nero, the most notorious Roman emperor.
The descriptions of the city were brilliant, I certainly felt like I could have been walking the streets and sitting in the arena whilst I was reading. There were a few wonderfully described scenes involving gladiators, a hunt with wolves and Nero’s triumphant entrance with elephants.
I liked Caldius the freedman but didn’t feel like I got to know him, unlike Nero and his mother, the Agusta, the only characters who really jumped off the page to me.
As the blurb says it was a ‘racy whodunnit’ constantly reminding me of the Carry On films and particularly Carry on Cleo.
I’m so glad that I read this as a buddy read with Yvo@It’s all About Books as I’m not sure I would’ve enjoyed reading it by myself, especially as there were formatting problems with my arc.
Thanks to NetGalley and Endeavour Media for my digital ARC.