Customer Reviews
Another Extremely Enjoyable Read - By: J. Chippindale, 21 Feb 2007 
John Maddox Roberts is the pseudonym of Mark Ramsay, author of numerous works of science fiction & fantasy,in addition to his successful historical SPQR mystery series. He livesin New Mexico with his wife.
Anyone who is a fan of Lindsey Davis, Steven Saylor or David Wishart will love the SPQR series of books by the author. Once again we have an addition to the ever growing number of amateur detectives patrolling the streets of ancient Rome, solving mysteries & crimes. Not all at the same time, I may add,in fact not evenin the same centuries. Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger, a high-born bad boy, is the offering of the author & he is just as interesting, likeable & believable as the leading characters from the author's contemporaries.
It had been one of the best summer'sin the long history of the might that was the Roman Republic. Her legions had, as they always did swept all before them. Rome's enemies were either on their kneesin supplication or their bones had been ground into the dust. Butin Rome itself there was great unrest. The streets ran red with the blood of Rome's own citizen's. Decius Caecilius Metellus the younger was convinced that there was a conspiracy afoot to overthrow the senate. A sinister group who would stop at nothing to achieve their own ends. A group that could only be infiltrated from within. But admission into this group of people carried a grim price. The life of Decius's closest friend & possibly his own as well.
A brilliant second book to the SPQR series - By: , 30 Apr 2002 The second bookin the SPQR series, & worthy follow-up to The King's Gambit. Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger embarks on another adventure, becoming embroiledin Catilina's conspiracy against the Republic & Cicero (a very different take to Steven Saylor'sin his book Catilina's Riddle). The Greek physician Asklepoides appears again, playing a crucial rolein the events. The results are gripping.
If you are an avid reader of Roman historical mysteries, then this book is a must. It contains a dry humour that is often lackingin Steven Saylor, but the historical importance of event that Linsday Davis & Marilyn Todd miss out on. Seen from the perspective of a Roman from a well-to-do family, there is the extra social interest remarked upon by Decius throughout, as well as the obvious political commentary.
The story is self-contained & set a while after the last book, so it stands on its own very well. There is no need to have read the first book before this one, although it is good to get a sense of the political chronology. All-in-all, it is very highly recommended.
