Saylor, Steven

Average customer rating:

Not His Best
an entertaining read
Better as a history than as a novel
Not what you'd expect of Saylor
Epic scope sacrifices human protagonist

Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome
Steven Saylor
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312328311
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Customer Reviews:

Not His Best.......2007-06-08

I am a huge Steven Saylor fan, yet was a little dissapointed in this work. I know he's a great historian, and no one knows ancient Rome like Saylor, yet I felt this book was a bit ambitious. It felt rushed to me (he did try to tell us the history of Rome's first 1,000 years in one book!) and some character development was weak. Only one true story emerged that brought that famous mystery writing he's so good at (how the Potitii were extinguished); other than that, it was a lot of prose about Rome, and unfortunately, information that should have been included in prose was placed in dialogue which made the dialogue look forced and awkward.

Also, if you can get past the numerous typos (and I mean numerous!), then you'll enjoy this book more than I did. I would have thought the publisher would have done a better job of editing this important piece of work. Seriously, the mistakes really annoyed me!

All in all, I expected more from Saylor. I did enjoy the story, but it's not something that compelled me to stay up all night and finish it, as other works by him have. The references to how certain things came about was interesting and I did enjoy that immensely.

I will definitely keep reading Saylor, and will even attempt a stab at this book again sometime in the future, but I hope he returns to what he's best at: MYSTERY WRITING!

an entertaining read.......2007-05-22

Spanning a thousand years, and following the development of Rome through the ages -- writing this ambitious novel must have been quite the feat! Reading it though was a realtively easy task. Using historical fact and legend and giving both his own inimitable spin, I found myself reading this vivid, powerful and absorbing novel cover to cover in one sitting.

However, would I describe Steven Saylor's "Roma" as a masterpiece? Probably not. Intriguing, though, it was, there was something almost cold and distancing about the book. This may have something to do, not so much the manner in which the characters are developed and fleshed out, but more so because of the sheer scope of the book. This novel spans generations and centuries; characters appear for pages and then are dropped because their time is done. As such it really is difficult to make any kind of emotional connection with most of the characters in this book. This is a flaw that many previous reviewers have noted. But even as I repeat this, I'll own to liking a few of the characters Saylor created -- like the Pontitius who grew up with Romulus and Remus, was a who tried to give them good counsel; and Titus Pontitus, who fought by Corialanus's side. These chapters also numbered amongst my favourite because I also enjoyed the author's captivating interpretation of Roman myth and history. Of course there were chapters that I found rather humdrum as well -- like the one about the deformed "giant" Cacus and the chapter on Lucius Pinarius and Julius Caesar. However, I did think that it was a really good idea to illustrate how Rome grew over the centuries by providing us with a map at the beginning of each section. It made for a fascinating detail and one that was much appreciated.

So, is "Roma" Steven Saylor's masterpiece. I don't think so. It is true by the sheer scope of what the author tried to accomplish and actually succeeded in accomplishing, this should count as a masterpiece. But for me, "Roman Blood" will always be Saylor's masterpiece. "Roma," vivid and memorable, though it was, lacked the depth, complexity and pathos that "Roman Blood" and other novels in the Roma Sub Rosa series possessed. All in all, I'd classify "Roma" as a good and entertaining read.

Better as a history than as a novel.......2007-05-19

Roma disappointed me. The scope is ambitious, and the history is often fascinating, however the stories were uncompelling and uncomplicated. I think that the primary problem is that the chapters are mere snapshots of Rome at a certain time, when they should be full, detailed portraits. The chapters could be reduced to single themes--man vs. monster, poor vs. rich, Gauls vs. Romans, etc.--and the characters seemed more like witnesses to history than active players. While I understand why Saylor chose the Potitii and Pinarii as protagonists, I cannot help but think that Scipio would have made more interesting main character than Kaeso, Gaius Gracchus a better one than Lucius, etc. I also thought that there was too much exposition and blocky dialogue explaining Roman history. More satisfying novels show us these events, not have characters tell us. I am a fan of the Gordianus novels and am impressed at Saylor's evolution as an author; however Roma is a digression, in my opinion. It lacks the complexity of McCullough's Rome novels and the wit of I, Claudius.

Not what you'd expect of Saylor.......2007-05-12

Saylor wants to tell the entire history of Rome. You can feel his desperation with every chapter. He's got the knowledge, he's got the storytelling capability, it just doesn't translate into a great book.

The plot lines are too short to really care much about the characters, the history is so enmeshed with the fiction it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. A clever idea but it doesn't translate into anything in particularly useful.

It's not a great history, and it's not a great novel. It was an entertaining few hours though.

Epic scope sacrifices human protagonist.......2007-05-05

Passing a gold amulet, a winged phallus that represents the pre-Roman animists' almost-god, from generation to generation, Saylor follows two families through Rome's first thousand years, until the amulet is so worn as to be unrecognizable. As the design of the amulet is reinterpreted by the human mind, so is history. The past becomes myth, legend, religion.

Saylor's main character is Rome itself. The city begins life as a camp on the salt traders' route where new blood and murderous jealousy set the two families, the Potitii and Panarii, along their winding, entwining and sometimes clashing roads.

They are witnesses and participants in all Rome's major events from a battle against a cannibalistic giant (Hercules' defeat of Cacus) to Hannibal's invasion, the rape of Lucretia, the death of Caesar, the rise of Augustus, and more. There's political intrigue, towering ambition, treachery, and greed. There's also beauty, passion, bravery and Rome's momentous building projects.

Organizing the sheer wealth of material is an amazing feat in itself, and Saylor keeps his focus on the city itself, so that the thread of its evolution is easily followed. As the book progresses, sometimes jumping a century or so, the reader gains a feeling of omniscience, seeing the origins of a god or a myth or a rite or even just a custom whose human roots have become lost in time while the symbolism takes on a life of its own. He shows us the shape of history.

The epic scope works just as Saylor intended, but the lack of a human protagonist is the trade-off and the characters sometimes seem like puppets rather than people. However, this is a well-informed page-turner which is as thought provoking as it is entertaining.

A Gladiator Dies Only Once: The Further Investigations of Gordianus the Finder

Average customer rating:

A light, entertaining read
Scrupulously Accurate Historical Details and Fun Stories
9 Stories about the Finder
Interesting collection, but sometimes simple
Not at the same level as the rest of the series

A Gladiator Dies Only Once: The Further Investigations of Gordianus the Finder
Steven Saylor
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312357443
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Book Description

Steven Saylors Roma Sub Rosa series of novels, set in the later Roman Republic and featuring Gordianus the Finder, has garnered unusual acclaim from readers and reviewers alike, establishing him as one of the pre-eminent historical mystery writers. In A Gladiator Dies Only Once, the second collection of his award-winning stories featuring Gordianus, Saylor more than meets his own high standards. Set between the events of his novels Roman Blood and Catilinas Riddle, these previously untold adventures from the early career of Gordianuswhen his adopted son, Eco, was still a mute boy and his wife, Bethesda, was but his slavewill delight Saylors many fans while illuminating details of the ancient world like no other writer can.

Customer Reviews:

A light, entertaining read.......2007-02-21

What is so refreshing about Saylor's writing is that it is so accessible. Instead of having to wade through convoluted politics and the dense historical matter of Rome, he has simply portrayed the daily life of it's citizens in a refreshing and interesting way. Reading his books is relaxing rather than challenging, and a nice way to learn more about a fascinating period of history.

Scrupulously Accurate Historical Details and Fun Stories.......2007-01-09

In 'A Gladiator Only Dies Once', Steven Saylor collects nine Gordianus the Finder tales he has written over the years. These stories are nice straightforward detective investigations with Gordianus as the upstanding honest gumshoe (gum-sandal?). His clients tend to be drawn from the patrician class of late Republican Rome - the supposed cream of society, but some of this cream has definitely spoiled.

Saylor is scrupulously accurate with historical details as he takes the reader to Sicily where he encounters Cicero and the secret of Archimedes' Tomb or to the luxuriant gardens and cherry orchards of the epicurean Lucullus. These are just two of the many historical characters in Saylor's stories. The resolution to Saylor's puzzles often lies not so much in the 'who did it', which is sometimes fairly obvious, as in 'why did they do it', generally a more interesting inquiry.

An appendix explains the provenance of each story and its connection to Roman history. A timeline of Gordianus' life will be a handy reference for fans of the Roma Sub Rosa series.

Highly recommended.

9 Stories about the Finder.......2006-10-03

Saylor has pleased me again with a fairly good portrayal of the Roman world and the limits of investigations into mysteries and crimes. I was slightly disappointed to not see Tiro mentioned more often given the number of guest appearances Cicero made -- the letters of Cicero to his secretary slave and freedman suggest they were rarely apart save when the orator and politican was in political disfavor or danger and none of these stories take place then. But these are short stories and need to be more focused on the immediate mystery at hand unlike a novel which can dive into the personal relationships and culture in greater degree.

Interesting collection, but sometimes simple.......2006-08-11

This collection of short stories contains many great little stories which take place during the late republic. Though many of the mysteries are very thinly veiled, most of the stories provide a interesting insight into to the daily life in the Roman republic.

I especially enjoyed the Cherries of Lucullus. It seemed especially sad and vivid.

It seems that the author did get carried away in Death by Eros. The story is written as if it is exceedingly unnatural for a man not to be gay in Naples during the late republic. True, the story takes place in a Greek society where homosexual love was accepted, but I doubt that every man in ancient Greek society was spending all their time thinking tenderly of man-on-man action.

Not at the same level as the rest of the series.......2006-08-05

I have to admit that i was dissappointed by Saylor in this book.One of the greatest assets of the "Roma sub Rosa" series is the masterful recreation of Roman society during Caesar's time.But when from the very first chapter, you see Lucius Claudius reading the "Daily" and talking about the "Reds" giving the "Whites" a run for their money in tomorrow's races... well, you get the idea of how these stories are written.You have this mottif of "americanising" the Romans through out the entire book.

The storylines and the characters also come off a bit shallow, but i guess that's to be expected from short stories..

All in all, Saylor's prose and writing remain excellent and the book makes a pleasant read.Just don't set your expectations too high...

Average customer rating:

A fun book for anyone interested in the history of Ancient Rome
Looking forward to the rest of the series...
Who Killed Sextus Roscius?
First Book in the Series
What an awesome book!

Roman Blood: A Novel of Ancient Rome
Steven Saylor
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312972962

Book Description

Elena asks that you come to the House of Swans at once . . . Compelled by this message, the wealthy, sybaritic Sextus Roscius goes not to his harlot, but to his doom-savagely murdered by unknown assassins. In the unseasonable heat of a spring morning in 80 B.C., Gordianus the Finder is summoned to the house of Cicero, a young advocate staking his reputation on this case. The charge is patricide; the motive, a son's greed. The punishment, rooted deep in Roman tradition, is horrific beyond imagining.Gordianus's investigation takes him through the city's raucous, pungent streets and deep into urban Umbria, unraveling layers of deceit, twisted passions, and murderous desperation. From pompous, rouged nobles to wily slaves to citizens of seemingly simple virtue, the case becomes a political nightmare. As the defense proceeds toward a devastating confrontation in the Forum, one man's fate may be threaten the very leaders of Rome itself.

Customer Reviews:

A fun book for anyone interested in the history of Ancient Rome.......2007-05-14

This book is a fascinating look at the daily life of the ancient Romans. Steven Saylor places a very interesting plot into Roman history. This is a great way to learn about an incredible ancient civilization, what their politics were like, what their daily life was like and what it was like to actually be there, but not feel like you are reading a history book. I cannot wait to read the next one in the series!!!

Looking forward to the rest of the series..........2007-01-30

I came across Steven Saylors name in an article I was reading about movies, in which the author was saying how perfect these books would be for a Hollywood adapatation.
I went out and bought the first book and was not disappointed. The plotting and characters were great, and there were plenty of twists and turns in the story.
From what I have since found out, it looks like the stories are pretty accurate too.
Very enjoyable and educational to boot. You can't beat that in a book.

Who Killed Sextus Roscius?.......2007-01-18

'Roman Blood' started Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series with Gordianus the Finder helping Cicero on his first big case - the parricide Sextus Roscius. Saylor authentically renders the details of life in late Republican Rome (albeit during the interval of Sulla's dictatorship). The reader will meet many real historical figures such as the orator/politician Cicero, his slave Tiro, the dictator Sulla, his enemy Caecilia Metella, the wealthy freedman and Sulla's adherent Chrysogonus and many others.

The story of Sextus centers around the proscription lists (literally lists of death warrants) posted by Sulla in Rome. Anyone on the proscription list is subject to being killed with a reward to the killer. Abuses occurred and the victims' estates were plundered by Sulla and his followers. Sextus the father was a wealthy owner of agricultural estates in Ameria who made his son run the farm while he played in Rome. Sextus senior ends up dead, but who did it and who is going to be held to account for it (not necessarily the same thing)?

Unlike much historical fiction, Saylor has entwined a nice little mystery of his own into 'Roman Blood'. Who really did kill Sextus?

Gordianus also meets the mute boy Eco in this book.

A very enjoyable read and by all accounts quite historically authentic.

First Book in the Series.......2006-12-18

What an awesome book!.......2006-08-15

I had been putting off reading this series, but finally decided to start, and I'm glad I did. The book is a long one, but it is so interesting, and so suspenseful that it kept me turning pages. While I was reading I almost forgot I was reading about Ancient Rome circa 80 B.C. Gordianus the Finder is a strong character, and he definitely moves this book along. There is a whole gamut of stuff going on from parricide to murder, to hired assassins, as well as a whole lot of family secrets. The settiog that Saylor sets is very vivid and realistic. This book is both a good history lesson as well as an excellent mystery. Can't wait to read more. Even though these books are about ancient Rome they are as different from Lindsey Davis' Rome as can be, but still wonderful. Lindsey Davis is one of my very favourite authors, and that is why I was hesitant to begin this series, but the series will have merit in its own right.

Arms of Nemesis: A Novel of Ancient Rome

Average customer rating:

The Second Book in the Roma Sub Rosa series
Gordianus the Finder is back!
Another strong entry in the series
Gordianus visits the seashore
My HBO Rome withdrawal

Arms of Nemesis: A Novel of Ancient Rome
Steven Saylor
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312978324

Book Description

The hideously disfigured body of Lucius Licinius was found in the atrium. The only clues are a blood-soaked cloak, and, carved into the stone at the corpse's feet, the word Sparta....For Gordianus the Finder, summoned from Rome to a luxury resort on the Bay of Naples, the case is agonizing. The overseer of Marcus Crassus's estate has been murdered, apparently by two slaves bent on joining Spartacus's revolt. The wealthy, powerful Crassus vows to honor an ancient law and kill his ninety-nine remaining slaves in retaliation. From the brutal stench of a slave galley to the limpid, sea-glazed beauty of Baiae and the sulphurous pits of the Sybil at Cumae, Giordanus draws closer to the terrifying truth. Enmeshed in a world of desperate slaves and duplicitous masters, extravagant feasts and sordid secrets, he must risk all he loves, including his life, to stop a senseless slaughter-and save the very future of Rome itself.AUTHORBIO: STEVEN SAYLOR is the author of eight books in the Roma Sub Rosa featuring Gordianus the Finder, most recently Roman Blood.He divides his time between homes in Austin, Texas, and Berkeley, California.

Customer Reviews:

The Second Book in the Roma Sub Rosa series.......2006-12-18

Steven Saylor's fascination with Ancient Rome began in his childhood. A history graduate and former newspaper and magazine editor, he lives in Berkeley, California. His series of books about Ancient Rome and featuring Gordianus the Finder are extremely popular both here in England and also in America. Anyone who is a fan of Lindsey Davis will love these books too.

Gordianus the Finder, the investigator of crimes, a man whose skill and integrity have made him much sought after by some of the most important men in Rome. Men who may need a secret to be kept, men who need to know that when Gordianus is working for them he will be discreet and not susceptible to bribery.

Marcus Crassus is the wealthiest man in Rome. Apart from all his property and businesses in Rome he has a fine villa in the Gulf of Puteoli. When his estate manager is found murdered it seems pretty obvious to the great man that the deed was done by two of his missing slaves. A renegade gladiator called Spartacus is mounting a rebellion and two of Crassus's slaves are missing, probably run off to join the Slave Revolt.

Crassus vows that unless the missing slaves are found within 5 days he will massacre his remaining slave. It falls to Gordianus to find out the truth of the matter and in a place riddled with intrigue and secrets Gordianus realises that all is not as it seems and the deeper he delves the more danger he is bringing upon himself.

Gordianus the Finder is back!.......2006-10-12

This second entry in the Gordianus the Finder series is another strong one, although not quite as excellent as Roman Blood was. In this book, Grodianus and his adopted son Eco are summoned in the middle of the night to help a citizen who lived on the seashore, so they take a fast boat to Baiae where a hideous slaughter of slaves is going to occur in three days unless Gordianus can unmask the real killer of the Baiae prominent citizen. The book is definitely graphic, and depicts life as it was in Italy in 72 B.C. The setting is actually ten years later than when we last saw Gordianus in Roman Blood, but he is still as wonderful as ever. He still stops at nothing to get at the truth of things, no matter who it hurts or affects. This is truly fascinating storytelling, and Saylor makes Ancient Rome come alive.

Another strong entry in the series.......2006-04-26

I have enjoyed several of Saylor's previous novels centered around Gordianus the Finder. Each of the novels is essentially a criminal procedural set in Rome in the century before the birth of Christ. The protagonist is a detective for hire, Gordianus the Finder (delicious name). Usually employed by a Roman personality whose name has carried through the ages to our day, Gordianus steadily unravels the facts as each of the novels builds towards a relatively satisfying conclusion. The challenges faced and facts to be uncovered are set up competently, but the true pleasure in the reading is the skill with which the author places them in a historical universe that rings true, and in the manner in which that universe impacts the situation.

In this novel, Gordianus is roused in the middle of the night by a mysterious stranger with a military air who bids him to come perform a service outside of Rome for a monumental sum. Our protagonist, ever stuck in a middle class purgatory when it comes to his expenses versus his income, and piqued by curiosity, accepts, and from there the story moves forward steadily.

Part of the pleasure of the novel is the multi-layered mystery - who hired him, what happened, why what happened is of such consequence, and so on. The actual doer of the deed is much less important than the impact and consequences of that deed, and Saylor sets up his storyline with aplomb along these lines. Thus, much as I'd like to further reveal the plot, it would be cheating the reader of the review to do so, and so I'll refrain.

Further pleasure is derived from the verisimilitude of the lives of the Romans in those days - the food, the behavior, the social hierarchies, etc.. The story moves along steadily but without undo haste, and will appeal more to those who enjoy description and implication rather than speed of plot. If I have any real criticism, it is that, given that the identity of the evil doer is so secondary to the impact of his deeds, the author makes short shrift of the ultimate revelation, and in fact (as far as I could tell) there isn't much out there for the reader to proactively discern the antagonist, nor, frankly, to care much about the fact that it was the particular person named. While this is a valid criticism, it is clear that this was exactly the author's intent, which somewhat mitigates things.

An enjoyable period piece, rife with interesting insights on Roman society, and one of the author's better efforts.

Gordianus visits the seashore.......2006-02-15

This second entry in the ROMA SUB ROSA series opens as Gordianus is woken in the middle of the night by a mysterious summons to an undisclosed location to solve a crime and save scores of innocent people. Despite the apprehensions of his slave (and lover) Bethesda, Gordianus and his adopted son Eco, are soon on their way. Gordianus of course quickly surmises their destination as Baiae, a wealthy town on the present day Bay of Naples.

Once he arrives he discovers that the crime is, as he had surmised, murder and murder of a wealthy man. The chief suspects are two missing slaves which is why scores of lives are in danger. According to ancient Roman law if a master is killed by a slave all the slaves in the household, in this case 99, are deemed dangerous and sentenced to death. This law is not often enforced but in the present day (72 BC), there is a slave revolt, led by Spartacus, in progress that is threatening the Empire. Is it just fear of the slaves joining the rebellion that is causing this harsh measure to be used or is it something else?

Gordianus and Eco are quickly immersed in the victim's household and find that there are many things that are not quite what they seem. The trail to solve the crime leads the two to the Sybil, into the sea and to the very Gates of Hades. Old scandals and illicit love affairs are uncovered. Ultimately Gordianus of course triumphs but not without many interesting twists and turns along the way.

As with ROMAN BLOOD, Saylor immerses the reader into the world of ancient Rome. The reader is made to see how uncertain live in the ancient world was, for example, Gordianus travels just a short way from his home but to his family he may as well have fallen off the face of the earth. We also see into the lives of the slaves, from the quasi equal status of Bethesda to the brutal existence of the galley slaves. Even among the upper classes live is very much a matter of chance and must be conducted within very proscribed limits. This series of novels breaths live into Roman life in a more effective manner than a score of serious scholarly works could.

The mystery is compeling, well plotted with the clues fairly laid out for the reader to follow. The only problem I had with this one is that some of the characters were rather sketchily drawn and there were so many characters and subplots that it was challenging to keep everything straight.

My HBO Rome withdrawal.......2005-11-26

Wanting to be transported back to Rome, I found this author through Amazon reviewers and I was not disappointed. While this is a few years earlier than the series, and a few miles south of Rome, it did the trick.

The mystery held my attention, but, the characters and the decriptions of the various settings make the book.

I will read more Saylor.

PS - one month later. I've read more Saylor. This one stands out for its perspective on slavery in ancient Rome and the very wealthy Crassus and his life style. For more on the justice system and the Clodii Family read "The Venus Throw". "Rubicon" gives a plausible description of Rome right after of Caesar's crossing and Pompey's flight from Italy.

It appears that each Saylor mystery weaves a good story around people or themes of Rome.

Average customer rating:

Evocative and shocking!
Good Fun; Good History
Is Gordianus's son Caesar's lover?
Encamp with Caesar! Dine with Cicero! Sail with Pompey!
No Payoff!

Rubicon: A Novel of Ancient Rome
Steven Saylor
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Catilina's Riddle: A Novel of Ancient Rome

ASIN: 0312971184

Amazon.com

Steven Saylor's seventh installment in his Roma Sub Rosa series begins with a character saying, "Pompey will be mightily pissed." Scholars might argue that there is no evidence of this particular synonym for anger ever being used in 49 B.C., but the author would no doubt respond that poetic license includes doing whatever it takes to bridge the gap for modern audiences. And indeed, the head of the Roman Senate is mightily pissed. Rome is on the verge of another civil war, and the forces of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony have crossed the Rubicon River and are marching toward the capital. To top it all off, one of Pompey's favorite cousins has been garroted to death.

Before Pompey flees the city, he asks Rome's greatest detective, Gordianus the Finder, to solve the murder. But Pompey has reason to distrust Gordianus, who may have an allegiance with Caesar. To force his loyalty, Pompey seizes the detective's son-in-law, and makes him join his household army. By doing so, he ensures that Gordianus's involvement in the coming conflict will be a very personal one. Confused and troubled, Gordianus walks through Rome toward the house of his former friend and mentor, the poet Cicero. "All around me, I felt the uneasiness of the city, like a sleeper in the throes of a nightmare." Awakening from the nightmare, surviving the chaos, and solving this whodunit will be the Finder's toughest battle yet. --Dick Adler

Book Description

As Caesar marches on Rome and panic erupts in the city, Gordianus the Finder discovers, in his own home, the body of Pompey's favorite cousin.Before fleeing the city, Pompey exacts a terrible bargain from the finder of secrets-to unearth the killer, or sacrifice his own son-in-law to service in Pompey's legions, and certain death. Amid the city's sordid underbelly, Gordianus learns that the murdered man was a dangerous spy.Now, as he follows a trail of intrigue, betrayal, and ferocious battles on land and sea, the Finder is caught between the chaos of war and the terrible truth he must finally reveal.AUTHORBIO: STEVEN SAYLOR has had a lifelong fascination with Rome, beginning with the drive-in movies of his boyhood (Cleopatra, Spartacus, Ben Hur), on to his degree in history from the University of Texas, and through his appearances on the History Channel as an expert on Roman politics and life.He is the author of seven volumes in the Roma Sub Rosa series featuring Gordianus the Finder.He splits his time between homes in Austin, Texas, and Berkeley, California.

Customer Reviews:

Evocative and shocking!.......2007-06-18

Saylor never disappoints, and his Roma Sub Rosa series never fails to surprise. I absolutely love this series, and this book is probably the most shocking so far. We get to see a side of Gordianus that we've never seen before, as well as Saylor's viewpoint of what happened when Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and placed Rome into civil war. Gordianus is drawn into the interior politics when a relative of Pompey is murdered in his own garden. Pompey charges him with finding out who the killer was, and while Gordianus is searching we find that the man who was killed was a spy as well as a blackmailer. Gordianus goes into Southern Italy after Pompey and the hostage that Pompey has taken. We see the battle of Brundisiam as it happened. Saylor puts us front and centre in that as well as showing a truly dark side of steady and honest Gordianus. this series is not be missed.

Good Fun; Good History.......2007-04-10

This book is good fun for anyone who has the slightest interest in Ancient Rome. The focus is on Julius Caesar and Pompey as seen through the eyes of a middle aged Roman of the Plebian class.

The politics are interesting as is the personal story of Gordianus the Finder. He is a kind of private detective but they don't have that term at that time.

All the books in this series are good and you don't have to have a lifetime commitment to Roman history. Anyone can pick it up, enjoy it, and perhap learn a bit about the past. But this is not a didactic tome in any way. It is a good story and that is always fun.

Is Gordianus's son Caesar's lover?.......2006-03-17

Steven Saylor keeps surprising me. This sixth novel in the sub rosa mystery series is somewhat different from the previous volumes. In RUBICON Saylor seems determined to keep things moving. The emphasis this time is on the mystery, and an unconventional mystery it is. A young man has been garroted in Gordianus's garden and there is no way anyone could have gotten over the wall, committed the murder and then climbed back over the wall within only a few minutes. There are no suspects. The victim's cousin just happens to be Pompey, who commands Gordianus to find the murderer or else. He takes Gordianus's son-in-law as a hostage as he prepares for battle with Caesar. On top of this, Gordianus keeps hearing gossip that his son Meto is the bed partner of Julius Caesar. Gordianus suspects that it may be true. There are other rumors of a secret conspiracy against Caesar's life. Blackmail is featured heavily in this story. This story has several disturbing elements. But there are also the fascinating tidbits like how the Romans performed abortions and some of the ingenious ways they hid and passed secret messages. All in all, this was a very entertaining reading experience. And I certainly did not guess who the killer was.

Probably the major overhanging argument of this novel is "when is killing justified?" I'd like to write more about this, but it would necessitate spoilers. This is an interesting and extremely entertaining novel. It could probably be enjoyed without reading the others first, but if you are already familiar with the characters it will mean a lot more to you.

Encamp with Caesar! Dine with Cicero! Sail with Pompey!.......2005-12-22

Those looking for a "whodunit" will be disappointed, just as some earlier Amazon reviewers were, but it will please those, like me, who like descriptions of this time, woven around a story with historical personages.

I particularly liked descriptions of the chaos in Rome as news and rumors of the Rubicon crossing filtered in (including the state in which the elite, like Cicero, may have left their homes), travel on the Appian Way (including how bandits might do it without guns), the dinner at Cicero's country villa (dinner conversation is marvelous) the description of Roman marine warfare technology and the taking of Brundisium.

I also like the way Saylor gives us the portrait of the social strata. While there was more in Arms of Nemesis about the situation of and attitudes towards slaves, this book gives some clues as to the little mobility they might attain.

This great writing is why I'll continue reading Saylor whether or not the mysteries are satisfying.

No Payoff!.......2005-01-09

Saylor must have a deep respect for Julius Caesar, for while other Big Roman Names are lampooned in his books (Marc Antony, Catilina, Cicero and Pompey are the biggest), Caesar always gets preferential treatment. No one pokes fun at Caesar; whenever Caesar appears in the book it's basically to give Gordianus a verbal pat on the head and swan off into throngs of adoring soldiers. But this is not why I give the book only three stars.

A chief pleasure in reading mysteries is trying to guess "whodunit." Half the time, or more, I'm wrong, but the fun of doing it is still there. In this particular book, there is no possible way to guess who killed Numerius Pompeius. There are nowhere near enough clues given as to the real killer. When it is divulged, near the end, I was astonished and could only feel that Saylor had run into writer's block on this one. Normally there is a satisfaction in learning who the perp was, but this one left me cold. Three hours of reading, and no payoff.

Most of my enjoyment in reading this particular series is derived from the fact that I have read the complete "Masters of Rome" (historical fiction) series by Colleen McCullough, and rereading about Cicero, Caesar, Pompey, et al. in Saylor's books is like learning something else about the fun characters that Ms. McCullough portrayed.

I'll keep reading Saylor, since McCullough has finished her series. But I really don't find any of the characters sympathetic. Gordianus is usually wise, but unnecessarily distracted by his family (ever wonder why Sherlock Holmes stayed single?) As a woman reader, I wanted to like Bethesda and Diana, but Bethesda is nasty and haughty; Diana manipulates everyone to get her own way. Only Gordianus' adopted sons seem to have anything to recommend them, and they're usually shoved into the background. Let's hope "Rubicon" is the only one in the series that's this disappointing.

The Judgment of Caesar (A Novel of Ancient Rome)

Average customer rating:

Pleased to be reacquainted with this great writer
Saylor's best in the Roma Sub Rosa series!
Engaging and Thoughtful "Roman des Romans"
The long and winding road
Cleopatra, Caesar and Gordianus: a fun threesome

The Judgment of Caesar (A Novel of Ancient Rome)
Steven Saylor
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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The House of the Vestals: The Investigations of Gordianus the Finder (A Novel of Ancient Rome)

ASIN: 0312932979
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Book Description

In 48 B.C., Roman generals Caesar and Pompey have long engaged in a battle to rule the world. Now, as Pompey plots a reckless stand on the banks of the Nile, Gordianus the Finder-who has brought his wife Bethesda to the river seeking a cure for her in its sacred waters-finds himself suddenly at the heart of a series of treacherous and history-altering events.While Caesar and Cleopatra embark on a legendary romance, Egypt remains ravaged by the brutal contest between the Queen and her brother King Ptolemy. Worst of all for Gordianus, his once-disowned son and Caesar's right-hand man, stands falsely accused of murder. Caesar's judgment will decide Meto's fate, and it is up to Gordianus to somehow overcome colossal malevolent forces to reveal the carefully obscured truth and spare his son's life.

Customer Reviews:

Pleased to be reacquainted with this great writer.......2006-12-23

The last time I read a book by Steven Saylor was "Venus Throw" in the mid 1990's. Saylor's books are easy to read and very entertaining.

Writing about ancient Egypt is always fascinating, and even more when Cleopatra and Julius Caesar are part of the plot. Saylor describes Cleopatra in such a convincing way that it would make any man straight.

Gordianus the Finder, the main character, is especially charismatic. The story is told by the same character, always in the first person, so the book takes a personal, intimate tone from the beginning to the end. The plot intensifies when Cleopatra and her brother Ptolemy throw a dinner party to honor Caesar. Caesar's judgment takes place in the midst of the festivities and still entangled in this irresistible love triangle!

Leave it to Saylor to make an indirect reference to Harmodias and Aristogiton. I think he's one of the few authors who make reference to all the famous male couples in history.
(I think he mentioned Alexander and Hephaistion in another book, but can't remember which one).

The beginning of chapter XXXI is a good example of Saylor style. Gordianus complaints to Cleopatra about the stench of the Nile River:
"There's nothing beautiful about the Nile. It's fetid, smelly, dark and dank! The Nile brings death!"
And Cleopatra replies:
"Yet it brings life! Some men make the same complaints about the sacred delta between a woman's legs. And yet, from that place comes new life. Silly men, turning up your noses at the slippery fluids and strong odors of fertility!
You'd rather play with your hard, shiny swords and spears, and watch the blood spurt from each other's wounds!"

I laughed when I read that passage. Sexuality expressed so bluntly and so subtle at the same time.

Finally, I would like to say that it Saylor is an exceptional writer, and I am looking forward to read "Roma."

Saylor's best in the Roma Sub Rosa series!.......2006-11-06

Having read most of Saylor's novels in this series, and being a die-hard romantic, I was left biting my nails after finishing "A Mist of Prophecies," and needed to find out what happens to Gordianus the Finder's dearly beloved wife, and will she find in Egypt the life-saving cure she is seeking ... or I shall be aflicted with agita for years to come. So,I was glad to get this one into my eager little hands.
Without further ado, and getting into long descriptions of the plot since others here have already done so, let me only blare my opinion to all and sundry:
The Judgment of Ceasar is Steven Saylot's BEST novel in the Roma Subrosa Series!

Engaging and Thoughtful "Roman des Romans".......2006-06-28

I very much liked Steven Saylor's writing - the initial chapter
describing an encounter with a storm at sea off Alexandria
gripped me, and provoked my own visual images, much more
effectively than most such descriptive writing does in
adulthood. There are a number of books, indeed series,
that put detective stories in a Roman setting, and the
overall standard is quite strong. This one however is
a bit ahead of the pack in terms of unquestionable, although
not slavishly used, scholarly background, and emotional insight.
I will immediately look for other titles by the same author,
who was unknown to me before this book. For those who have
seen the excellent HBO series "Rome", you will wonder if the
writers on that series had read this book - although I am
suggesting inspiration not plagiarism, and I am not sure
the date of publication would have made it possible for
there to be any cross-fertilization. However the book
does focus on the same period as Rome Series 1, and the
same struggle between Pompey and Caesar as a plot driver.

The long and winding road.......2006-05-04

Together with his characters, Saylor has developped, and remarkably so. Clearly, his style has become very fluent, almost easy, particularly when compared to the elaborate academic prose marking the first ones.
There is little mystery by now, if there ever was much of it in the series, which is fair enough. The author decides how to write the novel after all. I like him being engaged in the matter of bringing antiquity to a wide audience.
In this last novel, I found two matters most disturbing: Gordianus has now almost taken over the role of a court joker. It is too far fetched that he would be able to meet that many prominent figures at such ease and candour. Had he indeed spoken as he is pictured as having done e.g. to the Egyptian royals, I sincerely doubt he would have survived for very long. I don't really think they would have bothered to listen. Moreover, I have great difficulties in seeing a Roman pater familias as such an idealised, very "US-American WASP head of family" (used in a non-derogatory sense here). Ever forgiving, fully accepting unruly slaves, and adultery, and renouncing his disowning Meto all appear as highly anachronistic notions. I have to agree with Ilse Frederiksen, it is so 1950s.
Still, since the historical novel almost is anachronistic by definition, I shouldn't blame Saylor too much, perhaps.
From my point of view, it's just tedious, though.

Cleopatra, Caesar and Gordianus: a fun threesome.......2006-04-10

'The Judgment of Caesar' is the latest of many historical novels by Steven Saylor involving his ancient Roman sleuth, Gordianus. By now we know Gordianus quite well, and now we are entertained by having Gordianus caught up in mischief, mayhem and murder in ancient Alexandria. Emperor Caesar also has issues with a sibling rivalry between Cleopatra and her younger brother. Caesar ultimately decides which of the siblings would actually rule Eygpt. While we all know the outcome I found the entire story to be very engaging. Saylor does a great job weaving in Gordianus, thus seamlessly blending in fiction into the non-fiction.

My only complaint with the story is the "cutesiness" of Gordianus and his family. Earlier Saylor novels portrayed the family as individuals with backbone. However they now have gone spineless and syrupy sweet. I suggest Saylor goes back to his old ways.

Bottom line: a fast, fun and educational read. Recommended.

The House of the Vestals: The Investigations of Gordianus the Finder (A Novel of Ancient Rome)

Average customer rating:

It's nice to fill in some gaps.
Very Entertaining
Gordianus the Finder in Shorts
The Sixth Book in the Series
Mysteries in Ancient Rome

The House of the Vestals: The Investigations of Gordianus the Finder (A Novel of Ancient Rome)
Steven Saylor
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Rubicon: A Novel of Ancient Rome

ASIN: 0312964528

Book Description

It is Ancient Rome, and Gordianus the Finder has a knack for finding trouble. Stalking about the city's twisting trails looking for clues and finding bodies, Gordianus has had his share of misadventure with nobles and slaves alike. Known to many as the one man in the ancient world who can both keep a secret and uncover one, Gordianus has stories to tell.

Customer Reviews:

It's nice to fill in some gaps........2007-04-24

This book of nine stories was a good thing for me to read. I often wanted to fill in some of the rather lengthy gaps between Gordianius the Finder books. This collection of stories takes place in chronological time between the first book "Roman Blood" and the the second book "Arms of Nemesis". These little stories are not major mysteries, by any stretch, but they are wonderful anecdotal snapshots of Gordianus and Bethesda before they married, and some of the growing up years of Eco. We also get to meet Gordianus' benefactor, Lucius Claudius. I cannot wait to continue the series, but I'm glad that I took the time to read this collection of stories. My favourite was "A Will is a Way".

Very Entertaining.......2007-03-25

This a collection of short stories, easy to follow and different from each other. Each describes different aspects of the Roman world, from customs, festivities, beliefs and superstitions.
This book is ideal for students studying English as a Second Language, or any kind of classroom. Students will find these easy stories informative, interesting and educative.

My favorite mysteries were "The King Bee and the Honey" and "Little Caesar and the Pirates."

Gordianus the Finder in Shorts.......2007-02-28

'The House of the Vestals' is Steven Saylor's first collection of short stories that fill in the gaps in the history, personal and professional of Gordianus the Finder. (Saylor later wrote 'A Gladiator Dies Only Once' to fill in even more of the blanks.)

Fans of the Roma Sub Rosa series that began in 'Roman Blood' will love these short stories. Saylor's stories are easy on the brow, enjoyable, not too taxing - the 'mysteries' are often pretty simple - but you root for Gordianus because he is a good and decent citizen.

Saylor's stories do have a serious side - they paint an admirably convincing portrait of late Republican Rome. I am by no means a scholar of ancient history, but I have read a half dozen or so histories of this era (such as 'Rubicon' by Tom Holland and 'Caesar' by Adrian Goildworthy) and he has me convinced. Saylor has a reputation for scrupulous accuracy and often cast his stroies admidst some actual event in history.

Highly recommended.

The Sixth Book in the Series.......2006-12-23

Steven Saylor's fascination with Ancient Rome began at an early age. A history graduate and former newspaper and magazine editor, he lives in Berkeley, California. His series of books about Ancient Rome and featuring Gordianus the Finder are extremely popular both here in England and also in America. Anyone who is a fan of Lindsey Davis will love these books too. Steven Saylor brings Ancient Rome to life, so much so that the reader can lose himself in the sights and sounds of the ancient city.

Gordianus the Finder, the investigator of crimes, a man whose skill and integrity have made him much sought after by some of the most important men in Rome. Men who may need a secret to be kept, men who need to know that when Gordianus is working for them he will be discreet and not susceptible to bribery.

This is a collection of nine short stories featuring Gordianus the Finder. I am not really a fan of short stories, preferring something that I can get my `teeth into.' But I did find these very entertaining and enjoyable and what they do achieve is that they help to fill in the gaps that are left by the longer novels. We learn a little more about Gordianus's slave, Bethesda, who has now become his wife and some of the many other details skimmed over in the novels. For those who love the Saylor books this is well worth reading.

Mysteries in Ancient Rome.......2006-11-10

Saylor does it again. His Gordianus books are a pleasure to read.

A Mist of Prophecies: A Novel of Ancient Rome

Average customer rating:

Last Tango in the Subura: Gordianus and the Prophetess
Amazing work
Saylor has regained balance.
Ancient Rome at its Very Best
OK, But Could Have Been Much Better

A Mist of Prophecies: A Novel of Ancient Rome
Steven Saylor
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312271212

Book Description

During the Roman Civil War, as the forces of Pompey and Julius Caesar fight a series of battles in the provinces over control of the Republic, Rome itself is a hotbed of intrigue as those left behind wait for word.In this tentative and treacherous environment, a beautiful young seeress is murdered in the marketplace.Possibly mad and claiming no memory of her own past, Cassandra - like her namesake - is reputed to have had the true gift of prophecy and, as a result, she became a confidante of the rich and powerful. Gordianus the Finder, who had become obsessed with the woman and her mystery, starts to investigate her murder.As the political situation in Rome continues to decay, the citizenry veers towards ruin, and everyone waits for word out in the far off fields of war, Gordianus begins to peel away the veils of secrecy that surround Cassandra's life and death. What lies underneath involves one, possibly many, of the most powerful women in Rome and the truth could not only put Gordianus's life in danger but affect the very future of Rome itself.AUTHORBIO: Steven Saylor has had a lifelong fascination with ancient Rome, from the drive-in movies of his boyhood (Cleopatra, Spartacus, Ben Hur), to his degree in history from the University of Texas, and through his appearances on the History Channel as an expert on Roman politics and life. He is the author of nine volumes in the Roma Sub Rosa series, most recently Last Seen in Massilia, as well as A Twist at the End, a historical novel set in 19th century Texas.He divides his time between Berkeley, California and Austin, Texas.

Customer Reviews:

Last Tango in the Subura: Gordianus and the Prophetess.......2007-01-31

While Caesar and Pompey are in Greece preparing for the ultimate showdown of their civil war, Rome is in dire straits under its Caesar-appointed custodians. Food is in short supply and the economy has all but collapsed with soaring inflation and a population deeply in debt (including Gordianus). Utter chaos could ensue at any moment as several opportunists exploit Rome's weakness to gain power for themselves. As if things weren't bad enough, Gordianus' wife Bethesda has fallen under a mysterious ailment that threatens to be fatal. Gordianus and his family are in the Forum seeking food (and hopefully a cure for Bethesda) when the beautiful but obviously deranged woman called "Cassandra" (for her alleged gift of prophecy), runs to Gordianus and collapses in his arms telling him before she dies that she has been poisoned by another woman. It turns out that Cassandra and Gordianus were not strangers. They were, in fact, secret lovers. (Yes, at his age!) Since Cassandra was a beggar with no relatives, Gordianus gives her a funeral. To his surprise, seven of the richest, most powerful women in Rome (including the wives and mistresses of Caesar, Cicero and Mark Antony) come to watch her body burn. Gordianus is sure that one of them is the murderer. Keeping his grief secret, Gordianus tries to identify the killer, as he is drawn deeper and deeper into Cassandra's complex world. Who exactly WAS Cassandra? Where did she come from? Why was she there? Was she a genuine seeress? A clever actress? A spy? Or all of the above? If she was a spy, who was she working for and why?

A MIST OF PROPHECIES is a more conventionally "Agatha Christie" structured mystery than the previous volumes: a murder is committed, the suspects identified and then interviewed to discover the killer's identity. I was sure I had correctly guessed the murderess and her motivation at the end of Chapter 13, but I was wrong! Once again, what really makes the novel worthwhile are the colorful details of daily life in the Roman Empire. This book doesn't have the depth that some of the previous volumes have (e.g., THE VENUS THROW), but it's one of the faster-paced entries in this series and a lot of fun. At this point, there is only one more volume in this series after this book. I really don't want it to end! But A MIST OF PROPHECIES hints at the intriguing prospect of Gordianus' daughter Diana and her husband Davus entering the family business as a team. So maybe it won't be over!

Amazing work.......2006-08-29

Saylor has definately become a master of his art. Each of the characters are so vivid, it is obvious that Saylor treats each with respect and critical thought has been put into view point analysis. The images Saylor uses to bring Rome alive are personal and palpable. Its as if Saylor travelled in time and really hung out with these people.

The story line really didnt draw me in to the novel that much. But if anyone can make a story about a bunch of bickering old ladies facsinating, you better believe that it is Saylor who will do it.

Although the story line didnt excite me, the realness of the characters that did. I mean, I almost feel like I was down their by the river with Gordianus and Clodia.

Saylor has regained balance. .......2005-10-11

Well, Gordianus continues to be entirely implausible as far as actual Late Republican Rome was concerned. But then this novel manages to obtain an eerie athmosphere, as Gordianus enters old age in earnest in a setting of civil war, chaos and impending doom, the telling of the story revolves around a savvy counterpoint structure, and the mystery is actually satisfactory and not a pretext for displaying historical erudition. I look foward to reading the next novel - something "Last seem in Massilia" didn't quite manage to do.

Ancient Rome at its Very Best.......2004-11-14

Gordianus the Finder is accosted in the marketplace by a beautiful young woman. She staggers towards him and dies in his arms. The woman is known as Cassandra by many, but this is not her real name, but a name given by the people who believed she had the true gift of prophecy. lots of people would pay handsomely for this gift, others would do anything in their power to supress it. Cassandra has had the ear of some of the most influential people in Rome, people who would stop at nothing . . .
Obsessed with Cassandra's death Gordianus sets out to investigate. What he uncovers has serious implications concerning some of the most important women in Rome and puts Gordianus in serious danger of losing his own life.
Saylor brings the sights, sounds and smells of Ancient Rome to life yet again, surely this is how it must have been.

OK, But Could Have Been Much Better.......2004-05-31

"A Mist of Prophecies" was a disappointment. Granted, it was an above average novel, but it had the potential to be much more.

The novel opens in Rome in 48 BC when the city is in tumult and the city government is hard pressed to maintain basic law and order. There is an alleged prophetess who goes under the name of Cassandra and who like her Trojan namesake is widely believed to be able to forsee the future. However, she is poisoned and detective Gordianus the Finder decides to try to figure out who's responsible for the dirty deed.

So far, so good. However, the plot unravels from there. Gordianus decides that the killer must have been one of the seven prominent women who went to Cassandra's funeral although it is not clear on what basis he makes that determination.

One problem with mystery novels set in past historical times is that the detectives are invariably private citizens who do not have any legal power to compel folks to talk to them. Nor do they have any sort of investigator's license to give them legitimacy. So, the authors of these novels generally have the suspects answer just about every question put to them by the hero except the one that would establish who done it. When a suspect refuses to answer a particular question, you know right then and there that this person is either guilty or a red herring.

In the case of "A Mist Of Prophecies," the reader can figure out who the villainess is early on in the book since the author, Steven Saylor, failed to establish a plausible red herring. The guilty party in this novel just about did everything possible to make it easy for Gordianus to determine her guilt so much so that she might as well as gone around in public with a target painted on her back.

While the mystery part is weak, the historical part is the novel's strength. The reader learns a lot about Roman history during this important time period in a way that holds the reader's interest. Additionally, the novel is well written and has richly drawn characters.

Amazon.com

This is the fifth in Steven Saylor's "Roma Sub Rosa" series: murder mysteries set in classical Rome just before the fall of the Empire. Once again, Saylor's sleuth is Gordoianus the Finder, a sort of Sam Spade in a toga, who is hired by the rich and infamous of Roman society to solve their personal and political troubles. This time the powerful politician Publius Clodius is murdered on an open road and as riots break out, the fate of the Republic is in doubt. The plotting is deft and the action -- both physical and intellectual -- is nonstop. Most of the characters here are heterosexual but Saylor (who also writes great erotica under the name Aaron Travis) brings a critical gay sensibility to his tales that forms the cultural and emotional crux of his work.

Book Description

Torchlight flickers on elegant marble walls. The sound of a mob echoes in the street. The year is 52 B.C. and the naked body of Publius Clodius is about to be carried through the teeming streets of Rome. Clodius, a rich man turned rabble-rouser, was slain on the most splendid road in the world, the Appian Way. Now Clodius's rival, Milo, is being targeted for revenge, and the city teeters on the verge of chaos. An explosive trail will feature the best oration of Cicero and Marc Anthony, while Gordianus the Finder has been charged by Pompey the Great himself to look further into the murder. With the Senate House already in ashes, and his own life very much in danger, Gordianus must return to a deserted stretch of the Appian Way-to find the truth that can save a city filled with the madness and glory.

Customer Reviews:

I have no problem giving this one five stars........2007-04-15

I must admit that I feel like a "finder" for discovering this series. Gordianus the Finder is a remarkable character. He is clever, but vulnerable, jaded, but a loving father and husband, and he is vividly portrayed by Mr. Saylor. This is an outstanding series, but I truly recommend that it be read in order. This book is the fifth in the series. Saylor covers the peculiar slaying of Publius Clodius, and the fallout that occurred in Rome as result of his murder. In that respect, it is a little less of a mystery, but Gordianus has been asked by two very prominent citizens to find out what actually happened on the Appian Way the day Clodius was killed. Rome was at a very unsettled time at this point in history, and it was the beginning of the end of the Roman Republic. The book illustrates all the conflicting ambitions that were driving Rome at this time. We have the murdered man, Clodius, and the man accused of killing him - Milo wanting power. We also have Pompey and Caesar in the background who also want to control Rome's destiny. These are totally engrossing books, and they've kind of taken over my life right now, even though I continue to read others by other authors, my mind keeps wandering back to wonder what Gordianus is up to now. Highly addicting!

The Fifth Book in the Roma Sub Rosa series.......2006-12-23

Steven Saylor's fascination with Ancient Rome began at an early age. A history graduate and former newspaper and magazine editor, he lives in Berkeley, California. His series of books about Ancient Rome and featuring Gordianus the Finder are extremely popular both here in England and also in America. Anyone who is a fan of Lindsey Davis will love these books too. Steven Saylor brings Ancient Rome to life, so much so that the reader can lose himself in the sights and sounds of the ancient city.

Gordianus the Finder, the investigator of crimes, a man whose skill and integrity have made him much sought after by some of the most important men in Rome. Men who may need a secret to be kept, men who need to know that when Gordianus is working for them he will be discreet and not susceptible to bribery.

In this novel Gordianus the Finder is assigned to a case by the great man himself, Pompey. He is now one of the most important, if not the most important man in Rome, although perhaps one Julius Caesar, may in later times argue with that. Pompey is determined to find out about the disappearance of the high born politician Publius Clodius. His disappearance has caused a great upheaval in the city of Rome, with riots on the streets and bouts of arson taking place. He needs Gordianus to find out what happened to Clodius and quickly before the mob destroy the city.

A fun, enjoyable book.......2006-01-03

I generally read history, not fiction. In fact, until the past year, about 95% of my reading was history. I started reading Colleen McCullough's series of books on Rome, tired of it, and then tried Saylor. I think I've found my author. This book is splendid. Interesting, engaging, never insulting to my intelligence, but never overly dry or expository. The style is elegant and refined, as opposed to the clunky, cliche-ridden style of McCullough. The characters breathe. (For instance, characters can be erotic and alluring, but they're never lurid.) The storytelling is engrossing. I won't comment on the book's value as a murder mystery per se, because I'm not really a fan of the genre. Does it have a sufficient twist? I don't know; I don't care. I enjoyed the book, regardless of its genre.

All in all, a novel written for serious, mature readers, but readers who seek a fun, relaxing book. And after you finish the first, you can look forward to the others, because the central character, Gordianus, is warm, witty, vulnerable, imperfect, and thoroughly human. Someone I can identify with.

By the time I'd finished this book, I had ordered all of the other books in the series.

The Forest Gump of Ancient Rome.......2005-07-30

This volume of Steven Saylor's Roman mysteries continues the high standards of the others. For me, it took a while for the actual mystery to get off the ground, but I found the last quarter rather suspenseful. What I love most about these books is the depiction of how people in the Roman Republic carried on the ordinary business of living from day to day. Saylor's descriptive powers get better and better. Parts of this book are almost poetic. While the major peg of the story concerns the murder of Publius Clodius on the Appian Way, there are a couple of interesting themes in this book. One concerns the relationship between masters and slaves. One of Gordianus's slaves dies in this book, but he gains three more before the book is over. The slaves and former slaves of all the major players figure into the story. The book also concerns the relationship between fathers and daughters. Gordianus's daughter Diana is a teenager now with a strong libido. (Am I the only person who finds Diana disturbing?) In contrast, Senator Tedius's daughter leads a nun-like life of devotion to her father. Several characters from the previous volume return--not only Clodius and his exotically beautiful sister Clodia, but Cicero and Tiro as well. (I do hope that this is the last we've seen of Cicero, though. He always bogs down the plot.) Julius Caesar, Marc Antony and Pompey also put in appearances. (Gordianus is sort of the Forest Gump of Ancient Rome.)

This is a very entertaining book with several comical observations. I laughed out loud on at least one occasion. It's not as sexy as some of the previous volumes, but in many ways it has more heart. There were a couple of places where my eyes misted up. This is a worthy addition to an outstanding series. I'm looking forward to the next volume, RUBICON.

Twists in the mystery and the family.......2005-02-15

I am a devoted reader of the Roman Sub Rosa series. Saylor has a formula going for these books which works very well. The reader gets an intriguing history lesson and a thrilling mystery at the same time. It's amazing how Mr. Saylor can flesh out these novels from actual events and extant speeches. Of course his fictitious private eye Gordianus enables him to do this. The reader experiences legendary people and events through the eyes of a "regular" Roman citizen and his family. And family is important. Saylor always seems to find a way to make the mystery have a twist as well as Gordianus' family story. Mysteries are revealed on more than one level, and that's an important mark of a great novel. I can't make myself give the book 5 stars because I reserve those for books that are life-changing. I didn't feel that way about Murder on the Appian Way, but I did highly enjoy it.

The Venus Throw: A Mystery of Ancient Rome (A Novel of Ancient Rome)

Average customer rating:

out of time and place
One of the best historical mystery writers out there!
Fourth Book in the Series
Easy read, interesting plot
Another good one by Saylor

The Venus Throw: A Mystery of Ancient Rome (A Novel of Ancient Rome)
Steven Saylor
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Similar Items:

A Murder on the Appian Way: A Mystery Of Ancient Rome (A Novel of Ancient Rome)
Catilina's Riddle: A Novel of Ancient Rome
Arms of Nemesis: A Novel of Ancient Rome
The House of the Vestals: The Investigations of Gordianus the Finder (A Novel of Ancient Rome)
Rubicon: A Novel of Ancient Rome

ASIN: 0312957785

Book Description

On a chill January evening in 56 B.C. , two strange visitors to Rome-an Egyptian ambassador and a eunuch priest-seek out Gordianus the Finder whose specialty is solving murders. But the ambassador, a philosopher named Dio, has come to ask for something Gordianus cannot give-help in staying alive. Before the night is out, he will be murdered.Now Gordianus begins his most dangerous case. Hired to investigate Dio's death by a beautiful woman with a scandalous reputation, he will follow a trail of political intrigue into the highest circles of power and the city's most hidden arenas of debauchery. There Gordianus will learn nothing is as it seems-not the damning evidence he uncovers, not the suspect he sends to trial, not even the real truth behind Dio's death which lies in secrets-not of state, but of the heart.

Customer Reviews:

out of time and place.......2007-04-07

It appears from some study I did after reading this novel
that the Roman morals portrayed are one to two centuries ahead of the actual
decay that did happen.
The Dio mentioned is probably roughly based on Dio Chrysostom of the first century AD
not the first century BC. The incipient decadence of the Roman Empire had it's origin in this era
of the Republic , but wasn't as strongly manifested as this novel portrays.
In later life Cicero was a stoic convert of the Diodotus school
which was diametrically opposed to the Epicurean traits portrayed here.
As the moral turpitude of the Egyptian philosopher is one of the major plot devices
the issue is important to the credibility of the plot.
In a stoic dominated era where the leaders were short haired and clean shaven,
this novel justs fails to be historically accurate.
During the Republic the morals portrayed would
have sentenced the people involved to capital punishment
by a magistrate. The Romans were actually a very conservative heterosexual
society at this time and even allowed only one marriage as the Caesar Cleopatra affair
has written clearly in history.
It was the effects of the bread and circuses of the Empire
that led to the later laxness in morality.
A Study Of History (Abridgement of Vols. 1-10, 2-vol. set)

One of the best historical mystery writers out there!.......2007-01-27

There are only a handful of historical mystery writers who have the knack of putting their readers right into the time and place that they are creating. I would count Steven Saylor as one of those. Others that come to mind are Ellis Peters and her Brother Cadfael series, Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes, Lindsey Davis and her Falco and Saylor with his Gordianus. He is such a good writer that I forgot that we were in 56 B.C. and was following the story like we follow lurid headlines on today's news. In this book Gordianus stays in Rome, but he gets involved in a family feud that snares him and his family. He also gets thrown into Roman and Egyptian politics, where he really doesn't want to be. They're all here - all the historical names we know - Caesar, Pompey, Cicero, and many others, and I truly enjoyed watching Gordianus find his way among these great historcial people. This was a brilliant book, and this is a truly brilliant series. I have no higher praise to give it.

Fourth Book in the Series.......2006-12-21

Steven Saylor's fascination with Ancient Rome began at an early age. A history graduate and former newspaper and magazine editor, he lives in Berkeley, California. His series of books about Ancient Rome and featuring Gordianus the Finder are extremely popular both here in England and also in America. Anyone who is a fan of Lindsey Davis will love these books too. Steven Saylor brings Ancient Rome to life, so much so that the reader can lose himself in the sights and sounds of the ancient city.

Gordianus the Finder, the investigator of crimes, a man whose skill and integrity have made him much sought after by some of the most important men in Rome. Men who may need a secret to be kept, men who need to know that when Gordianus is working for them he will be discreet and not susceptible to bribery.

The Sub Rosa series is very quickly growing in popularity and it is easy to see why. The main character Gordianus the Finder is both a likeable and believable character and the author's descriptive talents bring the sights and sounds of Ancient Rome leaping off the pages. In this novel set in the period 50 BC Gordianus is hired to investigate a murder and he must follow a trail of intrigue to places that no one in their right mind would go, into the realms of political power. Nobody is more devious than the men who rule Rome. Men who, on the surface are the height of respectability, but rub the surface . . .

Easy read, interesting plot.......2006-11-03

Saylor has a knack for producing gripping plots. He also knows Rome--its topography, archaeology, and culture--thoroughly. Nevertheless, the story is anachronistic. For instance, he builds up Clodia as a protofeminist at the expense of the poet Catullus, who is portrayed as a disturbed stalker.

Another good one by Saylor.......2005-12-30

I read Saylor to go back to Rome. In this one he takes us inside the Clodii family, a clan worthy of its own non-fiction book (different members have them, but a full popularly written history would be ideal). This novel introduces us to the sister of the cross dresser who inspired Caesar's line about requiring a wife above suspicion.

Like the two other Saylor's that I've read, there is a lot of scholarship behind the story. Here, Rome's criminal justice system is put on display as is a description of the oratorical style that built Cicero's career. There is something on the role of women, you learn more (Arms of Nemesis does a better job) of the role of slaves and you visit different places in the Palantine neighborhood, traveling by foot and liter.

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