Spqr IX: The Princess and the Pirates

John Maddox Roberts is the underrated, best writer of the Roman detective mystery genre. Flawless historicity is combined with excellent writing, humor, and interesting characters, who actually develop and mature as the series progresses. The Princess and the Pirates is one of his best, as our Decius finds himself in a perilous situation on Cyprus, and surprised to be helped by young Cleopatra. As Rome had just taken Cyprus from Egypt, her presence is not as surprising as it might seem. She is but one character to show maturation through this series, including Decius himself, his assistant/bodyguard Hermes, the former street gang leader Milo and his enemy Clodius's sister Clodia. One nice thing about the SPQR series: despite taking place in the heavily left-right politicized times of Cicero and Julius Caesar, these books adhere to a mildly cynical view of both the aristocratic party and the so-called democratic(demogogic?) one. Decius has ties to leaders of both. Stephen Saylor and a few others imbue their books with first century B.C. leftist manifestos. I can't vote for consul, so leave the heavy-handed good side, bad side politics out. Just give me fun ancient Roman mysteries like the SPQR series.

SPQR IX commences just after Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger's aedile adventures with dodgy tradesmen with our senatorial sleuth setting off for Cyprus under a commission from the Senate to mop up an irritating case of piracy with minimal resources. With a growing air of authority our purple striper boards ship for the Mediterranean island with the grown up and ever faithful Hermes at his side and wife, Julia, making a more sedate journey with Titus Annius Milo a few weeks behind. Freed from marital constraints, Decius makes the most of this change of scenery by arriving and, in true Julian style, swiftly commandeers three water laden hulks and a motley crew of ex-pirates and legionaries to sail his flotilla. After recruiting the fearsome Ariston to aid him in his chase he also deals with the governor, Silvanus, who eventually ends up murdered by being forced to choke to death on incense. There is also the exiled Gabinius whose imperium is non-existent but personal authority is immense. In addition to these two senior Roman officials, we are introduced to a supporting list of suspects with the poet Alpheus and the four representatives of the powerful equites factions, Marcus Junius Brutus of the Wine Merchants, Mamercus Sulpicius Naso of the Grain Exporters, Decimus Antonius of the Metal Brokers, and Malachi Josepides of the Textile Importers. Prominently in the cast is Sergilius Nobilior, chief of the Banker's Association and his voluptuous and somewhat promiscuous wife, Flavia. However, the real task for Decius is to hunt down the pirate Spurius and he is given some unwanted assistance by the teenage Cleopatra who happens to be visiting Cyprus. Her political astuteness and immense resources coupled with girlish enthusiasm prove boon and bane to our hero as he finds himself on the receiving end of caulking sabotage, night espionage trips, attempted assassinations and insistent women before Julia and Milo turn up in good time to lend a much needed hand as he finally discovers who is behind the piracy, Silvanus' murder and a vast trading conspiracy. Decius steps out of his trip to Cyprus with his auctoritas improved. He is no Julius Caesar (in fact he's delighted to make the acquaintance of an Ethiopian prince who's never heard of the great man) but his cogitative sleuthing makes him stand out amongst the senatorial crowd. Geniunely likable, always affable, hard but fair his results speak for themselves. JMR's creation continues to improve and the SPQR series is vastly superior to the somewhat pulpy Children of Rome novels. Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger ranks right up there with Gordianus the Finder, Marcus Didius Falco and Marcus Valerius Corvinus and JMR should continue to write about him for as long as he can. Buy it.

After two terms as Aedile, Decius Caecilius Metellus is ready to stand for praetor--a government job with the clout to merit a substantial pro-praetorship and give Decius a chance to pay off some of his debts. Instead, the senate sends him to Cyprus to root out the pirates that, years after Pompey last subdued them, are making a comeback in the eastern Mediterranean. In Cyprus, Decius finds Roman bureaucrats, busy looting the country, Greek merchants seeking their fortunes, a temple that claims to be the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite herself, and a woman who enjoys sensual delights just a little too much. Also, the Princess Cleopatra--who just happens to have the best warship in the area. It doesn't take long for Decius to realize that the pirates have help from someone important in Cyprus, but when the governor is killed, Decius realizes that the conspiracy reaches higher into the Roman circles than he had imagined. Still, it's only when his wife and his friend Milo arrive that Decius finally puts things together. Of course, staying alive long enough to present the evidence is the real trick. Author John Maddox Roberts spins an intriguing and fascinating tale of the dying days of Republican Rome. Caesar is in Gaul, Pompey is still powerful but a declining light, and the traditional Roman oligarchs still scheme and play their political games while the 'new men' secure wealth by trade and by exploiting the conquered and allied people. Egypt remains the huge prize, so rich that any Roman general to take it becomes the de-facto favorite as the ruler of the world. Roberts' Decius makes a fine protagonist with his combination of Roman virtues and unRoman introspection--along with a decided weakness for wine and attraction toward women who aren't his wife. Cleopatra, the Princess in the book's title, is still young, but shows flashes of the energy that twice bring her close to becoming co-ruler of the known world. THE PRINCESS AND THE PIRATES is an enjoyable find for anyone who appreciates historical mysteries.

In the year 703 Rome, Decius Metellus wants to know why after serving two years as an aedile during which his popularity rose to unprecedented heights because he did so much good works, he can't be elected predator. The answer is simple: Politics. The Metellus family has different candidates they want to run for office this year and they think Decius needs more seasoning in the military arena. Rome has recently annexed Cyprus from Egypt resulting in a resurgence of piracy in the area. Decius is sent there to break up their operation but when he arrives he finds a teenage Cleopatra there who gladly lends her vessel to his three ship armada. Although he is not certain he can trust the princess, he accepts her help and once he starts investigating, he realize there is a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of the Cyprian government. Trapping and catching the conspirators will prove to be the most difficult assignment of his life. John Maddox Roberts has the gift to describe a bygone era so perfectly that readers actually believe they are there. The author keeps his series fresh by constantly changing the location from Rome so although the protagonist remains the same, the far flung Roman Empire is described in exquisite meticulously researched detail. As usual, SPQR IX is a vivid and well designed historical mystery. Harriet Klausner

The only warning I would issue regarding "The Princess and the Pirates (SPQR IX)" by John Maddox Roberts is that it is not much of a "straight" mystery novel in spite of the fact that it features a murder. In fact, it reads more like an adventure novel. On the other hand, if you're looking for an entertaining read, that is written in a witty and sardonic manner, and which is full of interesting and fascinating historical details, you're bound to enjoy "The Princess and the Pirates" -- though, truth to tell, I'm not sure about the title as Cleopatra (the princess) is more of a colourful feature than the main focus of the book. After having served two years as an aedile, one would have thought that the next step in Decius Caecilius Metellus' career would be to run for preatorship. Decius' family, however, have other ideas. They feel that Decius hasn't spent enough time doing his military duty. But rather than send him back to Gaul (and to Julius Caesar, whom the Metelli is currently leaning away from), they've decided to send Decius to Cyprus in order to root out the pirates who have been plaguing the Mediterranean. And so Decius his slave, Hermes, and a sorry navy of three liburnian complete with an inadequate crew of sailors and marines soon find themselves in Cyprus, a beautiful island that once used to belong to the Egyptians but which now belongs to Rome, where things are even in a more sorry state than even Decius had expected. To begin with, the island seems to have been stripped of nearly every ship and most of its navy. Determined to carry out his duties, Decius is soon busy seeing to the refitting of his three ships (to make them battle ready) and hiring extra hands (some of them ex-pirates) to man the ships and act as marines. Fortunately for Decius, also in Cyprus at this time is the young Egyptian princess, Cleopatra, who graciously volunteers her ship into service. Not so fortunately for Decius is the young princess' determination to come along for the fun of hunting pirates. And just when Decius beings to think that he will be able to pull off this enterprise quite successfully and quickly, his host, the governor of Cyprus, Aulus Silvanus, is found murdered. Now it is up to Decius to bring Silvanus' murderer to justice. Getting involved in another murder investigation is a distraction that Decius cannot afford right now, but he is honour bound to avenge Silvanus because he was a guest at the dead man's house. And then there is the suspicious behaviour of Silvanus' good friend, the exiled general Gabinius, who seems a little too eager to take charge and keep Decius out of the murder investigation. Is Gabinius trying to grab the glory for solving the murder or is he trying to cover up something? Deeply suspicious, Decius is determined to keep an eye on Gabinius's activities, and soon finds himself spread thin with no allies when he realises that even the Princess Cleopatra could have had a hand in murdering Silvanus for political re