SPQR V: Saturnalia (The SPQR Roman Mysteries)

At this particular point in time our old friend Deuisus is investigating a Pre-Roman fertility cult he has no real authority to do this but that has never stopped him before. With the usual cast of characters done of whom disappoint. The reason this particular installment sticks in my mind is because of a line surprisingly profound for a mystery book. The Fortunetellers words proved accurate I did indeed outlive all my enemies but I also outlived all my friends. Just occasionally you can be moved by an author you thought was the writer of fast little mysteries only. Surprising to say the least, expect the unexpected.

Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger has been sampling what he regards as the good life on the beautiful island of Rhodes, but that was never the intention of his family who exiled him there because of knack of causing trouble wherever he goes. Now he has been called back to Rome where his powers of deduction and mystery solving are sorely needed. The head of a politically powerful family has been poisoned and as usual in these cases the number one suspect is his wife Clodia. It happens everyday, someone or other is murdered, but it is usually a stabbing or strangulation. Poison is different. Poisoning involves the laws against witchcraft. A trial of Clodia for poisoning could embarrass some of the richest and most important families in Rome. Apart from that Decius thinks that Clodia is innocent. Our young sleuth has ever been a sucker for a pretty face, but to his credit he never lets it cloud his judgement, well until now anyway . . .

... I had just read the Steven Saylor "Roma Sub Rosa" series, featuring the lovably human Gordianus the Finder, so I felt a bit disloyal even picking up a Maddox Roberts book, but, WOW! am I glad I did. Roberts writes with effortless skill, a keen understanding of complex Roman politics and social hierarchies, and, best of all, a delicious sense of mystery. SATURNALIA, is a wicked tale of murder and adultery, set against the twilight of Rome's Republic. The scandalous Clodia is accused of poisoning her husband (all of this is based on historical events), and Maddox Roberts takes the opportunity to explore some of Rome's darker sides in the process. Roberts' hero - a Junior Senator with the unwieldy name of Decius Caecilius Metellus - is a wonder: patrician by birth, he is able to walk with equal confidence in marble halls, and the stinkiest streets of the Subura. I highly recommend not only SATURNALIA, but all the other novels in the SPQR series. You'll fall in love with Decius, and discover sides to ancient Rome you never knew existed.

I have read all of the books in this series, and they are really great. The interpretations of historical characters are entertaining, the hero is very funny, the plots are interesting. Please write more!

This is the volume 5 of the SPQR series. Before you read this book, you have to read the volume 1 (SPQR) and at least one of the volumes 2-4 in order to understand what this book's all about. My advice is to read all the books in the right order.While "SPQR" is one of my favorite books ever, the three follow-up volumes were a bit disappointing. This one is, however, a worthy match for the first book. Decius is back in Rome and has a criminal case of greatest delicacy to solve. He will meet his usual friends and enemies, some of them under rather unusual circumstances. The final solution is very unexpected. Enjoy it!