Roman Blood: A Mystery of Ancient Rome (Book 1 of the 'Roma Sub Rosa' series) [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Steven Saylor (Author), Scott Harrison (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1996

In Rome, 80 B.C., on a warm spring morning, Gordianus the Finder receives a summons to the house of a then-unknown young advocate and orator, Cicero. Ambitious and brilliant, the twenty-six-year-old Cicero is about to argue his first important case. his client is a wealthy farmer, one Sextus Roscius of the town of Ameria, who stands accused of the most unforgivable act in Ancient Rome: the murder of his father.

Hired by Cicero to investigate the charges, Gordianus sets out to discover the truth in a case-and a society-rife with deceit, betrayal, and conspiracy. As he draws nearer to the truth, the conspiracy looms ever larger until Gordianus begins to perceive the hand of the dictator Sulla himself. Playing for stakes much higher than he bargained for, Gordianus finds that not only is he himself endangered, but so are all those around him as well.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From the arrival of an articulate slave on the doorstep of sleuth Gordianus to the riveting re-creation of an actual oration by Cicero, Saylor's remarkable first novel takes the reader deep into the political, legal and family arenas of ancient Rome, providing a stirring blend of history and mystery, well seasoned with conspiracy, passion and intrigue. In the steamy spring of 80 B.C. fledgling orator Cicero is preparing the legal defense of Sextus Roscius, a wealthy farmer accused of the murder of his father. Things look grim for Sextus; it is well-known that his father had threatened to disinherit him in favor of his younger half-brother. Cicero engages Gordianus to get at the truth of the matter, and while the orator practices powerful speech-making the investigator proves the aptness of his sobriquet, "the finder." Gordianus soon discovers that truth and mortal danger walk hand-in-hand through the twisting streets and the great forum of Rome. But he is unflinching in his quest for veritas in a story greatly enhanced by its vivid characters, including Cicero's clever slave Tiro; a mute street urchin and his widowed mother; a beautiful, enigmatic whore; Gordianus's spirited slave and lover, Bethesda; the aging dictator Sulla; and a dyspeptic but brilliant Cicero. A classic historical mystery, in every sense.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

From the papers of Marcus Tullius Cicero comes this first novel, a fictionalization of the immortal Roman orator's first important case--his defense of well-heeled farmer Sextus Roscius on the charge of killing his hated father. The narrator is Gordianus the Finder, hired by Cicero to dig up evidence, and so good at his job that he soon learns the pretext that lured the elder Roscius to his death--a summons from Elena, a young prostitute pregnant with a possible heir; finds where the murder was committed; unearths two witnesses who set him on the track of a brutal conspiracy; and uncovers some sordid truths about the Roscius family in time for Cicero to set off the expected courtroom fireworks. More genuine mystery and detection than in Ron Burns's Roman Nights (see above), with two handsome surprises saved for last. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.; Unabridged edition (December 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786110589
• ISBN-13: 978-0786110582
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.7 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,369,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling mystery draped with vivid historic detail., October 24, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Roman Blood (Mass Market Paperback)

I first began reading Steven Saylor's short stories in Ellery Queen and
was immediately taken with his writing. Saylor brings history to life in
an immediate and vivid manner. He does it so well, the reader doesn't notice
it after awhile.

"Roman Blood" is first and foremost a mystery, and the "detective" is
Gordinius the Finder, a Roman citizen who is often hired to find truth.
In this story a man is accused of murdering his father, and faces a
horrible punishment if Gordinius and Cicero cannot find him innocent.

Saylor exposes the corruption of the Roman political system while
asking pointed questions about what justice is. This novel is so far
my favorite of Saylor's novels because although he delves into the
politics of the Roman Forum, the book is foremost a mystery novel.
Gordinius is attempting to solve the murder of a Roman citizen, and
Saylor maintains the suspensefulness throughout the novel.

The book's ending leaves the readers surprised and thoughtful. Saylor
also, by the end of the book, has ensured his future royalties because
he's made you care about the characters and leaves you wanting to read
more about their lives and their challenges.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a terrific book, part of a terrific series, September 15, 1998

By 

vpenner2 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roman Blood (Mass Market Paperback)

Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series is wonderful for the exploration of character, for the mysteries (of course), and for bringing Ancient Rome to life. The descriptions of Rome made me feel like I was walking through a city teeming with life, people, sights, sounds, smells.

The novels seem to become more complex as the series goes on. Roman Blood, the first novel in the series, is the most straight-forward murder mystery. Arms of Nemesis puts Gordianus under pressure with a time limit, and looks at the way slaves fit into Roman society. Catalina's Riddle takes place on a farm, in the midst of a possible revolution. The Venus Throw involves, scandal, politics and an examination of morals. I haven't read the other books yet, but I have ordered them. I heartily recommend this series.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Step back in time to mean streets of ancient Rome...., June 24, 2005

By 

Jeanne Tassotto (Trapped in the Midwest) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roman Blood: A Novel of Ancient Rome (St. Martin's Minotaur Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

and join Gordianus the Finder as he hunts through those twisting, winding streets to aid Cicero (yes, that Cicero).

Set in 80 BC, during the dictatorship of Sulla, Gordianus is hired by a young orator named Cicero to investigate a case, Sextus Roscius, a gentleman farmer, is accused of the murder of his father. Gordianus is soon plunged into the not so glamorous side of ancient Rome, a Rome of hired killers, corrupt government, brothels and home invasions. A world where a dying man's screams only cause good citizens to cover their ears and hide behind their barred doors.

The clues to the mystery of this novel are all there for the reader to follow but twist and turn so that it would be a challenge to solve the crime before Gordianus. The real treat to this story is not the mystery, although it is engaging, but rather the glimpse into the ancient world. Even though Gordianus has many of the same concerns of a modern day citizen, (crime in the streets, corruption in government, stretching the income to cover expenses) but he is very much a man of his times. Gordianus must contend with the social niceties of how a free citizen should treat a slave, his own and those belonging to others, finding his way through a city that has no maps, nor even any names on most of the streets, streets where a citizen could be killed at any time by a common thief, in a vendetta with a rival family or even at the request of the government. Saylor's descriptions of the settings and characters are fascinating, they bring this long gone time a place alive in an interesting and entertaining manner.

This is the first of the ROMA SUB ROSA series, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next in the series.