Roman Blood: A Novel of Ancient Rome (Novels of Ancient Rome) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Steven Saylor (Author) "THE slave who came to fetch me on that unseasonably warm spring morning was a young man, hardly more than twenty..." (more)
Key Phrases: esteemed judges, mute boy, proscription lists, Sextus Roscius, Caecilia Metella, House of Swans (more...)

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

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books (February 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312972962
• ISBN-13: 978-0312972967
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #192,594 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 1 in The Roma Sub Rosa Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 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.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good, but needs an "R" rating - not for kids, July 15, 2007

By	Alison Johns (berkeley, california) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

(there's a spoiler in here, so be warned)

I wouldn't have read this book on my own - it was recommended by my son's history teacher. And it's actually not bad - but it isn't for kids.

The book has some pretty steamy, detailed sex scenes - nails clawing in the back, hips thrusting, etc, etc. In fact, it has two such scenes in the first 50 pages, not to mention a brutal stabbing in the middle of a mob (which the protagonists choose to ignore), and a scene where one of our main characters lusts after the pretty, dead flesh of a corpse. Eesh.

We go on to deal with rape, father-daughter incest, your run-of-the-mill child abuse and neglect, another brutal stabbing (first reenacted, rather heartbreakingly, by a traumatized child, then described in vivid detail), the nasty ways a parricide is punished (to which an eager potential child witness responds "wow, I've never seen a monkey before!"), the beheading of thousands whose heads are impaled and on public display. The killing of a kitty cat whose blood is used as ink. A grown man having sex with a woman he owns as property while fantasizing about having sex with a young girl he knows has been molested by her father.And a couple more brutal stabbings.

As a historical detective novel, I think it did a fine job - it's not my genre, and I was certainly captivated by the story. Jacqueline Susann/Raymond Chandler in a toga, sort of thing. But it's not for those under 17.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Victoria Penner "vpenner2" (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) - 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.