The Sacrilege: An SPQR Mystery [Mass Market Paperback]

John Maddox Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1992

When a sacred women's rite, presided over by Caesar's spouse, Pompeia, is infiltrated by a corrupt patrician dressed in female garb, Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger, an experienced detective, steps in to investigate.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"A justly acclaimed detective series." -PUBLISHERS WEEKLY --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

John Maddox Roberts has written numerous works of science fiction and fantasy, in addition to his successful historical SPQR mystery series. He lives with his wife, Beth, in the little coal mining community of Pound, Virginia.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Avon Books; 1st edition (May 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380766272
• ISBN-13: 978-0380766277
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #576,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Maddox Roberts has written numerous works of science fiction and fantasy, in addition to his successful historical SPQR mystery series. He lives in New Mexico with his wife.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Caesar's Spouse and a Suspicious Sacrilege, July 31, 2004

By 

George R Dekle "Bob Dekle" (Lake City, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Sacrilege (SPQR III) (Paperback)

When I was a young assistant state attorney, a wise old lawyer told me that a prosecutor had to be like Caesar's wife--above suspicion. Good advice, but where did the aphorism come from? "SPQR III" gives a humorous answer to that question, and also gives us a rolicking good story of love, murder, and political intrigue.

One engaging aspect of the SPQR series is the ensemble of remarkable characters who reappear book after book. Quintus Caecilius Metellus the Elder, a battle scarred, no-nonsense soldier and politician who is both proud of and embarrassed by his eccentric son. Metellus Creticus, a dour man who happens to be one of the most powerful soldier-politicians in Rome. Titus Milo, a handsome, muscular organized crime boss who doesn't need weapons to defend himself. Asclepiodes, a talented physician who specializes in stitching up gladiators and performing autopsies. Fausta and Clodia, two women who are as heartless as they are beautiful. Publius Clodius, a reprobate who has only two ambitions--to become the most powerful man in Rome and to kill Decius Metellus the Younger.

In this book Roberts makes two exemplary additions to the ensemble: Julia, niece of Julius Caesar, love of Decius' life, and no mean detective in her own right. And finally, Hermes, a lazy, hungry, insolent slave whose cupidity sometimes interferes with his loyalty to Decius his master.

"SPQR III" follows the same plot as the first two offerings in this series. Decius investigates a sacrilege, becomes embroiled in a series of murders, uncovers a plot which threatens the very existence of Rome, dodges repeated attempts on his life as he pulls off a caper which saves the Republic, and flees Rome pursued by assassins. The mystery is not so much "whodunnit" as "how's Decius going to keep from getting himself killed?" It's all good fun.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How convincingly realistic, October 2, 2001

By 

tertius3 (MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sacrilege (SPQR III) (Paperback)

Decius Caecilius Metellus, scion of an old and noble Roman family, and a snooper with the best of them, is now a Senator. That only means he now can pry more easily into matters that bring him to the really dangerous attention of truly powerful opponents who are playing the lethal end game of the Roman Republic (c. 61 B.C). Here he comes up against the most powerful triumvirate Rome ever produced, but inexplicably he has the protective respect of Julius Caesar, one of its members. This story revolves around a sacred secret women's rite and why an up-and-coming popular rabblerouser, Clodius, would want to spy on it. As usual, from such a minor incident Decius gradually uncovers a colossal conspiracy against the Republic. I found it hard to keep track of the minor but crucial characters not only because they are numerous, but also because they frequently have similar names and certain of them are also busy changing those names during the action (practices explained in the highly useful end-glossary of the Latin terms Decius drops into the narrative).

One unique aspect of these Roman mystery stories is that they are purportedly narrated long after the events by Decius in his old age, thus allowing him amusing and droll comments (in the manner of Suetonius) benefiting from historical perspective. Roberts has a light touch on otherwise grim happenings, many of which he is not making up. His use of Caeasar's famous quote about how his wife must be above supicion is deliciously ironic. I'd guess the more one knows of classical history the more fun is this genre of mystery novels (cf. McCullough's biographical use of Caesar, Saylor's use of Cicero's law cases). The current St. Martin series has a much nicer presentation than the original Avon pulps, but has no more "Roman" an appearance (e.g., no Roman numerals). A useful map is included although its central parts disappear into the book's gutter. Incidentally, a computer mystery game titled "S.P.Q.R." was published in 1996 (has an amazing virtual Rome and gameplay a la MYST I, but is unrelated to the Roberts stories).

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Historically accurate and entertaining to boot, January 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Sacrilege (SPQR III) (Paperback)

What struck me immediately when reading this book is the incredible level of historical accuracy. John Maddux Roberts clearly knows his Roman Republican history well. Most of the characters in the novel were real people, and Roberts' characterizations of them closely match those found in texts of the day.

And it doesn't hurt that the story is engrossing, entertaining, and amusing. I can't recall the last time I enjoyed a book so thoroughly!