Customer Reviews

Spqr II: The Catiline Conspiracy

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At long last, SPQR II: The Catiline Conspiracy is back in print--in a nice trade paperback edition. (The original release, from about a decade ago was a pocket-sized mass-market edition, with a rather tacky cover).

The basic plot of the story is that Decius Caecilius Metellus, young scion of a patrician line, in the course of his duties as quaestor (a temporary public office), discovers a number of signs that lead him to believe that some serious trouble is afoot-- caches of weapons hidden away in unused rooms at the temple of Saturn being only the first of them.

Eventually, he discovers the existence of an organized plot, led by the young noble Cataline, to overthrow the government of Rome. The only way to stop this plot, however, is to learn more of it-- which means pretending to join the conspiracy. But the price of admission is that he must kill one of his most trusted friends!

All in all, this is a rollicking good, high-action historical mystery. Like the mysteries of Steven Saylor, it's strongly rooted in actual history-- there was, after all, a real Cataline, who did indeed lead a plot to overthrow the Republic. He, his co-conspirators-- and many of the other characters with whom Decius interacts-- are real. In terms of its 'historicity', it's worth noting that Roberts' take on Cataline is very traditional in that he basically presents him as a spoiled, rotten, corrupt, brattish nobleman. This is, of course, how Cataline was portrayed by his enemies (e.g. Cicero), who-- due to the fact that history is written by the winners-- have tended to be well-represented in surviving documents. This is quite a different presentation of Catalina than Steven Saylor gives in his own mystery novel on the same subject, _Catalina's Riddle_, which presents Catalina more as a well-meaning, attractive, if somewhat naive populist. It's quite interesting to see the contrast, and those who enjoyed one book should also read the other-- just to see a different take on things.

In terms of the writing itself-- Maddox is quite fluid and engaging... and occasionally quite witty. His style is very different from Steven Saylor's, as is his detective (Decius is an up-and-coming young patrician actively involved in politics, as opposed to a philosophically-oriented plebian)-- but I'd say Saylor fans would still enjoy this book a lot, as would anyone who enjoys really good historical fiction-- particularly intrigues and mysteries-- set in or about ancient Rome.

The Nero Wolfe stories all revolve around a New York City peopled with numerous interesting characters who reappear in story after story. Half the fun of Nero Wolfe is the comfortable interplay between and among familiar characters. This is especially true of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. A neat mystery is set out, the characters banter back and forth as they set to solving it, and some sort of a caper is concocted to aid the solution.

The SPQR series seems to be in the same mold. The city is Rome in the declining years of the Republic, and some of the recurring characters are actual historical figures. There is no Nero Wolfe to sit idly sipping beer and thinking as Archie Goodwin does all the heavy lifting. Decius Caecilius Metellus must do both the thinking and the legwork. He's as accomplished as Archie Goodwin in handling the rough stuff, but he's not as sharp as Nero Wolfe in figuring out whodunnit.

The stories begin with Decius as a minor government functionary who encounters murder at every corner. As he sets about solving the murders, he invariably irritates powerful and dangerous men, uncovers a threat to the very existence of Rome, and dodges attempts on his life as he unravels the mystery. With each succeeding book through the first three, he climbs a little higher in Roman politics and makes more and more enemies.

In the first three books, there really won't be a lot of mystery about whodunnit if you're familiar with this period of ancient history, because Roberts is very faithful to the history. The real mystery, and what kept me turning the pages, is "how's Decius going to survive solving the murders?"

The conspiracy of Catiline is a familiar episode in Roman history. Sallust wrote a monograph about it. Cicero published his speeches on it. Maddox follows the course of the conspiracy very carefully. You can get the actual history of the conspiracy of Catelina from Sallust's monograph on the subject and from Cicero's recorded speeches against Catelina. If you're not familiar with the story, you might want to wait until you've read this book before reading the histories.

Now, if a mystery carefully follows the course of known historical events, how can there be any mystery to it? Furthermore, how can there be any entertainment value to it? Let me count the ways:

1. If you don't know the history, you've still got a mystery. Even if you do, you'll have fun puzzling out Maddox's fictional details of the conspiracy.

2. A good mystery derives as much entertainment value from the interplay of interesting characters as from the mysteries themselves. From Holmes and Watson to Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin and beyond, the cast of characters turns mediocre stories into very good stories. Much of the fun of the Decius Metellus stories comes from the interplay of the interesting characters Maddox peoples his stories with.

3. Many mysteries (Columbo, e.g.) give the audience the culprit from the beginning, and the mystery is "how's the good guy gonna catch the bad guy?" In the Decius Metellus stories, the mystery is "how's Decius going to survive?" Decius alienates all the powerful men of Rome, foils numerous attempts on his life, and somehow escapes with his hide. Each of the first three stories ends with Decius, having solved the mystery, fleeing Rome pursued by Furies.

The stories start at a sedate pace, but as the tension builds the pace quickens. In the last third of the story things are happening at breakneck speed, and the reader breathes a sigh of relief as Decius hotfoots it out of Rome.

If you like history and you like mystery, you'll like this story of a young politician unwinding a serpentine plot to overthrow the government.

It is wonderful to see J. M. Roberts' SPQR novels back in print. With the sixth novel `Nobody Loves a Centurion' now published, it gives a good excuse to go back and re-read this magnificent series of historical mysteries.

In this second novel, the protagonist Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger continues his rise through the Roman political system as the yearly quaestor in charge of the treasury-a low ranking, thankless and mundane job. Caius Julius Caesar is the pontifex maximus, Pompey is wielding his imperium in the near east, and Cicero is one of the consuls-the supreme magistrates of the Republic. In this post-Sulla era, Rome is fairly quiet but marred by the unexplained murders of several equites-the upper middle class businessmen/citizens that don't have the prestige of being patricians, but but the true holders of much of Rome's financial wealth.

In his usual sideways manner, Decius Caecilius gets himself involved and appointed to investigate. What follows is a rather well told tale of intrigue and desire based upon the historical conspiracy of Lucius Sergius Catilina against the Republic. Steven Saylor covered some of the same material in his equally excellent novel `Catilina's Riddle'-but from a slightly different perspective. This key moment in Roman history was truly a political turning point that presaged the end of the Republic and the coming of the Imperators.

Crassus, Pompey, Caesar and Catilina are brought to life in a way that history books can't do, and J.M. Roberts has created a most likable character in his Decius Caecilius. The extensive use of Roman titles and terminology is offset by the short glossary explaining key Latin terms as they were used in this era. A smart and fascinating novel with not so much mystery as history. Highly Recommended.

The book's quite what you'd expect after reading the volume 1 - "SPQR". (And if you haven't read that book, don't even think of reading this one!) You'll meet the same old Decius Caecilius Metellus struggling with complicated intrigues in the capital of the world - Rome.

This volume was a bit disappointing when I read it for the first time. (Yet, it got much better with the second try.) It's not as good as "SPQR", but, of course, the latter is nearly impossible to beat. But to look at the bright side, I'd like to mention that this time, Decius is not acting as stupidly as in the first volume. Besides, you might be pleasantly surprised to discover some new things about him that you wouldn't have guessed before.

If you loved "SPQR", read this book and the following ones, too.

I eventually got around to reading 'SPQR II', several years after reading 'SPQR I'. Well it certainly wasn't worth the wait. Unlike Steven Saylor's excellent Roma Sub Rosa mystery series, I find the work by John Maddox Roberts to be flat. The author doesn't delve into any of the characters very well, and he has a tendency to reference literally hundreds of characters that add little value to the story and only confuses the reader. The actual story, that is "the conspiracy", doesn't really form until the second half of the book and, well, it's not all that thrilling.


Bottom line: I think my SPQR adventure ends with this book. Not recommended.

The Catiline Conspiracy is based upon actual events that occurred in Rome after 70 B.C. Decius Caecilius Metellus the younger, serving as Quaestor (a minor Roman official), accidently uncovers a plot to take control of the Roman government. Decius, a Roman noble, although of plebeian, not of patrician stock, is a patriotic citizen of the Roman republic. The Caecilius Metellus family is prominent in history, but Decius is fictional.

Lucius Sergius Catilina, a member of one of the oldest patrician families in Rome, is very upset after being denied election to Consul. He feels wronged and wants to regain his former prominence by any means necessary. Decius wonders whether Catilina or some of his friends are connected to the plot.

Decius reports his initial findings to his uncle, currently serving as Praetor (the second highest Roman judicial office). His uncle Quintus Caecilius Metellius Celer advises him to quietly observe Catilina, discover as many details of the plot as he can and report back to him.

In the Catiline Conspiracy, I learned some interesting information about the culture of ancient Rome. First, I learned how people were named. Many Romans have three or more names, for example Decius Caecilius Metellus the younger: Decius is his personal "name", Caecilius is the cognomen (genus, or family), and Metellus is the stripps (sub-family of the genus Caeciius). Using this method, other Roman citizens could easily identify a persons relatives. On the other hand, identifying the specific person could be tricky. In the year that Decius was Quaestor, five members of his family in public office were named Quintus (Quintus Caecilius Metellius Creticus, a general in the legions; Quintus Caecilius Metellius Celer (the Praetor); Quintus Caecilius Metellius Pius (the Pontifex Maximus); Quintus Caecilius Metellius Pius Scipio Nasica (adopted son of the Pontifex Maximus - hence the double name) and Quintus Caecilius Metellius Nepos (elected to be Tribune). To distinguish among the many Quintus's people simply called them Creticus, Celer, Pius, Scipio and Nepos.

Some of the titles of Roman officials remain today. Pontifex Maximus, in ancient times was a man elected as the chief (Maximus) of Roman priests. Today that title is held by the Bishop of Rome, called the Pope.

The author clearly demonstrates the richness of the Roman upper class in his description of a banquet hosted by Lucullus, a Roman general, celebrating his victory over an enemy people. Roberts describes the site, the guests and the food in great detail. The servants of the general present exotic dishes on priceless vessels and dishes. During a break between courses, guest are invited into a bath house, where in the center of the steam room was a large basin in which pitchers of wine were packed in snow transported from the Alps. The price of that treat alone could support a peasant family for a year.

The Catiline Conspiracy is a fine mystery and an excellent story, I recommend this novel.

The SPQR series of Roman Historical mysteries chronicles the career and adventures of one Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger, a fictional scion of a real Roman political family. John Maddox Roberts does an excellent job of drawing the reader into actual Republican Roman politics and history with entertaining characters and witty dialog- and an occasional gripping action scene. Each book also contains a well researched glossary of Roman terms and the Republican Roman political system.

What is nice about the series is that the History is accurate. In fact, many of the mysteries are "ripped from the headlines" or is that more "chipped from the tablets?"

Decius starts in 70 BC, with his first step upon the cursus honorum.

Here, In SPQR II The Catiline Conspiracy, set around 62BC, Decius is only a Quaestor in charge of the treasury, working in the Temple of Saturn. The mystery starts when Decius finds a secret cache of weapons under the Temple.

But of course Decius gets involved into some particularly suspicious and unusual murders and then is thrown again into the nasty world of political corruption- which of course involve characters from the highest levels of Roman society. Decius uncovers Catiline's plot to overthrow the Republic.


How Decius Caecilius Metellus solves the murder without getting himself into even deeper hot water politically is the crux of this entertaining book.

This is not the best of the series mind you, Roberts hits his stride around SPQR III or so.

I highly recommend the entire series.

The SPQR series is great to read if you remember your Roman history or Latin courses-but not so much that you are a true expert who might find hilarity in the authors's slight mistakes rather than where the author intended. You can tell that author Roberts can barely suppress his laughter, under the worldly, if not cynical, views of his "hero," the noble non-entity of famous family, the ill-ustrious Decius Metellus. In this Roberts reminds me of the Lindsay Davis novels, also of a Roman "detective," Falco, but set over a century later, when SPQR no longer meant the Senate but the Emperor's will. A more exactly comparable book, with a different point of view and heavier load of history, is the more "serious" coverage of another private detective, Gordianus the Finder, in Catalina's Riddle by
Steven Saylor (Roma sub Rosa sereis).

Having read two of the JMR novels now I'm hoping a trend doesn't emerge having bought the other four as well. The trend is this:
If you know anything about this period of history then the plot is nothing new.
The Cataline Conspiracy is precisely that - an historical pice of fiction that follows the historical version of events. In that case this is an excellent piece of fiction, but it has the detrimental effect of meaning it's not a particularly gripping whodunnit as you know exactly what's going to happen.
Both books have had a beautiful femme fatale, and in this case the murders aren't really relevant at all to the rest of the novel - hence the 'murder mystery' tag isn't really applicable here. Other than that it is a well written and engrossing piece of historical fiction. The developing enmity between Clodius and Decius is fast becoming the interesting bit in the series and the entire incident with the October Horse is the best section throughout. A good set of supporting actors makes this very readable. If you want a good murder mystery, this isn't it. If you want a good fictional account of the Cataline Conspiracy, this is it.

This is a political mystery set around the historical Catiline conspiracy. The detail of what life was like in those days (for the elite) is wonderfully done while the reading is light and easy. This is like Colleen McCullough's historical series but much lighter in tone and slimmer. For me the pleasure was much more in the details of life in the last days of the Roman Republic thanin the mystery (although I like a good mystery too). Also, I finally made some sense of what the Catiline Conspiracy was about, after having puzzled over it in Latin and history classes in my youth.