Read Series: Spqr
by Author John Maddox Roberts
SPQR XII: Oracle of the Dead (2008)
Decius Caecilius Metellus, this year's magistrate for cases involving foreigners, is living the good life in southern Italy, happy to be away from Rome, a city suffering war jitters over Caesar's impending actions. He thinks he is merely visiting one of the local sights when he takes a party to v...
SPQR XI: Under Vesuvius (2007)
Things are going well for Decius Caecilius Metellus. He is Praetor Peregrinus. His cases will be those dealing with foreigners, and all of Italy is his province. His first stop is Campania, Italy's most popular resort district. Decius and his wife, Julia, are happy for a change of scenery. But th...
SPQR IV: The Temple of the Muses (1999)
When Roman junior senator Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger has a chance to join a diplomatic mission to Alexandria, he welcomes the opportunity to temporarily elude his enemies in the Eternal City-even though it means leaving his beloved Rome. Decius is just beginning to enjoy the outpost's ...
SPQR X: A Point of Law (2007)
Although I'm reading these a bit out of order, courtesy the public library, it really doesn't matter much. The books tie together, but not in any critical way, so reading book 3 then book 9 then book 1 will not be a problem; you can jump in at any point.I've read quite a few of these so far, and...
SPQR II: The Catiline Conspiracy (2001)
It was a summer of glorious triumph for the mighty Roman Republic. Her invincible legions had brought all foreign enemies to their knees. But in Rome there was no peace. The streets were flooded with the blood of murdered citizens, and there were rumors of more atrocities to come. Decius Caeciliu...
SPQR IX: The Princess and the Pirates (2006)
Recommend: Yes Pros: Very short concise book; characterization, plot, setting, are all strong.Cons: Very short. The ending was a little off.The Bottom Line:Best book in the nine book SPQR series (at the time of review, 9 book series). Very quick read, very enjoyable dip into this time period. His...
SPQR VII: The Tribune's Curse (2004)
This is a vivid retelling of a critical moment in the history of the Late Roman Republic, and is accurate. Yes, the Tribune Ateius Capito did pronounce a bizarre curse upon Crassus as he left Rome, which led to the purification rites described herein; only the historical Ateius did live for a few...
SPQR VIII: The River God's Vengeance (2005)
Part of me wonders why I keep returning to this series. It IS full of interesting details of Roman life during this time period, and reflects some of the complexity of Roman politics and relations in the empire. The protagonist is maturing as the series progresses and it is difficult not to like ...
SPQR VI: Nobody Loves a Centurion (2003)
The best in the series. So far :)I've long wanted to find out how the Roman Empire became, well, an empire. This book is a perfect peek into the Roman legion—the well-known secret (pardon the oxymoron) behind Rome's rise to historical glory. Pair that with J.M. Roberts' enviable writing (a perfec...
SPQR III: The Sacrilege (1999)
Roman religion was an interesting mixture of ancient and new deities whose rites were a function of the state. There were some exceptions, and one was the rite of the Bona Dea, the Good Goddess, which was the worship of an ancient female earth deity that predated the advent of the ruling sky god...