What do You think about SPQR VII: The Tribune's Curse (2004)?
Another of Roberts' Decius the Younger detective stories. Ripping through them like peanuts. This time, the famous Crassus and his departure to Parthia. The incident where he was cursed is correct and the centre of the novel. Roberts brings this incident to life, however, after reading a few in this series, is the detection proving to be not sufficiently well laid out to the reader? It seems as if our hero walks through Rome several times, collects clues, has an epiphany, and identifies the kill
—Ian
Another solid outing from Roberts, this time the hero just fresh back from Gaul and running for the dubious honor of the office of Aedile. Set just as Crassus sets out for his doomed campaign to defeat the Parthians, our hero Decius Metellus the younger is caught up in yet another mystery.This time the mystery is twofold and appears separate, and is even more complex and mystical than ever before. The writing is solid and enjoyable, with plenty of historical information and insights into ancient Rome.One thing I truly appreciate and enjoy about this series is how seriously and honestly John Maddox Roberts takes the faith, superstitions, and beliefs of the time period. His narrator, Senator Metellus, is very Roman and finds non-Roman ideas and behavior strange and even suspicious. He presents the beliefs and religion of the people non-ironically, and the hero is not the typical "only skeptic in the time period who is just like modern man" that so many writers of historical fiction do.A solid mystery with fascinating details, another fine read.
—Christopher Taylor
Decius is back in Rome to stand for election 3 years after the last book having spent the interim in Gaul with Caesar. Crassus sets out to conquer Parthia and a tribune curses him, true story, on his way out of town in a majorly nasty way. That tribune washes up in the river a few days later and the city is ready to erupt into rioting. The priests set Decius to figure out how the tribune knew the things he said in his curse and then Pompey and Milo assign him the task of finding the murderer of the tribune who did it. We learn about lots of strange religious beliefs and the complex machinations of empire as Decius works his way to a resolution.
—Argum
