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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780312246976
ISBN number: 0312246978
Label: St. Martin's Minotaur
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 256
Printing Date: October 13, 1999
Publishing house: St. Martin's Minotaur
Sale Popularity Level: 72312
Studio: St. Martin's Minotaur
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When a sacret woman's rite in the ancient city of Rome is infiltrated by a corrupt patrician dressed in female garb, it falls to Senator Decuis Caecilius Metellus the Younger, whose investigative skills have proven indispensable in the past, to unmask the perpetrators. When four brutal slayings follow, Decius enlists the help a notorious and dangerous criminal. Together, they establish a connection between the sacrilege and the murders, and track the offenders from the lowest dregs of society to the prominent elite of the upper class, finding corruption and violence where Decius least expects it.
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Rated by buyers 
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John Maddox Roberts is the pseudonym of Mark Ramsay, author of numerous works of science fiction and fantasy, in addition to his successful historical SPQR mystery series. He lives in New Mexico with his wife.
There are more secret societies and strange rites than you can shake a stick at in the Ancient city of Rome, most of them admittedly for the male section of the population, but as in any other period of history the female of the species hates to be left out and so they have their own secret rites and woe betide any man seen taking an interest in these events.
Naturally when one of the women's sacred meeting is infiltrated by a corrupt patrician dressed in female attire, Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger is brought in to unmask the suspects. When four brutal killings occur it becomes obvious that the infiltrators are not just peeping toms and Decius enlists the help of a notorious criminal.
Between them the pair establish a link between the infiltration of the women's sacred rites and the murders and this leads Decius from the long rung of the ladder of society up to the heights of the upper class, finding violence and corruption along the way . . .
Rated by buyers 
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In this third detective adventure of Decius, a little-known scion of the famous Caecilii Metelli, we again see many of our favorite characters including the devious Clodia, the clever Greek physician Asklepiodes, and Decius's irrascible father. This is a very interesting retelling and interpretion of the historical scandal of the sacrilege of the Festival of the Bona Dea by Publius Clodius Pulcher who entered the house of the Pontifex Maximus dressed as a woman. We also meet Hermes, Decius's wily slave boy who will continue to be his Watson as the series continues. Less didactic than the very first two books, and very entertaining.
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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 very 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.
Rated by buyers 
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Good plot, as usual, except Caesar did not have a wife named Pompeia.
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This one is the best so far of the series. Apart from the author's familarity with his main character, Decius, the supporting ensemble are all finely meshed and their personalities are comfortable to the reader. The continuing feud between Clodius and Decius makes for fine entertainment. The introduction of the slave Hermes is with a mildly irritating character, but, given he is in the fourth installment it is interesting to see how he will develop. JMR gives us a more stable influence on Decius' live with the daughter of Lucius Julius Caesar 'joining' forces but being tee-d up to be Decius' betrothal.
The plot centers around Clodius' infamous disruption of the Bona Dea rites in 62BC, and this time knowledge of the period doesn't impact on figuring out the murders. In all actuality, the murders are irrelevant and JMR hardly bothers to clear them up, Decius just mentally confirming his own theory as the facts. It spirals off into an interesting and, perhaps, not unbelievable, early view on the coming triumvirate. All the time JMR is quick to downplay and perhaps poke fun at the staid glorification of ancient Roman legends such as Caesar. For example Decius' hilarity at Caesar's famous remark about his wife Pompeia's non-complicity. It tends to humanise these historical figures.
JMR's novels are 'published' as Roman murder mysteries but they are so much more than that. A satirical look at a fascinating period of history (much echoed by Steven Saylor), his astute (and, in this installment, being given license for hubris) hero bounces through ancient Rome in a delightfully irreverent manner in his quest to know the facts about murders and the general shadowy political dealings of Republican Rome.
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