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Roma Sub Rosa #8
Last Seen in Massilia
In this mystery set in Marseilles in 49 B.C., master detective Gordianus the Finder is on a personal quest to learn the truth about his missing son, Meto. Plunged into the midst of the bloody Roman civil war, the well-connected Gordianus and his son-in-law Davus survive adventure after adventure as they penetrate the Gaulic city Massilia, which is walled against Roman invasion.
From the first pages, author Steven Saylor is on sure ground with his distinguished protagonist. Gordianus's careful, thoughtful musings are infused with real pathos as he seeks out information about his son whom, he has been informed, is dead. There is some speculation that Meto betrayed Caesar and that death was his punishment. Lacking a corpse, Gordianus cannot bring himself to believe that Meto is really dead.
Indeed, bonds between fathers and children—their betrayals, promises, and legacies—play a key role in the twisting plot of Last Seen in Massilia. Literally the title refers to Meto, but the motif extends to other key characters as well. Apollonides, the imperious ruler of Massilia, has a peculiar bond with his horribly deformed daughter. The city's "scapegoat", Hieronymus, lives out the legacy of his parents' illegal double suicide by being the human repositor of Massilia's collective sins. He is expected to hurl himself from Sacrifice Rock to appease vengeful gods.
Sacrifice Rock is central to the book, the site of a tussle between man and woman that ends, provocatively, in the woman's death. Was it suicide or murder? The three witnesses—Gordianus, Davus, and Hieronymus—are sharply divided on exactly what they saw. Gordianus pursues the truth of this mystery almost as a diversion from the more compelling mystery of his son's disappearance.
From the first pages, author Steven Saylor is on sure ground with his distinguished protagonist. Gordianus's careful, thoughtful musings are infused with real pathos as he seeks out information about his son whom, he has been informed, is dead. There is some speculation that Meto betrayed Caesar and that death was his punishment. Lacking a corpse, Gordianus cannot bring himself to believe that Meto is really dead.
Indeed, bonds between fathers and children—their betrayals, promises, and legacies—play a key role in the twisting plot of Last Seen in Massilia. Literally the title refers to Meto, but the motif extends to other key characters as well. Apollonides, the imperious ruler of Massilia, has a peculiar bond with his horribly deformed daughter. The city's "scapegoat", Hieronymus, lives out the legacy of his parents' illegal double suicide by being the human repositor of Massilia's collective sins. He is expected to hurl himself from Sacrifice Rock to appease vengeful gods.
Sacrifice Rock is central to the book, the site of a tussle between man and woman that ends, provocatively, in the woman's death. Was it suicide or murder? The three witnesses—Gordianus, Davus, and Hieronymus—are sharply divided on exactly what they saw. Gordianus pursues the truth of this mystery almost as a diversion from the more compelling mystery of his son's disappearance.
300 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2000
48 people are currently reading
1093 people want to read
About the author
Steven Saylor
93 books1,076 followersSteven Saylor is the author of the long running
Roma Sub Rosa
series featuring Gordianus the Finder, as well as the New York Times bestselling novel, Roma and its follow-up, Empire. He has appeared as an on-air expert on Roman history and life on The History Channel.
Saylor was born in Texas and graduated with high honors from The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied history and classics. He divides his time between Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.
Saylor was born in Texas and graduated with high honors from The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied history and classics. He divides his time between Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
January 13, 2012
Last Seen in Massilia, like the other books in the Roma Sub-Rosa series, is like a bag of Kirkland's fruits and nuts--you can't just stop devouring it (the sweetness of the fruits--eaten alternately with the salty nuts--is extremely addicting).
Learned a lot about ancient Massilia (modern-day Marseilles in France) and its people:
1) "Without wealth, a man in Massilia is nothing" (p.83)
2) "Massilians were said to love money above all else and to exemplify the concomitant virtues--diligence, shrewdness, patience" (p.317)
3) "I'm a Massilian, Gordianus, and above all else, a Massilian respects a contract" (p.322).
Well-written and fast-paced, I only had one qualm with the ending--and it's purely sentimental on my part.
The book's winning line: "Now go, Gordianus. This is my moment!" (Massilian Hieronymous to his friend Gordianus the Finder, in an effort to shoo away a grieving Gordianus who wanted to save him from being sacrificed by the goddess' Artemis' priests).
Learned a lot about ancient Massilia (modern-day Marseilles in France) and its people:
1) "Without wealth, a man in Massilia is nothing" (p.83)
2) "Massilians were said to love money above all else and to exemplify the concomitant virtues--diligence, shrewdness, patience" (p.317)
3) "I'm a Massilian, Gordianus, and above all else, a Massilian respects a contract" (p.322).
Well-written and fast-paced, I only had one qualm with the ending--and it's purely sentimental on my part.
The book's winning line: "Now go, Gordianus. This is my moment!" (Massilian Hieronymous to his friend Gordianus the Finder, in an effort to shoo away a grieving Gordianus who wanted to save him from being sacrificed by the goddess' Artemis' priests).
April 22, 2021
Gordianus gaat in Massilia op zoek naar zijn zoon. Zijn schoonzoon Davus reist met hem mee. Ze weten de belegerde stad binnen te dringen, en komen in contact met de 'Zondebok', een man die veroordeelt is om ten gepaste tijde zijn leven te offeren aan de goden, en zo al de zonden van de stad weg te nemen.
Ze zijn getuige van iets ongewoons: ze zien een gesluierde figuur naar de offerrots klimmen, achtervolgd door iemand in een blauwe mantel. Er ontstaat blijkbaar een handgemeen, en de gesluierde valt van de rots--of is ze geduwd?of gesprongen en had de andere haar willen tegenhouden? Nog een raadsel dat Gordianus moet oplossen.
Interessante beschrijving van Massilia (Marseille) ten tijde van Caesar, als de stad door de Romeinen belegerd wordt. Ook de levenswijze, de gebruiken en de rituelen van de mensen die daar toen leefden, worden levendig beschreven. En natuurlijk is er dan ook nog de spannende plot, met vele onverwachte wendingen. Goed boek.
Ze zijn getuige van iets ongewoons: ze zien een gesluierde figuur naar de offerrots klimmen, achtervolgd door iemand in een blauwe mantel. Er ontstaat blijkbaar een handgemeen, en de gesluierde valt van de rots--of is ze geduwd?of gesprongen en had de andere haar willen tegenhouden? Nog een raadsel dat Gordianus moet oplossen.
Interessante beschrijving van Massilia (Marseille) ten tijde van Caesar, als de stad door de Romeinen belegerd wordt. Ook de levenswijze, de gebruiken en de rituelen van de mensen die daar toen leefden, worden levendig beschreven. En natuurlijk is er dan ook nog de spannende plot, met vele onverwachte wendingen. Goed boek.
November 17, 2023
Gordianus always finds himself at the centre of historical events.
And nowhere more so than in this book. Here he finds himself travelling to Massilia (modern day Marseille) he is searching.for.information about his son Meto. Meto a soldier has been by the side of Julius Ceasar for a long time, he is one of Ceasar's closest confidants but after events in the previous book was "estranged" from Ceasar. Gordianus receives a message from somebody inside the besieged town of Massilia informing him that Meto is dead so he sets out with his loyal sin in law Davos to see if he can find out what happened to his son. Many obstacles lie in his way. Everywhere there is fear of what is.happening in Rome and.if.Ceasar is about to.attack, then there's Massilia, how does one.gain entry to a city under siege and.if he does manage to get inside how.can he possibly find.information on one roman male when everybody inside Massili is busy just trying to.survive..............
And nowhere more so than in this book. Here he finds himself travelling to Massilia (modern day Marseille) he is searching.for.information about his son Meto. Meto a soldier has been by the side of Julius Ceasar for a long time, he is one of Ceasar's closest confidants but after events in the previous book was "estranged" from Ceasar. Gordianus receives a message from somebody inside the besieged town of Massilia informing him that Meto is dead so he sets out with his loyal sin in law Davos to see if he can find out what happened to his son. Many obstacles lie in his way. Everywhere there is fear of what is.happening in Rome and.if.Ceasar is about to.attack, then there's Massilia, how does one.gain entry to a city under siege and.if he does manage to get inside how.can he possibly find.information on one roman male when everybody inside Massili is busy just trying to.survive..............
August 18, 2019
One of the best! Saylor has a unique talent to mesh historical events with mystery and deceit. Gordianus ups and downs while looking for his missing son, unveiling some mysteries in the sieges city of Messilla and the city’s unique government and religion. Loved it!
March 17, 2023
Gostei muito. Gordiano continua a abusar da Fortuna, mas tudo bem: em prole de contar bem uma boa história. O contexto histórico é delicioso. Obrigado, Steven.
December 14, 2022
A typically ancient story of passion and ambition
Saylor’s eighth novel about his fictitious private detective Gordianus, actually the twelfth when the prequels are placed in their correct order, is set in 49 BC entirely around ancient Marseilles, which had been founded as a Greek colony nearly six centuries earlier and was then under siege by the Romans. As usual with Saylor, it has evidently been meticulously researched. I have always thought the ancient Mediterranean the most exciting place to have lived and travelled, though preferably when the pax Romana was effective, and not least for its rich local cultures; Saylor has reinforced this feeling with his brilliant evocation of the distinct character of an impressive Greek city in Gaul.
Though as in most of this series, the plot centres on a mystery, the solution to this one barely requires any investigation or clever deduction by Gordianus, but mostly unravels itself. This does not detract from its being an enthralling story, conveniently borrowed from a quite different place in that greatest repository of good stories, classical literature itself. The one serious flaw in the plot is Zeno’s psychologically highly improbable and pointless confession of wrong-doing that could never have been discovered. But Gordianus’s knack of being party to incredibly frank disclosures strains credibility throughout the series. As long as one can overlook this, one can delight in otherwise generally convincing and well-developed characters.
Saylor is one of the best historical novelists, not only because his research is thorough enough for his stories to avoid conflict with known history, but more importantly because he presents the ancient world on its own cultural and moral terms. He is not perfect though and slightly jarring Americanisms occasionally cop up. A trivial but telling example here is when Gordianus replies to the comment “Aren’t all slaves bastards by definition?” with the quip “One might say the same about Roman politicians,” only really witty if one is inured to anachronistic double-entendre.
Edmund Marlowe, author of Alexander’s Choice, a novel set at Eton in 1984, but inspired by classical values, https://www.amazon.com/dp/191457107X
Saylor’s eighth novel about his fictitious private detective Gordianus, actually the twelfth when the prequels are placed in their correct order, is set in 49 BC entirely around ancient Marseilles, which had been founded as a Greek colony nearly six centuries earlier and was then under siege by the Romans. As usual with Saylor, it has evidently been meticulously researched. I have always thought the ancient Mediterranean the most exciting place to have lived and travelled, though preferably when the pax Romana was effective, and not least for its rich local cultures; Saylor has reinforced this feeling with his brilliant evocation of the distinct character of an impressive Greek city in Gaul.
Though as in most of this series, the plot centres on a mystery, the solution to this one barely requires any investigation or clever deduction by Gordianus, but mostly unravels itself. This does not detract from its being an enthralling story, conveniently borrowed from a quite different place in that greatest repository of good stories, classical literature itself. The one serious flaw in the plot is Zeno’s psychologically highly improbable and pointless confession of wrong-doing that could never have been discovered. But Gordianus’s knack of being party to incredibly frank disclosures strains credibility throughout the series. As long as one can overlook this, one can delight in otherwise generally convincing and well-developed characters.
Saylor is one of the best historical novelists, not only because his research is thorough enough for his stories to avoid conflict with known history, but more importantly because he presents the ancient world on its own cultural and moral terms. He is not perfect though and slightly jarring Americanisms occasionally cop up. A trivial but telling example here is when Gordianus replies to the comment “Aren’t all slaves bastards by definition?” with the quip “One might say the same about Roman politicians,” only really witty if one is inured to anachronistic double-entendre.
Edmund Marlowe, author of Alexander’s Choice, a novel set at Eton in 1984, but inspired by classical values, https://www.amazon.com/dp/191457107X
January 6, 2016
Mais uma grande aventura de Gordiano, o Descobridor! Desta feita, Roma foi totalmente deixada de lado e a acção decorre do princípio ao fim na cidade de Massília (atual Marselha). Como tal, nesta obra não se encontram algumas das personagens já habituais, como Betesda, Diana, Cícero ou Eco.
Esta aventura tem início no ponto onde a anterior terminou e Gordiano vê-se obrigado a partir para Massília com Davus, em busca do seu filho Meto, após ter recebido uma carta que o dava como morto.
O descobridor fará todos os possíveis para solucionar o enigma envolto na suposta morte do filho e, pelo caminho, vai tentando deslindar outros acontecimentos estranhos que acontecem na cidade até um final surpreendente e chocante.
Saylor foi, mais uma vez, exímio na forma como transmitiu informações históricas e cultura envoltas em ficção. Neste livro o leitor fica a conhecer o funcionamento da cidade de Massília na época, o seu sistema político e o estilo de vida dos seus cidadãos, numa altura em que a cidade estava cercada por Júlio César, que já havia entretanto tomado Roma.
Mais uma vez, uma grande obra de Saylor, uma viciante aventura de um personagem fantástico e uma magnífica lição de história. Tenho agora, muito a custo, de me obrigar a fazer uma pausa de Roma Sub Rosa (ou, pelo menos, tentar!), para ler outras coisas, por forma a não correr o risco de me fartar antes de terminar a série. :)
Esta aventura tem início no ponto onde a anterior terminou e Gordiano vê-se obrigado a partir para Massília com Davus, em busca do seu filho Meto, após ter recebido uma carta que o dava como morto.
O descobridor fará todos os possíveis para solucionar o enigma envolto na suposta morte do filho e, pelo caminho, vai tentando deslindar outros acontecimentos estranhos que acontecem na cidade até um final surpreendente e chocante.
Saylor foi, mais uma vez, exímio na forma como transmitiu informações históricas e cultura envoltas em ficção. Neste livro o leitor fica a conhecer o funcionamento da cidade de Massília na época, o seu sistema político e o estilo de vida dos seus cidadãos, numa altura em que a cidade estava cercada por Júlio César, que já havia entretanto tomado Roma.
Mais uma vez, uma grande obra de Saylor, uma viciante aventura de um personagem fantástico e uma magnífica lição de história. Tenho agora, muito a custo, de me obrigar a fazer uma pausa de Roma Sub Rosa (ou, pelo menos, tentar!), para ler outras coisas, por forma a não correr o risco de me fartar antes de terminar a série. :)
June 19, 2021
Buena novela de la saga. Con un Gordiano mas viejo, desengañado y amargo. La novela no es tan luminosa como varias de sus predecesoras y deja un poso triste tras su lectura.
Impecable, como siempre, la investigación histórica, que es fiel a lo que pudo ser.
Y Gordiano descubre que ser fiel a sí mismo es una tarea de lo más dolorosa e ingrata, de un modo tan real como no creía que podría descubrirlo.
Recomendable, especialmente a los fans de Roma sub Rosa. En el caso concreto de esta novela, es muy recomendable haber leído antes el resto de la saga.
Impecable, como siempre, la investigación histórica, que es fiel a lo que pudo ser.
Y Gordiano descubre que ser fiel a sí mismo es una tarea de lo más dolorosa e ingrata, de un modo tan real como no creía que podría descubrirlo.
Recomendable, especialmente a los fans de Roma sub Rosa. En el caso concreto de esta novela, es muy recomendable haber leído antes el resto de la saga.
July 30, 2015
Seventh in the Roma Sub Rosa historical mystery series and revolving around Gordianus the Finder and his family in the Rome of 49 BC.
Chronologically, it's MY seventh and Saylor's eighth because the technical sixth, The House of the Vestals , is a collection of short stories that I've slotted in chronologically on my website.
My Take
Last Seen in Massilia is not as tense or dramatic as it could have been. It's definitely an easy read that won't make your heart race. I'm not really sure why Saylor wrote this one, unless it's to create the situation that culminates in that scene at the end. It doesn't feel as if Gordianus is doing much in the way of detecting in Last Seen in Massilia but flopping about, providing Saylor the opportunity to show us another style of government, another city in ancient times, a different approach to religion.
That is one of the pluses of Saylor's writing. He shows what is happening. It's not as intense a show as say, Bernard Cornwell, but he is not telling the story. I feel as though I am also walking those streets, wending my way through canyons, swimming my way through a flooded tunnel. I can see the view from Hieronymus' rooftop, the piles of treasures in Verres' vault, the décor within the homes. I can taste those figs — and want some of my own for real! Nor does he indulge in the hated info dumps! Yeah!! Saylor does a great job of informing us without sounding like an encyclopedia or a news article.
Saylor also pays attention to the dress, culture, mores, and more of the time. Thank you, god! I do get tired of dimes in Regency novels. It's this attention to detail that helps pull you into 49 BC. And he makes it so seamless.
As for the story itself, Caesar is definitely a politician. He promises one thing and does another. The Council of Fifteen is no better. They never bothered to rotate the emergency stores, deeming it too costly. Now half of it is moldy and rations are reduced within the city. Businessmen and lovers lie and cheat as well, still.
Gordianus takes some tremendous risks to find Meto, and along the way, he discovers some good people. Not many, but some. I'm not sure how to categorize Publicius and Minucius. They do mean well, but if they are an example of Catilina's followers, it's not surprising that he lost his battle. Talk about a couple of idiotic syncophants!
Worshipping gods and goddesses is one thing, heaping all your sins on one person and then sacrificing that person, well, that's another. Oh, wait. That's what the Christians did back in AD 33. Luckily for this story's Scapegoat, he's at least treated well.
It's fascinating how similar our societies are. Oh, sure, we have television, cars, the Internet, and in many ways I think the Romans and Greeks were more advanced than us. We may have microwaves and refrigerators, but they enjoyed their food. They took the time to enjoy it. They talked, discussed, debated, argued. Person to person. Yes, they also gossiped, but they also had philosophical discussions. On the negative side, people on either end of the timeline are greedy, selfish, cruel, loving, loyal, and more. Politicians and military men have not changed over the centuries. Nor have families.
The Story
Gordianus and Davus have been traveling for the past twenty days, heading to Massilia. That note left Gordianus confused and worried, and he needs to see for himself. They've already heard that the city refused to open its gates to Caesar, and Gordianus is thinking up ways to get in.
No one would ever have suspected the ruse that works, and thankfully, Gordianus and Davus are rescued by the Scapegoat, a sacrifice who can do no wrong.
The Characters
Gordianus is a Finder, a private investigator who has retired. Davus is a former slave and bodyguard to Pompey, but now a freedman married to Diana, Gordianus and Bethesda's daughter.
Meto is Gordianus' adopted son who edits Caesar's work. Well, he used to be until he plotted to kill Caesar. He ran from Rome to Massilia in Rubicon . Eco is his other adopted son who has taken over the Finder business.
Gaius Juluis Caesar is continuing his hunt for Pompey and is currently waging war in Spain while Gaius Trebonius is in charge at the siege of Massilia. Marc Antony is holding Rome for Caesar. Engineer Vitruvius ( Rubicon ) is a military engineer and designs siegeworks and tunnel operations.
Massilia is…
…what we know as Marseille, and it's a Greek city, an ally of Rome's for the past 500 years. It's also the end of the road for Roman exiles, and the city is full of them. They worship Artemis in Massilia in the form of a misshapen hunk of meteor rock.
The Scapegoat was chosen to bear the sins of the city, and hopefully, gain the city safety from the besieging Romans when he jumps off Sacrifice Rock. It's Hieronymus' last chance for revenge against the people who destroyed his family.
Apollonides is the First Timouchos, the leader of the rotating Timouchoi Council of Fifteen which rules Massilia as a timocracy — government by the wealthy. Hmmm, sounds like us, doesn't it? The entire Timouchoi body is 600 members. Cydimache is Apollonides' hideously ugly and deformed daughter. Normally, she would have been exposed at birth, but the requirements of Massilia encourage her father to keep her. Zeno is the man who married her, abandoning the woman he loved.
Arausio is a Gaulish merchant whose beautiful daughter, Rindel, has disappeared. Rindel is also the name of his wife. Calamitos was and is one of Hieronymus' torturers.
Famous exiles include…
…Gaius Verres, a Sicilian governor who was successfully (surprisingly) convicted of malfeasance; Milo was a gang-leader who was found guilty of murdering Clodius in A Murder on the Appian Way , 5 (Milo's wife, Fausta, declined to go into exile with him); Publicius and Minucius are two of the followers of Catilina in the city ( Catilina's Riddle , 3); and those Romans who were persecuted simply because they disagreed with Pompey.
Rabidus is a cloaked and hooded soothsayer who ghosts through the countryside and Massilia. Marcus and a fellow soldier guard the Temple of Artemis just outside the Roman camp.
Gnaeus Pompey has sailed toward Greece. Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, a.k.a., Redbeard, represents Pompey's interests in Massilia; he's the one who convinced the city to side with Pompey. Suckers.
The Cover and Title
The cover is similar to that of Rubicon with its huge painting of a battle scene outside city walls framed with gold moldings against a black wall and a deep red carved empaneled wainscoting.
The title is both real and metaphorical, both joyful and grieved when Last Seen in Massilia.
Chronologically, it's MY seventh and Saylor's eighth because the technical sixth, The House of the Vestals , is a collection of short stories that I've slotted in chronologically on my website.
My Take
Last Seen in Massilia is not as tense or dramatic as it could have been. It's definitely an easy read that won't make your heart race. I'm not really sure why Saylor wrote this one, unless it's to create the situation that culminates in that scene at the end. It doesn't feel as if Gordianus is doing much in the way of detecting in Last Seen in Massilia but flopping about, providing Saylor the opportunity to show us another style of government, another city in ancient times, a different approach to religion.
That is one of the pluses of Saylor's writing. He shows what is happening. It's not as intense a show as say, Bernard Cornwell, but he is not telling the story. I feel as though I am also walking those streets, wending my way through canyons, swimming my way through a flooded tunnel. I can see the view from Hieronymus' rooftop, the piles of treasures in Verres' vault, the décor within the homes. I can taste those figs — and want some of my own for real! Nor does he indulge in the hated info dumps! Yeah!! Saylor does a great job of informing us without sounding like an encyclopedia or a news article.
Saylor also pays attention to the dress, culture, mores, and more of the time. Thank you, god! I do get tired of dimes in Regency novels. It's this attention to detail that helps pull you into 49 BC. And he makes it so seamless.
As for the story itself, Caesar is definitely a politician. He promises one thing and does another. The Council of Fifteen is no better. They never bothered to rotate the emergency stores, deeming it too costly. Now half of it is moldy and rations are reduced within the city. Businessmen and lovers lie and cheat as well, still.
Gordianus takes some tremendous risks to find Meto, and along the way, he discovers some good people. Not many, but some. I'm not sure how to categorize Publicius and Minucius. They do mean well, but if they are an example of Catilina's followers, it's not surprising that he lost his battle. Talk about a couple of idiotic syncophants!
Worshipping gods and goddesses is one thing, heaping all your sins on one person and then sacrificing that person, well, that's another. Oh, wait. That's what the Christians did back in AD 33. Luckily for this story's Scapegoat, he's at least treated well.
It's fascinating how similar our societies are. Oh, sure, we have television, cars, the Internet, and in many ways I think the Romans and Greeks were more advanced than us. We may have microwaves and refrigerators, but they enjoyed their food. They took the time to enjoy it. They talked, discussed, debated, argued. Person to person. Yes, they also gossiped, but they also had philosophical discussions. On the negative side, people on either end of the timeline are greedy, selfish, cruel, loving, loyal, and more. Politicians and military men have not changed over the centuries. Nor have families.
The Story
Gordianus and Davus have been traveling for the past twenty days, heading to Massilia. That note left Gordianus confused and worried, and he needs to see for himself. They've already heard that the city refused to open its gates to Caesar, and Gordianus is thinking up ways to get in.
No one would ever have suspected the ruse that works, and thankfully, Gordianus and Davus are rescued by the Scapegoat, a sacrifice who can do no wrong.
The Characters
Gordianus is a Finder, a private investigator who has retired. Davus is a former slave and bodyguard to Pompey, but now a freedman married to Diana, Gordianus and Bethesda's daughter.
Meto is Gordianus' adopted son who edits Caesar's work. Well, he used to be until he plotted to kill Caesar. He ran from Rome to Massilia in Rubicon . Eco is his other adopted son who has taken over the Finder business.
Gaius Juluis Caesar is continuing his hunt for Pompey and is currently waging war in Spain while Gaius Trebonius is in charge at the siege of Massilia. Marc Antony is holding Rome for Caesar. Engineer Vitruvius ( Rubicon ) is a military engineer and designs siegeworks and tunnel operations.
Massilia is…
…what we know as Marseille, and it's a Greek city, an ally of Rome's for the past 500 years. It's also the end of the road for Roman exiles, and the city is full of them. They worship Artemis in Massilia in the form of a misshapen hunk of meteor rock.
The Scapegoat was chosen to bear the sins of the city, and hopefully, gain the city safety from the besieging Romans when he jumps off Sacrifice Rock. It's Hieronymus' last chance for revenge against the people who destroyed his family.
Apollonides is the First Timouchos, the leader of the rotating Timouchoi Council of Fifteen which rules Massilia as a timocracy — government by the wealthy. Hmmm, sounds like us, doesn't it? The entire Timouchoi body is 600 members. Cydimache is Apollonides' hideously ugly and deformed daughter. Normally, she would have been exposed at birth, but the requirements of Massilia encourage her father to keep her. Zeno is the man who married her, abandoning the woman he loved.
Arausio is a Gaulish merchant whose beautiful daughter, Rindel, has disappeared. Rindel is also the name of his wife. Calamitos was and is one of Hieronymus' torturers.
Famous exiles include…
…Gaius Verres, a Sicilian governor who was successfully (surprisingly) convicted of malfeasance; Milo was a gang-leader who was found guilty of murdering Clodius in A Murder on the Appian Way , 5 (Milo's wife, Fausta, declined to go into exile with him); Publicius and Minucius are two of the followers of Catilina in the city ( Catilina's Riddle , 3); and those Romans who were persecuted simply because they disagreed with Pompey.
Rabidus is a cloaked and hooded soothsayer who ghosts through the countryside and Massilia. Marcus and a fellow soldier guard the Temple of Artemis just outside the Roman camp.
Gnaeus Pompey has sailed toward Greece. Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, a.k.a., Redbeard, represents Pompey's interests in Massilia; he's the one who convinced the city to side with Pompey. Suckers.
The Cover and Title
The cover is similar to that of Rubicon with its huge painting of a battle scene outside city walls framed with gold moldings against a black wall and a deep red carved empaneled wainscoting.
The title is both real and metaphorical, both joyful and grieved when Last Seen in Massilia.
April 6, 2023
Somehow Saylor's books don't really work as well when not set in Rome, and this one is the worst of the set . Thankfully, it's short - yet it seems to drag on for much longer. The final 58 pages are worth reading as the events within will impact on the rest of the set, though. I'm hoping all the others will be back in Rome.
April 11, 2022
Despite my grumpy review of Rubicon, I promised/admitted that I would be reading the sequel. It seems to have taken me a couple of years (wasn't reading mysteries that much during the main pandemic), but indeed I have, and indeed I am looking forward to the next one.
I'll deal with grumpitude first. The "grimace" count is way down (only one, versus six in Rubicon), but the crossing of arms seems way up (though I didn't count). There's a "stepped foot" and Saylor still didn't know what parchment was when he wrote this, but at least it isn't essential to the plot. And he seems to have turned a questionable story choice from the previous novel into a strength.
These novels are set during the end of the Republic, with Gordianus the Finder working for major players on both sides, but clearly unhappy with their disruptive agendas. In the previous volume he appeared to be picking a side, but in this one Saylor finds a way to put Gordianus inside the walls of Massilia during the siege. Caesar's army is outside, trying to get in (and we feel that this is inevitable, even if we try to forget our history), and Pompey's promised aid is outside, and not showing up. This allows us to learn how negatively he views both sides, and this is emphasized by his son, Meto, having betrayed Caesar. Or maybe not. But we are constantly being reminded of what it's like being caught between two essentially evil factions.
I admire an author who is trading on historical interest in Caesar's time choosing to show the dark side of the man's actions. This volume is also good on the subject of fanatics and cults.
Saylor has done some clever things with symbols, including an interpretation of the local icon, that I greatly admire. He also is excellent at doing the thing I primarily read these books for: putting the reader into the experience of living in those times. Even when I'm tripping over details, the books keep pulling me back in. One of the questions he clearly asked himself while writing is "What would it be like to have been a chosen scapegoat, and how would a person in that position respond?"
Bits of this are heart-wrenching, so be warned.
I'll deal with grumpitude first. The "grimace" count is way down (only one, versus six in Rubicon), but the crossing of arms seems way up (though I didn't count). There's a "stepped foot" and Saylor still didn't know what parchment was when he wrote this, but at least it isn't essential to the plot. And he seems to have turned a questionable story choice from the previous novel into a strength.
These novels are set during the end of the Republic, with Gordianus the Finder working for major players on both sides, but clearly unhappy with their disruptive agendas. In the previous volume he appeared to be picking a side, but in this one Saylor finds a way to put Gordianus inside the walls of Massilia during the siege. Caesar's army is outside, trying to get in (and we feel that this is inevitable, even if we try to forget our history), and Pompey's promised aid is outside, and not showing up. This allows us to learn how negatively he views both sides, and this is emphasized by his son, Meto, having betrayed Caesar. Or maybe not. But we are constantly being reminded of what it's like being caught between two essentially evil factions.
I admire an author who is trading on historical interest in Caesar's time choosing to show the dark side of the man's actions. This volume is also good on the subject of fanatics and cults.
Saylor has done some clever things with symbols, including an interpretation of the local icon, that I greatly admire. He also is excellent at doing the thing I primarily read these books for: putting the reader into the experience of living in those times. Even when I'm tripping over details, the books keep pulling me back in. One of the questions he clearly asked himself while writing is "What would it be like to have been a chosen scapegoat, and how would a person in that position respond?"
Bits of this are heart-wrenching, so be warned.
August 4, 2016
3.5/5 stars!
Another great book in this series!
If you know me a little, you probably know that I'm a big fan of (almost) everything about the Antiquity, including the Roma Sub Rosa series. I'm especially fond of the first 5 books where the murder is the center of the whole story (and Cicero plays a big part, he's my problematic fave tbh ). Luckily, I also really did like this book in the series.
Before the book begins Gordianus has received a note that says that his son Meto has been killed. Gordianus instantly goes to Massillia (we know call it Marseille if anyone's interested) to find his son and what happened there. But Caesar is on the rise and he's laying siege on Massilla and as a result, Gordianus can't really get in the city. Besides the death of his son there's also another death: a girl jumped/was pushed from the Sacrifice Rock.
So this book contains 2 deaths that Gordianus has to sort out. That might seem a bit much, but to be honest the death of the girl isn't that complicated and Gordianus can't seem to find his son. In the background of this story plays the siege of Massilla: something I enjoyed reading about.
All in all, a good book in this series even though it focusses a bit more on the historical background than on the solving of a murder.
Happy reading!
Another great book in this series!
If you know me a little, you probably know that I'm a big fan of (almost) everything about the Antiquity, including the Roma Sub Rosa series. I'm especially fond of the first 5 books where the murder is the center of the whole story (and Cicero plays a big part
Before the book begins Gordianus has received a note that says that his son Meto has been killed. Gordianus instantly goes to Massillia (we know call it Marseille if anyone's interested) to find his son and what happened there. But Caesar is on the rise and he's laying siege on Massilla and as a result, Gordianus can't really get in the city. Besides the death of his son there's also another death: a girl jumped/was pushed from the Sacrifice Rock.
So this book contains 2 deaths that Gordianus has to sort out. That might seem a bit much, but to be honest the death of the girl isn't that complicated and Gordianus can't seem to find his son. In the background of this story plays the siege of Massilla: something I enjoyed reading about.
All in all, a good book in this series even though it focusses a bit more on the historical background than on the solving of a murder.
Happy reading!
May 1, 2023
As always, Steven Saylor writes good stories in the context of the Roman world of the first century B.C. I like these books because of a lifelong attraction to the ancient world and my study of the Classical languages. That is a personal motivation. But it is a pleasure to observe Mr. Saylor's hero Gordianus the Finder caught up in the dangerous political world of the late and disintegrating Roman republic. And, since there were no forensics laboratories, it is a pleasure to watch mysteries solved through not only observation, but also the character of the persons involved.
The central "landscape" of the "Last Seen in Massilia" is Julius Caesar's siege of the city of Massilia, now Marseilles. Unlike others in the series, the book is a little stodgy to start with. The one interesting feature (to me) is the nature of the relationship between Gordianus and his son-in-law Davus, formerly his slave. The description of this relationship provides an interesting and touching contrast to the disappointment of another relationship. As the story unfolds, and the contrast becomes even more pointed, the reader reaches the "aha" moment with satisfaction. So, I'd say that solving the mystery is somewhat fun, but doing it with Gordianus and Davus is the pleasure of it. The book ends, interestingly, on a sad, bitter, and unhappy note in the psyche of Gordianus. Good thing he has Davus with him!
I seem to have heard that Mr. Saylor also writes pornography. Is this so? If it is, it would be interesting to see how he develops those stories which have a "landscape" certainly as different as the "landscape" of the ancient Roman world.
The central "landscape" of the "Last Seen in Massilia" is Julius Caesar's siege of the city of Massilia, now Marseilles. Unlike others in the series, the book is a little stodgy to start with. The one interesting feature (to me) is the nature of the relationship between Gordianus and his son-in-law Davus, formerly his slave. The description of this relationship provides an interesting and touching contrast to the disappointment of another relationship. As the story unfolds, and the contrast becomes even more pointed, the reader reaches the "aha" moment with satisfaction. So, I'd say that solving the mystery is somewhat fun, but doing it with Gordianus and Davus is the pleasure of it. The book ends, interestingly, on a sad, bitter, and unhappy note in the psyche of Gordianus. Good thing he has Davus with him!
I seem to have heard that Mr. Saylor also writes pornography. Is this so? If it is, it would be interesting to see how he develops those stories which have a "landscape" certainly as different as the "landscape" of the ancient Roman world.
January 13, 2011
After a great book 7, Saylor stays on a roll. My only complaint w/these novels is that the characters are too kind hearted and a little too 21st century in their ideas on individual liberties. Similarly, Gordianus has managed to avoid some of the stickier moral issues that would result from a man living in a place like Rome in such a morally barren time. After effectively dealing w/my concerns in book 7, "Last Seen" delivers a surprisingly good mystery with a personal coda that disturbs for all the right reasons. I can't say I agree w/Gordianus at the story's end. Seems to me he's being naive and pigheaded, but I can't argue against the verisimilitude. I've been reading these piecemeal; a book every month or so, but they've gotten good enough where I find I want to return to the world of Ancient Rome more often, which is the hallmark of some very good stories.
May 5, 2015
So close to five stars! This series is rapidly reaching a climax and that climax is Cesar. The realization the end is coming makes me a little sad.
I stormed through this novel. It wasn't as action packed as some of the previous novels but the story was so much more gripping than any of the previous novels. I was a little shocked at the end
Saylor is absolutely brilliant. His dedication to research pours out of the pages.
I stormed through this novel. It wasn't as action packed as some of the previous novels but the story was so much more gripping than any of the previous novels. I was a little shocked at the end
Saylor is absolutely brilliant. His dedication to research pours out of the pages.
June 1, 2019
Gordianus has come to Massilia looking for his younger son Meto. He's received word that Meto is dead, having betrayed Julius Caesar, his general. Gordianus is sure this isn't true, and is determined to find out what happened. He is invited to stay with Hieronymous, the scapegoat, who will be sacrificed soon to expiate the city's sins. Lots of strange goings-on, naturally, with a satisfying ending. This is one of my favorites of the series. I especially like that Verres and Milo, real Romans who were exiled to Massilia, were included as characters.
June 10, 2018
I think this was more of a 3.5 star book. I enjoyed it and flew through the story, but it seemed to take its time to get going with a strong plot, and I wasn't overly interested in (what I considered to be) a rather simplistic mystery at the sacrifice rock. However, I think it was an extremely interesting historical setting, I loved reading about Massilia, and I'm sure this story is integral to the later books. Not a disappointment at all, but not as interesting as some of the earlier books in the series.
April 13, 2011
This is the first one of the series that I have read. It is a great historical mystery in a time and place not often written about. Set in Massilia (now Marseilles) during the Roman Empire, it is a fascinating look into an ancient culture. Wonderful combination of mystery and history.
September 12, 2020
Great series!
June 7, 2019
Ay Gordiano, cómo me gustas, quiero viajar en el tiempo para pasear contigo por las calles de Roma.
May 31, 2025
En este libro, nuevamente el autor mantiene la acción centrada en un solo lugar, aunque esta vez resulta más comprensible, ya que la historia transcurre durante el asedio a una ciudad. Aun así, la forma en que Gordiano logra ingresar sigue resultando increíble, en el sentido de poco creíble. Tal vez habría sido más coherente mostrar una entrada menos espectacular, más acorde con las circunstancias, sin que eso disminuyera la fuerza del personaje.
Este encierro nos lleva al núcleo dramático del texto: la búsqueda de su hijo, quien parece haberse convertido en el favorito de Gordiano. Pobre Eco, quien desde hace ya varios libros ha sido desplazado a un rincón de la trama. Aunque el desenlace nos permite deducir que el conflicto se habría podido resolver desde el principio, lo cierto es que los obstáculos presentados parecen, en retrospectiva, demasiado simples, incluso rozando lo absurdo.
No me convence este giro en la evolución de Gordiano que ya habíamos empezado a ver en la novela anterior: un personaje vencido por su propio ego, que ha perdido el rumbo y se recrea en su propio "sufrimiento". El cierre de esta historia representa, de hecho, la ruptura definitiva de la relación padre-hijo, y deja en evidencia una vez más la hipocresía del personaje. Reniega de Metón por haberse apartado de la verdad, sin reconocer que él mismo ha hecho exactamente lo mismo, aunque se mantenga en su pedestal de falsa superioridad moral.
En cuanto al libro en general, hay varios detalles que decepcionan. El autor modifica los orígenes introductorios de algunos personajes, lo que genera inconsistencias para quienes seguimos la saga con atención. Aunque al inicio se incluyen algunos mapas, estos resultan bastante básicos. Habría sido útil contar con más elementos gráficos que nos permitieran “movernos” con mayor claridad por los caminos que recorre Gordiano, especialmente en un contexto tan limitado como el de una ciudad sitiada.
Este encierro nos lleva al núcleo dramático del texto: la búsqueda de su hijo, quien parece haberse convertido en el favorito de Gordiano. Pobre Eco, quien desde hace ya varios libros ha sido desplazado a un rincón de la trama. Aunque el desenlace nos permite deducir que el conflicto se habría podido resolver desde el principio, lo cierto es que los obstáculos presentados parecen, en retrospectiva, demasiado simples, incluso rozando lo absurdo.
No me convence este giro en la evolución de Gordiano que ya habíamos empezado a ver en la novela anterior: un personaje vencido por su propio ego, que ha perdido el rumbo y se recrea en su propio "sufrimiento". El cierre de esta historia representa, de hecho, la ruptura definitiva de la relación padre-hijo, y deja en evidencia una vez más la hipocresía del personaje. Reniega de Metón por haberse apartado de la verdad, sin reconocer que él mismo ha hecho exactamente lo mismo, aunque se mantenga en su pedestal de falsa superioridad moral.
En cuanto al libro en general, hay varios detalles que decepcionan. El autor modifica los orígenes introductorios de algunos personajes, lo que genera inconsistencias para quienes seguimos la saga con atención. Aunque al inicio se incluyen algunos mapas, estos resultan bastante básicos. Habría sido útil contar con más elementos gráficos que nos permitieran “movernos” con mayor claridad por los caminos que recorre Gordiano, especialmente en un contexto tan limitado como el de una ciudad sitiada.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2023
This historical Roman adventure/mystery is, chronologically speaking, the 12th volume of the brilliant "Gordianus the Finder" series.
Storytelling is wonderful, real historical and delightful fictional come are very lifelike and human, the circumstances and atmosphere in this period of history, all these factors come all vividly to life.
At the beginning of the book you'll find well-drawn maps about the Siege of Massilia (Marseilles) in 49 BC, while at the back you'll notice an author's Note, where you can learn some more interesting historical details.
This book is situated in 49 BC, and its a direct follow-up of "Rubicon", with Gordianus and his son-in-law, Davus, as the main protagonists.
After having received an anonymous message that his son Meto is dead in Massilia, Gordianus and Davus are heading there, and once getting there they will be obstructed in their inquiries from several corners.
Having made it to get in Massilia somehow, Gordianus and Davus will encounter several people, good and bad whether they are Greek, Massilian or Roman, in their quest to find and know what happened to Meto, while at the same time solving another case of a murder on the Sacrifice Rock.
What is to follow is a thrilling and easy to read Roman adventure/mystery, where the historical details are wonderfully implemented, and that will continue with some fascinating events, right till the end.
Highly recommended, for although this is not the author's very best, still its a very likeable and enjoyable addition to this great series, and that's the reason that I want to call this episode: "An Exciting Gaulish Affair"!
Storytelling is wonderful, real historical and delightful fictional come are very lifelike and human, the circumstances and atmosphere in this period of history, all these factors come all vividly to life.
At the beginning of the book you'll find well-drawn maps about the Siege of Massilia (Marseilles) in 49 BC, while at the back you'll notice an author's Note, where you can learn some more interesting historical details.
This book is situated in 49 BC, and its a direct follow-up of "Rubicon", with Gordianus and his son-in-law, Davus, as the main protagonists.
After having received an anonymous message that his son Meto is dead in Massilia, Gordianus and Davus are heading there, and once getting there they will be obstructed in their inquiries from several corners.
Having made it to get in Massilia somehow, Gordianus and Davus will encounter several people, good and bad whether they are Greek, Massilian or Roman, in their quest to find and know what happened to Meto, while at the same time solving another case of a murder on the Sacrifice Rock.
What is to follow is a thrilling and easy to read Roman adventure/mystery, where the historical details are wonderfully implemented, and that will continue with some fascinating events, right till the end.
Highly recommended, for although this is not the author's very best, still its a very likeable and enjoyable addition to this great series, and that's the reason that I want to call this episode: "An Exciting Gaulish Affair"!
May 16, 2020
I started Last Seen in Massilia... tentatively. I'd felt that the previous book in the series, Rubicon, had set the scene for a darker and edgier second half to the series, and goodness me, I was right! I've never come across a series so capable of leaving me achingly nostalgic for the good old days, when Gordianus was a young man solving individual mysteries for anyone who'd pay and slowly building a family of his own. It's probably something to do with the sheer number of books and the length of the timeskips!
Family lies at the heart of Last Seen in Massilia - Gordianus comes to the city to find news of his younger son, Meto, revealed in Rubicon to be An anonymous note sent to his house in Rome has informed Gordianus that Meto is dead, but he's not going to give up on his son that easily, and so he travels to Massilia with his son-in-law to do what he does best and find the truth about Meto's fate. Gordianus' anxiety, grief, and - eventually - anger permeate the entire novel, and for me this made it absolutely impossible to put down: I read the last 85% of it in one sitting between 11:30 pm and 2:30 am.
The at the end of the novel was extremely painful, and I really hope that it's resolved within a couple of books!
Family lies at the heart of Last Seen in Massilia - Gordianus comes to the city to find news of his younger son, Meto, revealed in Rubicon to be An anonymous note sent to his house in Rome has informed Gordianus that Meto is dead, but he's not going to give up on his son that easily, and so he travels to Massilia with his son-in-law to do what he does best and find the truth about Meto's fate. Gordianus' anxiety, grief, and - eventually - anger permeate the entire novel, and for me this made it absolutely impossible to put down: I read the last 85% of it in one sitting between 11:30 pm and 2:30 am.
The at the end of the novel was extremely painful, and I really hope that it's resolved within a couple of books!
June 17, 2025
I read this book because it was on a list of great crime/detective novels. I wouldn't say it's really focused on solving a crime, but the novel is fantastic. It's set in Massilia (now Marseille, apparently). The protagonist is a wizened Roman whose nickname is the "the finder" because he gets to the bottom of things. I guess that's the Roman equivalent of a detective. Massalia is under siege by Romans and he sneaks (a pretty cool plot twist involving "sappers," or people who dig tunnels) into Massilia, becomes friends with the scapegoat (a guy who gets to live in luxury while he takes on the city's sins but will be sacrificed to expiate those sins after his days of gluttony are numbered). The point of all this sneaking around is to find his son. The rest is mostly historical and character details, which are exceptional. The ending is counterintuitive. I don't want to say exactly why because it would be a spoiler, but it involves his lost son. Still, I enjoyed the historical and cultural details, writing style, and the protagonist's character so much I will probably read more novels in this series eventually.
November 9, 2020
Dans ce polar historique - bien plus historique que polar ( = étoile en moins), nous retrouvons un Gordianus vieillissant, à la recherche de son fils Meto, présumé mort, espion de César dans la ville de Massilia, pro-Pompée. En pleine guerre civile, Gordianus parvient à entrer dans la ville assiégé. Tout à sa douleur d'avoir perdu un fils, le voici assistant à un suicide qui n'en est peut-être pas un sur le Rocher du sacrifice, le lieu où les suicides légaux ont lieu. Mandatté par une famille qui pense connaître la victime, Gordien enquête. Cette enquête est cependant bien souvent secondaire. le roman est court, il y a peu de moments où l'intrigue est centrée sur cette énigme et l'auteur ne nous laisse pas le temps de faire des hypothèses. Je trouve ça un peu dommage.
En revanche, la partie historique est très intéressante. La position commerciale de Massilia, sa population gauloise-grecque, sa manière de diriger la cité, le rituel du bouc émissaire, tout un ensemble de détails très intéressants sur fond de bataille de siège.
En revanche, la partie historique est très intéressante. La position commerciale de Massilia, sa population gauloise-grecque, sa manière de diriger la cité, le rituel du bouc émissaire, tout un ensemble de détails très intéressants sur fond de bataille de siège.
August 22, 2025
Damn. I was sort of sad Gordianus aged so quickly in the series, but this book (along with Rubicon, the previous entry) really show my error, because they leverage how Gordianus is changed by the weight of time, experience, and the world around him after a full life of both disillusionment and grasping for a sense of virtue. It's perhaps a bit tragic, but it's personally very moving and thought provoking.
The ending of this book surprised me, shocked almost. Not the solution to a mystery (as usual, Saylor gives you the clues to guess it early, or realize it close to the revelation, if you care to try), but with the emotional and character choices. The Gordianus of old wouldn't, didn't, do such things. Saylor doesn't try to impress with subtlety on this point, Gordianus explicitly notes this sort of change in himself, which is just fine by me. That moment still took me off guard, and yet even in my surprise I felt the honesty of it. That's a powerful combined effect.
The ending of this book surprised me, shocked almost. Not the solution to a mystery (as usual, Saylor gives you the clues to guess it early, or realize it close to the revelation, if you care to try), but with the emotional and character choices. The Gordianus of old wouldn't, didn't, do such things. Saylor doesn't try to impress with subtlety on this point, Gordianus explicitly notes this sort of change in himself, which is just fine by me. That moment still took me off guard, and yet even in my surprise I felt the honesty of it. That's a powerful combined effect.
December 21, 2020
Once again our hero Gordianus finds himself immersed in an tricky mystery while caught up in historical events of Ancient Rome. This time we are outside, and inside, the gates of Massilia (modern day Marseille) during its siege by the armies of Julius Caesar. The native Greeks have sided with Pompey in the Roman civil wars just before the fall of the Republic. And our hero must solve a mystery amongst the ruling families while also seeking out news of his lost son. I love the story telling of Steven Saylor and how he weaves historical events into his narrative. The characters are always real and believable. And the backstory and setting transports you. This is another in a great series that will please mystery lovers and history buffs alike. And will spur you to read on to find out how our hero will survive amongst the turmoil.
April 27, 2019
A new setting (ancient Roman Marseilles), a new political system (rule by the rich, proclaimed not hidden), but a return to some of the grim humor that characterized earlier books.
I wasn't sure I believed some of the character development: Gordianus is much more decisive in his 60's than he was in his 30's, and his son-in-law Davus, who was a bit of a doofus in earlier books, spins theories as if he were son Eco in disguise. And the book suffers from Bethesda's not being on the scene.
If you're at all interested in the power struggle that brought Julius Caesar to power, this series is an engaging way of learning the history. It's nothing like academic. It's more like living through it--from a safe distance.
I wasn't sure I believed some of the character development: Gordianus is much more decisive in his 60's than he was in his 30's, and his son-in-law Davus, who was a bit of a doofus in earlier books, spins theories as if he were son Eco in disguise. And the book suffers from Bethesda's not being on the scene.
If you're at all interested in the power struggle that brought Julius Caesar to power, this series is an engaging way of learning the history. It's nothing like academic. It's more like living through it--from a safe distance.
November 6, 2023
Saylor educates the reader with plenty of interesting lore about the ancient city of Massilia, including the rather grim concept of the official Scapegoat. I long for more Lindsey Davis, though. I figured out the key surprise of the plot on page 4, unfortunately. Also, the characters just don't capture my sympathy (or really, my attention). Perhaps, if one begins with the first book in the series, the characters are introduced more fully and the reader is provided with enough material to make one care more about what happens to them. I appreciated the fact that the story wasn't overly grisly and that the scholarship seemed sound. If I can find the first novel in the series, it will probably go on my "to read" list.
December 19, 2023
Mais um excelente livrinho da série Sub Rosa de Steven Saylor.
"Desaparecido em Massilia" passa-se na actual cidade de Marselha, na altura em que esteve cercada por Júlio César, em 49 a. C.
Gordiano veio para Massilia depois de receber uma mensagem que transmitia a morte do seu filho Meto. Vem tentar perceber o que lhe aconteceu.
É um livro com uma escrita cinematográfica, apaixonante. Mais uma vez o autor consegue transmitir-nos um episódio da história do Império Romano de forma descontraída e de leitura quase compulsiva.
Gostei muito e estou ansiosa pelo próximo!
"Desaparecido em Massilia" passa-se na actual cidade de Marselha, na altura em que esteve cercada por Júlio César, em 49 a. C.
Gordiano veio para Massilia depois de receber uma mensagem que transmitia a morte do seu filho Meto. Vem tentar perceber o que lhe aconteceu.
É um livro com uma escrita cinematográfica, apaixonante. Mais uma vez o autor consegue transmitir-nos um episódio da história do Império Romano de forma descontraída e de leitura quase compulsiva.
Gostei muito e estou ansiosa pelo próximo!
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