Η γυναίκα του Καίσαρα

SPQR #3

by John Maddox Roberts, Πόλυ Μοσχοπούλου (Translator)

Κατά την Υπατεία των Μάρκου Πούπιου Πείσωνα Καλπουρνιανού και Μεσσάλα Νέγρου λαμβάνουν χώρα, όπως απαιτεί ένα πανάρχαιο έθιμο, οι τελετές προς τιμήν της Αγαθής Θεάς στο σπίτι του Γάιου Ιούλιου Καίσαρα, που έχει, εκείνη την εποχή, το αξίωμα του Μεγάλου Ποντίφικα. Ξεσπά σκάνδαλο με θύμα τη γυναίκα του Καίσαρα Πομπηία όταν ένας παρείσακτος, ντυμένος γυναίκα, διαπράττει τρομερή ιεροσυλία. Ο Δέκιος Καικίλιος Μέτελλος ο Νεότερος, ήδη Συγκλητικός, υποπτεύεται ότι η ιεροσυλία έχει σχέση με άλλους τέσσερις φόνους και μια απόπειρα φόνου κατά του ιδίου. Αναλαμβάνει την εξιχνίαση και ως συνήθως βρίσκεται αντιμέτωπος με όλους τους ισχυρούς της εποχής αλλά και με πολλά κατακάθια της πιο ύποπτης συνοικίας της Ρώμης, της διαβόητης Συβούρας. Βοηθοί του η Ιουλία, ανιψιά του Καίσαρα, και ο Ασκληπιάδης, ο Έλληνας γιατρός που εκτελεί για άλλη μια φορά χρέη ιατροδικαστή.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Crime, Historical Mystery, Roman

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

aka Mark Ramsay

John Maddox Roberts is the author of numerous works of science fiction and fantasy, in addition to his successful historical SPQR mystery series. The first two books in the series have recently been re-released in trade paperback.

Reviews

[Georgina Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger's (what a mouthful) character is getting better and better with each installment of SPQR. I like his verbal sparrings with his insolent slave, Hermes. Very very funny. And I love the way the book makes you feel--like Ancient Rome is your neighborhood (J.M. Roberts' descriptions of Roman life are delightfully vivid).

However, some of the characters seem to be one-dimensional: Publius Clodius Pulcher, for example (and his sister, Clodia). Clodius was (simply) portrayed as a mean, bullheaded (bordering on the stupid), ugly thug, and Clodia a sinister slut. Maybe it's just written from the point of view of Decius, who considers these two his mortal enemies. And so I conclude early on in this series that SPQR is more fiction than history (or a variant/interpretation of it; as opposed to S. Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series).

But those who love Ancient Rome as much as I do will surely have fun reading this. Pretty darn good fun.

[Maria Altiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Με δίχασε αυτό το βιβλίο. Το αστυνομικό του κομμάτι είναι προσχηματικό και υπερισχύει το ιστορικό. Αν το βαθμολογούσα ως ιστορικό θα έβαζα 4*. Αν όμως το βαθμολογούσα ως αστυνομικό όπως χαρακτηρίζετε στο εξώφυλλο 2*. Έτσι για να είμαι δίκαιη κατέληξα στα 3*. Λίγο τα ιστορικά γεγονότα και λίγο τα αξιώματα και τα ονόματα με μπέρδεψαν. Μέχρι την μέση βαρέθηκα αλλά μετέπειτα υπήρχε καλύτερη ροή στην ιστορία και περισσότερο σασπένς. Μου άρεσε η σκιαγράφηση του Καίσαρα σαν χαρακτήρα και κάποια στιγμή θα προχωρήσω κ σε επόμενα βιβλία της σειράς για να μάθω περισσότερα. Ο Δέκιος μου είναι αρκετά συμπαθής ως ήρωας στην σειρά.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decius is back from exile, and already in trouble. Chosen to become a senator, someone tries to poison him before he is even settled in. There's a strange death that needs investigating, and a man is caught sneaking into a woman only religious ceremony.

Decius encounters historically significant figures while fearing for his life.

A great novel with humor and tension.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, and I'm coming to know the world and characters better, which always makes me like a story better. Gaius Julius was a highlight and the inclusion of historical events equally. Decius being more known as a mad/eccentric man in Rome is another source of amusement.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decius uncovers a conspiracy between three of the most powerful men in Rome, but is unable to stop the tide of history.

Thankfully, unlike the previous books, he didn't sleep with anyone devious women like Clodia or Aurelia, this time around. But his weakness for women did pop up in the form of Julia Minor (Caesar's fictional niece), who convinced Decius to let her become a colleague, of sorts, in his investigation. She is very strong willed, and very much his equal, and their banter was superb. She's definitely his match. And, if the course of the ending remains in the next book, Decius may be embarking a more solid romance with her.

Decius acquired a new slave from a relative, a rascally teenager named Hermes, who has quite the mouth and isn't afraid of talking back to his master. The back and forth between the pair is quite amusing, and I look forward to seeing more of Hermes in future books.

I felt the storytelling improved from the last book, however--like the previous 2 books in the series--the mystery hinged too much on historical events, and involvement of real historical figures. The mystery part of the story would have benefited if these historical persons weren't involved, but more on the periphery of the story, similar to how Steven Saylor and Lindsey Davis handle historical figures in their respective series. With the way it was written, I knew long before the climax that Decius would fail to achieve his aims, since I already knew the history of the persons involved.

But still, seeing how Decius arrives at the answers to his questions, and is then inevitably unable to stop history from unfolding as I know it does, was still entertaining. John Maddox Roberts paints an entertaining picture of Roman life, and I enjoy his portrayal of the aforementioned historical figures that feature heavily in his books.

[Vicki Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the SPQR series, because the underlying history is so interesting. Clodius is discovered disguised as a woman during the performance of the rites of Bona Dea, a goddess sacred to women. Men are strictly forbidden to be in the house where the rites are being performed. What's more, the house in question is that of Gaius Julius Caesar, the pontifex maximus. This incident is what provoked Caesar to proclaim "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion." Decius gets involved because of some murders which seem to be related. Another plus is the introduction of two new continuing characters. Hermes is Decius' new teen-age slave, and he's quite cheeky. Julia is Decius' love interest, and Caesar's (fictional) niece to boot.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series gets better with each book. I really like the hero, Decius Cecilius Metellus, and find the author's takes on Titus Milo and Clodius very entertaining. The plot used the Bona Dea scandal as a starting point but varied enough from history to make it suspenseful. Listened to the audio version which was narrated by John Lee who had just the right sardonic tone for the proceedings.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this take on the Bona Dea Sacrilege. Roberts' characterization of Julius Caesar is a total kick. It's wonderful to see such a lively, contemporary-feeling take on times and people most of us are only exposed to in dry, boring history lectures.

[Mercedes Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book three in the SPQR series about a precocious patrician turned murder detective—or however you would call that in ancient Rome. This is the first book I discovered in the series, but, with a working knowledge of the historical personages, I had no trouble picking up the threads. Our protagonist, Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger, has just returned to Rome from a year in Gaul, and his return happens to coincide with Pompey’s anticipated triumph and a fresh scandal surrounding his mortal enemy Publius Clodius Pulcher. Decius views their relationship with a large serving of sarcasm:

“Well, that’s—“ My words were cut off short when a man standing next to Caesar but with his back to me turned around. His face was malignant, dark and flushing darker. I should have recognized that squat, neckless form even from behind. Somehow I managed to control my natural impulse to reach for a weapon. Just as well, since I was unarmed.
“Why, Publius,” I said, “I rejoice to see your face again.” And indeed I did. It always did my heart good to look upon the scars I had put on that misshapen countenance.

Needless to say, things go from bad to worse. Decius is directed to investigate the sacrilege connected with the ancient rite of Bona Dea—where Clodius snuck in disguised as a woman—along with a series of murders that seemed to relate to the scandal. There was also the uncomfortable near-miss where he was almost poisoned, himself. Who is behind the assassinations and the attempt on his own life? Decius keeps trying to get himself killed while solving the mystery, giving us a very unlikely set of circumstances (in my opinion), and a far-fetched conclusion (also, in my opinion). Nonetheless, it is fun to read and the characters themselves seem true to form.

[Brian V · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not noteworthy. Lost of historical info, but plot is disjointed and not believable. I got irritated with main character, who was headstrong/stupid in a way that made no sense, and miraculous escapes and plot twists that not believable.

"When a sacred 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..."

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 4 out of 5]

Läsning 3: Jag är inte lika imponerad denna gång. Den är inte dålig, men knappast 5 stjärnor.

Läsning 2: Jag var uppenbarligen onödigt hård mot författaren förra gången. I ljuset av de senare böckerna är denna perfekt, framförallt eftersom den så tydligt korrumperad, och korruptionen av Rom är författarens tema.

Läsning 1: Återigen: en strålande intrig. Jag är väldigt imponerad av hur författaren lyckas blanda olika former av relation till romerska ritualer. Problemet för mig är upplösningen. Jag förstår prioriteringen som författaren gör, att inte ändra i historien som står, men med det krux som författaren har skapat, känns det som ett sällsynt hopplöst sätt att göra det.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last of the (current) series to be read by me. The novel tells the story behind Clodius' profanation of the secret women's annual, religious festival—from which all men are banned. The reason, the venue and time were used to hide a meeting behind the biggest of the Roman political scene, so that they could craft the first triumvirate.

Our hero Decius stumbles around Rome, with his new slave Hermes, uncovering this puzzle piece by piece. Again, my one criticism, the resolution was too swift. A few more pages would be been better.

Here's hoping Roberts writes more in this series.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two books of the series set up the conflict for this title but I felt like it didn't really start until now. Maybe it has just taken me this long to get it? I really enjoyed the introduction of the new characters, it will be interesting to see how these relationships play out against the decline of the Republic. It is a good mystery too; taking well known event (if you follow Roman history) and giving it an interesting twist. The conflict with Clodius and Clodia is wearing a bit thin by now, though I know they will not be too long in the timeline.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in the adventures of Decius Caecilius Metellus is up to the standards we've learned to expect from Roberts - a fascinating tale well-told that leaves you longing to learn more.

[James Wirrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the SPQR series, and like the first two, it starts off very slowly. The story does pick up considerably in the second half. Part of the problem, I think, is that while Decius is a likable character, he’s not very well developed. The first half of this book seemed to be mostly about Decius’ opinions on Roman politics of the day, it because the reader doesn’t know Decius very well, it’s not compelling to read his political and personal thoughts. I understand that the mystery is actually a fictional account of an actual historical event, and so some setting of the stage is necessary, but the author seemed to go into a bit too much detail. I am also a fan of Steven Saylor’s Gordianus series, and Saylor is a much better storyteller, and that’s probably because Gordianus is a much more developed character. In any case, the second half is a lot better. I enjoyed the characters Hermes the slave and Julia his “co-detective” because they both breathe more life into the story by allowing personal interactions. I will definitely continue in this series.

[Thomas W Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb SPQR Series Continues

Deciua Caecillius Metallus the Younger continues his rise in ancient Rome during the last decades of the Republic. John Maddox Roberts takes the reader through the streets of Rome with its the sensual bombardment and political turmoil. As murders keep stacking up, Decius finds himself drawn into nvestugating yet anorher plot against the Senate and People of Rome.

In this volume we meet Julia, the beautiful and intelligent niece of another rising star, Caius Julius Caesar. Julia collaborates with Decius to solve the murders and discover who was behind the sacrilege of a man's presence at the All-Female rites of a goddess.

Of course, it's all about a plot to control Rome, which effectively meant to dominate the known world.

Great characters. Sometimes caustic humor. Sexy, tasteful, PG-13 adventures of a young man in a pagan society. Rich immersion in an ancient culture that shaped Western civilization.

Highly recommend whole SPQR series.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six-word Review: An interesting look at Pre-Caesarian Rome.

While not a compelling book, The Sacrilege was worth the time spent reading it. Laced with the self-deprecating humor of Decius Caecilius Metellusthe Younger who narrates this tale of hatred, murder, and redemption, it also provides one author's opinion of what Rome might have been like before the Empire. It also gives a refreshing slant on the personalities of Caesar, Pompeii, and other historical figures of that time.

At great personal risk, Decius manages to figure out who committed the sacrilege and solve a number of murders in the process to say nothing of falling in love with Caesar's sister, Julia. The plot unfolds a bit slowly and the reader must work to keep all the characters separate but in the end, all is explained and the conclusion is satisfying and sets up the subsequent books in the series.

My rating of 3 is in reality a 3.5. Enjoy!

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hrozná obálka, ale v podstate výstižná. O rímskom fungovaní byrokracie a každodennom živote konzulov, senátorov a ostatných v politicko-ekonomickom živote Rimanov, som zatiaľ nenašla lepšiu knihu. Autor aj teraz ukazuje život Decia Caecilia Metella mladšieho, keď sa vrátil z Galie späť do Ríma. Otec mu kúpil senátorské kreslo a prísne nakázal, ako má voliť. A opri tom má pomáhať pri konzulských voľbách. Najzaujímavejšie pre mňa boli vzťahy s domácimi otrokmi, pohľad na Júlia Cézara ešte pred vysokou funkciou (spomenutá bola btw aj reforma kalendára), či rôzne náboženské obrady (aj napr. len tie čisto ženské), pobyt vo verejných kúpeľoch a hostiny, kde sa politikárčilo jedna radosť. A potom tam niekoho zabili a Decius zase vyšetruje. Skvelá séria!

[Suz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This particular book in the series covers the Bona Dea scandal where Publius Clodius Pulcher, arch-nemesis of our fictional protag, sneaks into Julius Caesar's villa (that he held for being Pontifex Maximus) as a woman, both violating the sacred rites, all to (reportedly) seduce Caesar's wife Pompeia.

Now, the book diverges from history (you know, being a fictional piece and all), and goes into some very entertaining conspiracies. Still a pretty decent book to listen to, and is done well (as always) by John Lee

[Linda Humberstone · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book I've read from this author and find it just as entertaining as the first. I love the Roman characters, their foibles and scheming minds, which is so like political society today. It is nicely written and progresses at a good rate so that you can engage with the up and coming Decius and his outlook on and involvement with his contemporaries. The historical intricacies of Roman life at the time are subtly introduced as the story progresses at a pleasant rate.

[Nicholas Parsons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another highly readable book rich with history, detail and trivia, but:

1. all the historical detail comes across a little bit like a lecture, rather than being woven seamlessly into the story; and

2. Many of the plot devices are cliche; and

3. The main character is too pure, noble and good; and

4. The main events were to unlikely and unnecessary.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following my two-year study of ancient Rome, I read these books with a fuller understanding of the Roman traditions and history. This book centers on the infamous occasion when a man infiltrated a women's only religious ritual at the house of Julius Caesar. This event caused Caesar to divorce his wife with the phrase "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion."

[Gerry Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sacrilege is another in John Maddox Roberts’ SPQR mystery series. Decius Metellus returns to Rome and becomes a Senator. He immediately becomes engulfed in several ritual murders that involve the leading figures of the ancient city—Crassus, Pompey and Caesar. It’s early in Decius’ investigative career but once on the hunt he succeeds in unraveling a broad conspiracy. Alas to no end

[Joan Lloyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the first two, could get into the third. Too many unfamiliar names and the Latin monikers were too hard to follow. Maybe if there had been a few Smiths or Jones's it ight have been an easier read.

[Mike A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to the previous 2, with a bit more action. The depictions of life in the late republic are exquisite; the characters are quite vivid; the plot as a mystery is not quite on par but is still engaging. There is a whimsical tone in the narration which also elevates the reading enjoyment!

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intrigue in Ancient Rome - Decius ends up being almost killed again!

[Jelena Milašinović · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definite favourite from the series. Seining Caesar's transformation in this book was a pleasure to read. :-)

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liking this series alot. Love the history, the facts, the story, the mystery, the MC and the sidekicks.

[Sybille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. History is well researched but not distracting from the story. Well told and amusing. I liked the characters.

[Christopher Crum · Rating 3 out of 5]

good story. topic much discussed in other novels. the ending was a little bit of a let down...