Calvus

by Darryl Greer

In modern day St Albans, England there is a grisly discovery in Verulamium Park and Australian DI Chris O'Rourke is the investigating officer. A crucified body, ancient coffins, 2000-year-old skeletons, Latin writings and an old pair of sandals-it is an investigation that baffles even the tenacious O'Rourke. In a story that spans three continents and two thousand years what O'Rourke eventually discovers is about to send shockwaves around the globe.

260 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2012

About the author

Darryl was born, educated and spent the first chapter of his working life in Queensland, Australia. He was raised and educated on the Gold Coast but his education was cut short – by him, due to the sheer boredom of it – and at the age of 15 he left to work on a milk run. He went on to work as a window cleaner, cocktail barman, wine waiter, clerk, car salesman and a guitarist/backing singer in a rather hopeless rock band. Eventually, he got his act together, studied Law and at 28 owned his own law firm in Queensland’s far north. After nine years in the tropics he became bored with constant blue skies, gently swaying coconut palms and scuba-diving on the Great Barrier Reef, so he sold up and moved with his family to London. He practised there for twenty years specialising in commercial litigation, mostly at partner level in the City. In 2004 he returned to Queensland and now lives with his daughter in the Gold Coast hinterland.

As an author, Darryl has written in his spare time for as long as he can remember. Prior to his focussing on novels, he had a respectable number of paid articles published in British and international magazines. In 2009 he self-published his novel "The Election," a political thriller. In 2012 he won a competition with one of his other manuscripts "Calvus," and this led to a publishing contract with Morris Publishing Australia. With the demise of that publisher he has re-published that title himself.

Following another successful competition win, Darryl signed contracts with Custom Book Publications for the publication of three of his novels. "Agnus Dei," a legal thriller was published in February 2014, "Sleeping With Angels", another legal thriller followed in November 2014 and "A Dragon In The Snow" in October 2015. "Bounty" was published on 10 July 2019. In a departure from writing novels, Darryl published his memoir "...Passing Through..." in 2020. In June 2023, Darryl published "Zeno" a sequel to his novel, "Calvus" published in 2011.
You can check out Darryl's articles on Substack:
https://darrylgreer.substack.com

All of Darryl's books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle eBook.

Darryl continues to write. Apart from writing, Darryl enjoys walking, travel, cinema and, of course, reading thrillers. He also continues his love of music and can be found on the music platform audius.co

Darryl's mission statement: "I aim to achieve optimal enjoyment from whatever I write and at the same time, transport my readers to another dimension, free from their daily grind."

Links:

https://darrylgreer.wordpress.com
https://www.instagram.com/darrylgreer...
https://twitter.com/DarrylGreer16
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Reviews

[Geza Tatrallyay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rather enjoyed this book, even though the topic was not easy and at times I was not sure where Mr. Greer was going to go with it. But the author has a thorough understanding of the important historical background to the novel, and the writing is very good. I loved the parallels between modern life and the Roman days, and the characters he creates in each era. A good read indeed.

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover of this book is dark and foreboding, however, I was delighted to find myself immersed in the mystery of the police investigation of a crucified body in modern day St Albans, England in Verulamium Park. The site was the historical site of such punishments in ancient Roman times. Were there a band of Roman enthusiasts going about in costume with the full regalia who carried out this horrific act? Would DI Chris O’Rourke find out who the victim was and bring the culprits to justice? How does this case relate back to ancient Romans living in the sodden cool English climate 2000 years earlier?

The fascinating story of Julianus Tadius Calvus, his journey around the world serving the Roman Empire, first as a legionary soldier, then after his marriage to his beloved Vipsana, rising through the ranks to centurion, his peace keeping duties in the Roman outpost suited his nature. His adoring children Zeno and Fannia, his true love Vipsania and their devoted slave Helena lived comfortably, not expecting trouble from any others than the locals he went out on patrol to subdue. Little did he realize that imbibing with a fellow centurion, a slip of the tongue without his wits, could lead to devastating consequences for himself and his family?

The investigation in the modern day is frustratingly impossible to solve, DI Chris O’Rourke is confronted by a crowd of religious zealots over running the crime scene at Verulamium Park, while the police set up a vigil to watch on a rough group of Roman fanatics that dress up in Roman costumes to indulge in orgies, they don’t seem capable of such a heinous crime.

I loved the way the families in past history and modern world were portrayed. Darryl has provided a page turning and engrossing tale.

[Jenny Marlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought at first it was beyond words how horrific it must have been to look someone in the eye, lying on the cross awaiting for his death whose arrival seem to be more for a relief.

Calvus was a roman soldier whose duty was to the emperor but he was not stripped of humanity. In a strangely unsettling way, his conscience seems to find a conflicting place with his duty as a soldier.

This book is a good account of the ordinary life of each roman soldier in the days of the Roman empire.

I always thought what it would have been like to live during the old times but here is a glimpse of the past with both horror and delight. The author, Darryl Greer, has elegantly put into words the world beyond our imagination. 5-stars for me!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I thought it was some purely narrative of the ancient times with all the typical Roman conquests, battles and victories. But here is the man named Calvus whose ordinary life as a Roman soldier was fraught with controversies for his conviction brought out from the execution of his own duty. It was not too difficult for him to get such kind of turning point for such was an experience that would have been frown upon in the modern days. He was a man of “modern” discernment and a sense of justice for others.

I could not help but get hooked reading this book. The life of Calvus reflects so much realities of today, ironically. The author must not have intended it that way but I get a sense that it, too, was part of this book’s mystery.

[Evita Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read for both believers and non-believers of Christ. It reveals an important aspect of the early Christian movement under the regime of the Roman empire. It was only until 300 years after the death of the crucified man from Nazareth when the crucifix was believed to have been recovered from the place it was buried.

Calvus is both a book and person who will take you into the complex structures of politics, power and religion that all too well rule and wielded by the Roman emperor. It was not too long for Calvus to recognize his own faith and conscience moved by the grace of God.

[Book FUNdom Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling… exciting… and surely exhilarating. This book was creatively made with extensive knowledge and overwhelming passion towards history, faith and conviction.
I was elated by the author’s wit at coming up with a book that describes and proposes the duality of crucifixion both as a humiliating way of death but as a mockery of justice.
Calvus was a character played too well with all the intricacies of his Roman identity, his post as a soldier charged with dispensing the Roman law but constantly opposed by his own judgment and faith.
This book taken from ages before enlightenment to the age of modern thinking, Christ finds relevance in all the ways the world has been changing.

[Lou Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought at first it was beyond words how horrific it must have been to look someone in the eye, lying on the cross awaiting for his death whose arrival seem to be more for a relief. Calvus was a roman solider whose duty was to the emperor but he was not stripped of humanity. In a strangely unsettling way, his conscience seems to find a conflicting place with his duty as a solider.
This book is a good account of the ordinary life of each roman solider in the days of the Roman empire. I always thought what it would have been like to live during the old times but here is a glimpse of the past with both horror and delight.

[Milli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of mystery books and this one definitely got me hooked!

The beginning of the story alone will catch your attention and not let go. The details were too vivid which gives it quite a heavy start and will keep you thinking as to who was the victim found in Verulamium Park and what really happened to him. Calvus was such a great character and his journey will make you realize what greed and lust can do to people in power.

It is just amazing how the author intertwined both the past and present world while sending a message that we can all relate to today. You will find yourself in shocking plot twists as the story progresses which makes it a terrific read. Kudos!