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Numerius Mystery #1
Numerius Meridius Pulcher and The Case of the Not So Virgin Vestal
It is AUC 815 (62AD). Numerius Meridius Pulcher, former Capri Boy and brothel keeper, currently at loose ends in Rome gets a midnight call to the House of the Vestals. There an old friend and keeper of shared secrets asks for help in finding a newborn. The only catch is that the mother of the newborn is dead...and a Vestal. Reconstructing the crime will lead Numerius scurrying in and around Rome both grand and glorious and cheap and tawdry, running into old friends and enemies and those unable to be placed firmly in either camp.
Numerius Meridius Pulcher and the Case of the Not So Virgin Vestal is the first of a series on Numerius Meridius Pulcher set in the Ancient Roman Empire.
Numerius Meridius Pulcher and the Case of the Not So Virgin Vestal is the first of a series on Numerius Meridius Pulcher set in the Ancient Roman Empire.
157 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2013
22 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 21, 2019
A brilliant and highly underrated series. Very entertaining.
March 11, 2019
Simply super!
Take one Roman male ex prostitute and brothel owner and the murder of a Vestal Virgin who had just given birth and you think you are in for salacious explicit sex...not so. This is a well written, witty story about a lovely human being with a terrible past from which he emerged sane and not bitter. As a result of his past Pulcher knows everybody in the present and from way back. He works out who did what and why, all without language which would shock your granny. I loved Hylas (Pulcher) and I want to read more of his adventures. Can I admit here I'd like more detail of his past? After all he survived filthy Tiberius, crazy Caligula and last man standing Claudius. Let's hope he will be as lucky with Nero and his retiral home in Pompeii. Be wary of that there volcano, man! I have already bought the next two stories. Can't wait to read them. If you want salacious look elsewhere. If you want a great story with a lovable much used but hearted hero then this is for you. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Give it a chance. The underbelly of Rome laid bare but not enough to make you puke. I couldn't get enough. Roll on the next story. Well done, Jay Cardam!
Take one Roman male ex prostitute and brothel owner and the murder of a Vestal Virgin who had just given birth and you think you are in for salacious explicit sex...not so. This is a well written, witty story about a lovely human being with a terrible past from which he emerged sane and not bitter. As a result of his past Pulcher knows everybody in the present and from way back. He works out who did what and why, all without language which would shock your granny. I loved Hylas (Pulcher) and I want to read more of his adventures. Can I admit here I'd like more detail of his past? After all he survived filthy Tiberius, crazy Caligula and last man standing Claudius. Let's hope he will be as lucky with Nero and his retiral home in Pompeii. Be wary of that there volcano, man! I have already bought the next two stories. Can't wait to read them. If you want salacious look elsewhere. If you want a great story with a lovable much used but hearted hero then this is for you. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Give it a chance. The underbelly of Rome laid bare but not enough to make you puke. I couldn't get enough. Roll on the next story. Well done, Jay Cardam!
December 25, 2018
Good story and characters. I found Aristo/their relationship a bit unbelievable though - I suspect with more of their history explained, this complaint would go. I probably would have rated it higher if it wasn't in need of editing. Misplaced commas and missing commas, sometimes forcing me to re-read a sentence to understand it. I did notice them less when I got drawn into the story. It was occasionally a bit repetitive, like right at the start, and sometimes characters appeared and introduced a few pages later. I feel like the backstory could have been written in in a better way - at first I wondered if this was actually the second book in the series, as the writing seemed to assume I knew more than I did. Overall I enjoyed it, and would read the next.
August 11, 2017
Jolly good read
I bought book 2 first and enjoyed it so much I immediately bought book 1. I love character of Numerius, the hints about his past, his stoicism and his general fabulousness. Can't wait for book 3!
I bought book 2 first and enjoyed it so much I immediately bought book 1. I love character of Numerius, the hints about his past, his stoicism and his general fabulousness. Can't wait for book 3!
February 15, 2019
Enough with the alliteration!
Thoroughly enjoyed this Roman whodunnit. Falco, Gordianus and Flavia would all agree. Hylas is a very enjoyable rogue. May he flourish.
Thoroughly enjoyed this Roman whodunnit. Falco, Gordianus and Flavia would all agree. Hylas is a very enjoyable rogue. May he flourish.
October 31, 2014
First in a possible series featuring Numerius Meridius Pulcher former slave and brothel owner and now extremely wealthy. He has a very infamous and sordid past which keeps popping up. Now about 40 and retired living in Pompeii, he returns to Rome where he is building a new home. Story is set in 62 AD Rome.
In the early morning, after his arrival in Rome, he is called by the House of the Vestal Virgins by the chief vestal, a former growing up friend, who wants him to investigate the death of one of the vestal virgins. Things quickly get more involved as Numerius finds himself dealing with very higly places Romans and his life is endangered.
It was a good easy mystery with Numerius being quite an entertaining character.
In the early morning, after his arrival in Rome, he is called by the House of the Vestal Virgins by the chief vestal, a former growing up friend, who wants him to investigate the death of one of the vestal virgins. Things quickly get more involved as Numerius finds himself dealing with very higly places Romans and his life is endangered.
It was a good easy mystery with Numerius being quite an entertaining character.
January 28, 2016
Very cute entry into the Ancient Roman sleuth category! It's refreshing that for once we have a sexual omnivore (or at least a former omnivore) as our lead character. Too often in most Ancient fiction, there is little tolerance for same sex preferences in the main characters, and there seems to be a little more homophobia in this genre than in many others. It's odd as this time period was such a time of sexual freedom for the elite. Jay Cardum taps into that philosophy and keep us guessing which way his characters will turn. A good editor and this series could rise up to the level of a Lindsey Davis or Ruth Downie.
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February 4, 2014Some days I hate it, some days I love it...It was fun to write and I'm very fond of Pulcher.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews