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Judge Marcus Flavius Severus Mystery #2
The Cyclops Case
Judge Severus returns in "The Cyclops Case". The year is now 161 CE, three years after the events in the highly acclaimed and best selling historical mystery "Mars the Avenger". The philosopher emperor Marcus Aurelius has been emperor for only a few months and Persia has invaded the Roman Empire. Marcus Flavius Severus, Judge in the Court of the Urban Prefect in the City of Rome is on vacation at the Bay of Naples with his family. This is the ancient Roman riviera, the Crater, famous for combining rampant pleasure-seeking and high culture with license and corruption. There, one night on the beach, the notorious General Cyclops, who is slated for recall to the army, has been stabbed through his good eye. Severus is assigned by the authorities in Rome to investigate. The Cyclops case launches Severus into a web of murder, robbery and counterfeiting, ranging in time from the Second Jewish Revolt 30 years in the past to Severus' present. It also puts him in the middle of an espionage duel involving the Roman and Persian secret services and leads to a series of killings which, like General Cyclops', are reminiscent of scenes out of Homer's Odyssey. Ironically, solving a murder leads to more murders to solve. As in "Mars the Avenger", "The Cyclops Case" is both a mystery and a daily life of ancient Rome, a sojourn into the world of Roman life and courts, police and criminal law. The investigation takes Severus and his aides into the society of Romans at their leisure. Scenes are set, among other places, in wealthy summer villas, a gambling hall and a brothel at the Crater to a bookstore, tenement apartment house and secret service headquarters in Rome. There are also scenes in Roman courts and the book is accurate as to the criminal laws of the time. All laws, rescripts and legal procedures are derived from Roman law sources, which are extensive for the 2nd Century CE.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 10, 2023
The second book in the series continues in the same vein as the first. Judge Severus is on holiday away from Rome near what today is called Naples. He is recalled to duty to investigate the murder of a General who is known as Cyclops given that he only has one eye.every time the Judge feels like he is making headway in the case someone else is discovered murdered. Somebody really does not want this case solved, Judge Severus knows why the General was murdered he thinks he may know who killed him but factually inding the killer and the evidence to convict him are proving difficult. .................... This is a good read and.part of what is turning into an interesting series I described book one as similar to a.cost mystery and I still stuck by that. Roman life is these times is grey but it doesn't seem to touch the Judge and his family (here the slaves are allowed to listen as stories are told or when music is played all one big family) I really enjoyed the last chapter where the judges wife gives her take on events........
May 15, 2020
The judge's vacation is interrupted with assignment to investigate some murders in the locale he is headed for. The intelligence of his staff and family add to the enjoyment of reading these books.
It takes considerable work to uncover who is guilty of what.
I also liked description of the judge's grandfather's memories escaping Mount Vesuvius eruption.
Kindle Unlimited
It takes considerable work to uncover who is guilty of what.
I also liked description of the judge's grandfather's memories escaping Mount Vesuvius eruption.
Kindle Unlimited
February 8, 2020
More like 3.5 which I raised to 4. Another enjoyable mystery of Judge Severus of the Roman law courts. On vacation at "The Crater" on the Bay of Naples with his family, he is called upon to solve the murder of a famous general in the Roman army.
General Cyclops, this one-eyed man, as he is known, has been murdered. His is the first of a series of murders, all killed in the manner of some of the characters in Homer's Odyssey. For example, the general's working eye is poked out, in the matter of the Cyclops in that epic. A member of the curiosi [a frumentarius] is killed by a rock thrown at him and then he is drowned--Scylla and Charybdis. Severus is in charge of the case, although he is ostensibly helping the local magistrate. Technically, he is beyond the 100 miles from Rome in which he would have jurisdiction, but through finagling by the Roman City Prefect, he leads the investigation. He is aided by his usual team: his legal assistant, law clerk and two members of the Urban Cohorts.
A character nicknamed "Odysseus" is involved, somehow. Did this person do the killing?
The author, a former Assistant District attorney and criminal defense lawyer, really shines in his laying out of elements of the Roman law system. We are present at a court hearing where we see courtroom customs at work. I also enjoyed the elements of Roman life. Two things annoyed me: too much qualifications of things many times and minute descriptions of the clothes of each character. For example, how many times does the author have to tell us Proculus is his assistant, Scorpus his head slave, the curiosi are the Roman spy system, etc.? Once is enough. The writing style was a bit choppy. But it WAS a good mystery.
Recommended.
General Cyclops, this one-eyed man, as he is known, has been murdered. His is the first of a series of murders, all killed in the manner of some of the characters in Homer's Odyssey. For example, the general's working eye is poked out, in the matter of the Cyclops in that epic. A member of the curiosi [a frumentarius] is killed by a rock thrown at him and then he is drowned--Scylla and Charybdis. Severus is in charge of the case, although he is ostensibly helping the local magistrate. Technically, he is beyond the 100 miles from Rome in which he would have jurisdiction, but through finagling by the Roman City Prefect, he leads the investigation. He is aided by his usual team: his legal assistant, law clerk and two members of the Urban Cohorts.
A character nicknamed "Odysseus" is involved, somehow. Did this person do the killing?
The author, a former Assistant District attorney and criminal defense lawyer, really shines in his laying out of elements of the Roman law system. We are present at a court hearing where we see courtroom customs at work. I also enjoyed the elements of Roman life. Two things annoyed me: too much qualifications of things many times and minute descriptions of the clothes of each character. For example, how many times does the author have to tell us Proculus is his assistant, Scorpus his head slave, the curiosi are the Roman spy system, etc.? Once is enough. The writing style was a bit choppy. But it WAS a good mystery.
Recommended.
November 7, 2018
Another successful work
This is my second Scribner book. If the world were a sensible place he'd be famous by now. So be sensible
This is my second Scribner book. If the world were a sensible place he'd be famous by now. So be sensible
May 5, 2017
A good Roman mystery
I enjoyed the mystery. And I definitely will read the next one. The characterizations were realistic and the touch of Roman history was interesting and not overbearing. But. I'm not sure why I have a but, I just do. So it's quite possible it's just personal taste. As I said, I enjoyed the book all the way through and intend to read the next one. If you like Roman mysteries, this is definitely one you ought to try. Even if it doesn't end up at the top of your list, it's a pleasent read.
I enjoyed the mystery. And I definitely will read the next one. The characterizations were realistic and the touch of Roman history was interesting and not overbearing. But. I'm not sure why I have a but, I just do. So it's quite possible it's just personal taste. As I said, I enjoyed the book all the way through and intend to read the next one. If you like Roman mysteries, this is definitely one you ought to try. Even if it doesn't end up at the top of your list, it's a pleasent read.
October 3, 2023
Two by Alan Scribner, Mars The Avenger, and The Cyclops Case. Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius are the respective emperors of the period covered by the stories and Judge Severus has been directed to oversee the investigation of a series of murders. His methods seem a bit more modern than ancient Roman but he uncovers the mysteries and solves the crimes. Feeds my appetite for all things ancient Roman.
June 29, 2021
Good historical mysteries.
First of all, Marcus Flavius Severus mysteries are easy reads, often done in a day or two. The descriptions of life in ancient Rome are fascinating and compares and contrasts to the modern world. The emotions of the characters are not much different than they would be today, given an altered framework.
First of all, Marcus Flavius Severus mysteries are easy reads, often done in a day or two. The descriptions of life in ancient Rome are fascinating and compares and contrasts to the modern world. The emotions of the characters are not much different than they would be today, given an altered framework.
February 11, 2022
Another good story that gets confusing at the end.
I enjoyed this second book about judge Severus more than the first because the same characters were in both books. I really liked the descriptions about the vacation house in the area of Pompei; the eruption of Vesuvius happened not long before the time of this story.
I enjoyed this second book about judge Severus more than the first because the same characters were in both books. I really liked the descriptions about the vacation house in the area of Pompei; the eruption of Vesuvius happened not long before the time of this story.
May 25, 2018
Like the roman setting, but the repetitive writing drove me crazy! Too many authors either want to pad out the story, as if they are getting paid by the word, or think their readers are morons that cannot follow the plot.
August 28, 2024
Oddly sad
Two winners in a row. Makes for a really good start. I found I liked the background information as much as I liked the main story. A case of history being as interesting as the fiction. An oddly sad ending rounded out a good plot.
Two winners in a row. Makes for a really good start. I found I liked the background information as much as I liked the main story. A case of history being as interesting as the fiction. An oddly sad ending rounded out a good plot.
May 29, 2025
This took a long time to read...
...because there was so much history to check.
Maybe it's just me, but I find half the fun in reading historical fiction is to check the history.
I have a medical objection to the ending, but I won't say it's impossible...
...because there was so much history to check.
Maybe it's just me, but I find half the fun in reading historical fiction is to check the history.
I have a medical objection to the ending, but I won't say it's impossible...
February 25, 2017
The descriptions of the setting, the laws, customs, and the literature of the time are better than the mystery story, which I found to be too convoluted to follow.
June 19, 2017
Great mystery
This one really was a puzzle until the very end. Well written, with believable characters. Offers a peek into Roman life in a realistic & believable !manner.
This one really was a puzzle until the very end. Well written, with believable characters. Offers a peek into Roman life in a realistic & believable !manner.
March 19, 2022
Excellent
Going on 3rd book in the series. 2nd book even better than 1st, with the questioning of morals, and how good ones can adversely affect others.
Going on 3rd book in the series. 2nd book even better than 1st, with the questioning of morals, and how good ones can adversely affect others.
March 15, 2024
The judge takes a vacation at the Bay of Naples (calling it The Crater). There he's contacted and told to investigate the murder of a general nicknamed Cyclops, and from there bodies start to pile up. This book carries over some temporal anomalies like having a "police sketch" done by a painter and more modern techniques of investigation, but its entertaining enough.
The resolution was not very satisfying because many of the judge's "deductions" (just conclusions, he didn't remove errors and mistaken information to find the only solution) could have had many other explanations, but everyone just goes along with it. Several elements aren't even explained and one (how did the coins get into the box?) were already explained in a satisfactory manner, but then contradicted by the judge without evidence.
I have figured out what doesn't quite feel historically correct in these books for me. There's no real sense of Roman hierarchy. Everyone is basically just another guy. They have jobs that are respected like today's society, but almost none of the strict sense of place and rank in society is felt except a few minor references to equestrians and citizens having greater protection under law.
As a result it doesn't give a real sense of being in Rome, but rather a more untechnological version of today. And it follows the same problems of previous books: too much "as you know Bob" exposition, and that really bizarre stunt of having a character say something in Latin, and then translate it into English. They're Roman. They all speak Latin. They wouldn't need to translate anything. What would they translate it into??
The resolution was not very satisfying because many of the judge's "deductions" (just conclusions, he didn't remove errors and mistaken information to find the only solution) could have had many other explanations, but everyone just goes along with it. Several elements aren't even explained and one (how did the coins get into the box?) were already explained in a satisfactory manner, but then contradicted by the judge without evidence.
I have figured out what doesn't quite feel historically correct in these books for me. There's no real sense of Roman hierarchy. Everyone is basically just another guy. They have jobs that are respected like today's society, but almost none of the strict sense of place and rank in society is felt except a few minor references to equestrians and citizens having greater protection under law.
As a result it doesn't give a real sense of being in Rome, but rather a more untechnological version of today. And it follows the same problems of previous books: too much "as you know Bob" exposition, and that really bizarre stunt of having a character say something in Latin, and then translate it into English. They're Roman. They all speak Latin. They wouldn't need to translate anything. What would they translate it into??
July 8, 2017
"The Cyclops Case" was a light, enjoyable historical mystery.
Judge Severus is a solid protagonist, and the mystery was reasonably well-conceived and executed, although not overtly complex. The murderer reveal was clever although not shocking.
I most enjoyed the scenes of daily life, especially the descriptions of ancient Roman gambling.
Scribner does rely too much on the info dump, and it stands out, especially in dialogue. A character will say something like, "The curiosi--that's our spy network," the kind of thing that no one would actually elaborate on like that in real life. Getting across historical information in a historical novel that is unfamiliar to the reader can be hard, but there are better ways of doing it.
Judge Severus is a solid protagonist, and the mystery was reasonably well-conceived and executed, although not overtly complex. The murderer reveal was clever although not shocking.
I most enjoyed the scenes of daily life, especially the descriptions of ancient Roman gambling.
Scribner does rely too much on the info dump, and it stands out, especially in dialogue. A character will say something like, "The curiosi--that's our spy network," the kind of thing that no one would actually elaborate on like that in real life. Getting across historical information in a historical novel that is unfamiliar to the reader can be hard, but there are better ways of doing it.
August 18, 2016
The second novel of Judge Marcus Flavius Severus in ancient Rome @ 161 AD is called “The Cyclops Case”.
I really, really liked the plot in this book. The mystery was great. The author Alan Scribner brought in a great deal of history to flesh out the bad guys: what they did; how they did it; what happened in years after the event. Very well done.
Another good point - the judge questions his own actions. Should he have done this or done that given what the consequences eventually were?
However - OH OH - there’s that ‘however’ - the author still needs to polish his writing. At times the dialogue was choppy; it didn’t flow smoothly. It wasn’t bad but not the level of some other authors like Steve Saylor or Lindsey Davis.
All in all, a pretty good book with an excellent mystery.
I really, really liked the plot in this book. The mystery was great. The author Alan Scribner brought in a great deal of history to flesh out the bad guys: what they did; how they did it; what happened in years after the event. Very well done.
Another good point - the judge questions his own actions. Should he have done this or done that given what the consequences eventually were?
However - OH OH - there’s that ‘however’ - the author still needs to polish his writing. At times the dialogue was choppy; it didn’t flow smoothly. It wasn’t bad but not the level of some other authors like Steve Saylor or Lindsey Davis.
All in all, a pretty good book with an excellent mystery.
May 10, 2016
2nd in the Roman judge Marcus Flavious Severus mystery set in 161 CE in a Roman resort city on the Bay of Naples where the judge is supposed to be vacationing with his family. He is assigned the case of discovering who murdered a retired Roman general known as "The Cyclops" because he had lost an eye. Soon there are more murders similar to scenes from Homer's The Odyssey. The judge becomes involved in local politics as well as national politics as a new war has broken out between Rome and Persia.
Besides a mystery, this series provides one with a lot of local color regarding Roman daily life.
Besides a mystery, this series provides one with a lot of local color regarding Roman daily life.
October 15, 2014
The Flopped Case
It was too boring to hold my attention. Actually it took me a month to read it and in depression I just went to the epilogue. The main character wasn't interesting, rather flat monotone personality. The first chapters started off well enough but the story became long and drawn out. I'm an avid reader of ancient Roman mysteries. Saylor, Davis, both had good characters, you became involved with the family along with the ongoing mystery. I just couldn't bond with the cheaters here. If your a fan of the a forementioned, you won't find her what you enjoyed there.
It was too boring to hold my attention. Actually it took me a month to read it and in depression I just went to the epilogue. The main character wasn't interesting, rather flat monotone personality. The first chapters started off well enough but the story became long and drawn out. I'm an avid reader of ancient Roman mysteries. Saylor, Davis, both had good characters, you became involved with the family along with the ongoing mystery. I just couldn't bond with the cheaters here. If your a fan of the a forementioned, you won't find her what you enjoyed there.
January 5, 2015
Interesting look at Roman vacation. Better development of characters, but still a little shallow. Mystery itself was interesting. I was shocked at the reveal. I had all the pieces in place but with the wrong killer.
February 9, 2014
Short book, well crafted mystery with clues but the ending seems hard ( for me at least ) to predict.
April 22, 2014
An intriguing mystery, but I love the details of every day Roman life.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews