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Libertus Mystery of Roman Britain #18
A Prisoner of Privilege
On a misty day in February, CE 194, Libertus, pavement maker by trade and now reluctant councillor, is summoned to meet his patron at the local public baths. Marcus Septimus is concerned because a distant cousin from Rome has announced his impending arrival and Marcus is convinced he is a spy for the Emperor Severus, despatched to Glevum to investigate reports of an ‘act of treason.’
Meanwhile, Libertus has concerns of his own. The local money-lender has been seeking his counsel, but before they can meet, a violent and untimely death occurs … and before long Libertus finds himself a prisoner of his new-found rank, fighting for the truth amidst accusations of treason and murder.
Meanwhile, Libertus has concerns of his own. The local money-lender has been seeking his counsel, but before they can meet, a violent and untimely death occurs … and before long Libertus finds himself a prisoner of his new-found rank, fighting for the truth amidst accusations of treason and murder.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2019
21 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Rosemary Rowe
23 books44 followersA pseudonym used by Rosemary Aitken
Series:
* Libertus Mystery of Roman Britain
Series:
* Libertus Mystery of Roman Britain
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 21, 2025
This delightful mystery is already the 18th volume of the wonderful "Libertus" series from the lovely author, Rosemary Rowe.
The Author's Foreword, which you can find at the beginning of the book, is as usual very well researched and explained by the author, and this always turns out to be a great support to this very likeable Roman mystery.
Storytelling from this author is a superb quality, all figures featuring in this Roman mystery, whether they are real historical or great fictional, are very lifelike and believable, while the atmosphere of these turbulent Roman times comes wonderfully off the pages.
This mystery is set in the month of February in the year AD 194, in and around Glevum (Gloucester), and its there where we find our main fictional protagonist, pavement-maker by profession but now a reluctant councillor, Libertus, during the reign of the now acclaimed Emperor, Septimius Severus.
The story begins when Libertus is summoned by his patron, Marcus Aurelius Septimus, to come to the bath-house to discuss a problem concerning an Imperial Spy, Laurentius Manlius, who's a distant hostile cousin of Marcus Septimus, and who will arrive in Glevum soon to investigate a fraud, and who can be a danger to Marcus Septimus and thus also for Libertus himself.
When the money-changer/lender, Josephus Loftus, is found dead in his bed by the maidservant, Florea, Libertus and his adopted son, Junio, this murder case will become a rollercoaster ride for Libertus in his search for the murderer, and that search will turn very nasty for Libertus as a councillor.
What is to follow is a thrilling mystery where Libertus will need to do everything in his power to prove his innocence, and to prove in the end with an exciting plot the real culprit(s) of all the murders and treason.
Very much recommended, for this is an excellent series where facts and fiction are again superbly intertwined within this mystery, and that's why I like to call this episode: "Another Refreshing Libertus Mystery Experience"!
The Author's Foreword, which you can find at the beginning of the book, is as usual very well researched and explained by the author, and this always turns out to be a great support to this very likeable Roman mystery.
Storytelling from this author is a superb quality, all figures featuring in this Roman mystery, whether they are real historical or great fictional, are very lifelike and believable, while the atmosphere of these turbulent Roman times comes wonderfully off the pages.
This mystery is set in the month of February in the year AD 194, in and around Glevum (Gloucester), and its there where we find our main fictional protagonist, pavement-maker by profession but now a reluctant councillor, Libertus, during the reign of the now acclaimed Emperor, Septimius Severus.
The story begins when Libertus is summoned by his patron, Marcus Aurelius Septimus, to come to the bath-house to discuss a problem concerning an Imperial Spy, Laurentius Manlius, who's a distant hostile cousin of Marcus Septimus, and who will arrive in Glevum soon to investigate a fraud, and who can be a danger to Marcus Septimus and thus also for Libertus himself.
When the money-changer/lender, Josephus Loftus, is found dead in his bed by the maidservant, Florea, Libertus and his adopted son, Junio, this murder case will become a rollercoaster ride for Libertus in his search for the murderer, and that search will turn very nasty for Libertus as a councillor.
What is to follow is a thrilling mystery where Libertus will need to do everything in his power to prove his innocence, and to prove in the end with an exciting plot the real culprit(s) of all the murders and treason.
Very much recommended, for this is an excellent series where facts and fiction are again superbly intertwined within this mystery, and that's why I like to call this episode: "Another Refreshing Libertus Mystery Experience"!
August 2, 2019
Ah there’s nothing like a day or two with Libertus! I really felt for him in this one, getting pulled this way and that by his sponsor Marcus, his slaves, his acquaintances and their slaves.... in this book we see a decapitation- Druid doings?, a very drunk friend-or is he? And a worthless old coin- or is it?
June 30, 2019
I have to keep reminding myself that the stories featuring Libertus in this series are meant to be serious murder mysteries. There is just something about him that makes me smile which may be somewhat inappropriate when the man is being accused of all sorts of things which might result in him being executed. Libertus has been featured in eighteen novels now and I've come to know him quite well. I enjoy these books and look forward to a relaxing time watching Libertus find clues and then interpret them with regard to the crimes he is investigating at the moment. This story has a spy sent from Rome to ferret out treason in Glevum (Gloucester) and an official money changer who dies after a fall in the public baths. This particular investigation proceeds rather slowly, but once it heats up it goes at a full gallop. While the story is moving slowly it is still teaching me all kinds of things about the presence of the Roman Empire in Britannia.
Rosemary Rowe always includes a Foreword to these stories where she gives readers the historical and political setting of the Roman Empire and what impact it was having on Britannia. The daily lives of slaves, freemen, Roman officials, all are portrayed in the story in such detail that I find new situations I had not thought about before. There is a kind of rhythm and flow to these stories that you begin to recognize after a time but I do not find that takes away from my enjoyment. Libertus is a reluctant "purple striper" and his stripe may be rather thin, but his elevation in social standing has given him more scope to investigate crimes of all different sorts. The books don't have to be read in order, but there have been big changes in the life of Libertus and his family so you might want to take that into consideration when deciding where to begin reading this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for an e-Galley of this novel.
Rosemary Rowe always includes a Foreword to these stories where she gives readers the historical and political setting of the Roman Empire and what impact it was having on Britannia. The daily lives of slaves, freemen, Roman officials, all are portrayed in the story in such detail that I find new situations I had not thought about before. There is a kind of rhythm and flow to these stories that you begin to recognize after a time but I do not find that takes away from my enjoyment. Libertus is a reluctant "purple striper" and his stripe may be rather thin, but his elevation in social standing has given him more scope to investigate crimes of all different sorts. The books don't have to be read in order, but there have been big changes in the life of Libertus and his family so you might want to take that into consideration when deciding where to begin reading this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for an e-Galley of this novel.
October 26, 2019
A book that truly takes you to another time and place. It's 3.5 stars but I cannot round it up because the entire middle 100 pages has majority telling slaves and servants direction and task. And then following those tasks. It's not averse to do so, but I thought it was at times truly confusing. Not only in time periods involved either. You need to know about 10 slave names and their relationships to masters and each other. The politics too is difficult because there is so much dress, motion, hierarchy structures going on and you need to learn them all. Toga use and the wideness of the stripe etc.
But the last 40 pages were a full 4 stars and it had an excellent plotting, ending all told.
Some of the characterizations done were excellent and I wish they had more copy after introductions, like the elderly maid slave of one of the first murder victims who had supposedly died from his bath fall. All of the internment processes and ultimate corpse treatment "ends" was also nearly enthralling. Keep your salt and oils handy! Lots of research here was used, and it was appreciated.
This is a series for the cozy whodunit reader who also likes a bunch of historical minutia. The time of Roman dominance and structures of governmental dictate in Britain during this 192 AD period IS immensely interesting. The center from Rome was under constant flux of heads and forms but it was not even close to imploding or even pull backs from the most distant colonies yet.
For me, I am glad I read it but I'm not going to seek any more of these out. If one falls in my lap- I might read it. That does happen- if one ends up on the Library's "new" shelf.
But the last 40 pages were a full 4 stars and it had an excellent plotting, ending all told.
Some of the characterizations done were excellent and I wish they had more copy after introductions, like the elderly maid slave of one of the first murder victims who had supposedly died from his bath fall. All of the internment processes and ultimate corpse treatment "ends" was also nearly enthralling. Keep your salt and oils handy! Lots of research here was used, and it was appreciated.
This is a series for the cozy whodunit reader who also likes a bunch of historical minutia. The time of Roman dominance and structures of governmental dictate in Britain during this 192 AD period IS immensely interesting. The center from Rome was under constant flux of heads and forms but it was not even close to imploding or even pull backs from the most distant colonies yet.
For me, I am glad I read it but I'm not going to seek any more of these out. If one falls in my lap- I might read it. That does happen- if one ends up on the Library's "new" shelf.
July 8, 2019
I've read every one of these books over more years than I care to recall and they are always a delight. How I love Libertus. These days (or in those days) he rarely has time to create the mosaics that have made him such a successful businessman in Roman Gloucester. His patron Marcus is about to get him into all sorts of trouble again. And then there's the matter of the murder of the local money lender to solve.... Although this isn't the best of the series, it's certainly entertaining. This is a comforting world to be returned to. It is also very informative about town life in Roman Britain during the tumultuous years at the end of the 2nd century. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
September 19, 2023
Dangerous times.
There are prosperous times coming for the Libertus family, Junio (Libertus son) has just arranged a contract for a very expensive commision. Just as well as Libertus is now a member of the Curia (local government) and as such a lot of his time is tied up in meetings. Then a man Libertus knows well, dies, he was responsible for the distribution and control of currency in Glenvum (sort of like a bank) . The man had been wanting to talk to Libertus before his death which occurred after a fall at the public bathhouse. Then worse news arrives, a distant relative of Marcus is on his way to Glenvum. Not only do the two men not get on but the man (an ex pretorean guard ) is.on his way to Glenvum on the orders of the new Emperor with orders to investigate rumours of treason among the Glenvum elite...........meaning Marcus and anyone closely associated with him........Libertus will be guilty by association but before he can worry about that he must decide what it is about the "banker's death that bothers him so........
There are prosperous times coming for the Libertus family, Junio (Libertus son) has just arranged a contract for a very expensive commision. Just as well as Libertus is now a member of the Curia (local government) and as such a lot of his time is tied up in meetings. Then a man Libertus knows well, dies, he was responsible for the distribution and control of currency in Glenvum (sort of like a bank) . The man had been wanting to talk to Libertus before his death which occurred after a fall at the public bathhouse. Then worse news arrives, a distant relative of Marcus is on his way to Glenvum. Not only do the two men not get on but the man (an ex pretorean guard ) is.on his way to Glenvum on the orders of the new Emperor with orders to investigate rumours of treason among the Glenvum elite...........meaning Marcus and anyone closely associated with him........Libertus will be guilty by association but before he can worry about that he must decide what it is about the "banker's death that bothers him so........
July 7, 2019
I enjoyed this book very much. I did figure out who was behind the troubles but certainly not why and the way it was woven together was comfortable. Gwellia and Junio had only very minor roles as did the patron. So don’t read it if you want their storylines fleshed out. The conclusion seemed rushed and while it did tie up all the loose ends I would have enjoyed a less rushed longer ending.
July 3, 2019
Tables Are Turned on Libertus — He Is Being Accused
After the author sets the stage for the novel, it starts with Libertus meeting his patron, Marcus Aurelius Septimus in the baths. Marcus was very friendly with Libertus. Marcus had a reason; he needed a favor. In the last novel, Marcus gifted an apartment in town so that Libertus would meet the requirements to become a Councillor. Recently, one of the duumvirs dropped dead, and Libertus is elected. A distant relative of Marcus, an ex-Praetorian and confidant to the new emperor, Septimius Severus, is arriving. Marcus will need to provide housing. Since Marcus gifted the apartment to Libertus, he cannot ask for it back. He has to convince Libertus to offer it. What makes this visit even trickier is that Marcus believes that his cousin is a spy. While at the baths the town’s moneychanger who appears to be a little drunk wants to talk to Libertus. Since the moneychanger when sober tends to talk too much, Libertus tells him that he will talk with him tomorrow and leaves to catch up with Marcus. The next day Libertus visits the moneychanger’s stall in the forum to drop off some money, he discovered that only an assistant present. He learns that the moneychanger fell at the baths, and is at home. Libertus visits the moneychanger but discovers that he is dead in circumstances that appear not to be by natural causes. The novel speeds off from here.
The main storyline has two threads. First is Marcus’s cousin’s visit, and the second is Libertus’s unofficial investigation into the moneychanger’s death. In both threads there are many intriguing twists, turns and several misdirections. My attention was captured quickly and kept me reading so that I finished this novel faster than normal. I particularly liked the ability of the author to keep the tension as she weaved these two storylines together.
There B-storyline is rich with new insights into Libertus’s personality. Marcus had to purchase slaves to staff the borrowed apartment, but technically they belong to Libertus. One of them was a recently captured Dacian warrior that stirs up feelings of Libertus’s own time as a slave. The new slave is proving to be quite helpful, and Libertus needs to navigate his now unhappy slave, Minimus. These B-storylines enriched my reading experience.
There are not any sex scenes or colorful language. The violence is what I call in the third person, which means it is described after the fact. There should not be any objections to any reader for any these. Now, the setting is set near the end of the second century Roman England, so there are a few terms that are not in the Kindle dictionary and required access to the Internet. I do recommend reading this novel on the Kindle for its easy Internet access.
This is the 18th novel in the Libertus series. For me, it has not become stale. I have enjoyed reading this novel as I have reading the previous 17 novels. The downside was minor in that the first two chapters seemed a little slow because of the setting up the start of the novel’s main storylines, but I hooked soon in Chapter Three. Also, if this is the first novel in this series, I believe that you will enjoy reading it as the author provides adequate background to understand the nuances in this novel.
Based upon the above, I rate this novel with five stars. I am looking forward reading the next novel.
I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Severn House with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Severn House for the opportunity to read this novel early.
After the author sets the stage for the novel, it starts with Libertus meeting his patron, Marcus Aurelius Septimus in the baths. Marcus was very friendly with Libertus. Marcus had a reason; he needed a favor. In the last novel, Marcus gifted an apartment in town so that Libertus would meet the requirements to become a Councillor. Recently, one of the duumvirs dropped dead, and Libertus is elected. A distant relative of Marcus, an ex-Praetorian and confidant to the new emperor, Septimius Severus, is arriving. Marcus will need to provide housing. Since Marcus gifted the apartment to Libertus, he cannot ask for it back. He has to convince Libertus to offer it. What makes this visit even trickier is that Marcus believes that his cousin is a spy. While at the baths the town’s moneychanger who appears to be a little drunk wants to talk to Libertus. Since the moneychanger when sober tends to talk too much, Libertus tells him that he will talk with him tomorrow and leaves to catch up with Marcus. The next day Libertus visits the moneychanger’s stall in the forum to drop off some money, he discovered that only an assistant present. He learns that the moneychanger fell at the baths, and is at home. Libertus visits the moneychanger but discovers that he is dead in circumstances that appear not to be by natural causes. The novel speeds off from here.
The main storyline has two threads. First is Marcus’s cousin’s visit, and the second is Libertus’s unofficial investigation into the moneychanger’s death. In both threads there are many intriguing twists, turns and several misdirections. My attention was captured quickly and kept me reading so that I finished this novel faster than normal. I particularly liked the ability of the author to keep the tension as she weaved these two storylines together.
There B-storyline is rich with new insights into Libertus’s personality. Marcus had to purchase slaves to staff the borrowed apartment, but technically they belong to Libertus. One of them was a recently captured Dacian warrior that stirs up feelings of Libertus’s own time as a slave. The new slave is proving to be quite helpful, and Libertus needs to navigate his now unhappy slave, Minimus. These B-storylines enriched my reading experience.
There are not any sex scenes or colorful language. The violence is what I call in the third person, which means it is described after the fact. There should not be any objections to any reader for any these. Now, the setting is set near the end of the second century Roman England, so there are a few terms that are not in the Kindle dictionary and required access to the Internet. I do recommend reading this novel on the Kindle for its easy Internet access.
This is the 18th novel in the Libertus series. For me, it has not become stale. I have enjoyed reading this novel as I have reading the previous 17 novels. The downside was minor in that the first two chapters seemed a little slow because of the setting up the start of the novel’s main storylines, but I hooked soon in Chapter Three. Also, if this is the first novel in this series, I believe that you will enjoy reading it as the author provides adequate background to understand the nuances in this novel.
Based upon the above, I rate this novel with five stars. I am looking forward reading the next novel.
I have received a free kindle version of this novel through NetGalley from Severn House with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Severn House for the opportunity to read this novel early.
May 25, 2019
#AprisonerOfPrivilege #NetGalley I received this ARC from NetGalley and Severn House for an honest review. I gave it 4.5 stars rounded to 5 and enjoyed it a lot. There are times when Libertus' adventures are a bit too much for me, but this time I was happily surprised.
Libertus was being a normal Roman official ( Born a Celt) as duumvir for Glevum and not trying to do anything extraordinary. A series of deaths and the insistence by his patron, Marcus, inserts him in the middle of the "who is the spy" mystery.
Since most of the story takes place between his roundhouse and the town apartment at his disposal, I had a good taste of Roman British life. Rosemary Rowe, the author has a fine foreword where she describes the living situations and the current political situation in Rome. In 194 AD Britannia was still being rocked but a succession of rulers, each one being deposed or killed.Suspicion was rife and it was every man for himself.
A murder of the official sent to spy on the city occurs in Libertus townhouse and he discovers it. A sort of odd ingestion of a poison renders him almost unable to defend himself, but finally recovers and the ending is quite satisfactory.
A fun series in my favorite Roman Britain, preorder yours now and start reading earlier volumes.
Libertus was being a normal Roman official ( Born a Celt) as duumvir for Glevum and not trying to do anything extraordinary. A series of deaths and the insistence by his patron, Marcus, inserts him in the middle of the "who is the spy" mystery.
Since most of the story takes place between his roundhouse and the town apartment at his disposal, I had a good taste of Roman British life. Rosemary Rowe, the author has a fine foreword where she describes the living situations and the current political situation in Rome. In 194 AD Britannia was still being rocked but a succession of rulers, each one being deposed or killed.Suspicion was rife and it was every man for himself.
A murder of the official sent to spy on the city occurs in Libertus townhouse and he discovers it. A sort of odd ingestion of a poison renders him almost unable to defend himself, but finally recovers and the ending is quite satisfactory.
A fun series in my favorite Roman Britain, preorder yours now and start reading earlier volumes.
May 29, 2019
The arrival of a new book in the Rosemary Rowe series is joy. The character of Libertus has been with us for 18 books in total now and doesn't show any signs of being ready to put his feet up. Rosemary's writing continues to be fresh and the situations are entirely plausible. One of the great joys of her book is the richness of vocabulary used being descriptive and more varied than much modern writing. Before the story starts there is always an introduction to the happenings that are relevant to the story giving the real context within Roman Britain, that the books contain facts from many sources is not evident as the author wears her learning lightly.
The tale this time involves the untimely death of the money-lender and the nervously awaited arrival of a spy from Rome. The mystery of various apparently unconnected deaths are pieced together by Libertus aided and hindered by an interesting cast of other characters old and new.
These stories are eagerly devoured by me and I await the next instalment and I've only just finished this one!!
#AprisonerOfPrivilege #NetGalley
The tale this time involves the untimely death of the money-lender and the nervously awaited arrival of a spy from Rome. The mystery of various apparently unconnected deaths are pieced together by Libertus aided and hindered by an interesting cast of other characters old and new.
These stories are eagerly devoured by me and I await the next instalment and I've only just finished this one!!
#AprisonerOfPrivilege #NetGalley
June 17, 2019
This is an impeccably well-researched and nicely-written tale, the eighteenth in the Libertus series.
Set in Gloucester, AD194, at a time of great upheaval, it is a story of murders and deceit played out amid the uncertainty as to which of the claimants to the Imperial throne would emerge victorious from the Year of the Five Emperors.
Rosemary Rowe cleverly avoids being part of the “bleeding chunks of information” school of historical novel writing, by penning an interesting and illuminating Foreword which outlines all that the reader needs to know by way of background.
This story is strong on character, but again, weak in plotting. Nothing much seems to happen, until the last quarter of the book and the revelatory final chapters. Libertus does not really investigate, but rather, blunders into a solution which, I am afraid to say, is all-too-glaringly-obvious to seasoned mystery readers.
Easy to read, and entertaining enough, but not very “mysterious”.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for the digital ARC.
Set in Gloucester, AD194, at a time of great upheaval, it is a story of murders and deceit played out amid the uncertainty as to which of the claimants to the Imperial throne would emerge victorious from the Year of the Five Emperors.
Rosemary Rowe cleverly avoids being part of the “bleeding chunks of information” school of historical novel writing, by penning an interesting and illuminating Foreword which outlines all that the reader needs to know by way of background.
This story is strong on character, but again, weak in plotting. Nothing much seems to happen, until the last quarter of the book and the revelatory final chapters. Libertus does not really investigate, but rather, blunders into a solution which, I am afraid to say, is all-too-glaringly-obvious to seasoned mystery readers.
Easy to read, and entertaining enough, but not very “mysterious”.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for the digital ARC.
June 19, 2019
Death of a spy
Libertus, ex-slave, retired pavement maker, now duumvir (joint mayor) of Glevum, finds himself in a lot of trouble when he realises that the death of a money lender, is not natural as others believe, but murder. Throw in the representative of a new emperor, counterfeit coinage, a number of dubious Celtic businessmen and a missing doctor and there are all the ingredients for one of Rosemary Rowe’s intricate, clever and involving mysteries.
I have never read a dud in this long series; the author’s inventiveness seems inexhaustible. Add the gritty and dangerous authenticity of the Romano-British setting. The final chapters, as Libertus attempts to argue for his own life, weakened by drugs and with the odds and evidence firmly stacked against him, are a real tour-de-force. Highly recommended once again!
Libertus, ex-slave, retired pavement maker, now duumvir (joint mayor) of Glevum, finds himself in a lot of trouble when he realises that the death of a money lender, is not natural as others believe, but murder. Throw in the representative of a new emperor, counterfeit coinage, a number of dubious Celtic businessmen and a missing doctor and there are all the ingredients for one of Rosemary Rowe’s intricate, clever and involving mysteries.
I have never read a dud in this long series; the author’s inventiveness seems inexhaustible. Add the gritty and dangerous authenticity of the Romano-British setting. The final chapters, as Libertus attempts to argue for his own life, weakened by drugs and with the odds and evidence firmly stacked against him, are a real tour-de-force. Highly recommended once again!
September 2, 2019
It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
I found this book engrossing and entertaining.
I liked the well researched historical background, the fleshed out cast of characters and the mystery that kept me guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I found this book engrossing and entertaining.
I liked the well researched historical background, the fleshed out cast of characters and the mystery that kept me guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
April 18, 2020
Libertus once again bumbles his way to solving the mystery. I enjoy the supporting characters in this series but it would be nice if Rowe would allow Libertus to use his intellect and not bumble around quite so much.
October 1, 2020
Satisfying as always
Constant accumulation of clues,building to the final surprise, making me feel foolish and clever as a certain pavement maker, although he rarely gets to ply his art any more.
Constant accumulation of clues,building to the final surprise, making me feel foolish and clever as a certain pavement maker, although he rarely gets to ply his art any more.
October 13, 2022
Libertus investigates the death of the local money-changer. Eventually, the author resorts to the old trick of putting the protagonist at risk, which drops the suspense level to zero. It seems that she might have run out of ideas for this series.
December 1, 2023
Another great mystery of Libertus in Roman Britain - another one where he ends up suspected of the very crimes (including murders) he is trying to solve - including that of a representative of the emperor himself (now Septimius Severus) . . .
May 14, 2020
We return to the life of Libertus now a local councillor the duumvir in the time of Ancient Rome CE 194. His patron Marcus Septimus has a distant cousin journeying from Rome to check on recent reports of treason to Emperor Severus and requires Libertus to give up his home for him. Libertus is pulled into the centre of this investigation by the death of his friend the local money lender. There are many twists and turns in this complex plot and Libertus finds his usual wits are missing when he is arrested for the murder of the Emperor’s spy Laurentius. There is plenty of background in this story delving into the workings of trades in these times and you will be drawn into this ancient world with pleasure.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and the publisher of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and the publisher of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2019
194 AD and Libertus is summoned by his patron, Marous Aurelius Setimus, to a meeting in the public baths. He informs Libertus that a distant cousin, ex-Praetoriar, and presumed spy will soon be arriving in Glevum to investigate reports of treason. While at the baths, the money changer, Josephus Loftus wished to speak to Libertus. But before they can arrange a meeting Josephus is found dead. Libertus decides to investigate but it would seem that the guilty party is more intelligent that he thought, and Libertus makes a serious mistake.
An engaging well-written story, which although the 18th in the series I found it easy enough to read as a standalone story. It was quite a slow paced novel, and so it took awhile before I became involved in the story.
A NetGalley Book
An engaging well-written story, which although the 18th in the series I found it easy enough to read as a standalone story. It was quite a slow paced novel, and so it took awhile before I became involved in the story.
A NetGalley Book
February 23, 2021
How can I read and rate a book that is not in Kindle format? I tried contacting the publisher about this but their contact emails were bogus. This is the only one in the series which is not being sold in Kindle format.
September 14, 2019
Wow!
This time, Rosemary Rose you have written a masterpiece of a story for Libertius. I cannot wait for your next story to see what next is in store for Libertius.
This time, Rosemary Rose you have written a masterpiece of a story for Libertius. I cannot wait for your next story to see what next is in store for Libertius.
May 7, 2019
This is my first book by the Author and after reading this one will not be my last .
The Author brings to light the sights , sounds and politics of the era to the fore ……… the worldbuilding and characters are first class.
Libertus , previously a pavement maker, now a reluctant Councillor is drawn once again into the world of his 'patron' Marcus Septimus . Marcus is concerned that Rome has sent a spy to Glevum………… a distant cousin , in the employ of Emperor Serverus and tasks Libertus with finding out the truth .
Libertus has his own problems however , a local money lender is found dead just before they are due to meet .
He soon finds himself embroiled in fighting for the truth as he is soon accused of murder and treason …. will his new rank hinder his fight and will Marcus Septimus give him time to find out the truth regarding the spy ?
The twists and turns of the various plots mean the Libertus' life is at stake unless he can he can find out who is behind everthing…………. will Marcus Septimus stand for him , will he be able to with his own problems ?.
I found the complex but fast paced story drew me into Libertus' world - the perils and the benefits of a high ranking patron can be a drawback to a peaceful life .
I will be reading more books set in this world by the Author as soon as possible .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
The Author brings to light the sights , sounds and politics of the era to the fore ……… the worldbuilding and characters are first class.
Libertus , previously a pavement maker, now a reluctant Councillor is drawn once again into the world of his 'patron' Marcus Septimus . Marcus is concerned that Rome has sent a spy to Glevum………… a distant cousin , in the employ of Emperor Serverus and tasks Libertus with finding out the truth .
Libertus has his own problems however , a local money lender is found dead just before they are due to meet .
He soon finds himself embroiled in fighting for the truth as he is soon accused of murder and treason …. will his new rank hinder his fight and will Marcus Septimus give him time to find out the truth regarding the spy ?
The twists and turns of the various plots mean the Libertus' life is at stake unless he can he can find out who is behind everthing…………. will Marcus Septimus stand for him , will he be able to with his own problems ?.
I found the complex but fast paced story drew me into Libertus' world - the perils and the benefits of a high ranking patron can be a drawback to a peaceful life .
I will be reading more books set in this world by the Author as soon as possible .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
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