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The Return
145BC - CALABRIA, ANCIENT ROME.
After years of spilling blood for Rome, Gaius Furius Paullus has returned home to spend his remaining days working quietly on the family farm.
But it seems death has stalked Paullus from the battlefield. Just days after his arrival, bodies start appearing - murdered and mutilated. And as the deaths stack up, and panic spreads, the war hero becomes the prime suspect. After all, Paullus has killed countless enemies on the battlefield - could he have brought his habit home with him?
With the psychological effects of combat clouding every thought, Paullus must use all his soldier's instincts to hunt the real killer. Because if they are not brought to justice soon, he may become the next victim.
After years of spilling blood for Rome, Gaius Furius Paullus has returned home to spend his remaining days working quietly on the family farm.
But it seems death has stalked Paullus from the battlefield. Just days after his arrival, bodies start appearing - murdered and mutilated. And as the deaths stack up, and panic spreads, the war hero becomes the prime suspect. After all, Paullus has killed countless enemies on the battlefield - could he have brought his habit home with him?
With the psychological effects of combat clouding every thought, Paullus must use all his soldier's instincts to hunt the real killer. Because if they are not brought to justice soon, he may become the next victim.
300 pages, Paperback
Published December 4, 2020
98 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
Harry Sidebottom
40 books517 followersHarry Sidebottom is Lecturer in Ancient History at Merton College, Oxford, and part-time lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick. He has written for and contributed to many publications, including Classical Review, Journal of Roman Studies, and War and Society in the Roman World.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
January 26, 2024
3,5*
145 a. C., Calabria. Cayo Furio Paulo regresa convertido en héroe a su ciudad natal, Temesa, tras duros años de guerra defendiendo el buen nombre de Roma. Pero parece que un presagio de muerte sigue acechando su destino: pocos días después de su regreso, aparece el cuerpo descuartizado de un vecino, y Paulo se convertirá en el principal sospechoso del asesinato. Paulo tendrá que deshacerse de sus fantasmas personales si quiere dar con el asesino y limpiar su nombre. Porque sabe que es solo cuestión de tiempo antes de que se convierta en el próximo objetivo.
Thriller histórico inspirado en la obra "Bruto"(85-88), de Cicerón, en el que se hace mención a una serie de asesinatos ocurridos en los angostos bosques de La Sila (Temesa), ambientado en la peligrosa y salvaje región de Calabria (a cuyos habitantes los romanos conocían como Brucios y que “obligaron” a luchar con ellos contra Anibal y en la toma de Corinto contra los Aqueos) en plena expansión del Imperio Romano.
El autor era para mi todo un desconocido, Harry Sidebottom, doctor en Historia y profesor de Historia Clásica en la Universidad de Oxford. Experto en historia militar, arte clásico e historia cultural del Imperio Romano, sus series de novela histórica, como su trilogía "El trono del César” (pendiente de lectura por mi parte) se han publicado en más de quince países, convirtiéndose en auténticos fenómenos internacionales.
La novela explora la vuelta al hogar de un soldado (Paulo, el protagonista de la trama principal) que se ve inmerso en una serie de asesinatos de lo más macabros y cuyos habitantes de su pueblo natal atribuyen a un ser sobrenatural y que está muy integrado en la mente de todos ellos.
El libro se desarrolla entre la trama principal en el momento presente (145 a.C.) y continuos flashbacks en los que Paulo recuerda sus hazañas junto al centurión Nevio. La narrativa es bastante ligera, para nada densa ni repleta de datos históricos (para eso ya tenemos a nuestro querido Posteguillo), sino que se para más en describir cómo era la vida en la zona rural de Temesa (en la actual Calabria, como ya he indicado) y en la construcción de los personajes, que sin ser demasiado complejos nos dan una visión muy precisa de cómo se desarrollaba la vida de la sociedad romana de la época fuera de la ciudad de Roma, en un entorno rural en el que se vivía de la agricultura y la ganadería. Además la trama de los asesinatos está muy bien hilada y mantiene el suspense y el interés en todo momento, hasta que al final se cierran todas las tramas o subtramas que van surgiendo a lo largo de la narración.
Lo mejor es que la novela es corta, no pasa de las 400 páginas, es de lectura ágil y tiene un gran rigor histórico, quizá para los más instruidos en la historia de la Roma de esa época se pueda quedar un poco corta en cuanto a datos históricos y profundidad de la trama, pero aún así es un libro muy recomendable para los amantes del thriller histórico ambientado en el Imperio Romano.
Sin duda me apunto la trilogía “El trono del César” para futuras lecturas, he leído muy buenas críticas de los tres libros.
145 a. C., Calabria. Cayo Furio Paulo regresa convertido en héroe a su ciudad natal, Temesa, tras duros años de guerra defendiendo el buen nombre de Roma. Pero parece que un presagio de muerte sigue acechando su destino: pocos días después de su regreso, aparece el cuerpo descuartizado de un vecino, y Paulo se convertirá en el principal sospechoso del asesinato. Paulo tendrá que deshacerse de sus fantasmas personales si quiere dar con el asesino y limpiar su nombre. Porque sabe que es solo cuestión de tiempo antes de que se convierta en el próximo objetivo.
Thriller histórico inspirado en la obra "Bruto"(85-88), de Cicerón, en el que se hace mención a una serie de asesinatos ocurridos en los angostos bosques de La Sila (Temesa), ambientado en la peligrosa y salvaje región de Calabria (a cuyos habitantes los romanos conocían como Brucios y que “obligaron” a luchar con ellos contra Anibal y en la toma de Corinto contra los Aqueos) en plena expansión del Imperio Romano.
El autor era para mi todo un desconocido, Harry Sidebottom, doctor en Historia y profesor de Historia Clásica en la Universidad de Oxford. Experto en historia militar, arte clásico e historia cultural del Imperio Romano, sus series de novela histórica, como su trilogía "El trono del César” (pendiente de lectura por mi parte) se han publicado en más de quince países, convirtiéndose en auténticos fenómenos internacionales.
La novela explora la vuelta al hogar de un soldado (Paulo, el protagonista de la trama principal) que se ve inmerso en una serie de asesinatos de lo más macabros y cuyos habitantes de su pueblo natal atribuyen a un ser sobrenatural y que está muy integrado en la mente de todos ellos.
El libro se desarrolla entre la trama principal en el momento presente (145 a.C.) y continuos flashbacks en los que Paulo recuerda sus hazañas junto al centurión Nevio. La narrativa es bastante ligera, para nada densa ni repleta de datos históricos (para eso ya tenemos a nuestro querido Posteguillo), sino que se para más en describir cómo era la vida en la zona rural de Temesa (en la actual Calabria, como ya he indicado) y en la construcción de los personajes, que sin ser demasiado complejos nos dan una visión muy precisa de cómo se desarrollaba la vida de la sociedad romana de la época fuera de la ciudad de Roma, en un entorno rural en el que se vivía de la agricultura y la ganadería. Además la trama de los asesinatos está muy bien hilada y mantiene el suspense y el interés en todo momento, hasta que al final se cierran todas las tramas o subtramas que van surgiendo a lo largo de la narración.
Lo mejor es que la novela es corta, no pasa de las 400 páginas, es de lectura ágil y tiene un gran rigor histórico, quizá para los más instruidos en la historia de la Roma de esa época se pueda quedar un poco corta en cuanto a datos históricos y profundidad de la trama, pero aún así es un libro muy recomendable para los amantes del thriller histórico ambientado en el Imperio Romano.
Sin duda me apunto la trilogía “El trono del César” para futuras lecturas, he leído muy buenas críticas de los tres libros.
December 19, 2020
This new book from the lecturer/author, Harry Sidebottom, is according to the author written as a new kind of genre, a novel and murder mystery together.
In comparison to the "Warrior of Rome" and the "Throne of the Caesars" series, this book is in my opinion inferior and less grand than those series mentioned.
In those series political intrigue and assassination attempts are afloat, at court and on the battlefields, and they are brought to us in a terrific fashion, accompanied with very well documented historical details.
Now to come back to my review of this book, I like to say that storytelling is of a very good quality, the characters are all very lifelike, and the atmosphere and surroundings of Temesa, Calabria, in Republican Rome, and the battlefields against Corinth and the Achaean League are all very well pictured.
At the beginning of the book you'll a well-drawn map of Rome and its surrounding areas around 146 BC, as well as a verse from Aeschylus, while at the back you'll notice an afterword with some interestinf explanations of terms.
The book is set as from 147 BC until 142 BC, with the main part taking place in 145 BC, while the years 147 and 146 BC are being used for Paullus's flashbacks of the war against Corinth and about what happened at the last house there with his childhood friend, Alcimus.
What follows is a murder mystery intertwined with Gaius Furius Paullus's flashbacks, so when he arrives back in his home town of Temesa with the civic crown and riches, he's confronted at first with a feigned friendship by the citizens of Temesa, but that will into animosity and finally into hatred, so much so that they will frame him of murders he did not commit, but at the end with the help from unexpected sources and from loyal military comrades combined with a well executed plot, the perpetrators will be caught, tried or killed themselves.
Really recommended to all who like an easy Roman read with murder and mayhem in Republican Rome, and to encourage you all reading this thrilling adventure, I like to call it: "A Very Enjoyable Republican Roman Read"!
In comparison to the "Warrior of Rome" and the "Throne of the Caesars" series, this book is in my opinion inferior and less grand than those series mentioned.
In those series political intrigue and assassination attempts are afloat, at court and on the battlefields, and they are brought to us in a terrific fashion, accompanied with very well documented historical details.
Now to come back to my review of this book, I like to say that storytelling is of a very good quality, the characters are all very lifelike, and the atmosphere and surroundings of Temesa, Calabria, in Republican Rome, and the battlefields against Corinth and the Achaean League are all very well pictured.
At the beginning of the book you'll a well-drawn map of Rome and its surrounding areas around 146 BC, as well as a verse from Aeschylus, while at the back you'll notice an afterword with some interestinf explanations of terms.
The book is set as from 147 BC until 142 BC, with the main part taking place in 145 BC, while the years 147 and 146 BC are being used for Paullus's flashbacks of the war against Corinth and about what happened at the last house there with his childhood friend, Alcimus.
What follows is a murder mystery intertwined with Gaius Furius Paullus's flashbacks, so when he arrives back in his home town of Temesa with the civic crown and riches, he's confronted at first with a feigned friendship by the citizens of Temesa, but that will into animosity and finally into hatred, so much so that they will frame him of murders he did not commit, but at the end with the help from unexpected sources and from loyal military comrades combined with a well executed plot, the perpetrators will be caught, tried or killed themselves.
Really recommended to all who like an easy Roman read with murder and mayhem in Republican Rome, and to encourage you all reading this thrilling adventure, I like to call it: "A Very Enjoyable Republican Roman Read"!
June 29, 2020
The Return is a bit of a change of setting for Harry Sidebottom, whose previous novels have all been set in the third century AD. This time we’re in the mid-second century BC during the mid Republic following the ex-soldier Paullus who’s returning home from the sack of Corinth.
Paullus is a surprisingly decent man given Sidebottom’s usual character types. But then, Paullus is carrying a lot of baggage. We’ve all seen this before, the war-weary veteran trying to put his past behind him to live a life of peace only to be forced into conflict and confronting his inner daemons. Heck, it’s pretty much any Western gunslinger. But what makes it fresh is the setting. A war-weary Roman veteran with PTSD is a heck of a lot different from the stereotypical Confederate or modern version. For one thing, Roman religion doesn’t really have the same sense of sin and forgiveness Christian (or Christian-derived) cultures take for granted. So instead Paullus is consumed with a sense of religious pollution and his guilt takes the form of hallucinations of the Furies following him around.
I’ve said it before, but historical fiction is a very conservative genre. And one of the things I most appreciate about Sidebottom is the way he branches out into different genres. Most novels in the Classical Era follow one of the same sorts of story: grand political/military narrative following some famous general or emperor, a personal grunts-up military memoir, or a quaint old English murder mystery.
Oh yeah, this book’s also a murder mystery.
But don’t hold that against it. It’s a very different sort from the type of mysteries we usually get. Instead of a Hercules Poero using established inductive reasoning or a Brus Vain inventing an entire CSI lab, we get more of a Curtius Vallander (at most). Someone who really relies on dogged determination to get the job done. By sticking to what was plausible for the time we get to keep that same sense of gritty realism while still engaging with the whodunnit.
That said, I can see why historical mysteries adopt so many modern techniques. It’s hard to build up interest in an investigation when the only approach people can think of is to pick likely suspects and torture them until they talk. Although I don’t think that’s the only problem the mystery has. The sense of escalating tension and murderous atmosphere just isn’t there. Individual scenes work fine, and the combat scenes feel dangerous, but the overall tone just doesn’t make the story feel important enough. Sometimes the murder seemed almost an afterthought to the account of life on a Roman farm.
And, well, I’m not usually very good with solving mysteries but I thought the purpose and identity of the killers was pretty obvious from early on. In fact, I thought the answer was so obvious it had to be misdirection. But nope. Perhaps it’s because I’m familiar with the historiography of the era? But one particular comment 2/3 of the way in seemed to practically scream the answer. Especially since we’re not given a great number of other clues or misdirection. I suppose I should state in fairness that the style he claims to be aiming for is Scandi Noir, which has never been my favorite kind. Perhaps others can judge whether the mystery’s satisfying for fans of that genre.
At the same time, the PTSD aspect doesn’t really provide a fitting mystery either. We’re meant to wonder what’s left Paullus so haunted that he keeps hallucinating the Furies hunting him. Yet when three friends go off looting and only one returns guilty and scared (our first flashback chapter) it’s pretty obvious what happened. The flashbacks leading to the “big reveal” are pretty clearly just put in there so we can see the campaign leading to the sack of Corinth. I don’t have a problem with that at all in theory, but as an emotional climax it proves not very satisfying. I feel it would have worked better if it hadn’t been building up to some grand (obvious) twist. On the other hand, the actual resolution of his PTSD is rather more rewarding and makes up for the somewhat prosaic mystery. If nothing else, It gives Paullus’ story a satisfying conclusion.
I guess basically I feel like this book tries to explore too much and not all the elements work together satisfactorily. As expected, it’s incredibly researched and the world is well realized. I like seeing Sidebottom tackle a new era, particularly one that’s rarely seen. The description of life in the mid Republic felt very plausible. I won’t say I’m ecstatic about any of the characters, although Paullus and some of the bandits have their moments. It’s a book worth reading both for what it does and what it tries to do. But I didn’t feel it ever quite worked up to the potential it displayed.
Paullus is a surprisingly decent man given Sidebottom’s usual character types. But then, Paullus is carrying a lot of baggage. We’ve all seen this before, the war-weary veteran trying to put his past behind him to live a life of peace only to be forced into conflict and confronting his inner daemons. Heck, it’s pretty much any Western gunslinger. But what makes it fresh is the setting. A war-weary Roman veteran with PTSD is a heck of a lot different from the stereotypical Confederate or modern version. For one thing, Roman religion doesn’t really have the same sense of sin and forgiveness Christian (or Christian-derived) cultures take for granted. So instead Paullus is consumed with a sense of religious pollution and his guilt takes the form of hallucinations of the Furies following him around.
I’ve said it before, but historical fiction is a very conservative genre. And one of the things I most appreciate about Sidebottom is the way he branches out into different genres. Most novels in the Classical Era follow one of the same sorts of story: grand political/military narrative following some famous general or emperor, a personal grunts-up military memoir, or a quaint old English murder mystery.
Oh yeah, this book’s also a murder mystery.
But don’t hold that against it. It’s a very different sort from the type of mysteries we usually get. Instead of a Hercules Poero using established inductive reasoning or a Brus Vain inventing an entire CSI lab, we get more of a Curtius Vallander (at most). Someone who really relies on dogged determination to get the job done. By sticking to what was plausible for the time we get to keep that same sense of gritty realism while still engaging with the whodunnit.
That said, I can see why historical mysteries adopt so many modern techniques. It’s hard to build up interest in an investigation when the only approach people can think of is to pick likely suspects and torture them until they talk. Although I don’t think that’s the only problem the mystery has. The sense of escalating tension and murderous atmosphere just isn’t there. Individual scenes work fine, and the combat scenes feel dangerous, but the overall tone just doesn’t make the story feel important enough. Sometimes the murder seemed almost an afterthought to the account of life on a Roman farm.
And, well, I’m not usually very good with solving mysteries but I thought the purpose and identity of the killers was pretty obvious from early on. In fact, I thought the answer was so obvious it had to be misdirection. But nope. Perhaps it’s because I’m familiar with the historiography of the era? But one particular comment 2/3 of the way in seemed to practically scream the answer. Especially since we’re not given a great number of other clues or misdirection. I suppose I should state in fairness that the style he claims to be aiming for is Scandi Noir, which has never been my favorite kind. Perhaps others can judge whether the mystery’s satisfying for fans of that genre.
At the same time, the PTSD aspect doesn’t really provide a fitting mystery either. We’re meant to wonder what’s left Paullus so haunted that he keeps hallucinating the Furies hunting him. Yet when three friends go off looting and only one returns guilty and scared (our first flashback chapter) it’s pretty obvious what happened. The flashbacks leading to the “big reveal” are pretty clearly just put in there so we can see the campaign leading to the sack of Corinth. I don’t have a problem with that at all in theory, but as an emotional climax it proves not very satisfying. I feel it would have worked better if it hadn’t been building up to some grand (obvious) twist. On the other hand, the actual resolution of his PTSD is rather more rewarding and makes up for the somewhat prosaic mystery. If nothing else, It gives Paullus’ story a satisfying conclusion.
I guess basically I feel like this book tries to explore too much and not all the elements work together satisfactorily. As expected, it’s incredibly researched and the world is well realized. I like seeing Sidebottom tackle a new era, particularly one that’s rarely seen. The description of life in the mid Republic felt very plausible. I won’t say I’m ecstatic about any of the characters, although Paullus and some of the bandits have their moments. It’s a book worth reading both for what it does and what it tries to do. But I didn’t feel it ever quite worked up to the potential it displayed.
June 25, 2020
THE RETURN is the skillfully and knowledgeably written tale of a legion veteran who returns from Rome’s 145 BC war in Greece to his rural hometown in southern Italy. Haunted by some terrible event in the Roman army’s pillage of Corinth, Gaius Paullus resolves to mind his own business while farming his family land. However, as a local celebrity by virtue of having earned a corona civica for saving his senior officer’s life, he is pressed to investigate when several local men are found gruesomely murdered. To complicate matters, some townspeople suspect the killer of being a villainous local ghost they call the Hero.
In choosing this unusual time period and location for THE RETURN, author Harry Sidebottom demonstrates that he really knows his stuff. Most interesting of all, I think, is his depiction of the social stress as small Italian farmsteads are increasingly bought up by wealthy landowners (which will lead to vast latifundia worked by hundreds of slaves). Eventually Paullus does find out whodunit, and we find out what traumatized him in Corinth. This short novel is very well told, and is strongly recommended.
In choosing this unusual time period and location for THE RETURN, author Harry Sidebottom demonstrates that he really knows his stuff. Most interesting of all, I think, is his depiction of the social stress as small Italian farmsteads are increasingly bought up by wealthy landowners (which will lead to vast latifundia worked by hundreds of slaves). Eventually Paullus does find out whodunit, and we find out what traumatized him in Corinth. This short novel is very well told, and is strongly recommended.
March 30, 2020
This is one of those books that really takes your mind off our troubles. A thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery sent in the early Roman world - the mid 2nd century BC. It contains all of the military action and detail you'd expect from this fabulous author but this time he's thrown a mystery in the mix, which is very entertaining and macabre. Excellent! Review to follow closer to publication date on For Winter Nights.
June 14, 2021
Another good, expertly researched historical novel from Harry Sidebottom, this time a mystery thriller stand alone from his usual novels settings. The main character, Paullus, is a young Roman legionary returning from war with obvious psychological trauma from his experiences. He returns to work his family farm, and is thrust into a murder mystery. The mystery involves the bizarre murders of local landowners, feared to be the work of some mythological beast living in the forest. The book explores a lot of the big themes, like naked imperialism and war and veterans PTSD, while playing out suspenseful and engaging individual stories. A big focus on the individual experiences in soldier life, ancient warfare, and the horrors of a city sacking. Violence and the memory of it plays a large role in the story. What I like the most is how the author organized the chapters, evenly splitting the story between the current time frame with the mystery, and flashbacks to war one year before. The pulse, or that feeling of immersion in ancient daily life, is very present in Harry’s novels. You’re reminded of it constantly by his attention to every detail, even ancient farming methods. There is no limit to the usual action despite the slight change in story genre. A bore hunt with a pack of dogs, and a flashback of personal memories of a pitched battle from a year before are some of the best action highlights.
August 27, 2023
4.25 stars
October 25, 2020
At a superficial level, this is a Roman murder mystery, but there is a lot more to it than that.
Veteran Paullus has returned from fighting for Rome and has taken up work on returning his family farm to its former glory. It’s 146 BC and Paullus has returned from the horrors of the Achaean war and the sack of Corinth to find horrors at home too with a number of brutal murders. He must use all his skills before he becomes the next victim.
There is a lot in this, obviously a good historical mystery, but also how the experience of war can change people. Paullus is a damaged character, he has brought back secrets with him and wants to forget his bloody past. But these are superstitious times. What makes this come alive is the setting and the glimpse of small town Roman life. The slaves, the privileged Romans and the resentful displaced locals and of course the hard daily life of those times. They all provide the perfect backdrop to our returning soldier swapping the horrors of war for the horrors that can be found at home.
The author holds back on “forcing” history down the reader’s throat, here the history becomes a living thing that wraps itself around the story.
Enjoyed this a lot.
Veteran Paullus has returned from fighting for Rome and has taken up work on returning his family farm to its former glory. It’s 146 BC and Paullus has returned from the horrors of the Achaean war and the sack of Corinth to find horrors at home too with a number of brutal murders. He must use all his skills before he becomes the next victim.
There is a lot in this, obviously a good historical mystery, but also how the experience of war can change people. Paullus is a damaged character, he has brought back secrets with him and wants to forget his bloody past. But these are superstitious times. What makes this come alive is the setting and the glimpse of small town Roman life. The slaves, the privileged Romans and the resentful displaced locals and of course the hard daily life of those times. They all provide the perfect backdrop to our returning soldier swapping the horrors of war for the horrors that can be found at home.
The author holds back on “forcing” history down the reader’s throat, here the history becomes a living thing that wraps itself around the story.
Enjoyed this a lot.
January 7, 2021
This is set primarily in the Calabrian region of Southern Italy to where Gaius Furius Paullus returns in 146BC after heroic service in the Legion culminating in the sack of Corinth. In Calabria, ritualised murders upset the locals and haunt Paullus who is carrying a secret from Corinth (although when revealed that secret seems quite underwhelming). With suspicion attached to Paullus he must uncover the killers. It's more about contemporary life and times and Paullus’ battlefield experiences than the uncovering of the fairly obvious perpetrators but it's still an immersive, entertaining and non-anachronistic read.
June 20, 2020
A murder mystery at its best.
Well where do we start, Agatha Christie it is not, (thank heavens) The return is a great Murder Mystery in the vain of Ed McBain . Pallinus returns from the Greek war and the sack of Corinth to find that his neighbours are being murdered in a vicious way. He also has to face his past of the brutality of war and the guilt held by soldiers who survive when their comrades perish. Keep them commonly Mr Sidebottom.
Well where do we start, Agatha Christie it is not, (thank heavens) The return is a great Murder Mystery in the vain of Ed McBain . Pallinus returns from the Greek war and the sack of Corinth to find that his neighbours are being murdered in a vicious way. He also has to face his past of the brutality of war and the guilt held by soldiers who survive when their comrades perish. Keep them commonly Mr Sidebottom.
December 7, 2021
Rating of 4.5.
Bestselling historical fiction author Harry Sidebottom takes you on a dark and compelling adventure into the mind of a haunted Roman soldier as he returns home only to find more death waiting for him with, The Return.
Harry Sidebottom is an impressive author specialising in exciting and detailed Roman historical fiction novels, whose work I have been enjoying for years. Sidebottom has so far written two amazing series, the Warrior of Rome series, which followed a barbarian turned Roman general, Ballista, as he attempts to survive the machinations and wars of the Empire, and The Throne of the Caesar’s novels that examined some of the more obscure and chaotic Roman Emperors. In recent years Sidebottom has started experimenting with some compelling standalone novels. The first of these, The Last Hour, brought back Ballista and set him on a fast-paced adventure through Rome in a manner reminiscent of the television series 24. His next novel The Lost Ten, featured a group of 10 mis-matched Roman soldiers who are sent on an infiltration mission into enemy territory to break a high value target out of prison. His third standalone novel was The Return, which came out last year. I read it a little while ago and failed to provide a timely review for it. However, as Sidebottom’s latest novel, The Burning Road, has just been released, I thought I would take this opportunity to quickly review The Return so I have a clean slate when I get my hands on a copy of his latest book.
The Return was an intriguing and compelling novel that contains a brilliant and dark historical murder mystery. Like some of his previous novels, Sidebottom has blended some unique crime fiction/thriller elements with his traditional historical settings and storylines. As such, The Return reads like an interesting combination of historical fiction and a darker crime novel, specifically Scandi noir. This results in a clever and compelling character driven narrative that follows a dark and conflicted Roman protagonist who is forced to investigate a series of murders in his grim and forbidding village. The author does a wonderful job of blending his historical elements with the compelling crime fiction storyline, and the reader is soon treated to a harrowing and exciting murder investigation. There is some brilliant use of a darker location, including a forbidding forest, as well as a lot of focus on his haunted protagonist, especially through a series of flashbacks. All this comes together into an excellent narrative, and it was fascinating to see Sidebottom’s damaged protagonist dive head long into danger while trying to solve the murder and prove his own innocence. While I did think that the solution to the mystery and the culprits behind the murder was a little obvious, this ended up being an excellent and impressive novel. Sidebottom really takes the readers on a harrowing and enjoyable ride here, and I ended up getting through it in a few short days.
I was deeply impressed with the dark and guilt-ridden protagonist who Sidebottom set this great story around. Paullus is a recently returned soldier who received much acclaim during Rome’s war with ancient Greece, but he is also haunted by his actions there, particularly around the fates of two of his comrades. Thanks to his guilt he constantly sees the Furies, the Roman goddesses of vengeance and retribution, who remind him of the wrongs he commits. To avoid seeing them Paullus dives headfirst into danger, as the threat of death is the only thing that alleviates his guilt. This helps turns Paullus into a fascinating and deeply complex figure who has some interesting interactions with his own emotions and the people from his pre-war life who don’t understand what he is going through. Sidebottom utilises a series of flashbacks to showcase Paullus’ military career and you slowly get the entire story of the protagonist’s heroic past, as well as the event that led to his intense guilt and heartache. While I did think that Sidebottom might have been a tad heavy-handed with the flashbacks (it makes up nearly half the novel), I did really appreciate the sheer amount of work he put into his great protagonist. The author did an impressive job of simulating the guilt, fear and anger of a war veteran attempting to re-enter society and it was really compelling to see. I also deeply appreciated the author’s trick of personifying this guilt into visions of the supernatural Furies, especially as it is never fully established whether they are there or just figments of his damaged mind. The use of Paullus as the central protagonist really enhanced The Return’s excellent story and he was an outstanding investigator for this fantastic murder mystery.
I also really enjoyed the cool historical fiction elements contained within this novel. The Return takes place in 145BC, which is one of the earliest times that Sidebottom has explored in his historical fiction novels. I deeply enjoyed the exploration of this time, especially as Sidebottom features more obscure conquests and locations. The central location of the story, Calabria in Southern Italy, proved to be a fantastic and interesting setting, especially as this region of Italy contained two distinctive social groups, the Roman settlers and the original inhabitants. Due to their historical support of Hannibal during the Punic Wars which saw them forced to give up their lands, the locals are treated as second-class citizens by the Romans, who use them as slave labour. This adds some extra drama and intrigue to the story as these local tribes get caught up in the paranoia and despair around the hunt for the murderer. I also really appreciated Sidebottom’s examination of the Roman invasion of Greece that the protagonist fought in. This is one of the more obscure conflicts from Roman history and the author provides a detailed account of the causes, battles, and eventual consequences of the conflict. I deeply enjoyed exploring this period in the flashback chapters, as there were some detailed and powerful battle sequences which featured some distinctive clashes between Greek and Roman military styles. Throw in some Greek and Roman mythology as a potential cause for the murders or the protagonists’ actions, and you have quite a brilliant historical tale. These grim and bloody historical elements blended perfect with the darker story that Sidebottom was telling and it was absolutely fascinating to see how they were incorporated into The Return’s compelling, multi-genre style.
Overall, The Return was an epic and complex novel that continued to showcase Harry Sidebottom’s amazing talent as a writer. This fantastic novel ended up being one of the more unique historical fiction books I have ever read and I deeply enjoyed the cool combination of classic Roman history and darker crime fiction elements, especially when shown through the eyes of an extremely damaged protagonist. This book comes highly recommended, and I cannot wait to get my hands on Sidebottom’s latest novel, The Burning Road.
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Bestselling historical fiction author Harry Sidebottom takes you on a dark and compelling adventure into the mind of a haunted Roman soldier as he returns home only to find more death waiting for him with, The Return.
Harry Sidebottom is an impressive author specialising in exciting and detailed Roman historical fiction novels, whose work I have been enjoying for years. Sidebottom has so far written two amazing series, the Warrior of Rome series, which followed a barbarian turned Roman general, Ballista, as he attempts to survive the machinations and wars of the Empire, and The Throne of the Caesar’s novels that examined some of the more obscure and chaotic Roman Emperors. In recent years Sidebottom has started experimenting with some compelling standalone novels. The first of these, The Last Hour, brought back Ballista and set him on a fast-paced adventure through Rome in a manner reminiscent of the television series 24. His next novel The Lost Ten, featured a group of 10 mis-matched Roman soldiers who are sent on an infiltration mission into enemy territory to break a high value target out of prison. His third standalone novel was The Return, which came out last year. I read it a little while ago and failed to provide a timely review for it. However, as Sidebottom’s latest novel, The Burning Road, has just been released, I thought I would take this opportunity to quickly review The Return so I have a clean slate when I get my hands on a copy of his latest book.
The Return was an intriguing and compelling novel that contains a brilliant and dark historical murder mystery. Like some of his previous novels, Sidebottom has blended some unique crime fiction/thriller elements with his traditional historical settings and storylines. As such, The Return reads like an interesting combination of historical fiction and a darker crime novel, specifically Scandi noir. This results in a clever and compelling character driven narrative that follows a dark and conflicted Roman protagonist who is forced to investigate a series of murders in his grim and forbidding village. The author does a wonderful job of blending his historical elements with the compelling crime fiction storyline, and the reader is soon treated to a harrowing and exciting murder investigation. There is some brilliant use of a darker location, including a forbidding forest, as well as a lot of focus on his haunted protagonist, especially through a series of flashbacks. All this comes together into an excellent narrative, and it was fascinating to see Sidebottom’s damaged protagonist dive head long into danger while trying to solve the murder and prove his own innocence. While I did think that the solution to the mystery and the culprits behind the murder was a little obvious, this ended up being an excellent and impressive novel. Sidebottom really takes the readers on a harrowing and enjoyable ride here, and I ended up getting through it in a few short days.
I was deeply impressed with the dark and guilt-ridden protagonist who Sidebottom set this great story around. Paullus is a recently returned soldier who received much acclaim during Rome’s war with ancient Greece, but he is also haunted by his actions there, particularly around the fates of two of his comrades. Thanks to his guilt he constantly sees the Furies, the Roman goddesses of vengeance and retribution, who remind him of the wrongs he commits. To avoid seeing them Paullus dives headfirst into danger, as the threat of death is the only thing that alleviates his guilt. This helps turns Paullus into a fascinating and deeply complex figure who has some interesting interactions with his own emotions and the people from his pre-war life who don’t understand what he is going through. Sidebottom utilises a series of flashbacks to showcase Paullus’ military career and you slowly get the entire story of the protagonist’s heroic past, as well as the event that led to his intense guilt and heartache. While I did think that Sidebottom might have been a tad heavy-handed with the flashbacks (it makes up nearly half the novel), I did really appreciate the sheer amount of work he put into his great protagonist. The author did an impressive job of simulating the guilt, fear and anger of a war veteran attempting to re-enter society and it was really compelling to see. I also deeply appreciated the author’s trick of personifying this guilt into visions of the supernatural Furies, especially as it is never fully established whether they are there or just figments of his damaged mind. The use of Paullus as the central protagonist really enhanced The Return’s excellent story and he was an outstanding investigator for this fantastic murder mystery.
I also really enjoyed the cool historical fiction elements contained within this novel. The Return takes place in 145BC, which is one of the earliest times that Sidebottom has explored in his historical fiction novels. I deeply enjoyed the exploration of this time, especially as Sidebottom features more obscure conquests and locations. The central location of the story, Calabria in Southern Italy, proved to be a fantastic and interesting setting, especially as this region of Italy contained two distinctive social groups, the Roman settlers and the original inhabitants. Due to their historical support of Hannibal during the Punic Wars which saw them forced to give up their lands, the locals are treated as second-class citizens by the Romans, who use them as slave labour. This adds some extra drama and intrigue to the story as these local tribes get caught up in the paranoia and despair around the hunt for the murderer. I also really appreciated Sidebottom’s examination of the Roman invasion of Greece that the protagonist fought in. This is one of the more obscure conflicts from Roman history and the author provides a detailed account of the causes, battles, and eventual consequences of the conflict. I deeply enjoyed exploring this period in the flashback chapters, as there were some detailed and powerful battle sequences which featured some distinctive clashes between Greek and Roman military styles. Throw in some Greek and Roman mythology as a potential cause for the murders or the protagonists’ actions, and you have quite a brilliant historical tale. These grim and bloody historical elements blended perfect with the darker story that Sidebottom was telling and it was absolutely fascinating to see how they were incorporated into The Return’s compelling, multi-genre style.
Overall, The Return was an epic and complex novel that continued to showcase Harry Sidebottom’s amazing talent as a writer. This fantastic novel ended up being one of the more unique historical fiction books I have ever read and I deeply enjoyed the cool combination of classic Roman history and darker crime fiction elements, especially when shown through the eyes of an extremely damaged protagonist. This book comes highly recommended, and I cannot wait to get my hands on Sidebottom’s latest novel, The Burning Road.
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
March 11, 2021
Oh yes, I enjoyed this! In my opinion, this is Sidebottom's best novel to date, and from what he says in the afterword, he enjoyed writing it as well.
A couple of lads eager for adventure. Two leave, one returns. Hope there's no spoilers there, but the adventure lies in the back and forth between the 'what happened?' and the 'what's about to happen', the suspense is skillfully and masterfully handled, and the story is obviously one that's been percolating in the mind of the author for a while, the result a well-written tale that tells a story, or rather more than the one story, in such a way that it's just impossible to put down!
This could be set anywhere, anytime, any location, though those chosen are probably the best I can think of for this atmospheric masterpiece. A story for anyone who loves a historical novel or a crime novel, the setting doesn't matter there, it's similar to many more contemporarily-set stories, so blurs the line between genres, and gives a whole new audience to Sidebottom's writings, I hope. It's definitely one I'm recommending to anyone who loves a good story that unfolds at it's own pace and gives atmosphere and suspense skillfully x
A couple of lads eager for adventure. Two leave, one returns. Hope there's no spoilers there, but the adventure lies in the back and forth between the 'what happened?' and the 'what's about to happen', the suspense is skillfully and masterfully handled, and the story is obviously one that's been percolating in the mind of the author for a while, the result a well-written tale that tells a story, or rather more than the one story, in such a way that it's just impossible to put down!
This could be set anywhere, anytime, any location, though those chosen are probably the best I can think of for this atmospheric masterpiece. A story for anyone who loves a historical novel or a crime novel, the setting doesn't matter there, it's similar to many more contemporarily-set stories, so blurs the line between genres, and gives a whole new audience to Sidebottom's writings, I hope. It's definitely one I'm recommending to anyone who loves a good story that unfolds at it's own pace and gives atmosphere and suspense skillfully x
July 12, 2020
Harry Sidebottom costituisce una delle voci più interessanti dell'attuale panorama della narrativa storica. I motivi sono essenzialmente due.
Primo, Sidebottom è un accademico di provato valore, quindi leggendo un suo romanzo storico si impara sempre tanto tanto tanto e, ovviamente, la sua narrazione non può non essere pienamente credibile sul piano della ricostruzione storica. Secondo, Sidebottom non è un "conservativo" e ama introdurre elementi che, di solito, non fanno parte del "romanzo storico comune" (cioè quel romanzo in cui abbiamo un soldato/ufficiale che fa imprese militari o direttamente il punto di vista di un imperatore/re/console). Nel romanzo, ad esempio, Sidebottom aveva introdotto elementi tipici del romanzo d'azione moderno, in cui vi era cioè una "squadra" che doveva compiere una ben specifica missione in territorio nemico.
Anche in questo "Il ritorno del centurione" abbiamo elementi sperimentali per il genere. Anzittutto, l'autore lascia l'usuale ambientazione del III secolo d.C. e si sposta addirittura nella Calabria (allora Bruzzio) del II secolo a.C. Un cambio radicale! Da Impero a Repubblica, dall'Oriente alla più (per noi) vicina Italia meridionale. Cambia anche radicalmente l'ambientazione. Non più re, imperatori e popoli barbari, ma una colonia militare romana, Temesa, fatta per lo più di contadini e piccoli nobili, oltre all'ambiente geografico della Sila.
Dal punto di vista tematico, la sperimentazione sta nel voler introdurre elementi del genere "mistery" nel romanzo storico. Con Sidebottom, ovviamente, non abbiamo alcuna invenzione moderna calata in un contesto antico, ma un attento studio delle fonti che gli hanno permesso di scegliere qualcosa di "misterioso" adatto per l'antichità.
Un altro elemento di novità è costituito dal protagonista, Gaio Furio Paolo, legionario veterano che dopo pochi anni di servizio, in cui ha partecipato al sacco di Corinto del 146 a.C., torna a casa. Il passato del protagonista è parte viva del romanzo: molti capitolo sono infatti flashback sull'esperienza della guerra. E' proprio in guerra Paolo, oltre a conquistare una corona civica e del bottino, ha sviluppato quelli che noi oggi chiamamo PSTD, disturbi da stress post traumatico (sulla loro esistenza anche nell'antichità il dibattito storico è acceso) a seguito proprio degli eventi del sacco di Corinto. Tale disturbo si manifesta sotto forma di apparizione mitologiche da cui il protagonista è tormentato.
L'autore costruisce sapientemente l'ambientazione (colonia romana, la Sila, i culti locali, i contrasti tra romani e bruttii ecc) e l'atmosfera (un veterano che torna a casa e trova alcune cose cambiate, la freddezza degli altri ecc.). Entrambi questi aspetti hanno davvero "carattere" e contribuiscono grandemente all'immersione nel romanzo.
Ci sono però alcuni difetti, ovviamente. Il cuore del romanzo è costituito dai misteriosi omicidi che iniziano ad insaguinare la piccolo colonia poco dopo il ritorno del nostro Paolo a casa. Tali omicidi sembrano avere un carattere rituale (i corpi sono torturati e smembrati) e addirittura magico (si vocifera di un ritorno di un eroe mitologico locale), in linea con le credenze dell'epoca. Il nostro Paolo inizia ad indagare per scoprire la verità, sia perché vuole allontanare i sospetti dalla sua persona sia per altre motivazioni.
Il problema del romanzo sta proprio in questo: la trama. L'autore non riesce a creare la giusta tensione. Il mistero, che alla fine viene svelato, è abbastanza previdibile, così come lo sono i colpevoli degli omicidi. C'è un certo distacco emotivo e narrativo tra i capitoli-flashback che ho detto sopra e quelli ambientati nel presente. Le varie vicende, insomma, non si amalgamano bene. Per buona parte del romanzo la domanda sarà "ma tutti questi eventi accaduti a Corinto, come si connettono agli omicidi?". Senza dire se la risposta è positiva o negativa, dico solo che non mi ha lasciato soddisfatto.
Comunque, rimangono capitoli scritti dannatamente bene, come sempre per Sidebottom. Lo stile è fluido e scorrevole, ricco di dettagli evocativi. L'autore riesce davvero a farci cosa pensava e come si comportavano le persone dell'epoca. E' davvero un suo grande merito quello di riuscire a comunicarci in una ottima forma narrativa (come stile e parzialmente come trama) le sue grande conoscenze di accademico e storico.
Infine, nota di demerito per l'editore, che ha cambiato il titolo da un più sobrio "The return" in questo "Il ritorno del centurione", il cui protagonista... non è un centurione! Passi per la copertina con dei soldati romani di epoca sbagliata, ma un titolo così è decisamente fuorviante, oltre che falso.
In definitiva il mio voto è 5, nonostante le perplessità che vi ho detto sulla trama. Per me è comunque perché, personalmente, in un romanzo storico cerco anzitutto la possibilità di apprendere cose nuove e in secundis una trama avvincente. Per qualcun altro potrebbe essere un 4, o forse anche un 3 se, come è legittimo che sia, chiede ad un romanzo anzitutto intrattenimento e tensione narrativa e solo in seconda battuta una funzione "didattica".
Primo, Sidebottom è un accademico di provato valore, quindi leggendo un suo romanzo storico si impara sempre tanto tanto tanto e, ovviamente, la sua narrazione non può non essere pienamente credibile sul piano della ricostruzione storica. Secondo, Sidebottom non è un "conservativo" e ama introdurre elementi che, di solito, non fanno parte del "romanzo storico comune" (cioè quel romanzo in cui abbiamo un soldato/ufficiale che fa imprese militari o direttamente il punto di vista di un imperatore/re/console). Nel romanzo, ad esempio, Sidebottom aveva introdotto elementi tipici del romanzo d'azione moderno, in cui vi era cioè una "squadra" che doveva compiere una ben specifica missione in territorio nemico.
Anche in questo "Il ritorno del centurione" abbiamo elementi sperimentali per il genere. Anzittutto, l'autore lascia l'usuale ambientazione del III secolo d.C. e si sposta addirittura nella Calabria (allora Bruzzio) del II secolo a.C. Un cambio radicale! Da Impero a Repubblica, dall'Oriente alla più (per noi) vicina Italia meridionale. Cambia anche radicalmente l'ambientazione. Non più re, imperatori e popoli barbari, ma una colonia militare romana, Temesa, fatta per lo più di contadini e piccoli nobili, oltre all'ambiente geografico della Sila.
Dal punto di vista tematico, la sperimentazione sta nel voler introdurre elementi del genere "mistery" nel romanzo storico. Con Sidebottom, ovviamente, non abbiamo alcuna invenzione moderna calata in un contesto antico, ma un attento studio delle fonti che gli hanno permesso di scegliere qualcosa di "misterioso" adatto per l'antichità.
Un altro elemento di novità è costituito dal protagonista, Gaio Furio Paolo, legionario veterano che dopo pochi anni di servizio, in cui ha partecipato al sacco di Corinto del 146 a.C., torna a casa. Il passato del protagonista è parte viva del romanzo: molti capitolo sono infatti flashback sull'esperienza della guerra. E' proprio in guerra Paolo, oltre a conquistare una corona civica e del bottino, ha sviluppato quelli che noi oggi chiamamo PSTD, disturbi da stress post traumatico (sulla loro esistenza anche nell'antichità il dibattito storico è acceso) a seguito proprio degli eventi del sacco di Corinto. Tale disturbo si manifesta sotto forma di apparizione mitologiche da cui il protagonista è tormentato.
L'autore costruisce sapientemente l'ambientazione (colonia romana, la Sila, i culti locali, i contrasti tra romani e bruttii ecc) e l'atmosfera (un veterano che torna a casa e trova alcune cose cambiate, la freddezza degli altri ecc.). Entrambi questi aspetti hanno davvero "carattere" e contribuiscono grandemente all'immersione nel romanzo.
Ci sono però alcuni difetti, ovviamente. Il cuore del romanzo è costituito dai misteriosi omicidi che iniziano ad insaguinare la piccolo colonia poco dopo il ritorno del nostro Paolo a casa. Tali omicidi sembrano avere un carattere rituale (i corpi sono torturati e smembrati) e addirittura magico (si vocifera di un ritorno di un eroe mitologico locale), in linea con le credenze dell'epoca. Il nostro Paolo inizia ad indagare per scoprire la verità, sia perché vuole allontanare i sospetti dalla sua persona sia per altre motivazioni.
Il problema del romanzo sta proprio in questo: la trama. L'autore non riesce a creare la giusta tensione. Il mistero, che alla fine viene svelato, è abbastanza previdibile, così come lo sono i colpevoli degli omicidi. C'è un certo distacco emotivo e narrativo tra i capitoli-flashback che ho detto sopra e quelli ambientati nel presente. Le varie vicende, insomma, non si amalgamano bene. Per buona parte del romanzo la domanda sarà "ma tutti questi eventi accaduti a Corinto, come si connettono agli omicidi?". Senza dire se la risposta è positiva o negativa, dico solo che non mi ha lasciato soddisfatto.
Comunque, rimangono capitoli scritti dannatamente bene, come sempre per Sidebottom. Lo stile è fluido e scorrevole, ricco di dettagli evocativi. L'autore riesce davvero a farci cosa pensava e come si comportavano le persone dell'epoca. E' davvero un suo grande merito quello di riuscire a comunicarci in una ottima forma narrativa (come stile e parzialmente come trama) le sue grande conoscenze di accademico e storico.
Infine, nota di demerito per l'editore, che ha cambiato il titolo da un più sobrio "The return" in questo "Il ritorno del centurione", il cui protagonista... non è un centurione! Passi per la copertina con dei soldati romani di epoca sbagliata, ma un titolo così è decisamente fuorviante, oltre che falso.
In definitiva il mio voto è 5, nonostante le perplessità che vi ho detto sulla trama. Per me è comunque perché, personalmente, in un romanzo storico cerco anzitutto la possibilità di apprendere cose nuove e in secundis una trama avvincente. Per qualcun altro potrebbe essere un 4, o forse anche un 3 se, come è legittimo che sia, chiede ad un romanzo anzitutto intrattenimento e tensione narrativa e solo in seconda battuta una funzione "didattica".
April 16, 2021
Departure for this author--setting in the Roman Republic. Heretofore, he's planted us in the later Roman Empire. A soldier returns from war in Greece with PTSD, herein manifesting itself as flashbacks to "the last house and what happened there" in Corinth and visions of the Fates. Several people are killed and the hero is accused of the murders. Beforehand, he does convince the people the murderers are not a spirit and the killers are unmasked: literally since they wear animal skins over their heads. We get a taste of the life of small farmers of that period and how their land is grabbed by the rich to increase their property holdings. This will lead to the big plantations [a sort of agribusiness], mainstays in the empire later on. A quick read and nice mixture of historical novel and murder mystery.
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February 9, 2021Top Form
Another excellent book from Mr Sidebottom. It reminded me of Donna Tarts The Secret History at times with its theme of guilt and remorse. It wasn't a great surprise at the end but it was well constructed and the whole story was entertaining throughout. It was a good length and never dragged. It also had echos of Cicero in its look at Roman laws and the inequalities. The dog that didn't bark is one of my favourite stories I tell my students when discussing the importance of looking for what isn't seen. The death by pitch also reminded me of the scene in Spooks in the kitchen with poor Lisa Faulkner. I read it in a day and and it was a day well spent. Cheers Harry.
Another excellent book from Mr Sidebottom. It reminded me of Donna Tarts The Secret History at times with its theme of guilt and remorse. It wasn't a great surprise at the end but it was well constructed and the whole story was entertaining throughout. It was a good length and never dragged. It also had echos of Cicero in its look at Roman laws and the inequalities. The dog that didn't bark is one of my favourite stories I tell my students when discussing the importance of looking for what isn't seen. The death by pitch also reminded me of the scene in Spooks in the kitchen with poor Lisa Faulkner. I read it in a day and and it was a day well spent. Cheers Harry.
February 3, 2021
Wow this was an excellent read. My copies arrival on Amazon was delayed some months last year. But like the last John Connolly I decided to put off reading. Whilst I have read all the Charlie Parker series I have not read many/ enough of Harry Sidebottoms works. I will put this right. This is a detective story in the present interspersed with chapters in the past. That works very well. I liked the character of Paullus and the demons that tormented him. A very good story.
August 17, 2020
First Class escapism AAAAA
August 11, 2020
Excellent
An excellent story with plenty of interesting and intriguing mysteries surrounding the main character. I really enjoyed this book from the beginning and struggled to put it down.
An excellent story with plenty of interesting and intriguing mysteries surrounding the main character. I really enjoyed this book from the beginning and struggled to put it down.
August 27, 2020
Really enjoyed reading this book, by far one the best books I have read by Harry Sidebottom. Full of twists and turns. Every time I thought I figured it out who was the baddie or which way the story was going, there was something that threw me of. I do hope the author does a follow on book
August 27, 2021
A really interesting historical novel set in the Roman period, but based in a rural township, telling the story of a legionnaire coming home from his service. Some flashbacks which work very well.
June 27, 2021
Interesting murder story!
The mix of murders and flash backs was an unusual storyline. However it kept me guessing and built the tension effectively.
The mix of murders and flash backs was an unusual storyline. However it kept me guessing and built the tension effectively.
September 8, 2020
A very enjoyable whodunit! This is the first book that I have read by this author and I will definitely return to him again.
September 30, 2020
I have tried to read a book by this author before, but gave up because I found it flat. As a former student of all things Ancient Rome, I had thought that I would give his books another try and I did finish this one, but wonder why!
In The Return, Sidebottom tries to combine his love of the Ancient Roman military with a mystery story. Whereas he obviously revels in the scenes of army life and deeds, the “whodunnit” side is badly written. His hero is a poor investigator and there is very little actual mystery as it is so obvious who the perpetrators are. They might as well wear signs saying “Wedunnit!”. The tale wanders about, trying to build some tension, but instead goes down various side roads full of plot holes.
And, finally, what can I say about the female characters?!? At least there are some, but they are either stereotyped harridans or younger sketchily written ornaments. There were strong women around in the Roman Republic!
In The Return, Sidebottom tries to combine his love of the Ancient Roman military with a mystery story. Whereas he obviously revels in the scenes of army life and deeds, the “whodunnit” side is badly written. His hero is a poor investigator and there is very little actual mystery as it is so obvious who the perpetrators are. They might as well wear signs saying “Wedunnit!”. The tale wanders about, trying to build some tension, but instead goes down various side roads full of plot holes.
And, finally, what can I say about the female characters?!? At least there are some, but they are either stereotyped harridans or younger sketchily written ornaments. There were strong women around in the Roman Republic!
November 22, 2025
The first book I have read by Harry but not the last. A standalone so it is a good entry point to this new author, to me anyway, and his style of writing. Historical Fiction set in the Imperial Roman Era, the main Character come back from the border wars with some personal baggage to find his family's farm in desperate state, and his father dead. The village is further upset by the discovery of a body Harry's writing style goes back in time, then switches back to the future. Smooth pace to the story.
August 14, 2020
What can I say about this murder, mystery set in Roman times. It is one of the best books I have ever read and I don't often read murder, mystery. I couldn't wait to get to the end!! I thoroughly enjoyed going back and forwards between Paullus current time and his time back on the battlefield, linking everything together. As usual Harry has delivered a book with historical fact, military action and a group of characters you can't help but get involved with.
November 24, 2020
A Roman soldeer returns to his backwards province, facing not only PTSD but also a murder spree which he tries to solve. Well written, very well researched and raising some excellent historical questions. A welcome change from the swords and blood without content.
May 4, 2021
A SLOW START BUT BEAR WITH IT
The construction of the story jumping back and forth in time doesn't allow you to get into the characters properly until at half way through. But the second half of the book has pace and is much better. Really grew on me.
The construction of the story jumping back and forth in time doesn't allow you to get into the characters properly until at half way through. But the second half of the book has pace and is much better. Really grew on me.
July 13, 2021
Me encantó. La parte del suspenso es muy buena. Es una novela muy bonita, la trama es muy emocionante, es un thriller histórico, fácil de leer, muy ágil, es súper entretenida. Yo lo hice en una sentada.
Esta novela consta de un narrador omnisciente y de dos líneas de tiempo.
El presente, cuando suceden los asesinatos; y el pasado, antes de la guerra de Corinto cuando Paulo se va a enlistar en las legiones, y durante la guerra de Corinto que fue una experiencia muy traumática para él.
Me encanta el personaje de Paulo porque es un tipo muy inteligente y la parte de su servicio en las legiones es bien interesante. Justamente, su experiencia en la milicia va a brindarle la astucia y la capacidad que va a necesitar para poder salvar su vida y descubrir la verdad.
Me gusta la ambientación que nos regala el autor de las ciudades sometidas a la potencia de la época como lo era la Roma republicana, cuyo próximo objetivo era Grecia.
Cómo son descritos los enfrentamientos bélicos cuerpo a cuerpo de las legiones es una cosa fascinante.
Son muy interesantes las movidas políticas de Roma en los países que quería invadir, cómo iban tejiendo sus alianzas, y cómo aprendieron a dividir a sus enemigos para conseguir aliados y destruirlos. Y eso les pasó a los griegos cuando los romanos decidieron desmembrar la liga de naciones griegas, y con la alianza de los espartanos, la suerte de Corinto quedó sellada.
Aporta una gran historia, muy entretenida.
Cómo es que siempre el miedo mal fundado y las supersticiones de una población temerosa y crédula siempre ha sido una herramienta poderosa para las personas más influyentes de una comunidad humana.
Y también, toca un tema muy interesante como es el estrés post traumático en el mundo antiguo. Hay dos posiciones al respecto, como siempre: la UNIVERSALISTA que mantiene que sí había y la ESPECIFISTA, que indica la falta de pruebas al respecto.
Pero yo creo que lo que refiere el protagonista, a escuchar y ver fantasmas de la guerra, es precisamente la experiencia de los soldados de ahora que han sobrevivido combate cuerpo a cuerpo.
Los expertos dicen que mientras haya existido la civilización, y mientras haya habido guerras, han surgido los síntomas de estrés postraumático. No es un problema de la modernidad
Y es un tema que da para la discusión, y eso me gusta mucho.
Estoy contenta de haber tenido mi primer acercamiento a este autor a través de esta novela tan fluida, tan entretenida y tan fácil de leer.
Me encantaría leer toda su producción literaria a partir de ahora.
Yo recomiendo esta lectura porque sí la van a disfrutar.
Así que, la recomiendo. Léanla, disfrútenla y hasta una nueva reseña.
Chau.
Esta novela consta de un narrador omnisciente y de dos líneas de tiempo.
El presente, cuando suceden los asesinatos; y el pasado, antes de la guerra de Corinto cuando Paulo se va a enlistar en las legiones, y durante la guerra de Corinto que fue una experiencia muy traumática para él.
Me encanta el personaje de Paulo porque es un tipo muy inteligente y la parte de su servicio en las legiones es bien interesante. Justamente, su experiencia en la milicia va a brindarle la astucia y la capacidad que va a necesitar para poder salvar su vida y descubrir la verdad.
Me gusta la ambientación que nos regala el autor de las ciudades sometidas a la potencia de la época como lo era la Roma republicana, cuyo próximo objetivo era Grecia.
Cómo son descritos los enfrentamientos bélicos cuerpo a cuerpo de las legiones es una cosa fascinante.
Son muy interesantes las movidas políticas de Roma en los países que quería invadir, cómo iban tejiendo sus alianzas, y cómo aprendieron a dividir a sus enemigos para conseguir aliados y destruirlos. Y eso les pasó a los griegos cuando los romanos decidieron desmembrar la liga de naciones griegas, y con la alianza de los espartanos, la suerte de Corinto quedó sellada.
Aporta una gran historia, muy entretenida.
Cómo es que siempre el miedo mal fundado y las supersticiones de una población temerosa y crédula siempre ha sido una herramienta poderosa para las personas más influyentes de una comunidad humana.
Y también, toca un tema muy interesante como es el estrés post traumático en el mundo antiguo. Hay dos posiciones al respecto, como siempre: la UNIVERSALISTA que mantiene que sí había y la ESPECIFISTA, que indica la falta de pruebas al respecto.
Pero yo creo que lo que refiere el protagonista, a escuchar y ver fantasmas de la guerra, es precisamente la experiencia de los soldados de ahora que han sobrevivido combate cuerpo a cuerpo.
Los expertos dicen que mientras haya existido la civilización, y mientras haya habido guerras, han surgido los síntomas de estrés postraumático. No es un problema de la modernidad
Y es un tema que da para la discusión, y eso me gusta mucho.
Estoy contenta de haber tenido mi primer acercamiento a este autor a través de esta novela tan fluida, tan entretenida y tan fácil de leer.
Me encantaría leer toda su producción literaria a partir de ahora.
Yo recomiendo esta lectura porque sí la van a disfrutar.
Así que, la recomiendo. Léanla, disfrútenla y hasta una nueva reseña.
Chau.
August 21, 2020
Do Kindles run out of space, how many books can I cram into it. What can I say about Harry Sidebottom's, The Return? Simple, I loved it. Several things leap out at you. The detail to the period is fabulous, you can imagine it, see it, smell it and taste it. The description of the day to day details, clothing, food, cleaning and housing, it is there, it's real. The story telling was spellbinding and like one of the other reviewers, (she knows who she is) this book was VERY hard to put down. Harry Sidebottom clearly knows exactly what he is doing, is entranced by his subject and shares that enthusiasm with the reader, making his writing contagious. The description of the Roman army manoeuvres, kit and discipline hold you to rapt attention. The characters are strong and believable, the back story is good on it's own. Am I going to tell you any thing about the story, spoilers, anything like that ? No, why? Why spoil a good thing, that would be cruel. I will say that you will get to travel, experience greed, lust, exhaustion and fear. You will see the Roman countryside and understand the duplicity and greed of men, the lure of wealth, the ambiguous nature of Gods and superstition. You will understand how a Roman Small holding operates as well as the pros and cons of a Gladius as well as the preferred fletchings of the period. Ok, thats it folks, I have had to buy more of his stories and am currently exploring Ancient Rome. It reminds of current times, the problems are much the same, there is just a greater transparency in Rome.
November 14, 2020
Recensione di Davide
Paolo è un legionario, un soldato dell’antica Roma, che è in procinto di tornare a casa, sulla Sila, dopo aver combattuto nella campagna di Corinto, per poter finalmente continuare a coltivare la sua terra, in pace e tranquillità.
Al ritorno però, una terribile sventura, lo porterà a trasformarsi in un cacciatore di assassini, spinto sia dall'esigenza di espiare una terribile colpa che lo ha portato a macchiarsi del sangue di un suo compagno d’armi, sia dalla sua indole di uomo retto e giusto e da un susseguirsi vorticoso di eventi.
La trama, per questo classico romanzo storico ambientato più precisamente nell'antica Calabria, è inconsueta: l’autore riesce ad intrecciare in maniera egregia un giallo quasi moderno, nel quale si deve scoprire chi è il colpevole, con la vita, i ricordi e l’ambientazione dell’epoca romana.
Leggendo questo libro, si capisce subito che la ricerca storica è stata fatta in maniera meticolosa e precisa, molto accademica: alla fine del libro si trovano, infatti, rimandi e citazioni prese sia da autori classici quali Pausania, Strabone, Catone, che da autori moderni quali addirittura Carlo Levi ed Ernest Hemingway!
Il personaggio di Paolo rispecchia il classico eroe: coraggioso, devoto agli dei e alla patria, astuto e pronto a difendere i più deboli anche se questi sono dei semplici schiavi.
La storia scorre veloce è accattivante, scritta in maniera fluida e senza refusi di sorta.
Se non fosse per l’idea intelligente del giallo o per le varie nozioni storiche, la vicenda risulterebbe leggermente piatta con il rischio di confondersi tra altri romanzi storici di uguale o maggiore importanza: le figure del legionario, del gladiatore, dello schiavo o del senatore sono le più usate e si ritrovano facilmente in questo filone letterario così come - ad esempio - l’elfo,il nano, il mago o il guerriero in quello fantasy.
Mi è piaciuto molto come l’autore ha cercato di descrivere il legionario Paolo nel suo profondo, le sue paure, le sue sensazioni durante e dopo la battaglia, al punto da fare in modo che il lettore si ritrovi in tutto e per tutto nei panni del personaggio principale di questa storia.
Un buon libro, scritto bene con una trama alternativa, che avvicina in maniera facile e soprattutto accattivante, agli antichi scrittori, alla storia e a tutto il mondo che ruota intorno ad un grande impero, cioè l’Impero Romano.
Paolo è un legionario, un soldato dell’antica Roma, che è in procinto di tornare a casa, sulla Sila, dopo aver combattuto nella campagna di Corinto, per poter finalmente continuare a coltivare la sua terra, in pace e tranquillità.
Al ritorno però, una terribile sventura, lo porterà a trasformarsi in un cacciatore di assassini, spinto sia dall'esigenza di espiare una terribile colpa che lo ha portato a macchiarsi del sangue di un suo compagno d’armi, sia dalla sua indole di uomo retto e giusto e da un susseguirsi vorticoso di eventi.
La trama, per questo classico romanzo storico ambientato più precisamente nell'antica Calabria, è inconsueta: l’autore riesce ad intrecciare in maniera egregia un giallo quasi moderno, nel quale si deve scoprire chi è il colpevole, con la vita, i ricordi e l’ambientazione dell’epoca romana.
Leggendo questo libro, si capisce subito che la ricerca storica è stata fatta in maniera meticolosa e precisa, molto accademica: alla fine del libro si trovano, infatti, rimandi e citazioni prese sia da autori classici quali Pausania, Strabone, Catone, che da autori moderni quali addirittura Carlo Levi ed Ernest Hemingway!
Il personaggio di Paolo rispecchia il classico eroe: coraggioso, devoto agli dei e alla patria, astuto e pronto a difendere i più deboli anche se questi sono dei semplici schiavi.
La storia scorre veloce è accattivante, scritta in maniera fluida e senza refusi di sorta.
Se non fosse per l’idea intelligente del giallo o per le varie nozioni storiche, la vicenda risulterebbe leggermente piatta con il rischio di confondersi tra altri romanzi storici di uguale o maggiore importanza: le figure del legionario, del gladiatore, dello schiavo o del senatore sono le più usate e si ritrovano facilmente in questo filone letterario così come - ad esempio - l’elfo,il nano, il mago o il guerriero in quello fantasy.
Mi è piaciuto molto come l’autore ha cercato di descrivere il legionario Paolo nel suo profondo, le sue paure, le sue sensazioni durante e dopo la battaglia, al punto da fare in modo che il lettore si ritrovi in tutto e per tutto nei panni del personaggio principale di questa storia.
Un buon libro, scritto bene con una trama alternativa, che avvicina in maniera facile e soprattutto accattivante, agli antichi scrittori, alla storia e a tutto il mondo che ruota intorno ad un grande impero, cioè l’Impero Romano.
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