A Murder on the Appian Way

Roma Sub Rosa #5

by Steven Saylor

Torchlight flickers on the elegant marble walls. The sound of a mob echoes in the street. The year is 52 B.C. and the naked body of Publius Clodius is about to be carried through the teaming streets of Rome. Clodius, a rich man turned rabble-rouser, was slain on the most splendid road in the world, the Appian Way. Now Clodius's rival, Milo, is being targeted for revenge and the city teeters on the verge of chaos.

An explosive trial will feature the best oration of Cicero and Marc Antony, while Gordianus the Finder has been charged by Pompey the Great himself to look further into the murder. With the Senate House already in ashes, and his own life very much in danger, Gordianus must return to a desrted stretch of the Appian Way - to find the truth that can save a city drunk on power, rent by fear, and filled with the madness and glory of Rome.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Crime, Roman

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Steven Saylor is the author of the long running Roma Sub Rosa series featuring Gordianus the Finder, as well as the New York Times bestselling novel, Roma and its follow-up, Empire. He has appeared as an on-air expert on Roman history and life on The History Channel.

Saylor was born in Texas and graduated with high honors from The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied history and classics. He divides his time between Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intricate investigation during the latter part of the Roman Republic. Usual quality.

Audiobook narrated by Scott Harrison who does a good job with all of the voices.

MY GRADE: B plus to A-minus.

[Sara Jesus · Rating 5 out of 5]

O melhor livro que li da saga de Gordiano, o Descobridor. Possui todo. Drama, suspense, mistério, romance e claro mortes.

Gostei principalmente de Eco (filho adoptivo de Gordiano ) acompanhá-lo na resolução do caso. Públio Clódio é assassinado na Via Ápia. Segundo os testemunhos foi uma emboscada de Milo. Milo confessa o contrário. Quem será o verdadeiro culpado ou culpada?

As intervenções de Cícero, César, Clódia, Bestusa, Diana e Pompeu enriqueceram o enredo. Também gosto muito de Meto, apesar de já ter lido, antes desse, o episódio em que ele desilude seu pai.

Ansiosa por ler mais livros de Steven Saylor. Eles tem o poder de dar a sensação que caminho nas ruas da Roma Antiga.

[Tita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Releitura 2023
Classificação: 5 Estrelas
Vejam a minha opinião em vídeo, AQUI.



Leitura 2015
Classificação: 4,5 Estrelas

Uma vez mais, gostei de voltar à Roma Antiga e rever Gordiano e todas as outras personagens que o rodeiam.
Desta vez temos o assassinato de Públio Clódio que ocorreu, nada mais nada menos, na Via Ápia. Milo, o rival de Públio, é apontado como suspeito. Assim, Gordiano acaba por ser contactado por diversas personalidades, entre as quais, Pompeu, para investigar o verdadeiro culpado.
Até ao momento, este livro foi um dos meus preferidos. Gostei bastante como Saylor equilibrou os factos e personagens históricas com os desenvolvimentos e personagens fictícias.
Tal como habitualmente, Saylor vai-nos fornecendo pistas aos poucos, para que nós, leitores, tentemos desvendar o mistério ao mesmo tempo de Gordiano.
É um livro com mais acontecimentos do que discursos de retórica, e felizmente não temos muitos discursos e conversas de Cícero (sim, acho Cícero um chato).

Acaba por ser difícil explicar porque gosto dos livros desta série mas acho bastante interessante termos um policial histórico, que nos permite conhecer um pouco mais da história, de uma forma interessante e nada chata.

Tenho que referir que a revisão não foi das melhores, pois deparei-me por várias vezes com letras trocadas e ainda, pelo menos, um nome trocado.
Será que podemos esperar que a Bertrand Editora continue a editar esta série? E que irá ter mais cuidado com as revisões?

[Mary Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author takes historical events and weaves a complex tale of murder around them.

Gordianus the finder, he is a character who lives very close to the underbelly of Roman society get simultaneously he walks the balls of the rich and influential, equally at home with both. In modern parlance he would be a private detective working for whoever could afford his fees. In Rome he strives always to in over the truth its almost a compulsion for him, once he starts a job he cannot walk away till he has all.the answers. In this book there are no easy answers. A man has been murdered, he was a very important and influential man among the Roman populace. Public opinion is u tied on who is responsible for the murder and the accused does not deny it, except to say the murder was not an act of murder but of self defence. With riots in the streets of Rome it is left to Gordianus to venture out and try to discover what did actually happen.............he will.see his life and that if his son in danger, his home at risk and his family left helpless and still the truth will elude him.....................but not forever for Gordianus is relentless..

[Jamie Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books become even more fascinating as the time line approaches the period of Roman period of history I'm most familiar with. This is a fine mystery, without too much of Cicero's rhetoric to bog down the action, and I admit to experiencing a small thrill when Gordianus first encounters Mark Antony.

If you're annoyed when a novelist contrives for his protagonist to interact with famous historical figures then this series isn't for you. In this book alone Gordianus meets with Caesar, Pompey, Mark Antony and Cicero. (I do think the brief mention of Cleopatra was a little over the top.)

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fifth in the Roma Sub Rosa historical mystery series set in ancient Rome and revolving around Gordianus the Finder, senior.

My Take
I definitely should not have read John Maddox Roberts' King's Gambit , I when I started this series. It's got me all confused with the different Milos! I kept expecting Saylor's Milo to be the same person as Roberts', which is silly, but, well, there ya go…

The drama swirls around power. Wanting it, having it, getting it back. Gaining power over another. But the underlying theme is one of anger with a man who takes with no consideration for others. Then there are the side notes of betrayal. One will set off the riots and grief, another will destroy a relationship forever while yet another will lead to a new one. And that should be an interesting one to watch in future stories!

I also suspect that the entire series is building toward the end of the Republic. In each story, Saylor is following history and weakening the government and its ability to govern. In this one, Rome can't even get to its elections, and Pomphey is preparing to take over. Well, it is practical. Rome is almost overwhelmed by mob rule. It'll be curious to see where we go in The House of the Vestals , 6.

I just how love how well Saylor conveys the feel of ancient Rome, even if it does make my gut clench over some of their behaviors! Gordianus has an interesting take on his world, and he loves and hates it. He adores his family and will do anything to ensure their safety with the women having their own idea of protection. The way Bethesda and Diana, especially Diana!, go at Gordianus, I'm surprised he ever solves any cases.

It's so impressive reading of these houses! Skylights, heated floors, the bathing pools---in the house! Makes you wish the Romans had survived long enough that the Dark Ages had been able to enjoy such amenities!

The political games these Romans play...makes me wonder how similar our own politicians are. Sure the Romans appear to have been more obvious, and we're certainly somewhat savvy in our own time. Yet, so many people then and now are still taken in by a politican's rhetoric. I have to wonder what the bread and circuses of our time are. I did find Saylor's explanation of the grain dole very interesting; certainly puts a new light on the magnanimous touch of freeing one's slaves.

Oh, too funny! Gordianus is trying to explain his need for Roman politics to his daughter, and he uses stereotypes as part of his definition: Athenians addicted to art, Alexandrians live for commerce, and the Parthian love for horses. Almost as funny is the number of citizens who are pulling on Gordianus' toga, each wanting him to investigate Clodius' murder, and Pompey is the scariest of them!

The levels of political maneuvering are scary and so convoluted. What makes it worse is the physical brutality that comes along with it. Really makes me appreciate our laws, the police, and even our court system.

Oh, man, I wish that Saylor would skip the "temptation" scenes between Gordianus and Clodia. That or rewrite them. They're just not realistic.

I would like to know why Fulvia doesn't believe she can trust Marc Antony.

Interesting tale of Milo of Croton, and how Milo has fashioned himself on him.

Crack me up. It's Davus' first time on a horse AND into the countryside where there's all that nothing, eek. Turns out to have been quite lucky that Davus was so inexperienced on horseback, otherwise he might not have made it when events overtook Gordianus and Eco. And yet another event awaits Diana...oops...

Ooh, meow...Caeser makes his displeasure known quite clearly when Gordianus, Eco, and Cicero show up at his camp in Ravenna.

Oh, oh, foreshadowing at its most obvious with that short conversation about Marc Antony's attraction to King Ptolemy's young daughter...I suspect we'll be seeing Cleopatra some stories later.

It's just appalling to read Cicero's assessment of the "proper" way to run a court proceeding! I'm glad we've changed how this works! Although I do NOT understand what happened to Cicero when he did his summing up??

I did enjoy reading the Author's Note at the end, especially the bit about Quintus Asconius Pedianus' study guide which analyzed the Pro Milone in which Saylor explains that it reads "as a sort of precursor to the 'true crime' genre".

The Story
Rioting in the streets brings Eco to his father's house, and the two walk the streets only to learn that Publius Clodius has been murdered on the Appian Way. His people aren't known for holding back, and they parade the streets of Rome inciting the mob to riot.

Of all those who want Gordianus to investigate Clodius' death, it's Pompey who scares him into action. He, Eco, and Davus set off on the Appian Way to explore the route and the scene of the battle. It's a lovely trip back in time for us while it's a most informative trip for our trio.

It's betrayal and freedom for many with a form of exile for several in the end.

The Characters
Gordianus the Finder is fifty-eight and can't resist finding things out. Belbo is more of a doorkeeper these days. His daughter, Gordiana, nicknamed Diana, is seventeen now with her own wicked secrets. Bethesda is as lovely as ever, although with a few gray hairs. Eco is Gordianus' eldest [adopted] son; he's taken over the majority of the Finding and keeps buying bodyguards. He's married to Menenia, and they have seven-year-old twins: Titania and Titus. Meto, the younger [adopted] son, is serving Julius Caeser who is based in Ravenna in this story.

Publius Clodius Pulcher is Clodia's younger brother, charming but he takes what he wants. He must believe that he who dies with the most rooms wins. Born a patrician, he disowned his pedigree to become a plebeian. Fulvia is Clodius' wife; she can't stand Clodia, and I'm not too sure what she really thinks of Clodius. Sempronia is Clodius' mother-in-law. Clodia, his sister, is a widow and notorious in Rome for her scandalous dress, affairs, and parties. Metella is her daughter. Appius is their brother's oldest boy. Sextus Cloelius was Clodius' strategist: organizing mobs, staging riots, breaking arms, slitting noses. Whatever is needed. Gaius Sallust is a radical tribune elected last year. Gaius Causinius Schola is one of the men who accompanied Clodius on that fateful trip.

Titus Annius Milo is a sometime ally of Pompey and bitterly hates Clodius. For now, he's plotting with Cicero. Seems Milo was born Gaius Papius and common as dirt. The scandalous Fausta Cornelia, the former dictator Sulla's daughter, is his wife. Eudamus and Birria are famous gladiators who now work as Milo's bodyguards. Faustus is her twin brother.

Cicero has rebuilt his house and decorated it lavishly and with taste. Tiro is still his secretary, but he's been freed. Marcus Caelius is back in alliance with Cicero.

Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus is the presiding judge. Cicero and Marcus Claudius Marcellus are Milo's advocates. Appius Claudius, Publius Valerius Nepos, and Marc Antony are the prosecutors. Quintus Arrius, a colleague of Clodius, testified about an interrogation.

At Bovillae...
The owner of the inn, Marcus, was killed in the battle, and his wife saw it all. Her sister and her husband have taken over the running of the inn, in trust for Marcus' son. Senator Tedius is a widower with a middle-aged daughter, Tedia. The Virgo Maxima in the original House of the Vestals is furious with the lousy deal into into which they were forced.

Felix is the priest for the altar of Jupiter that lies along the Appian Way; his sister, Felicia, is priestess for the Good Goddess.

Marcus Aemilius Philemon is part of the group that was hauled off with their hands tied.

At Clodius' country house, Mopsus and Androcles, two teen stable slaves appear to be all the guard left. They were young Publius' only friends there, and they protected him. Halicor was Publius' tutor.

Hypsaeus and Scipio are running in the election and manage to keep getting it postponed. Marcus Lepidus is the first interrex while Rome awaits election results. His wife, Cornelia, is busy setting up her looms as part of ancient custom for her husband's office.

Gaius Julius Caesar leads the army in Gaul, although he's currently based in Ravenna. Meto is still much loved. Marc Antony, who's in love with Fulvia, serves with Caeser and is a friend of Meto's. (His mother, Julia, married "Legs" Lentulus, see Catilina's Riddle , 3.) He's currently married to his cousin, Antonia. Curio was his boyhood lover who may marry the newly widowed Fulvia.

Pompey the Great---he actually expects people to refer to him as "the Great One"! Baby Face is the nickname Gordianus gives the guard who comes to fetch him for Pomp...I mean, the Great One. Pompey was once married to Caeser's sister, Julia.

Catching up
Marcus Crassus is dead. He was killed the previous spring in Parthia while trying to emulate Alexander the Great. The Parthian cavalry killed him, his son, and 40,000 Roman soldiers and used his head as a stage prop.

The Cover
The cover is blocked out as was the previous story. This one uses the arched bridge and fire from Roman Blood and a "column" of a Roman statue on the right. A thin black horizontal band provides information while a wider gold band below features the title.

The title sums it all up, for it is A Murder on the Appian Way that sets off events.

[Inês Beato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mais uma grande aventura de Gordiano, o Descobridor! Steven Saylor transportou-me novamente para a Roma Antiga e apresentou mais caso repleto de mistério e personagens cativantes. Neste até Pompeu e Júlio César são chamados “ao barulho”. Foi igualmente interessante assistir à queda de Cícero e os seus malfadados discursos.
Optei por ler este volume da série na versão original em inglês e devo dizer que todos os que optei por este caminho foram sempre mais interessantes do que aqueles em que escolhi a versão portuguesa. Não sei se foi mera coincidência com as histórias, mas sinto que as traduções portuguesas não parecem captar em pleno a essência da escrita de Saylor, o que é uma pena.

[Ashling · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Viva Gordiano!

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gordianus the Finder is tasked with investigating a mystery which actually occurred in real life - the murder of politician Publius Clodius on the Appian Way outside Rome. As riots break out in Rome, and Gordianus’ own home is attacked, he sets out to discover the truth behind the encounter between Clodius’ entourage and that of his bitter rival Milo.

This was quite an unusual book as it dealt with an actual historical event, but the facts are embroidered to allow our hero to make his enquiries. I found the historical background really compelling, from the incident itself to the trial of Milo, and I particularly liked the way Saylor brought historical figures such as Pompey, Cicero, Caesar and Marc Antony to life through Gordianus’ eyes. As always, the Finder’s family provide a welcome diversion from his adventures, although Bethesda didn’t make as significant a contribution as I would have liked.

At times, the dialogue wasn’t as sharp as usual, particularly when Gordianus and Eco discuss aspects of Roman life - these have a tendency to become info dumps (for example, Eco surely didn’t require a lengthy explanation of how the Roman calendar operates!). The background is usually more skilfully integrated into the story, so on occasions this jarred and it also slowed the pace of the book.

Overall 3.5*, it took me a while to get into it, but rounded up because Gordianus is a great character and because this was an original way of approaching a well-known event.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gordianus the Finder is on the hunt again: two warring politicians travel the Appian Way — but only one comes back alive.

The death of Publius Clodius, at the apparent hands of his rival Milo, sets off a literal firestorm in Rome, when Clodius' supporters are demanding justice. And the various powers seek out Gordianus and ask for his investigation into the crime. As usual, Gordianus must walk a fine line to not look like his actions are in support of one of those powers. It's a challenge that Gordianus takes on as he seeks the truth, during a time of major upheaval amongst those who have ranking among the city's best families, and those that do not.

The story maintains tension and interest, the characters are sharp and realistic, and the solution — well, its the type that a historian would savor. This is very good reading.

[Μαρία Ζαχαριάδου · Rating 1 out of 5]

Δεν μπόρεσα να το ολοκληρώσω αν και προσπάθησα επανειλημμένα να μην εγκαταλείψω την προσπάθεια. Πολύ αδιάφορο γράψιμο. Δεν ξέρω αν έχω διαβάσει χειρότερο βιβλίο...Ο συγγραφέας Δεν το έχει, με τίποτα (κατά τη γνώμη μου βεβαια).

[Ensiform · Rating 4 out of 5]

When politician and friend of the people Publius Clodius is murdered on the Appian Way, his enemy Titus Milo is accused. While Cicero goes to Milo’s defense, Gordianus and Eco are hired by Pompey to look into the matter, even as the streets of Rome descend into anarchy, rival gangs clashing by night and the Senate House burned to the ground.

This book may be the best yet in the Rome Sub Rosa series. Gordianus, obsessed with the truth and with protecting his family, is a fine, all too human character. The mystery is revealed in bits and pieces, but the true strength of this series is its attention to historical detail. This is a world of scrolls and weights to hold them down, of wax tablets, of a people who have no police force, of slaves and torture, of hot and cold plunges, of hours of oratory and an immense pool of jurors at trial, of a total lack of prisons. Every page has something to remind the reader that this is a story of ancient Rome, in some senses a very alien world to our own. This book offers satisfying mystery, a heady dose of history, and, as usual, there’s an extra plot twist involving Gordianus’ family at the end. Great stuff.

[Adelais · Rating 4 out of 5]

Дуже люблю цю серію власне за сюжети і епоху, а ще тут побічній ефект виникає десь книги після другої - починаєш себе відчувати в давньому Римі як в тій Санта-Барбарі, бо всіх уже знаєш. Цього разу на дорозі під містом вбили не аби кого, а самого Публія Клодія, який заради політики подався в плебеї, підозрюють, звісно, його суперника, але щось тут не складається докупи, тому хто в нас найтерплячіший і розумний сищик у Римі? Отож, Гордіан знову виходить на стежку розслідування, тим більше що без покровителів тут не проживеш. І звичайно, нарозслідує він не зовсім зручне практично для всіх.
Всі герої з попередніх книжок у зборі, зустрічала вже як рідних. Ну й радує, що досі ще є кілька непрочитаних.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Publius Clodius has been murdered on The Appian Way, and his rival, Milo, is being marked for revenge. Pompey the Great tasks Goridanus with finding out who did it, or at least proving Milo and Pompey didn't do it before the Eternal City descends into chaos.

One of the better books in the series, with very high stakes.

[Moshe Mikanovsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The research and details are as always superb, but this one was so long... I would have loved it to be way shorter and concise. Still, enjoying this series a lot!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se trata de un libro entretenido, escrito de manera sencilla quizá esperaba un poco más de la trama, en general lo he leído muy agusto

[Marta Clemente · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neste "Crime na Via Apia", 5º livrinho da série sub Rosa de Steven Saylor, Poblio Clodio é assassinado em plena Via Apia e Gordiano acaba por se ver envolvido na investigação deste crime.
O que terá realmente acontecido?
O mais interessante destes livros é, sem dúvida, a forma como Steven Saylor consegue colocar o leitor em plena Roma antiga e como consegue envolve-lo no conhecimento da história romana. É mesmo muito interessante a leitura desta série!

[Ivana Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brilliant mystery set in ancient Rome - this time the events pretty much caused the civil war between Pompey and Caesar. ( which is the setting for the much shorter novel Rubicon, the next ib the set). Recommended for mystery lovers and anyone with an interest in ancient history.

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jeane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this story! Saylor writes about a topic I adore and in a way that makes you feel like one of the characters.

[Rui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantástico. Brilhante. Uma boa história e muito bem contada. Obrigado, Steven.

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent historical drama, intriguing twists and turns in the Gordianus family (Gordianus igitur!), and oh yes, a murder mystery that comes together as a flawless whole.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hey, a Saylor book I liked, how about that? In this one, fictional detective Gordianus gets mixed up in uncovering the details behind populist demagogue Publius Clodius' murder in 52 BC (the "year of no consuls"). As I understand it, there are those who see the murder as the Republic's Rubicon, the beginning of a story whose midpoint comes with Julius Caesar's assassination, crests at the Battle of Actium, and is completed when Augustus takes power. In this context, events follow inevitably from Clodius' death to Augustus' as inevitably and fatalistically as in any classic tragedy. Since the narrative of this book does a fairly nice job setting up the back row of chessboard pieces, so to speak (at least Pompey, Caesar, Cicero, and Marc Antony, if not Octavian), whose moves lead directly to the establishment of a quasi-dynastic, monarchic succession, I won't recount the steps that follow the book's resolution but simply state that the novel ends more or less with Cicero's defense of Milo.

The structure of the book is a bit weak, but at least internally consistent to its characters. Saylor seems to prefer to use Gordianus as the reader's exclusive point of view, telling his story in the first person. The strength of this approach lies in the fact that information is only revealed to readers as the detective learns it, but its chief weakness lies in the clumsiness it imposes on the reader's relationship to story and structure. For example, Gordianus must attend all major political episodes Saylor would have us witness first hand, and when necessary, must be kidnapped and held prisoner for a month and a half to make his role in the story gibe with historical necessity (because he is a fictional character and Saylor would prefer awkward plotting to rewriting history). I'll call this the intermission, because here the plot basically stops cold simply so Saylor can withhold Gordianus from the action for the necessary period of time.

Here's how this book unspools structurally:

Act I (first 100 pages) - historical novel; news of the death of Clodius leads to rioting and threatens anarchy. No mystery. No investigation. Everyone knows Milo did it (he takes public credit), the obscurity lies in the actual details (which would reveal intent).

Act II (next 150 pages) - mystery detective fiction; excepting the contrived intermission alluded to above, Gordianus gathers testimony from various witnesses a la Law and Order, recapping and reimagining the crime after each major revelation of new information.

Act III (next 25 pages) - mystery detective fiction; Milo's trial... will truth and justice prevail?

Act IV-VI (last 25 pages) - three alternate endings, including one in which the conflict of an otherwise thematically and historically irrelevant familial subplot is bizarrely made the central thrust of the narrative (or else I would simply reveal it).

The hinky structure reflects I suspect insufficient consideration of what the book should be about. Saylor doesn't seem adept at elaboration of theme -- see my earlier comments on The Venus Throw and The House of the Vestals regarding Saylor's shallowness contrasted with what I consider to be other, better works in the genre. In this case, this isn't simply a failure of literary ambition, but an integral ingredient the absence of which renders less coherent a book which purports to subjugate the 'what' of revealed plot to an appreciation of the 'why' behind it. Saylor has chosen to adopt history's pose here that whodunnit is less important than why and so-what-happens-next, without putting in the elements needed to render it sensible. This is what makes the revelations which follow the denouement of trial completely anticlimactic and unsatisfactory.

Here's where Saylor probably could have used his two subplots, the intermission and the family drama. He could have plotted in such a way as to interweave these integrally into the story's flow, or used them as an opportunity to develop thematic commentary on this episode of Roman history. Instead they are superfluous, awkwardly tacked on; both can be excised from the book to the benefit of pacing and without other loss. So three stars rather than four, because while the book was mostly entertaining and certainly illuminating of this time in Roman history, as usual, Saylor's plotting comes across as more well-researched than inspired.

[Geordie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging mystery, great descriptions of environment and events, and some intriguing characters. This was definitely a fun read, and I hope the rest of the series proves as good.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why it always takes me so long to continue with this series, because everytime I do I have a really great time.

In this fifth book, Gordianus is involved in the infamous murder of Publius Clodius, for which his political rival Milo seems responsible.

Even if I found the solution of the mystery not hard to guess, I still followed the story with interest and pleasure, and there were several aspects I really liked.

For example, I appreciated how, in the beginning of the novel, the author took some time to describe the consequences of Clodius' murder. Clodius was very popular among the populace, and his death caused violent riots which must have been terrifying to witness. I really liked how the author showed, through Gordianus' eyes, how big historical and political moments have strong impact on normal people's lives.

As usual, I also liked Gordianus' relationship with his family, and I was glad that he investigated with his son Echo, whom I really like. Another trademark of the series is the fact that Gordianus meets a lot of famous historical figures: in this book alone he meets Pompeius, Caesar and Mark Anthony, just to name a few. I'm really curious to see how Gordianus' life will be entangled with them as the historical period goes on.

Another figure who appears in this novel, and who is a recurring character in the series, is Cicero. Despite the fact his portrayal is not positive, and his relationship with Gordianus is difficult, I always like his dialogues. The scene where he argues the importance of rhetoric over the truth was very well written and thought-provoking, and really exemplified the differences between Cicero and Gordianus.

[Bridgette Redman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steven Saylor is on my list of authors to purchase whenever he publishes a new novel. My husband and I first discovered him through the short stories he published in Ellery Queen and hurried to buy his first novel, Roman Blood when it was first published. We have rarely been disappointed in any of Saylor's offerings.

This novel, Murder on the Appian Way combines the best aspects of Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series. His "detective"--Gordianus the Finder--is a Roman citizen who has worked for many of the Roman republic greats. He pursues one of the important mysteries of the time--to find the murderer of Publius Clodius and prevent the inevitable political explosion that is brewing in the streets of Rome.

But Saylor's book takes us beyond just the intriguing current events of 52 BC and into the personal life of Gordianus, a Roman citizen. His family--a very unusual one by Roman standards as it is made up of mostly freed slaves--changes in many ways during this book, as does Gordianus' alliances.

Saylor also handles the explosive issue of slavery in a very sensitive manner, tackling the issue without giving Gordianus modern interpretations on the all-too-common institution.

Historical mysteries must find that balance between fiction and fact, and Saylor has done his homework. He combines incredible research and accuracy with an interesting story of a fascinating personality. He richly develops his characters and keeps his fans running to the bookstore to see what is going to happen to them next.

While I would highly recommend A Murder on the Appian Way to anyone who enjoys mysteries, Roman history, or novels of intrigue, I wouldn't recommend anyone reading it before they have read the others in the series. Start with Roman Blood and work your way forward. It will be well worth the read.

[Timons Esaias · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am way behind on reading all of the mystery series that I try to "keep up with." Witness that I've been buying the Gordianus the Finder stories and putting them on my unread shelf; yet I am getting to this one twenty years after publication. Sigh.

This volume nicely continues the series, and was engaging, interesting, and distracting ... all the things I read mysteries for. It also took me to different time and place, which seems to be another element I look for.

If you don't know, Gordianus lived in the last years of the Roman Republic. The action of the book is based on the murder of Publius Clodius Pulcher by the slaves of Titus Annius Milo Papianus in 52 BC. Cicero, Pompey, Mark Antony, Caesar and other historical figures are involved in the story. One of the things I admire about Saylor's tales is that he manages to make it credible that Gordianus would be dealing with these major figures, without it feeling contrived. He sails very close to the edge, at times, but I still buy in.

My students will want me to mention style issues, so we must note that this is a four-grimace novel. The only anachronism that set off my detectors is that horses seem a bit cheaper and more available than they really were in that time. That's a subtle, and arguable, point in this story, and not really an issue.

Recommended. As is the series.

[Read By Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first in the series as I got the middle few books at a second hand shop, but not the beginning few books. So I was dropped in head first.

And I really liked it! So much of the ancient Rome books focus on military history, I like that this series focuses more on the politics and city life and the concerns of the ordinary citizens. I really liked Gordianus and his adopted son Eco. I enjoyed how the series takes real events that happened in history (in this book's case, the death of Clodius) and uses that to interweave a compelling story. I enjoyed the depictions of Cicero and Tiro, as well. There are a few historical figures that pop up that you can probably guess, but I won't mention them.

The only downside of the book I felt was the pacing. If it had been 30-50 pages shorter, it would have been much tighter. I imagine Saylor was trying to get across just how hectic the civil unrest of Rome at this period felt like, but parts of the middle dragged a bit.

I'm excited to continue with this series, and see what happens with Gordianus and Eco!

[John Carter McKnight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two prominent politicians with their entourages meet on the road to Rome. One ends up dead. His supporters riot, burning the Senate House to the ground and causing the suspension of elections. What happened on the Appian Way?

As with most of the Roma Sub Rosa books, Saylor uses an actual Roman courtroom trial as the climax of a narrative. Here he takes on an unsolved mystery sometimes called "the murder of Archduke Ferdinand of the fall of the Roman Republic." Populist firebrand Clodius died on the Appian Way, conservative tough guy Milo stood trial. But what really happened? In the end, only Gordianus the Finder might know.

Murder on the Appian Way is much more about the mystery plot than most, in part from the extensive and contradictory evidence of the real case. Gordianus struggles with unreliable witnesses, powerful factions with little interest in the truth, while Rome teeters on the verge of chaos or dictatorship.

[Filip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lack of agency.

I've complained about it before. I really like how these books are written, I like Gordianus & co., I have nothing but utmost respect in regards to how well everything is researched, how Saylor makes ancient rome come to life for the reader and how he weaves the plot with authentic events. But...

Time and time again Gordianus seems to be mostly a witness, observing and, granted, sometimes influencing events that have really happened and as such are set in stone. He meets people like Pompey Magnus, Julius Ceasar, Cicero etc., but to me it seems that his actions barely leave a mark. It isn't as bad as it was in Catilina's Riddle where Gordianus just listened to a bunch of speeches, but I still think I would have preferred if the author used the existing characters and events as a background for a wholly original plot of his.

Still, sooner or later I know I will pick another book in this series as I'm never bored when visitting Rome with Gordianus.