A Bitter Chill

Aurelia Marcella #2

by Jane Finnis

In late December 95 AD, Roman settlers in Britannia are preparing to celebrate Saturnalia. Innkeeper Aurelia Marcella's plans for a peaceful holiday are shattered when her brother brings bad news. An enemy in Rome is trying to destroy her family by spreading rumours that they are plotting against Caesar. Her brother has lost his job as a government investigator, the mansio is menaced by a gang of native criminals, and when a party of rich, demanding travelers arrive to stay, their quarrels and violence spill over into Aurelia's household. Then the Saturnalia banquet, highlight of the festival, culminates in tragic death. Aurelia's sister Albia is one of the chief suspects.
This second book in the series takes Aurelia from the quiet countryside to the busy new garrison town of York where she must contend with traitors and crooks, and face personal danger to protect her sister and help her brother. If she fails, her family will lose not just their mansio, but their lives.

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

341 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

JANE FINNIS has been fascinated by the past ever since as a child she walked the straight Roman roads of East Yorkshire. After reading history at London University, she worked for some years in London as a freelance broadcaster for BBC Radio. Now she is settled in East Yorkshire again with her husband, Richard, and spends much of her time researching and writing about the Roman Empire. GET OUT OR DIE, the start of a series set in Roman York, is her first novel.

Reviews

[Carl Brookins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Jane Finnis second historical adventure set in the Britannia of Roman times. It is a fine, enjoyable, story.. We are in the first century of modern dating. The location is set near Eboracum, a Roman town that evolved over the years into the city of York. The story concerns the family, workers and slaves, of a local innkeeper named Aurelia Marcella, her younger sister Albia, and her much-traveled and somewhat undisciplined older brother, Lucius.

The time of the year is December and the Roman citizens are preparing for their winter celebration, called Saturnalia. As anyone who has planned large celebrations knows, one hopes for appropriate weather, decent guests and a minimum of unplanned uproar. As soon as Lucius arrives from the garrison town one frigid night, Aurelia’s flee like geese in the thrall of an autumn day. Lucius arrives at about midnight. In those times wandering about the countryside after dark was often dangerous and was looked on with great suspicion. Lucius bring unsettling news. He is fleeing an irate husband. He was discovered dallying with the wife of an important official stationed in Londinium. Now there are suspicions that the family Marcella is plotting with others to overthrow Caesar.

That there are plotters scattered across Britain is undeniable and Lucius has been sent by his superiors to go deep undercover to discover who the plotters against Caesar may be. Is there a connection between Lucius affair and the slander against his family and his new assignment? There is more to be discovered and while Aurelia worries about her brother, combats the scandal mongers, and prepares for Saturnalia, a quarrelsome group of guests arrive to stay at the inn.

It’s almost all too much for the bright and intrepid Aurelia. But this is after all, a novel and we know Aurelia will solve the mystery. She has too, because the author’s growing audience wants to read more adventures of this charming, intelligent and witty innkeeper.

Jane Finnis has suggested that those who consider history as a dead topic are in error, and here is ample evidence of the charm, the wit and the fascination any reader can find in these novels of ancient Roman times.

[Ktmholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Innkeeper Aurelia Marcella and the other Roman settlers in Britannia, 95 A.D., were preparing to enjoy the winter Saturnalia feast when she received disturbing news. Their enemy, the “Shadow of Death” (from the first book, GET OUT OR DIE), escaped to Rome and was poisoning the Emperor against them, accusing them of treason. Add some extortion threats, plus a very demanding party of quarrelsome travelers, and Aurelia’s plans for a nice holiday disappeared. The governor’s overbearing aunt is searching for her runaway son, who turned out to have surprisingly close ties to Aurelia’s family. Murder, mayhem, and all manner of skullduggery complicate the situation before the story draws to a satisfactory close.
This was a great read, even better than the first volume. The characters are believable, the plot is compelling, and the gets a bit of ancient Roman culture in an easy manner. Highly recommended.

[Abigail Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of historical crime fiction but normally I would not touch anything connected with Ancient Rome. Jane Finnis, however, has avoided the mere bolting of a crime plot onto a school history lesson which so often characterizes this genre, and has created a likeable cast of characters dealing with believable situations. By setting her books in Roman Britain she engages our attention and we identify more closely with her heroine. Aurelia is a strong woman with a mind of her own; she does not always think in the same way that we do, but she is always believable and the series is an entertaining read. I will certainly be looking for more episodes in the future.

[Windy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining story set in Roman occupied Britain. I found it confusing at times due to people being referred to by several different names.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than the first one but the characters are a bit insipid and shallow. The plot is predictable.

[Phair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt this had a bit of a slow start but that may be a personal prejudice in that the story opens during a heavy snow storm and I hate stories set in winter with snow and cold! Once I got into it I enjoyed the good sense of period/place with excellent descriptions of food, markets, furnishings, social interactions, etc.. By the end we had pretty exciting life and death action with a decent outcome for most of our central characters. I did feel one new character kind of got left up in the air but maybe the next book will provide answers. Not one of my favorite Roman Britain mystery series but still one I will continue with as they fall my way.

[Debra Hayward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given three and a half stars if I could, only because I felt the ending let the book down somewhat. I was a bit bemused at first as there is such a time lag between this and the first in the series, 4 years. Aurelia is a great character. She is a strong, determined woman. All the characters are interesting, particularly the obnoxious Sempronia. As to the ending, I didn't exactly see it coming, but it felt a bit unsatisfactory. Don't let my opinion put you off though. I enjoyed the book, and will read the next in the series.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent murder yarn set in Roman-occupied Britain in 95 AD, near Eboracum (modern York). The narrator is Aurelia Marcella, a female innkeeper, and features her sister, Albia, and sleuthing boyfriend, Quintus.

This is #2 of 3 in the series.

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in series, just as interesting as the first. Set in Roman-ruled Brittania featuring Aurelia Marcella, an innkeeper.