The King's Gambit (SPQR I)
by John Maddox Roberts
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 57)
Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
medieval mystery fans
The back of the soft cover version of Roberts’s first novel featuring Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger states that this mystery was nominated for an Edgar Award, a prestigious honor for authors of the genre. Although it is an exciting book, it read more as a historical novel than a mystery.
Set around 70 B.C., The King’s Gambit is rich in facts about ancient Roman culture, lifestyles and public opinion and attitudes. Roberts even includes a glossary of terms for those readers not...more
Set around 70 B.C., The King’s Gambit is rich in facts about ancient Roman culture, lifestyles and public opinion and attitudes. Roberts even includes a glossary of terms for those readers not...more
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In the first of a six-book series set in Caesar-era Rome, a young commissioner named Decius Caecilius Metellus is charged with solving three murders that have occurred one after another within his district. What he finds is a deep-rooted conspiracy that has its roots at the highest levels of Roman government and they are none too willing to let the truth be known. While the story is quite interesting and Roberts attempts, to the best of his ability, to convey some of the history of ancient Roman...more
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
Lovers of ancient Roman history and lovers of well-crafted mysteries
John Maddox Roberts' series of mysteries set in ancient Rome in the time of the Caesars and featuring Decius Caecilius Metellus as his "gumshoe" are a fascinating read for anyone interested in that period of history. These stories, while clearly fictional, are bases on historical fact and feature historical figures. They are extremely well researched and offer insights into Roman culture that are not necessarily possible with a purely straightforward telling of history. The series i...more
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Read in March, 2008
This reads like a dry history lesson compared to the richness of Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series. There's way too much exposition, with a convenient foreigner present who needs Rome's customs and traditions explained to him. I could see potential in the main character, though, so I'll try the second book to see if there is an improvement in the prose.
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I've read most of this entire series-- they're all murder mysteries set in Rome during the late Republic. Really entertaining and give a great picture of Rome during that time period, especially the politics. I'm a ancient Rome buff so it's right up my alley :)
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Read in August, 2008
Set in Rome, its a historical novel/mystery. There was a lot of political intrigue. Unfortunatly there was also a scene that caused me to skip almost a whole chapter, and it was alluded to throughout the rest of the book. Eww.
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recommended to Lahni by:
Uncle Paul
Interesting historical novel but it didn't suck me in like I like books to do. I'm still going to keep with the series, though. It's like I'm all invested now and I have to find out what happens to everyone!
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Read in August, 2008
Decent little detective story set in Rome. There's a gratuitous sex chapter that you can probably skip without missing much at all. The ending wasn't really a surprise, but it's still kind of fun.
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