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Ruth Downie

Goodreads Author

Website

http://www.ruthdownie.com

Twitter

ruthsdownie

Genre

Historical Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers

Member Since

February 2009

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Ruth is the author of nine mysteries* featuring Roman Army medic Gaius Petreius Ruso and his British partner Tilla. The latest is a novella, PRIMA FACIE. She lives in Devon, England. A combination of nosiness and a childish fascination with mud means she is never happier than when wielding an archaeological trowel.

She is sometimes called R.S. Downie, but she isn't the person with the same name who writes medical textbooks, and recommends that readers should never, ever take health advice from a two thousand year old man who prescribes mouse droppings.

*The first four books have all had two titles. Ruth is still wondering how this ever seemed like a good idea. Since she is unable to wind back time, British readers may find it useful to kno ...more

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Ruth Downie’s books

Average rating: 3.95 · 25,984 ratings · 2,700 reviews · 19 distinct works • Similar authors

	Medicus (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #1) 3.75 avg rating — 8,719 ratings — published 2006 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Terra Incognita (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #2) 3.92 avg rating — 3,941 ratings — published 2008	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Persona Non Grata (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #3) 4.02 avg rating — 3,255 ratings — published 2008 — 30 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Caveat Emptor (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #4) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2,549 ratings — published 2010 — 27 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Semper Fidelis (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #5) 4.09 avg rating — 1,960 ratings — published 2013 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tabula Rasa (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #6) 4.16 avg rating — 1,625 ratings — published 2014 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Vita Brevis (Gaius Petreius Ruso #7) 4.12 avg rating — 1,280 ratings — published 2016 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Memento Mori (Gaius Petreius Ruso #8) 4.18 avg rating — 1,085 ratings — published 2018 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Year of Ravens by Ruth Downie (Goodreads Author), Kate Quinn (Goodreads Author), Stephanie Dray (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 739 ratings — published 2015 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Prima Facie (Gaius Petreius Ruso #7.5) 4.21 avg rating — 575 ratings — published 2019 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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150 posts
Ruth Downie's Blog

Eboracum Roman Festival 2023

Leather tent, leather-covered shield with feather-crested helmet on top.

Romans, Ancient Britons and modern barbarians gathered in the gardens of the Yorkshire Museum last weekend in the annual celebration of York’s Roman history.

Astute readers of “Semper Fidelis” may remember that this is where most of the story is set.

Plenty of family-friendly action took place in the Circus Maximus, including the wild racing of cardboard hobby-horses around the lawns in the sun Read more of this blog post »

View more on Ruth Downie's website »

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Published on July 12, 2023 14:47

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Series by Ruth Downie

Gaius Petreius Ruso (8 books)
by

Ruth Downie (Goodreads Author)

3.94 avg rating — 24,987 ratings

Ruth is Currently Reading

Ruth Downie is currently reading

Food for Life: The New Science of Eating Well

by Tim Spector

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Aug 12, 2023 05:41AM

Ruth Downie is currently reading

Bring Them Home (Detective Karen Hart, #1)

by D.S. Butler (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Dec 30, 2021 11:59PM

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Ruth Downie is currently reading Food for Life: The New Science of Eating Well by Tim Spector	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 12, 2023 05:41AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Food for Life by Tim Spector. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Food for Life by Tim Spector <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ruth Downie rated a book really liked it Memories of the Cottage by the Sea (Cottage by the Sea #2) by Rebecca Alexander (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 26, 2023 03:11PM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Memories of the Cottage by the Sea by Rebecca Alexander. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Memories of the Cottage by the Sea by Rebecca Alexander <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ruth Downie made a comment in the group Devon Book Club — Recommendations topic " I think we should request it! "
Nov 09, 2022 05:21AM
Ruth Downie made a comment on Eboracum Roman Festival 2022 " Yes it was a grand weekend, Ken! All legions now safely returned to base and hoping to meet up again next year. "
Jul 05, 2022 11:50PM · see blog post
Ruth Downie made a comment in the group Devon Book Club — Giveaways 2022 topic " This sounds great! Please could you enter me in the draw, Ian? Thank you! Ruth "
Mar 25, 2022 05:58AM
Ruth Downie made a comment on Season’s Greetings " Thank you Ken! Both for the good wishes and for spreading the word about Ruso and Tilla. Happy New Year to you and yours! Ruth 😊 "
Dec 31, 2021 04:37PM · see blog post
Ruth Downie is currently reading Bring Them Home (Detective Karen Hart, #1) by D.S. Butler (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 30, 2021 11:59PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Bring Them Home by D.S. Butler. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Bring Them Home by D.S. Butler <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Ruth Downie voted for The Rose Code as Best Historical Fiction in the Final Round of the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards. Cast Your Vote
Dec 01, 2021 03:01AM · like

More of Ruth's books…

Quotes by Ruth Downie (?)

“One of the many difficult things about women was that they tended to pick the most unsuitable times to tell you something they considered to be important, and then became irrationally upset when you failed to remember it.”
― Ruth Downie, Terra Incognita

tags: kindlehighlight

16 likes

“I seem to remember sitting on a golden bench, and she started chattering about the sunset, or something. She seemed quite happy so I let her get on with it. Then she got hold of my hand and asked me what I was thinking about. So I said, "The treatment of anal fistulae".”
― Ruth Downie, Terra Incognita

tags: ruso, ruth-downie, terra-incognita

10 likes

“Back from where? you're not going out again and leaving me here are you?? Holy Hercules I sound like somebody's wife”
― Ruth Downie, Terra Incognita

tags: funny, ruth-downie, terra-incognita, valens

9 likes

See all Ruth Downie's quotes »

Polls

Who's the best writer of Roman historical-fiction?
Feel free to add your own options.

Conn Iggulden

86 votes, 7.8%

Colleen McCullough

81 votes, 7.4%

Santiago Posteguillo (write-in)

73 votes, 6.6%

T.A. Uner

73 votes, 6.6%

I'm sorry. I haven't read much if any on the subject (write-in)

68 votes, 6.2%

Steven Saylor (write-in)

46 votes, 4.2%

Lindsey Davis

44 votes, 4.0%

Simon Scarrow

41 votes, 3.7%

Robert Graves (write-in)

35 votes, 3.2%

Kate Quinn (write-in)

34 votes, 3.1%

Simon Scarrow

32 votes, 2.9%

conn iggulden (write-in)

28 votes, 2.5%

Bernard Cornwell (write-in)

27 votes, 2.5%

Marc Alan Edelheit (write-in)

27 votes, 2.5%

Ben Kane

25 votes, 2.3%

Robert Harris

24 votes, 2.2%

Santiago Posteguillo (write-in)

23 votes, 2.1%

Simon Scarrow (write-in)

21 votes, 1.9%

Colleen McCullough (write-in)

21 votes, 1.9%

Anthony Riches

19 votes, 1.7%

Steven Pressfield (write-in)

18 votes, 1.6%

S.J.A. Turney

17 votes, 1.5%

Harry Sidebottom

16 votes, 1.5%

Ruth Downie (write-in)

16 votes, 1.5%

Ben Kane (write-in)

16 votes, 1.5%

Robert Fabbri (write-in)

15 votes, 1.4%

Rosemary Sutcliffe (write-in)

14 votes, 1.3%

M.C. Scott

12 votes, 1.1%

Christian Cameron (write-in)

11 votes, 1.0%

Chuck Norris

10 votes, 0.9%

Douglas Jackson

9 votes, 0.8%

Wallace Breem

9 votes, 0.8%

Robert Fabri (write-in)

9 votes, 0.8%

C J Sansom (write-in)

9 votes, 0.8%

John Maddox Roberts (write-in)

9 votes, 0.8%

Robert Graves (write-in)

9 votes, 0.8%

R.W. Peake

8 votes, 0.7%

Rick Riordan (write-in)

8 votes, 0.7%

Paul Doherty (write-in)

7 votes, 0.6%

Robert Harris (write-in)

7 votes, 0.6%

Russell Whitfield (write-in)

6 votes, 0.5%

Massimo manfredi (write-in)

6 votes, 0.5%

Nick Brown (write-in)

3 votes, 0.3%

Karen Cushman (write-in)

3 votes, 0.3%

Jennifer A. Nielsen (write-in)

3 votes, 0.3%

Marilyn Todd (write-in)

3 votes, 0.3%

Steven Saylor (write-in)

3 votes, 0.3%

Ken Follett (write-in)

3 votes, 0.3%

Ian James Ross (write-in)

2 votes, 0.2%

Harry Turtledove (write-in)

2 votes, 0.2%

Henryk Sienkiewicz (write-in)

2 votes, 0.2%

Kate Sedley (write-in)

2 votes, 0.2%

Robert harris (write-in)

2 votes, 0.2%

Marguerite Yourcenar (write-in)

2 votes, 0.2%

Juliette Benzoni (write-in)

2 votes, 0.2%

James A. Michener (write-in)

1 vote, 0.1%

1102 total votes

15 comments

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Readers and Reading: July 2010 reads	30	108	Aug 21, 2010 02:49PM
Mystery/Thriller ...: july 2010 - sandi	6	36	Aug 22, 2010 08:15PM
The Mystery, Crim...: Winner Chosen: Dec 2010-Jan 2011 Group Read	45	322	Dec 02, 2010 07:40PM
The Seasonal Read...: 15.1 - The Land Down Under	26	109	Mar 28, 2011 05:19PM
The History Book ...: STEVEN'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2011	10	64	Jun 21, 2011 06:36AM
The Seasonal Read...: Fall Challenge 2011 Completed Tasks - DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS IN THIS TOPIC!	2264	772	Nov 30, 2011 09:05PM
Challenge: 50 Books: Vicki's 2011 Books	13	61	Dec 10, 2011 06:01AM
Readers and Reading: December 2011 reads	16	17	Jan 02, 2012 02:50PM

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Ruth’s Quotes

“If you don't get what you want, you suffer; if you get what you don't want, you suffer; even when you get exactly what you want, you still suffer because you can't hold on to it forever. Your mind is your predicament. It wants to be free of change. Free of pain, free of the obligations of life and death. But change is law and no amount of pretending will alter that reality.”
― Socrates

1123 likes

“Running a close second [as a writing lesson] was the realization that stopping a piece of work just because it's hard, either emotionally or imaginatively, is a bad idea. Sometimes you have to go on when you don't feel like it, and sometimes you're doing good work when it feels like all you're managing is to shovel shit from a sitting position.”
― Stephen King

tags: on-writing

278 likes

Ruth Downie’s Followers (725)

Ruth’s Bookshelves

Ruth’s Friends (72)

Ruth Downie

Goodreads Author

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Ruth Downie’s books

150 posts
Ruth Downie's Blog

Eboracum Roman Festival 2023

Series by Ruth Downie

Ruth is Currently Reading

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Preview — Food for Life by Tim Spector

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Ruth Downie’s Followers (725)

Ruth Downie

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