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Ancient Rome #5
Вечната маска на смъртта
Трупове на зверски убити проститутки всяват смут по улиците на Рим, слуховете за злодеянията на убиеца с прозвище „Поругателя“ достигат и до императорския дворец. Когато Атий Енобарб, доверен човек на бившия император Максенций и преследвач на християни, е открит мъртъв във вилата си, император Константин решава да се намеси. Атий Енобарб е знаел много от тайните на християнската общност, когато привържениците на новата религия са били преследвани от закона – и не на последно място сред тях мястото на гроба на галилееца Петър, основателя на християнската църква. От вилата на убития е изчезнало ценно ковчеже, съдържащо сведения, важни за императора. Отпадат подозренията, че Атий е бил „Поругателя“ – но кой тогава е загадъчният убиец, явяващ се в облеклото на имперски офицер?
За да съхрани реда и спокойствието в империята на своя син, императрица Елена се обръща към своята довереница Клавдия. Клавдия трябва да открие кой е извергът, оставящ зад себе си разпорени женски трупове с извадено дясно око, да разкрие мистерията около убийството на Атий Енобарб и тайните на изчезналото ковчеже.
За да съхрани реда и спокойствието в империята на своя син, императрица Елена се обръща към своята довереница Клавдия. Клавдия трябва да открие кой е извергът, оставящ зад себе си разпорени женски трупове с извадено дясно око, да разкрие мистерията около убийството на Атий Енобарб и тайните на изчезналото ковчеже.
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
36 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Paul Doherty
236 books611 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 18, 2023
Страхотна поредица!
October 21, 2021
Read this book in 2008, and its the 4th and so far the last of the Ancient Rome series, featuring Claudia as Empress Helena's most trusted spy.
Set in September AD 314, and death strikes the sprawling streets of Rome.
Now two prostitutes are found dead on the streets of Rome, murdered, with bodies ripped open and right eyes gouged out.
This ritual once belonged to the famous killer, the Nefandus, and once rumoured to be an Imperial officer.
Has he returned now to kill and maim once again, or is an imposter working in his guise, that's a question that needs to solved by Claudia, Empress Helena's most trusted spy.
Before Rome descends once more into chaos Claudia is summoned by Helena to investigate this case and to find out the truth behind these murders.
What is to follow is a gripping and thrilling Roman mystery, in which Claudia, after some dangerous twists and turns, and after a superbly worked out plot will be able to identify the Nefandus behind these murders, and finally be able to deal with him accordingly.
Highly recommended, for this is another terrific addition to this great mini-series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "An Excellent Roman Mystery"!
Set in September AD 314, and death strikes the sprawling streets of Rome.
Now two prostitutes are found dead on the streets of Rome, murdered, with bodies ripped open and right eyes gouged out.
This ritual once belonged to the famous killer, the Nefandus, and once rumoured to be an Imperial officer.
Has he returned now to kill and maim once again, or is an imposter working in his guise, that's a question that needs to solved by Claudia, Empress Helena's most trusted spy.
Before Rome descends once more into chaos Claudia is summoned by Helena to investigate this case and to find out the truth behind these murders.
What is to follow is a gripping and thrilling Roman mystery, in which Claudia, after some dangerous twists and turns, and after a superbly worked out plot will be able to identify the Nefandus behind these murders, and finally be able to deal with him accordingly.
Highly recommended, for this is another terrific addition to this great mini-series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "An Excellent Roman Mystery"!
December 17, 2023
The last in the series, I'm pretty sure as these books came out over fifteen years ago so farewell Claudia. I enjoyed this series and would happily have given these book.five stars if not.for the fact that I caught on so.easily to who the "villains" were . I enjoy when a mystery leaves me puzzled right till the end. I've decided that it's due to a lack.of.viable suspects that you catch on to whodunnit. There are a lot of.different characters in these books but all the recurring ones are "good guys" wh I h sort of makes the "bad guys" stand out......... if you know.what I mean. This sees Claudia with three mysteries One, a serial killer has begun murdering prostitutes again after taking a break.for a few years. Two, a locked door murder she is ordered to solve and Three, find the tomb of Saint Peter. No easy task especially as anybody who learns the whereabouts of Peter's tomb are quickly killed.................
February 8, 2018
Този път ударих на камък в малката Дохърти лотария, която си разигравам литературно.
Прескочих две книги от поредицата, защото идеята за сериен убиец в древен Рим ме заинтересува доста. И ако самата сюжетна линия с убиеца на проститутки беше добре изпипана, то така типичните странични мистерии определено не бяха.
Няма да правя синопсис, защото анотацията е доста добра и подробна.
През цялото време имах чувството, че този сценарий е за друга серия от автора (примерно за средновековна Англия) и е поримчен (вече има) в последния момент. Загадката с убийство в заключена стая не пасваше хич на римската обстановка, а и вече съм я чел рециклирана и къде по-добре стояща в „Домът на гарваните“, а малката Клавдия през цялото време се държеше като коронер – открито обикаляше и разпитваше заподозрените със заповед от самата Елена. А манията по реликви, още преди да са заздравени темелите на християнската църква ми се стори малко насилена и също извън времето на разказа.
Книгата има и всички обичайни за Дохърти слабости – анахронистични диалози, разхвърляни описания, слаби главни герои.
Голям плюс са обаче историческите бележки, които се появяват накрая – нещо за което мрънкам от както съм почнал да чета автора. И явно наистина е имало сериен убиец в древен Рим, само че доста по-различен от описания – това вече е нещо, което си заслужава ровене.
Прескочих две книги от поредицата, защото идеята за сериен убиец в древен Рим ме заинтересува доста. И ако самата сюжетна линия с убиеца на проститутки беше добре изпипана, то така типичните странични мистерии определено не бяха.
Няма да правя синопсис, защото анотацията е доста добра и подробна.
През цялото време имах чувството, че този сценарий е за друга серия от автора (примерно за средновековна Англия) и е поримчен (вече има) в последния момент. Загадката с убийство в заключена стая не пасваше хич на римската обстановка, а и вече съм я чел рециклирана и къде по-добре стояща в „Домът на гарваните“, а малката Клавдия през цялото време се държеше като коронер – открито обикаляше и разпитваше заподозрените със заповед от самата Елена. А манията по реликви, още преди да са заздравени темелите на християнската църква ми се стори малко насилена и също извън времето на разказа.
Книгата има и всички обичайни за Дохърти слабости – анахронистични диалози, разхвърляни описания, слаби главни герои.
Голям плюс са обаче историческите бележки, които се появяват накрая – нещо за което мрънкам от както съм почнал да чета автора. И явно наистина е имало сериен убиец в древен Рим, само че доста по-различен от описания – това вече е нещо, което си заслужава ровене.
June 23, 2018
Pros:
-Fast read
-Intriguing characters
-The author brings Ancient Rome to life
Cons:
-The storyline dragged a little in the middle.
-Fast read
-Intriguing characters
-The author brings Ancient Rome to life
Cons:
-The storyline dragged a little in the middle.
August 1, 2022
History at its finest!
I do love the history lesson In Dohertys story's. This series really made you think ,feel an see all that was going around you as you read. The mystery was just a added bonus.
I do love the history lesson In Dohertys story's. This series really made you think ,feel an see all that was going around you as you read. The mystery was just a added bonus.
August 26, 2017
Doherty doing a copycat? Copy that! A killer slicing and dicing prostitutes, mutilating them, sending taunting letters to the police. Oops. Sorry. To the vigiles. Unfortunately Jack the Ripper ain't Jack the Ripper without London fog and Dickensian squalor. And searching for the tomb of Peter the Galilean isn't all that exiting either.
So no... Plot wise this is very weak. You don't care for anyone or anything, the closed room murder routine is getting to be just that, routine, and the fun and charm from installment two and three is gone with the proverbial wind.
Which leaves us with... what? With Doherty's usual appetite for sadistic and extreme violence, this time totally unchecked. (When in doubt, burn someone alive!) It made me nauseous and depressed, let me tell ya.
The cover was nice, but apart from that I'm glad the series over.
So no... Plot wise this is very weak. You don't care for anyone or anything, the closed room murder routine is getting to be just that, routine, and the fun and charm from installment two and three is gone with the proverbial wind.
Which leaves us with... what? With Doherty's usual appetite for sadistic and extreme violence, this time totally unchecked. (When in doubt, burn someone alive!) It made me nauseous and depressed, let me tell ya.
The cover was nice, but apart from that I'm glad the series over.
May 26, 2018
Doherty sets this book nearer the end of the Roman era, with a look at why they gave up on Rome and tried to move everything away to Constantinople to make a fresh start. Murder and mayhem in the labyrinthine streets of Rome, quite revealing of the era and people.
July 4, 2025
Love each one of these books
Fantastic, intrigue difficult to solve I hope there is more . I can’t stop reading, Claudia is magnificent nice touch with pugna the dog
Fantastic, intrigue difficult to solve I hope there is more . I can’t stop reading, Claudia is magnificent nice touch with pugna the dog
September 13, 2024
3rd book in a series of crime novels taking place in 3rd Century Rome, in the reign of Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena. The book's protagonist is once again Claudia, Helena's spy and proto-detective.
The plot again involves early Christians and the power games they are involved with in a Rome governed by the first Emperor sympathetic to (at least not antagonistic to) their faith. Unfortunately Paul Doherty has not been able to come up with an exciting plot and the book reads like the earlier two. There is a lot of detail - possibly accurate since Doherty is an Oxford history graduate - about Ancient Rome but little life in the story.
The plot again involves early Christians and the power games they are involved with in a Rome governed by the first Emperor sympathetic to (at least not antagonistic to) their faith. Unfortunately Paul Doherty has not been able to come up with an exciting plot and the book reads like the earlier two. There is a lot of detail - possibly accurate since Doherty is an Oxford history graduate - about Ancient Rome but little life in the story.
July 23, 2011
c2008. Following through his myriad of offerings. The plots all seem vaguely familiar with a seemingly impossible murder - in this case - a murder in a room that was locked and no other entrance. However, despite this - I still did not guess the real villian. Nice easy reading. "It was bat-wing time, between light and dark, the strange hour when the day's work was done but that of the night had yet to begin."
February 17, 2010
Just a book. An easy to read, easy to digest bit of a mystery. Wouldn't exactly make me race out and buy another of Paul Doherty's books (this was my first), but because it was so simple and harmless, if I saw one by him on a special in a bookstore, I'd likely buy it. For it's appeal as a quick read. A perfect option on those days when I didn't feel like putting too much brain power into reading.
February 15, 2010
Just a straight forward mystery (although it was pretty obvious who the killer was). I like his books because I like the historical settings and the brief historical setting explanations at the back. Entertaining, but not a must read, by any means. Plus that puts me back onto the "a book a day" pace for the 100.
July 18, 2016
Interesting. It was like Jack the Ripper in Ancient Rome. That was one part of it. The other part was searching for the tomb of Saint Peter at the Vatican with murder involved. There there was all the politicking of the capital of the Empire being moved to Byzantium. Very interesting.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews