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Roma Sub Rosa #3
Catilinas gåta
Using scholarly, historical insight, and evocative storytelling that brings to life the glories of ancient Rome, Steven Saylor takes the reader from the bloody lines of clashing Roman armies to the backrooms of the Senate floor, where power-hungry politicians wrestle the Fates for control of Rome's destiny.
With the consular election drawing near, Rome is fiercely divided between the conservative Cicero and the tempestuous Catilina, whose followers are rumored to be plotting a blood-thirsty siege for power if their leader fails to win office.
Gordianus the Finder, retired to his Etruscan farm, is happy to be free of the intrigue and danger of the capital, but when his old friend Cicero enlists the Finder in an elaborate plot to control Catilina, Gordianus is drawn back into a familiar world. Now caught in a cloak-and-dagger political struggle for the fate of the Republic, Gordianus finds himself strangely drawn to the controversial candidate. Is Catilina really a subversive renegade, or are Cicero suspicions part of an even greater conspiracy? When a headless corpse ominously appears on his farm, Gordianus knows he must unlock the secret of Catilina's Riddle before Rome tears herself apart.
With the consular election drawing near, Rome is fiercely divided between the conservative Cicero and the tempestuous Catilina, whose followers are rumored to be plotting a blood-thirsty siege for power if their leader fails to win office.
Gordianus the Finder, retired to his Etruscan farm, is happy to be free of the intrigue and danger of the capital, but when his old friend Cicero enlists the Finder in an elaborate plot to control Catilina, Gordianus is drawn back into a familiar world. Now caught in a cloak-and-dagger political struggle for the fate of the Republic, Gordianus finds himself strangely drawn to the controversial candidate. Is Catilina really a subversive renegade, or are Cicero suspicions part of an even greater conspiracy? When a headless corpse ominously appears on his farm, Gordianus knows he must unlock the secret of Catilina's Riddle before Rome tears herself apart.
548 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
122 people are currently reading
1390 people want to read
About the author
Steven Saylor
95 books1,080 followersSteven 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
November 4, 2024
This most remarkable historical novel is the 8th volume, chronologically speaking, of the amazing "Gordianus the Finder" mystery series.
Storytelling is absolutely wonderful, all characters, whether real historical or fantastic fictional, come vividly to life in this great book, while also the hostile atmosphere in Rome between certain factions comes splendidly off the pages, making this as a whole a superbly constructed mystery novel.
At the beginning of the book, you'll find a few well-drawn maps concerning this tale, which are followed by an explanation on names and some phrases from various sources, while at the end, in the Author's Note you'll notice knowledgeable explained historical details.
This book is set in the year 63 BC, and we find Gordianus and his family, wife Bethesda, second adopted son, Meto, and daughter, (Gor)Diana, at their farm on Etruria, inherited from Gordianus's late friend, Lucius Claudius, while his first adopted son, Eco, and his Menenia live in Gordianus's old house on the Esquiline Hill in Rome.
In Rome Consul Marcus Tullius Cicero is taking control over everything, and taking on a so-called conspiracy, whether real or fabricated remains to be seen, and in this fight against these conspirators, headed by a man named, Lucius Sergius Catilina, Cicero will turn into dirty politics to get what he wants.
In this Roman turmoil of conspiracy and deceit, Consul Cicero, once a common man from the province, but now a spokesman and supporter of the Optimates, the high and mighty, and now the big ruling class of Rome will come into lethal conflict with the leader of the Populares, the common people, Catilina, and this will come to a confrontation of no return in the Senate and outside, while Gordianus himself has also problems of his own on his farm with his neighbours and facing lethal threats from within and/or without.
What is to follow is a terrific historical mystery novel, where a web of deceit and death will be spun in an attempt to incriminate opponents of Rome, whether legally or illegally, resulting in a "staged" conspiracy brought on by Consul Cicero against his opponent the would-be Consul Catilina, that will ultimately be dealt with, by putting to death several people among the Populares, while at the background of this conspiracy Caesar, Pompey and Crassus are watching, waiting and scheming, and at the same time for Gordianus, Eco and Meto there's also the case of the dead bodies and their own riddle to solve as who's behind those bodies and why.
Very much recommended, for this is a tremendous addition to this marvellous series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Magnificent Mysterious Lethal Riddle"!
Storytelling is absolutely wonderful, all characters, whether real historical or fantastic fictional, come vividly to life in this great book, while also the hostile atmosphere in Rome between certain factions comes splendidly off the pages, making this as a whole a superbly constructed mystery novel.
At the beginning of the book, you'll find a few well-drawn maps concerning this tale, which are followed by an explanation on names and some phrases from various sources, while at the end, in the Author's Note you'll notice knowledgeable explained historical details.
This book is set in the year 63 BC, and we find Gordianus and his family, wife Bethesda, second adopted son, Meto, and daughter, (Gor)Diana, at their farm on Etruria, inherited from Gordianus's late friend, Lucius Claudius, while his first adopted son, Eco, and his Menenia live in Gordianus's old house on the Esquiline Hill in Rome.
In Rome Consul Marcus Tullius Cicero is taking control over everything, and taking on a so-called conspiracy, whether real or fabricated remains to be seen, and in this fight against these conspirators, headed by a man named, Lucius Sergius Catilina, Cicero will turn into dirty politics to get what he wants.
In this Roman turmoil of conspiracy and deceit, Consul Cicero, once a common man from the province, but now a spokesman and supporter of the Optimates, the high and mighty, and now the big ruling class of Rome will come into lethal conflict with the leader of the Populares, the common people, Catilina, and this will come to a confrontation of no return in the Senate and outside, while Gordianus himself has also problems of his own on his farm with his neighbours and facing lethal threats from within and/or without.
What is to follow is a terrific historical mystery novel, where a web of deceit and death will be spun in an attempt to incriminate opponents of Rome, whether legally or illegally, resulting in a "staged" conspiracy brought on by Consul Cicero against his opponent the would-be Consul Catilina, that will ultimately be dealt with, by putting to death several people among the Populares, while at the background of this conspiracy Caesar, Pompey and Crassus are watching, waiting and scheming, and at the same time for Gordianus, Eco and Meto there's also the case of the dead bodies and their own riddle to solve as who's behind those bodies and why.
Very much recommended, for this is a tremendous addition to this marvellous series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Magnificent Mysterious Lethal Riddle"!
March 27, 2011
This fourth in the Roma Sub Rosa series is nominally a murder mystery, but it's one of the best pieces of historical fiction I think I've ever read. It's certainly the best so far in this series. As Catalina and Cicero scheme and plot against one another in ancient Rome, they both use Gordianus the Finder - now uncomfortably retired - as a pawn in their political games. A murder mystery also hangs over Gordianus as well - why do headless corpses keep appearing on his country farm? Saylor paints the entire novel with a sense of impending doom; you definitely feel the tension in the hot summer air. There are definitely some modern parallels to be drawn as well about political maneuvering and the power of political rhetoric to move the electorate. Saylor is a completely different author from my other favorites who write ancient Roman historical fiction and/or mysteries. Conspirata by Robert Harris was another book I recently read about the Cataline conspiracies - this from Cicero's point of view (or if I remember correctly, his faithful slave and secretary Tiro). Both are equally good books - I recommend them both (but maybe not in succession; I don't think I would like that close of a comparison).
November 7, 2020
Otro título de la saga y, como los anteriores, interesante para aficionados a la historia antigua y a la intriga, una buena combinación.
En este libro predominan las complejidades y conjuras de la política romana sobre la intriga propiamente dicha, pero a mí me ha gustado, aunque puede resultar más denso que los anteriores y la lectura algo más exigente.
Gordiano el Sabueso se traslada a vivir a una granja en el campo, que ha heredado de un viejo amigo aristócrata. Esto da pie a la descripción detallada del mundo rural y de la vida de un pequeño hacendado en el siglo I a.c.
3,5
En este libro predominan las complejidades y conjuras de la política romana sobre la intriga propiamente dicha, pero a mí me ha gustado, aunque puede resultar más denso que los anteriores y la lectura algo más exigente.
Gordiano el Sabueso se traslada a vivir a una granja en el campo, que ha heredado de un viejo amigo aristócrata. Esto da pie a la descripción detallada del mundo rural y de la vida de un pequeño hacendado en el siglo I a.c.
3,5
November 7, 2007
This is the longest, densest, and oddest of the Roma Sub Rosa series. It contains relatively little dialog, much introspection on the nature of Roman politics and Roman virtue, detailed accounts of the processes of Roman government and legal life (voting, debate in the senate, the extremely detailed and obscure campaign laws, coming-of-age ceremonies, process and applications of augury, etc.), and Hamlet-like vaccilation over whether Gorianus, as pater familias is doing the right thing by his family and raising his son Meto properly.
What Catalina's Riddle doesn't contain, however, is a mystery. Technically, there is one: across 500 pages we have three bodies left on Gordianus' farm, clearly intended as a threat of some sort. It gets mentioned every few chapters. Gordianus doesn't do any actual "finding" (his word for what we'd call "detecting") until the last few pages of the book, after the real story is over.
The real story in the book is the Cataline Conspiracy. It's one of the most famous, fascinating, and important events in all Roman history. One can even make a clear argument that it's the no-turning-back point in the collapse of the Republic. Plus, it has some of the most wonderful muck-raking in history. Cicero's nasty hyperbole about the co-conspirators (gathering to drink blood, plotting to kill people in the night to incite revolution, killing husbands to seduce wives and extract their money, etc.) is matched only by Cicero's peacock-proud parading of himself as the only true servant of Rome.
If you want a readable account of the conspiracy (Sayler has never been a Cicero apologist, so expect a sympathetic view of Catalina's motives, if not his actions), a good account of details of Roman life (including some harsh observations on the Roman ideal of country living), some good observations on Roman morals, and a great time with the Gordianus family, it's a great book. The history lessons are a bit excessive, but never go on too long. The navel-gazing gets a bit much at times, but that has always been a trait of the character. There isn't nearly enough Bethesda, although we get a *lot* of just-of-age Meto and his trying to find his own way in the world, being unsuited to following in his father's and Eco's footsteps and his family not understanding what he truly wants to do.
If you only want the mystery, skip to the next book. It makes what happened clear enough (you really just need to know where Meto wound up and that's abundantly clear when you need to know it). But be warned, from this point on the series gets more political and introspective. The action level does pick up a lot, though.
What Catalina's Riddle doesn't contain, however, is a mystery. Technically, there is one: across 500 pages we have three bodies left on Gordianus' farm, clearly intended as a threat of some sort. It gets mentioned every few chapters. Gordianus doesn't do any actual "finding" (his word for what we'd call "detecting") until the last few pages of the book, after the real story is over.
The real story in the book is the Cataline Conspiracy. It's one of the most famous, fascinating, and important events in all Roman history. One can even make a clear argument that it's the no-turning-back point in the collapse of the Republic. Plus, it has some of the most wonderful muck-raking in history. Cicero's nasty hyperbole about the co-conspirators (gathering to drink blood, plotting to kill people in the night to incite revolution, killing husbands to seduce wives and extract their money, etc.) is matched only by Cicero's peacock-proud parading of himself as the only true servant of Rome.
If you want a readable account of the conspiracy (Sayler has never been a Cicero apologist, so expect a sympathetic view of Catalina's motives, if not his actions), a good account of details of Roman life (including some harsh observations on the Roman ideal of country living), some good observations on Roman morals, and a great time with the Gordianus family, it's a great book. The history lessons are a bit excessive, but never go on too long. The navel-gazing gets a bit much at times, but that has always been a trait of the character. There isn't nearly enough Bethesda, although we get a *lot* of just-of-age Meto and his trying to find his own way in the world, being unsuited to following in his father's and Eco's footsteps and his family not understanding what he truly wants to do.
If you only want the mystery, skip to the next book. It makes what happened clear enough (you really just need to know where Meto wound up and that's abundantly clear when you need to know it). But be warned, from this point on the series gets more political and introspective. The action level does pick up a lot, though.
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November 6, 2022Gordianus my man, going through a midlife crisis and questioning his sexuality during naked midnight baths with a sexy Catilina. Also has to deal with his son being a moody teenager.
September 5, 2023
Muito interessante este 3º livro da saga Sub Rosa. Encontramos um Gordiano mais maduro, já quarentão, a viver na quinta que herdou de Lúcio Cláudio no final do colume anterior. Logo de início é instado a receber o polémico Catilina na sua casa e é sujeito ao seu enigma. O mais interessante nos livros de Saylor, além da parte do mistério propriamente dito, é mesmo a parte histórica da trama. Muito se aprende sobre a Roma antiga nestes livros. Venha o próximo!
November 1, 2023
I couldn't read this book fast enough but conversely I wanted to savour every chapter.
What a masterpiece, Gordianus has retired from Rome at forty seven he is now a gentleman farmer (thanks to the.benevolence of his friend Luscious) and while he sometimes feels nostalgia for his old life is quite happy to be out of Rome in this tumultuous time. He has gifted his house in Rome to his eldest son Eco and his new wife Menenala, on the farm with him is his wife Bethesda, daughter Diana and younger son Meto. There are two main themes to this book. In the first not everyone was happy to see Gordianus profit in Luscious 's will, his farm is surrounded on all four sides by Luscious cousins, who brought a lawsuit against Gordianus inheriting the farm. Thanks to his old contact Cicero the lawsuit was defeated and Gordianus got to keep his inheritance. Three of the cousins do not accept this decree and are determined to make things difficult for him, one though accepts the ruling and actually offers Gordianus her friendship. The second theme revolves around Cicero and Catilina. Cicero has risen as high as a Roman citizen can and is so consul for the year. He rails against Catilina a Roman patrician who has widely differing political views, he sees the oligarchy as a bad thing and wants to make changes to the rule of government, making things a bit more fair and equal. Cicero is bent on destroying Catilina who while he is popular with the young and the lower classes is despised by the ruling elite. Why Cicero hates Catilina so much is never made entirely clear but Cicero is a man who believes in moderation in all things whereas Catilina is a man who enjoy life to the fullest and if gossip is to be believed has sampled every vice. These two men are on a collision course and somehow Gordianus is slap bang in the middle worse still Meto at sixteen has just had his.manhood.ceremony and in Catilina sees a man he greatly admires, much to his father's worry. Add in headless corpses which keep randomly turning up on the farm and you have a very tense and stressful time................. Gordianus is torn all he wants is for his farm to prosper and a peaceful life but people and events keep conspiring to keep him involved in one of the most dangerous times in Roman history the aftermath of which resulted in the rise of Julius Ceasar and Marc Anthony....
What a masterpiece, Gordianus has retired from Rome at forty seven he is now a gentleman farmer (thanks to the.benevolence of his friend Luscious) and while he sometimes feels nostalgia for his old life is quite happy to be out of Rome in this tumultuous time. He has gifted his house in Rome to his eldest son Eco and his new wife Menenala, on the farm with him is his wife Bethesda, daughter Diana and younger son Meto. There are two main themes to this book. In the first not everyone was happy to see Gordianus profit in Luscious 's will, his farm is surrounded on all four sides by Luscious cousins, who brought a lawsuit against Gordianus inheriting the farm. Thanks to his old contact Cicero the lawsuit was defeated and Gordianus got to keep his inheritance. Three of the cousins do not accept this decree and are determined to make things difficult for him, one though accepts the ruling and actually offers Gordianus her friendship. The second theme revolves around Cicero and Catilina. Cicero has risen as high as a Roman citizen can and is so consul for the year. He rails against Catilina a Roman patrician who has widely differing political views, he sees the oligarchy as a bad thing and wants to make changes to the rule of government, making things a bit more fair and equal. Cicero is bent on destroying Catilina who while he is popular with the young and the lower classes is despised by the ruling elite. Why Cicero hates Catilina so much is never made entirely clear but Cicero is a man who believes in moderation in all things whereas Catilina is a man who enjoy life to the fullest and if gossip is to be believed has sampled every vice. These two men are on a collision course and somehow Gordianus is slap bang in the middle worse still Meto at sixteen has just had his.manhood.ceremony and in Catilina sees a man he greatly admires, much to his father's worry. Add in headless corpses which keep randomly turning up on the farm and you have a very tense and stressful time................. Gordianus is torn all he wants is for his farm to prosper and a peaceful life but people and events keep conspiring to keep him involved in one of the most dangerous times in Roman history the aftermath of which resulted in the rise of Julius Ceasar and Marc Anthony....
February 25, 2021
Magnífica novela policíaca ambientada en los hechos de la conjura de Catilina bajo el consulado de Cicerón. Más allá del misterio de la ficción, las calles de los últimos años de la Roma Republicana siguen latiendo en cada página. Leer a Saylor es beber historia además de entretenerse.
Muy recomendable.
Muy recomendable.
November 1, 2017
Another great story telling of Ancient Rome. This one is more about the politics surrounding the Catiline conspiracy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_...), but Gordianus is still in the game to Find.
October 7, 2023
Releitura 2023: 4 estrelas
Vejam a minha opinião em vídeo, AQUI.
1ª Leitura (2014): 3 estrelas
Este é o terceiro livro da saga Roma Sub-Rosa de Steven Saylor, um género de policial histórico que me agrada bastante. No entanto, achei este livro um bocadinho mais maçudo do que os dois anteriores.
Desta vez encontramos Gordiano retirado numa quinta que herdou de um amigo mas claro está, não tem direito ao sossego que pretendia. Além de um pedido de Cícero para oferecer a casa a Catilina, quando este pretenda, também aparece um corpo sem cabeça, após este pedido. Estará esta crime relacionado com Catilina? É isso que vamos tentar descobrir ao longo do livro.
Steven Saylor cria sempre uma história interessante, em que mistura a Roma antiga com crimes e mistérios, com Gordiano como detective.
Gostei bastante de reencontrar Gordiano e a sua família, em que vamos tentando descobrir o culpado e qual a sua motivação, em paralelo com a história de Catilina e todos os jogos políticos que vão ocorrendo em Roma, através de Cícero. E foram estas maquinações políticas que me aborreceram, principalmente os discursos de Cícero.
Outro aspecto que fez com que este volume não me agradasse tanto como os anteriores, foi ter desconfiado logo no início um dos culpados, como também a sua motivação.
Apesar de este livro não me ter agradado tanto, não deixa de ser uma história interessante e vou continuar a acompanhar esta saga.
Vejam a minha opinião em vídeo, AQUI.
1ª Leitura (2014): 3 estrelas
Este é o terceiro livro da saga Roma Sub-Rosa de Steven Saylor, um género de policial histórico que me agrada bastante. No entanto, achei este livro um bocadinho mais maçudo do que os dois anteriores.
Desta vez encontramos Gordiano retirado numa quinta que herdou de um amigo mas claro está, não tem direito ao sossego que pretendia. Além de um pedido de Cícero para oferecer a casa a Catilina, quando este pretenda, também aparece um corpo sem cabeça, após este pedido. Estará esta crime relacionado com Catilina? É isso que vamos tentar descobrir ao longo do livro.
Steven Saylor cria sempre uma história interessante, em que mistura a Roma antiga com crimes e mistérios, com Gordiano como detective.
Gostei bastante de reencontrar Gordiano e a sua família, em que vamos tentando descobrir o culpado e qual a sua motivação, em paralelo com a história de Catilina e todos os jogos políticos que vão ocorrendo em Roma, através de Cícero. E foram estas maquinações políticas que me aborreceram, principalmente os discursos de Cícero.
Outro aspecto que fez com que este volume não me agradasse tanto como os anteriores, foi ter desconfiado logo no início um dos culpados, como também a sua motivação.
Apesar de este livro não me ter agradado tanto, não deixa de ser uma história interessante e vou continuar a acompanhar esta saga.
January 6, 2016
Steven Saylor é um profundo conhecedor da Roma Antiga e um exímio contador de histórias. Para quem, como eu, escolhe os seus livros pela vertente histórica, “O enigma de Catilina” foi certamente um deleite. No entanto, acredito que tenha sido uma desilusão para quem o tiver escolhido pela apregoada parte policial e de suspense, já que nesta obra essa vertente foi muito menos explorada que nos anteriores. Foi, pelo contrário, uma viagem muito mais “teórica” pelos meandros do Império Romano, numa altura pouco posterior ao fim da revolta dos escravos liderada por Spartacus, e dos seus principais intervenientes, como Cícero, Catilina, Crassus, Pompeu ou César.
Foi uma leitura deveras interessante, que contou ainda com uma abordagem um pouco mais intimista sobre Gordiano e a relação com a sua família, numa aventura sempre pautada pela escrita cativante de Saylor. Este autor tem uma capacidade ímpar de me transportar para a Roma Antiga, como ainda não encontrei em nenhum outro.
Foi uma leitura deveras interessante, que contou ainda com uma abordagem um pouco mais intimista sobre Gordiano e a relação com a sua família, numa aventura sempre pautada pela escrita cativante de Saylor. Este autor tem uma capacidade ímpar de me transportar para a Roma Antiga, como ainda não encontrei em nenhum outro.
March 7, 2014
Here's the thing. If you're reading something that purports to be a mystery, then you want it to be a bit mysterious. Historical crime fiction that's all history and not much crime makes for a fairly dull read. Saylor is a competent historian who knows all about Ancient Rome and writes decent prose. However, while I learned something about Catilina and Cicero by reading this novel, I didn't care very much about either the real historical figures or the fictional characters.
It was good to share the reading experience with my friend Jemidar. Hopefully our next buddy read will be a bit more inspiring for both of us. I suspect that we won't be returning to this series for a quite a while.
May 18, 2024
A delightful installment in the Roma Sub Rosa series, plunges readers into the intrigue of ancient Rome with the wit and charm we've come to expect from Steven Saylor. In "Catalina's Riddle," we once again follow the adventures of Gordianus the Finder, who, let's face it, is like the ancient Roman version of Sherlock Holmes, but with more toga and fewer deerstalkers.
This time, the mystery kicks off with Gordianus reluctantly accepting an estate from the notorious politician, Catilina.
The ensuing plot is a masterclass in political machinations and historical detail, with just the right amount of Gordianus’ dry humor and his knack for being in the wrong place at the right time. The book balances tension and levity beautifully, making it hard to put down even when the historical intricacies threaten to overwhelm.
If you've read the previous books in the series, you'll appreciate the deeper dive into Gordianus's character and his increasingly complicated life. If you haven't, well, welcome to the Roman Republic, where backstabbing is as common as bread and circuses. All in all, the book is a captivating romp through history, perfect for fans of mystery, history, and anyone who appreciates a well-timed quip.
This time, the mystery kicks off with Gordianus reluctantly accepting an estate from the notorious politician, Catilina.
The ensuing plot is a masterclass in political machinations and historical detail, with just the right amount of Gordianus’ dry humor and his knack for being in the wrong place at the right time. The book balances tension and levity beautifully, making it hard to put down even when the historical intricacies threaten to overwhelm.
If you've read the previous books in the series, you'll appreciate the deeper dive into Gordianus's character and his increasingly complicated life. If you haven't, well, welcome to the Roman Republic, where backstabbing is as common as bread and circuses. All in all, the book is a captivating romp through history, perfect for fans of mystery, history, and anyone who appreciates a well-timed quip.
August 28, 2020
Not a bad book, but I had expected a little bit more from this.... I love this series precisely because it is a detective series in ancient Rome, which was sadly enough all absent from this book... It's situated mostly on a farm outside of Rome (with a lot of talk about farming and other agrarian stuff as a consequence), and there is barely any detectiving going on (the only ~~mystery were beheaded corpses but they of barely any importance to the story). I understand that there is a lot of debate about Catilina and that Saylor might not have wanted to make a decision in these matters, but it just made for a bit of a boring narrative... It just felt as if the main action and interesting stuff happened just around the corner (of better, in the city of Rome itself), while the narrative was stuck at some random person who was only tangently connected to the events...
April 30, 2025
One of the best from the sub rosa series.
December 20, 2022
Maravilha a que o autor já nos habituou.
Obrigado, Steven.
Obrigado, Steven.
December 28, 2025
proved to be an enjoyable but educating read! gripped me unexpectedly and i read the last 200 pages in one sitting... lets just say the last time that happened was a long time a go, so hurray!! rejoice!! and maybe give it a go? :))
July 11, 2023
Steven Saylor writes a compelling novel with plenty of Easter Eggs for students of Roman history. Even though the outcome is already written in stone, Saylor cultivates sympathies and keeps the reader guessing as to which side holds the most promise, and which may be telling Gordianus the truth of their intentions. Catalina is charismatic, but not always altogether trustworthy, Cicero is nefarious for his twisting of words, but events never catch him in a lie. Humanizing otherwise untouchable historical figures, while by necessity requiring the touch of fiction, still perhaps gets us closer to people in the past than sterilized historical accounts which only tell one side. What is history without a little imagination?
November 22, 2016
If the previous two novels in the Gordianus the Finder series have given you expectations of another interesting mystery set in a vividly imagined ancient Rome based on real maps and stories, or its conquered cities, well, this one has reversed the order of what the previous plots stress. 'Catilina's Riddle' is a lot of ancient Roman history and some family drama and a mystery, in that order.
This particular book is set in 63 B.C., and Gordianus is now 47 years old. He is living on an inherited farm, with his family - Bethesda, his former slave and now wife; Eco, another former, and horribly traumatized, child slave adopted by Gordianus as his legal son, and who is now a grown man and living in Gordianus's old Rome house with his new wife; Meto, another adopted son and ex-slave about to be officially a sixteen-year-old man of Rome and entitled to wearing a ceremonial man's toga; and six-year-old Gordiania (Diana).
Gordianus was at first utterly delighted to be gifted the Etruscan farm by a former client! He had no idea he was in the will of Lucius Claudius. But after taking possession, he discovered that though he had the best farm in the area, he was surrounded by resentful and covetous Claudii cousins of the dead man with much poorer land. Of course, the cousins sued on the grounds that the will was a fraud, but as Lucius died of a heart attack in public, Gordianus is the new owner of a productive farm! He hopes he doesn't wreck it, but since he also inherited the farm's slaves, it probably will be ok.
Mysteriously, a body without a head turns up on his farm. There aren't many clues, but one - the secret riddle Marcus Caelius had left as a sign to recognize messengers sent from Caelius from Rome to the farm:
""I see two bodies...one is thin and wasted, but it has a great head. The other body is big and strong--but it has no head at all!
Marcus Caelius is working with Cicero in Rome, and he is trying to enlist Gordianus as a spy since his farm is near the road Cicero's political enemy, Catilina, rides on his way to see an ex-Roman retired general in a town farther up the road. Caelius wants Gordianus to inform on Catilina's movements and contacts. Apparently, another coup is being plotted amongst different Roman political parties, and as usual, Gordianus knows the common people like him will be ground hamburger no matter whose side wins. He wants nothing to do with any of it, but he owes Cicero for acting as his lawyer during the Claudii fight over his new farm. Reluctantly, he sort of, maybe, agrees. Gordianus hopes the latest political power struggles will pass him by.
Then the headless body turns up. Yikes!
The novel is very interesting for those of us who are fascinated with ancient Roman history, but there is too much history and not enough mystery in this book, in my opinion. I am one of those who enjoys reading about ancient Rome (so many political parallels to America), but I found the mystery thread a bit too secondary. However, as the series is continuing and not entirely stand-alone, this book is a necessary read if one is to continue in the Gordianus series, though, since much happens to the Finder's family and a new direction for the family is indicated.
Anyway, I liked it and I plan to continue reading the series.
This particular book is set in 63 B.C., and Gordianus is now 47 years old. He is living on an inherited farm, with his family - Bethesda, his former slave and now wife; Eco, another former, and horribly traumatized, child slave adopted by Gordianus as his legal son, and who is now a grown man and living in Gordianus's old Rome house with his new wife; Meto, another adopted son and ex-slave about to be officially a sixteen-year-old man of Rome and entitled to wearing a ceremonial man's toga; and six-year-old Gordiania (Diana).
Gordianus was at first utterly delighted to be gifted the Etruscan farm by a former client! He had no idea he was in the will of Lucius Claudius. But after taking possession, he discovered that though he had the best farm in the area, he was surrounded by resentful and covetous Claudii cousins of the dead man with much poorer land. Of course, the cousins sued on the grounds that the will was a fraud, but as Lucius died of a heart attack in public, Gordianus is the new owner of a productive farm! He hopes he doesn't wreck it, but since he also inherited the farm's slaves, it probably will be ok.
Mysteriously, a body without a head turns up on his farm. There aren't many clues, but one - the secret riddle Marcus Caelius had left as a sign to recognize messengers sent from Caelius from Rome to the farm:
""I see two bodies...one is thin and wasted, but it has a great head. The other body is big and strong--but it has no head at all!
Marcus Caelius is working with Cicero in Rome, and he is trying to enlist Gordianus as a spy since his farm is near the road Cicero's political enemy, Catilina, rides on his way to see an ex-Roman retired general in a town farther up the road. Caelius wants Gordianus to inform on Catilina's movements and contacts. Apparently, another coup is being plotted amongst different Roman political parties, and as usual, Gordianus knows the common people like him will be ground hamburger no matter whose side wins. He wants nothing to do with any of it, but he owes Cicero for acting as his lawyer during the Claudii fight over his new farm. Reluctantly, he sort of, maybe, agrees. Gordianus hopes the latest political power struggles will pass him by.
Then the headless body turns up. Yikes!
The novel is very interesting for those of us who are fascinated with ancient Roman history, but there is too much history and not enough mystery in this book, in my opinion. I am one of those who enjoys reading about ancient Rome (so many political parallels to America), but I found the mystery thread a bit too secondary. However, as the series is continuing and not entirely stand-alone, this book is a necessary read if one is to continue in the Gordianus series, though, since much happens to the Finder's family and a new direction for the family is indicated.
Anyway, I liked it and I plan to continue reading the series.
June 17, 2009
Gordianus calls himself the Finder. We would call him a gumsandal. He helps politicians uncover scandal about their opponents; he helps advocates collect evidence of an enemy's crimes, but he is discouraged that he seems no longer able to serve truth and justice. Rome has become a city of corruption and evil. Fortunately, he has inherited a lovely farm in the country with an adequate supply of slaves to run it.
Such is the setting for Catalina's Riddle. Gordianus has forsaken Rome with its corrupt politics. When his loyalty to Cicero is appealed to ostensibly by one of Cicero's henchmen, who insists that the Finder's assistance is needed to keep tabs on Catilina's nefarious intentions, Gordianus refuses, only to discover a headless corpse in his barn a few days later. How could the body have been placed there without the knowledge of his family or slaves? He calls on his son, Eco, from Rome, for assistance. Eco has his father's uncanny ability to observe the smallest details.
Soon Catilina shows up at Gordianus' farm allegedly for rest and relaxation, but he exhibits extraordinary interest in an old silver mine filled to overflowing with the skeletons of slaves who had been murdered when the mine was shut down The mine also happens to be located on Gnaeius Claudius' property next to Gordianus' farm, and the Claudius family are still enraged that their ancestor should have left property to Gordianus that they felt should have rightly gone to them.
Gordianus travels to Rome for his son Meto's coming of age: he will become a full citizen with the right to wear the toga. It also happens to be the time of the election, and Saylor treats us to a vivid account of how Roman elections were conducted. But Gordianus has a problem. Marcus Caelius who claims to be Cicero's secret agent pretending to work for Catilina; but his actions betray a more sincere attachment to Catilina woos him. Who is he really working for?
Saylor integrates some of the actual speeches delivered by Cicero before the Senate into the story. The historical record is mostly antagonistic to Catilina; Saylor's tale is much more ambiguous.
A very good mystery in a fascinating setting.
Such is the setting for Catalina's Riddle. Gordianus has forsaken Rome with its corrupt politics. When his loyalty to Cicero is appealed to ostensibly by one of Cicero's henchmen, who insists that the Finder's assistance is needed to keep tabs on Catilina's nefarious intentions, Gordianus refuses, only to discover a headless corpse in his barn a few days later. How could the body have been placed there without the knowledge of his family or slaves? He calls on his son, Eco, from Rome, for assistance. Eco has his father's uncanny ability to observe the smallest details.
Soon Catilina shows up at Gordianus' farm allegedly for rest and relaxation, but he exhibits extraordinary interest in an old silver mine filled to overflowing with the skeletons of slaves who had been murdered when the mine was shut down The mine also happens to be located on Gnaeius Claudius' property next to Gordianus' farm, and the Claudius family are still enraged that their ancestor should have left property to Gordianus that they felt should have rightly gone to them.
Gordianus travels to Rome for his son Meto's coming of age: he will become a full citizen with the right to wear the toga. It also happens to be the time of the election, and Saylor treats us to a vivid account of how Roman elections were conducted. But Gordianus has a problem. Marcus Caelius who claims to be Cicero's secret agent pretending to work for Catilina; but his actions betray a more sincere attachment to Catilina woos him. Who is he really working for?
Saylor integrates some of the actual speeches delivered by Cicero before the Senate into the story. The historical record is mostly antagonistic to Catilina; Saylor's tale is much more ambiguous.
A very good mystery in a fascinating setting.
June 12, 2020
Gordianus spent a not insignificant portion of this book like "I love all my children equally: Eco, Diana, and *looks at smudged writing on his hand* Meat."
Really though, the family dynamics in this novel were one of the things I loved most about it: the contrast between the older, more level-headed Eco and the angsty teenager Meto was really interesting. In fact, Meto as a whole was one of the most interesting parts of the novel for me - the way he desperately wants his father's approval but also needs to step out into the world and forge his own path, his struggle with feeling like he doesn't belong in his own family or in Roman society, and his relationships with his siblings (turning to Eco for guidance when he feels like he can't ask his father, and bickering with Diana to no end but also being her fiercest protector) all feel perfectly real.
I also really enjoyed the fact that the novel answers the question on everyone's minds, namely what if Catilina was really hot. On a serious note, I did love the portrayal of Catilina as a largely decent man (as much as anyone else in Roman politics, anyway) and it was interesting to see such an anti-Cicero take on the whole affair.
There were a lot of moments where I genuinely couldn't put the book down, where the tension and the sense of danger was so high that I felt I might actually die if I didn't reach the end of the section before stopping - unfortunately, I do feel that these were kind of interspersed with bits that were just a bit... dull. There was a lot of rumination about the nature of Roman politics and the day-to-day running of a farm and the like, and I feel that the book could probably have got by with about 20% less of that. I'm very glad that in the end
All in all, it was a pretty great book. It had murder, it had intrigue, it had family relationships, it had an interesting take on an interesting affair, and it had the return of which I was very pleased about!
Edit: This one has really grown on me!
Really though, the family dynamics in this novel were one of the things I loved most about it: the contrast between the older, more level-headed Eco and the angsty teenager Meto was really interesting. In fact, Meto as a whole was one of the most interesting parts of the novel for me - the way he desperately wants his father's approval but also needs to step out into the world and forge his own path, his struggle with feeling like he doesn't belong in his own family or in Roman society, and his relationships with his siblings (turning to Eco for guidance when he feels like he can't ask his father, and bickering with Diana to no end but also being her fiercest protector) all feel perfectly real.
I also really enjoyed the fact that the novel answers the question on everyone's minds, namely what if Catilina was really hot. On a serious note, I did love the portrayal of Catilina as a largely decent man (as much as anyone else in Roman politics, anyway) and it was interesting to see such an anti-Cicero take on the whole affair.
There were a lot of moments where I genuinely couldn't put the book down, where the tension and the sense of danger was so high that I felt I might actually die if I didn't reach the end of the section before stopping - unfortunately, I do feel that these were kind of interspersed with bits that were just a bit... dull. There was a lot of rumination about the nature of Roman politics and the day-to-day running of a farm and the like, and I feel that the book could probably have got by with about 20% less of that. I'm very glad that in the end
All in all, it was a pretty great book. It had murder, it had intrigue, it had family relationships, it had an interesting take on an interesting affair, and it had the return of which I was very pleased about!
Edit: This one has really grown on me!
July 29, 2019
ok i love this book!!!!!!!! for lots and lots of reasons. here we go
this was actually the first steven saylor book ive read, i skipped the first two in the series to get to this one cause catilina is my favourite ancient roman politician & i had heard good things about this book!! now that ive finished it and enjoyed it so much, i think ill check out some of his others in roma sub rosa
i loved the way the mystery of the headless corpses and the second catilinarian conspiracy were interwoven!! i enjoyed the mystery a lot, i dont actually read much crime fiction, so the answer to the mystery was totally unexpected! it was good fun
steven saylor has been praised for his historical accuracy & i will add on to that babey! im no expert but i really loved seeing bits of writing & dialogue line up with my own research. especially as a queer person it was very gratifying & a great relief to have roman sexuality treated how it was at the time.
i just really loved how much gordianus loved his kids & wife. that was refreshing, especially considering roman attitudes towards cheating. i loved his and meto's relationship and how it changed over the course of the book. also love diana.
but god, a big reason i love this book is how it portrayed catilina! i already had Catilinarian Sympathies, but this book still totally changed how i saw him. the afterword especially made me a lot more sympathetic towards him. I'll definitely be checking out the books and essays mentioned in it that ive not already read. 'the conspiracy of cicero and catilina' oh my GOD.
this was actually the first steven saylor book ive read, i skipped the first two in the series to get to this one cause catilina is my favourite ancient roman politician & i had heard good things about this book!! now that ive finished it and enjoyed it so much, i think ill check out some of his others in roma sub rosa
i loved the way the mystery of the headless corpses and the second catilinarian conspiracy were interwoven!! i enjoyed the mystery a lot, i dont actually read much crime fiction, so the answer to the mystery was totally unexpected! it was good fun
steven saylor has been praised for his historical accuracy & i will add on to that babey! im no expert but i really loved seeing bits of writing & dialogue line up with my own research. especially as a queer person it was very gratifying & a great relief to have roman sexuality treated how it was at the time.
i just really loved how much gordianus loved his kids & wife. that was refreshing, especially considering roman attitudes towards cheating. i loved his and meto's relationship and how it changed over the course of the book. also love diana.
but god, a big reason i love this book is how it portrayed catilina! i already had Catilinarian Sympathies, but this book still totally changed how i saw him. the afterword especially made me a lot more sympathetic towards him. I'll definitely be checking out the books and essays mentioned in it that ive not already read. 'the conspiracy of cicero and catilina' oh my GOD.
July 29, 2017
Catilina's Riddle, the third book in the Roma Sub Rosa series, is way more historical than mystery. It is an excellent read if you like the historical period and if you are interested in Catilina's conspiracy, but it might be disappointing if you are looking for a complex and intricate mystery.
Personally, I really enjoyed it. The second book is still my favourite, but this is close behind.
I adore Saylor's portrayal of Ancient Rome. His research is always evident and accurate; he spends a lot of time explaining Roman politics but he does it in a fascinating way, without info-dumping. And his portrayals of famous historical figures are always believable and compelling. This time he takes on the enigmatic Catilina, who steals the scene everytime he appears; and yet in the end you have no idea who he really is.
I also like that, so far, each of the books in the series had a different setting. This time, the setting is mostly rural, and Saylor gets to explore another new side of life in Ancient Rome.
Lastly, I love the relationships Gordiano has with each member of his family, which is very unusual and gets bigger with every book. This book mostly focuses on Gordiano and Meto's relationship; their exchanges were often frustrating, and I prefer Eco, his other son, but there were some very heartwarming moments.
Very much recommended!
Personally, I really enjoyed it. The second book is still my favourite, but this is close behind.
I adore Saylor's portrayal of Ancient Rome. His research is always evident and accurate; he spends a lot of time explaining Roman politics but he does it in a fascinating way, without info-dumping. And his portrayals of famous historical figures are always believable and compelling. This time he takes on the enigmatic Catilina, who steals the scene everytime he appears; and yet in the end you have no idea who he really is.
I also like that, so far, each of the books in the series had a different setting. This time, the setting is mostly rural, and Saylor gets to explore another new side of life in Ancient Rome.
Lastly, I love the relationships Gordiano has with each member of his family, which is very unusual and gets bigger with every book. This book mostly focuses on Gordiano and Meto's relationship; their exchanges were often frustrating, and I prefer Eco, his other son, but there were some very heartwarming moments.
Very much recommended!
August 24, 2021
Polpettone storico con poche velleita' letterarie che ha se non altro il merito di illustrare il modus vivendi latino dell'epoca. La trama piu' propriamente gialla e' veramente povera. A differenza di altri autori che frequentano il genere, la parte piu' strettamente storico-politica, e' molto marcata.
October 4, 2015
Saylor's first Roma Sub Rosa novel was a loving portrait of ancient Rome wrapped in a mystery plot. The second was more a conventional work of genre fiction. His third does away with mystery-novel conventions almost entirely, to deliver a sprawling picture of rural life along with a deeply challenging and intriguing character study of a figure from Roman history portrayed as a cardboard villain by his successful political opponents.
Catalina's Riddle takes the nature of the reformist politician as its central mystery and plays off that themes of parenthood, midlife crisis, loyalty, integrity versus compromise. The series hero, Gordianus the Finder does rather little finding but a lot of searching: for a way to connect with his rebellious teenage son, for a home and a good life, for a path out of cynicism and isolation. Nonetheless, those headless bodies keep appearing on his farm...
The author contrasts Catalina's Riddle with Josephine Tey's apologia for Richard III, The Daughter of Time. Ultimately Saylor doesn't judge Catalina as either hero or villain, but as one of those complex, contradictory, larger-than-life figures the last generation of the Roman Republic produced in abundance.
Catalina's Riddle takes the nature of the reformist politician as its central mystery and plays off that themes of parenthood, midlife crisis, loyalty, integrity versus compromise. The series hero, Gordianus the Finder does rather little finding but a lot of searching: for a way to connect with his rebellious teenage son, for a home and a good life, for a path out of cynicism and isolation. Nonetheless, those headless bodies keep appearing on his farm...
The author contrasts Catalina's Riddle with Josephine Tey's apologia for Richard III, The Daughter of Time. Ultimately Saylor doesn't judge Catalina as either hero or villain, but as one of those complex, contradictory, larger-than-life figures the last generation of the Roman Republic produced in abundance.
June 2, 2012
I accidentally read this one before Arms of Nemesis, but thankfully the stories don't follow each other so closely that I was confused reading book #3 without having read #2. I love Stephen Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa books for the completely opposite reason that I love the Brother Cafael mysteries. Brother Cadfael books are a light, fun mystery with just enough of a solid historical setting to make them really interesting to me but never enough history to slow down the story. The Roma Sub Rosa books are a solid, substantive historical fiction novel with enough mystery and intrigue to keep them fun and light. I enjoyed learning about Catilina's rebellion, and as in Roman Blood I found Saylor's depiction of Cicero to be fascinating and multi-faceted.
June 29, 2012
The third book about Gordianus the Finder ... This time it is about the famous Catilina - whom some regard as a conspirator, others as a victim and others even as a monster.
In this book, the main character (Gordianus) takes a side but the author makes sure that there are plenty of other views expressed as well so as to enable the reader to make up his/her own mind.
Again, Steven Saylor has done a splendid job in making Ancient Rome come to life. There have been quite some chapters in which the country life was explained for a change, which was not really fitting Gordianus (it wasn't boring, but it didn't seem right either), but it was a nice change of view and the surroundings - although the view from the city itself is given as well.
Quite funny to read about all the links between famous names such as Cicero, Ceasar, Catilina, Crassus, Spartacus, Marcus Antonius and others.
So thumbs up ... and it will definitely not have been my last book about Gordianus. ;-)
In this book, the main character (Gordianus) takes a side but the author makes sure that there are plenty of other views expressed as well so as to enable the reader to make up his/her own mind.
Again, Steven Saylor has done a splendid job in making Ancient Rome come to life. There have been quite some chapters in which the country life was explained for a change, which was not really fitting Gordianus (it wasn't boring, but it didn't seem right either), but it was a nice change of view and the surroundings - although the view from the city itself is given as well.
Quite funny to read about all the links between famous names such as Cicero, Ceasar, Catilina, Crassus, Spartacus, Marcus Antonius and others.
So thumbs up ... and it will definitely not have been my last book about Gordianus. ;-)
May 20, 2021
Сидить собі давньоримський сищик Гордіан у давно омріяному сільському маєтку подалі від розбещеного Риму (тм), працює на шести сотках як порядний громадянин, але й тут починаються пригоди: то трупи на власній землі з'являються нізвідки, то давній патрон Цицерон просить подивитися за Катіліною, а той і приїхав погостювати.
Детективний сюжет є, і непоганий, але головний герой роману якраз Катіліна - страшенно харизматичний персонаж; нічого особливо не робить, просто бігає туди-сюди, іноді в тозі, іноді голяка, філософствує про життя та римські свободи, і всі мліють за лічені хвилини - і сам Гордіан, і його родина, і приятелі та спільники. Я теж не витримала, зомліла, бо ну неможливо ж! Магніт, а не людина, не відірватися.
Детективний сюжет є, і непоганий, але головний герой роману якраз Катіліна - страшенно харизматичний персонаж; нічого особливо не робить, просто бігає туди-сюди, іноді в тозі, іноді голяка, філософствує про життя та римські свободи, і всі мліють за лічені хвилини - і сам Гордіан, і його родина, і приятелі та спільники. Я теж не витримала, зомліла, бо ну неможливо ж! Магніт, а не людина, не відірватися.
January 2, 2024
Excellent read for those interested in historical fiction that manages to insert the reader in the Roman universe of the first century. It is a bit long at 500 pages and sometimes clunky when, for the benefit of the reader, it pauses or interrupts the flow of dialogue to explain terms or events that a contemporary would have grasped immediately. Other than that, it is written in a clear and natural style and manages to hold the attention with enough tension to make it enjoyable.
The main character, Gordianus the Finder, finds himself in a lucky position at the onset of the plot. He has inherited a farm from a wealthy friend and moved up one class above his original station. This inheritance has rankled a few of his neighbors, member of a patrician family that expected the farm to fall into their idle hands. Moreover, it was thanks to the ministrations of a consul of humble origins, Cicero, that the inheritance was facilitated without delay or legal recourse. Gordianus devotes himself to his farm and his family and is glad to stay away from Rome where he used to offer his talents as a truth seeker, a detective of sorts, to several prominent citizens whose political careers sometimes depended on such findings.
But Rome can't be held at bay and comes knocking to his idyllic farm doors. Mysterious riders disrupt Gordianus' peace and request the use of the farm as a refuge for their boss, Catilina, a prominent candidate who is trying to get elected for the senate. Catilina needs a hiding place to plot and avoid being seen. Gordianus refuses but is soon persuaded otherwise when a beheaded corpse appears in his stables. Is it a veiled threat? As the elections take place in Rome, the populace takes sides and pits two candidates against each other, one is the aforementioned aristocrat Catilina and the other the fiery tongued Cicero. The web of plots and conspiracies aimed at mutual destruction grows thick and Gordianus' becomes ensnared in trying to figure out who to believe, and more importantly, how to spare his family any pain derived from the increasing animosity. Then another corpse appears....
The historical background is true to the actual events. Catilina recruited people thirsting to blow up the Optimates' (best ones) hold on power. Cicero launched a well documented verbal campaign warning Romans against Catilina's depraved character and intentions: to demolish the Senate and rule as a dictator himself. Cicero himself is not beyond granting himself extraordinary powers fro the sake of saving the Republic and bypassing a few laws in the process. Bribery and political maneuvering are rampant and the Republic's delicate balance teeters. All candidates claim to be the saviours of Rome but none is trustworthy.
It is not only this novelization of the power struggles in Rome (struggles that indeed led to the Republic's downfall) that makes this an interesting book but also the details about Roman life, the treatment of slaves, the everyday life in a Roman farm, how mining was carried out, the rites of passage for young men gaining citizenship, the election procedures and laws enacted ,etc.. The main character is best described by Catilina himself as someone that elevates people, even those born in lower classes or slavery, something the Roman worldview thought of as odd in the best of cases. Gordianus is led by an innate sense of justice and love for his family, with no illusions of superiority as divinely ordained by Fate. Gordianus' family is also fully fleshed: the young adopted son Meto just entering adulthood and claiming his place, the Egyptian wife (and also a former slave) Bethesda with her haughty concerns and fierce determination, Aratus, the practical manager that scoffs at Cato -the moralist writer- authority in regards to running a farm, the sensual and charming Catilina, the propagandist Cicero, the wealthy and heartless Crassus and so on.
The mystery itself is not all that surprising. By process of elimination it is not impossible to deduct who is behind all the strewn corpses. There are some rather fortuitous twist and some inaccuracies (ostriches do not hide their heads in the sand when they are afraid, that type of thing) but the immersion in an ancient world is a success and just for that, it deserves 4 1/2 stars.
The main character, Gordianus the Finder, finds himself in a lucky position at the onset of the plot. He has inherited a farm from a wealthy friend and moved up one class above his original station. This inheritance has rankled a few of his neighbors, member of a patrician family that expected the farm to fall into their idle hands. Moreover, it was thanks to the ministrations of a consul of humble origins, Cicero, that the inheritance was facilitated without delay or legal recourse. Gordianus devotes himself to his farm and his family and is glad to stay away from Rome where he used to offer his talents as a truth seeker, a detective of sorts, to several prominent citizens whose political careers sometimes depended on such findings.
But Rome can't be held at bay and comes knocking to his idyllic farm doors. Mysterious riders disrupt Gordianus' peace and request the use of the farm as a refuge for their boss, Catilina, a prominent candidate who is trying to get elected for the senate. Catilina needs a hiding place to plot and avoid being seen. Gordianus refuses but is soon persuaded otherwise when a beheaded corpse appears in his stables. Is it a veiled threat? As the elections take place in Rome, the populace takes sides and pits two candidates against each other, one is the aforementioned aristocrat Catilina and the other the fiery tongued Cicero. The web of plots and conspiracies aimed at mutual destruction grows thick and Gordianus' becomes ensnared in trying to figure out who to believe, and more importantly, how to spare his family any pain derived from the increasing animosity. Then another corpse appears....
The historical background is true to the actual events. Catilina recruited people thirsting to blow up the Optimates' (best ones) hold on power. Cicero launched a well documented verbal campaign warning Romans against Catilina's depraved character and intentions: to demolish the Senate and rule as a dictator himself. Cicero himself is not beyond granting himself extraordinary powers fro the sake of saving the Republic and bypassing a few laws in the process. Bribery and political maneuvering are rampant and the Republic's delicate balance teeters. All candidates claim to be the saviours of Rome but none is trustworthy.
It is not only this novelization of the power struggles in Rome (struggles that indeed led to the Republic's downfall) that makes this an interesting book but also the details about Roman life, the treatment of slaves, the everyday life in a Roman farm, how mining was carried out, the rites of passage for young men gaining citizenship, the election procedures and laws enacted ,etc.. The main character is best described by Catilina himself as someone that elevates people, even those born in lower classes or slavery, something the Roman worldview thought of as odd in the best of cases. Gordianus is led by an innate sense of justice and love for his family, with no illusions of superiority as divinely ordained by Fate. Gordianus' family is also fully fleshed: the young adopted son Meto just entering adulthood and claiming his place, the Egyptian wife (and also a former slave) Bethesda with her haughty concerns and fierce determination, Aratus, the practical manager that scoffs at Cato -the moralist writer- authority in regards to running a farm, the sensual and charming Catilina, the propagandist Cicero, the wealthy and heartless Crassus and so on.
The mystery itself is not all that surprising. By process of elimination it is not impossible to deduct who is behind all the strewn corpses. There are some rather fortuitous twist and some inaccuracies (ostriches do not hide their heads in the sand when they are afraid, that type of thing) but the immersion in an ancient world is a success and just for that, it deserves 4 1/2 stars.
December 1, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this entry in the Gordianus series. In terms of being a mystery novel, this certainly isn't the best as there's very little actual mystery to it - Saylor has to keep mentioning the dead body found on the farm every now and again in case people forget about it. However, as a fan of historical fiction, that side of the book more than makes up for the lack of a mystery.In general, I think it is overly long, and would be served better by having 50 or so pages trimmed, but it's got an era of Roman history at the centre of which I knew very little. Recommended more for historical fans than mystery lovers, but well worth reading.
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