The First Dai and Julia Omnibus

Dai and Julia #1-4

by E.M. Swift-Hook, Jane Jago

In a modern day Britain where the Roman Empire never left, crime is rife. Murder, trafficking, drug smuggling and strange religious cults are just a few of the problems that Dai and Julia have to handle, whilst managing family, friendship and domestic crises.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 9, 2017

About the author

E.M. Swift-Hook is the author of the Fortune's Fools dark space opera series and co-author of the alternate history whodunits the Dai and Julia Mysteries.
In the words that Robert Heinlein put into the mouth of Lazarus Long: 'Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.'
Having tried a number of different careers, before settling in the North-East of England with family, three dogs, cats and a small flock of rescued chickens, she now spends a lot of time in private and has very clean hands.

Reviews

[Maggie Hasbrouck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall: This is a collection of related stories, a handful of which are available as standalones. The concept for the books is terrific—a modern-day London where the Roman empire is still in power. The authors set up some really interesting social and political dynamics. Classism and racism figure heavily in this world with citizenship being the ultimate prize. It’s a thought-provoking book that reflects our own culture. With all that going for it, it could have been great, but for me, it just didn’t live up to its promise.

Writing: While the writing isn’t bad, I found it really difficult to understand, especially at the beginning. The authors pepper their writing with so many Mongol and Latin terms that at times it was just too much work to try and decipher it all. There is a glossary at the end of the book for those who wish to learn the language. I was a quarter of the way into the collection before I felt like I had a decent handle on the writing. Still, there was all kinds of political intrigue and nuance that I couldn’t fully grasp. It’s the kind of stuff I love, but half the time, I just felt left in the dark.

Plot: In the first story, we jump right into the plot, which is great. There’s plenty going on in all the stories, and they all move pretty briskly. Occasionally, I felt like the authors just skipped ahead by telling us what had happened, rather than playing it out for us. Also, there was a lot of gruesome, sometimes ritualistic, violence in the stories that wasn’t always backed up by the plot, so it felt at times, gratuitous. That being said, we are told that this is a brutal society.


Characters: The characters were likable, and well fleshed out. I enjoyed getting glimpses into various relationships through the different stories. I also enjoyed the relationship between Dai and Julia, although they went from strangers with vastly different backgrounds to committed lovers, way too quickly.

Recommendation: For all its shortcomings, I still recommend taking a look. While not as complex, it has much the same appeal as Game of Thrones. Take advantage of the preview, if the writing doesn’t put you off, it’s well worth the read.

[L.N. Denison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dai and Julia Omnibus is a range of mystery stories revolving around the husband and wife pairing of Dai Llewellyn and Julia Lucia Maxilla. He is a British vigile and she is a Roman of higher ranking than. The pair meet on a case, which cements their relationship.

Anyways, now i've given you a brief micro history, i'll get on with my review. The book itself gives us four amazing books, and a few bonus shorts stories thrown in for good measure. These little bonuses are a great addition to this compendium of Alternate History.

Dying to be Roman:

This is where it all beginnings. Our intrepid duo are made to partner up to investigate a spate of murders. The story is dark in all the right places, and danger lurks behind every corner.

Dying to be Friends:

This is a good, I suppose you call it a prequel. We get to find out how our pair of inspectors meet their respective sidekicks, Bryn and Ebert, and Cannis and Lupo ended up in Julia's possession. In this story Dai is a rookie vigile who has been fast tracked to head vigile, and Bryn is the disgruntled second point. Julia starts out life as a Customs Officer, who rescues Ebert and dogs from slavers.

Dying for a Poppy:

By this time, our duo are now a married couple, and this story is more family based. Dai infiltrates a gang determined to undermine the Roman empire. it is more about dragging a family member out and shutting down the group. I say family member loosely, as the person in question is Dai's sister-in-laws father. This story is multifaceted, it also deals in smuggling, opium distribution, and other such activities.

Dying as a Druid:

This another solid addition to the D and J franchise. Danger, death and mayhem lurk on every turn. This story brings up the rear of a rather good Omnibus.

Each book had its merits, and each was very well written and as intriguing as the last, and I love the addition of the three extra short stories toward the end.

I highly recommend if you like Alternate History, you'll love this.

[Ducky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of 4 novellas and some companion stories. What if Rome had not fallen? What would our world be like? This is the question asked by authors E.M. Swift-Hook and Jane Jago. And they answer it with crime stories that have both Roman and British flavor.

In modern day Britain, it would certainly chafe to be ruled by the Romans who have not softened their rules and laws concerning the privileges of Roman citizenship.

Dai Llewellyn, born to a wealthy family in Wales, but not a citizen, feels the shackles keenly, but has chosen to serve in law enforcement in an effort to help out his people and other non-citizens. His passion is to get justice regardless of status.

Julia a Roman citizen by birth, but from the slums of Rome, has fought all her life to survive. She has a keen sense of right and wrong and a passion to help those who are helpless.

Together they become a team, fighting crime and making sure that the everyone gets a fair shake in a society that is skewed heavily to the wealthy and privileged.

These stories are hard hitting and interesting. Anyone who likes crime novels will find them a refreshing change. Anyone who likes alternate history will find some excellent research and what if's in this Omnibus.

[S.K. Wee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packed with great storytelling, this collection was an extraordinary buy! The four novellas describe different points in the lives of Dai and Julia as they make their way through the prejudice surrounding the Roman held lands that make up the United Kingdom. They meet while solving murders in Londinium and the chemistry between the two is undeniable. I had already read Dying to be Roman and loved how the story ended. Dying to be Friends takes a step back as we discover a portion of Dai and Julia’s backstories. Dai’s first encounter with his sidekick Bryn and Julia’s rescue of her large protective bodyguard, Edbert.
The other two novellas, Dying for a Poppy and Dying as a Druid, continue as they move to Viriconium and Dai takes on the duties of submagistratus. The job leads him back to his roots and they struggle to deal with both family ties and Roman oppression. Also included were several short stories that tied in nicely and dealt with family issues. This alternative history/mystery is highly recommended and a fantastic value!

[T.L. Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!
I have always been fascinated by Ancient Rome, but the authors bring it into modern day Britannia. Welcome to a Britain which Romans never left.

Dai is a true Brit, and has been confined by the harsh two tier system imposed by the Roman rulers. He's an investigator, fighting crime whilst standing up for his fellow countrymen.

Whilst Julia is a Patrician of Rome. Fighting crime for the little people of Roman descent who have also suffered.

Mix in some Druids, underworld scallywags and opium smugglers, and you have some exciting stories.

There's so many wonderful details. A lot of research has clearly gone into this book, and has been interwoven with intriguing tales, which all link together.

I love all the short stories contained here. The characters come to life. I particularly like Edbert, a mountain of a man.

No qualms recommending this to a friend.

[S.E. Sasaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What present-day policing in Britain might be like if it were still ruled by Rome.

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down! You will grow to love Dai and Julia and the wide cast of warm and witty secondary characters surrounding them, as they solve mysteries in an alternate present-day Britannia that still exists under the yoke of Roman rule. You will also learn lots of swear words from Roman dialect and Welsh (if that interests you!). I am somewhat reminded of the '..... In Death' science fiction series by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) in which there is a strong female protagonist and a handsome, tall, dark-haired, blue-eyed Celtic as her partner. If you like mysteries and books about Roman culture, you will certainly enjoy this collection of stories!

[Dora Ilieva · Rating 4 out of 5]

The First Dai and Julia Omnibus is a book set in Britannia – a country both modern (all-terrain vehicles, social media, etc.) and still ruled by the Roman Empire. It is the story of two young crime fighters and their families. The plot lines take us through a series of crimes, thickening towards the end when people close to the main characters are involved. There is an abundance of Latin and Celtic words and a large array of characters. I am not a great fan of alternative history and maybe that is why the book did not appeal to me very much, but I do realize that it may be interesting to readers who like this genre.

[Jacqueline Simonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alternate History Done Right

Like murder mysteries? Like alternate history? Then this book is for you!

These short stories are set in a universe where the Roman Empire never fell – Roman rule exists in a world with cell phones, laptops, social media, crime - human trafficking, drug cartels – and brutal Roman justice held in the stadia. There are two levels of citizenship – those with Roman family ties are full citizens and entitled to better housing, baths, and social privileges. The colonized population have lesser rights access, and must always defer to the Romans. Romanized Britannia is a far province filled with non-citizens, and therefore inequality and fossilized worldviews are at war with the modern world.

Into this mix come Dai – a Britannic police officer with a family name important to non-citizens - and Julia, a super-sleuth female customs officer who started out life in the Roman slums, but is still considered a citizen. Their love and resulting marriage make Dai a Roman citizen - a man of 2 worlds. Julia is no less his partner in solving crimes and calling in markers from her Roman friends.

Most alternate history books are set in the past and trouble themselves little with the greater implications of the changes. What Swift-Hook and Jago have created is an alternate world richly imagined: politically, culturally, transportation, fashion, societally, religiously. It is nothing short of remarkable the subtle ways they introduce these things. For instance, travel in areas that are outside “Londinium” is over rutted roads that require the use of 4-wheel drive vehicles or hover vehicles. This indicates the lack of investment from the Roman authorities, and the disinterest in making the lives of non-citizens as pleasant as those of more Roman areas.

I could go on for another few 1000 words. Stop reading my stuff, and BUY. THIS. BOOK.

[Laurel Heidtman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed The First Dai and Julia Omnibus through Kindle Unlimited, and I’m glad I did! This collection of novellas and short stories is set in a truly original world—England in the modern day, but an England that would have existed had the Romans maintained power. Julia is a Roman citizen by birth, although she was born in a slum. Dai is a Brit and not a Roman citizen (at least at the beginning) but from a wealthy family. Both are police investigators, and in the first story, they meet and fall in love while investigating and solving a series of murders. Two short stories provide back story on each of them, while telling their adventures in solving more crimes. The pattern continues with each story dealing with another crime at the same time it continues the story of their personal life.

Latin and Welsh terms, along with Mongol terms in one story, are sprinkled throughout, and the authors include glossaries of each at the end along with a warning that the translations aren’t always accurate but are how the terms are used in Dai and Julia’s world. In most cases, the reader can figure out the meaning without referring to the glossary. The unfamiliar terms do not slow the pace of the story, and I find that a testament to the authors’ ability to create a world and characters that absorb the reader.

The entire collection of stories is an engrossing read. I liked being able to finish one story in a sitting, knowing that I still had more to go back to. In fact, I hated for it to end, while at the same time, I didn’t want to stop reading.

I would have given this collection five stars except for the fact that it needs a copyedit. Things like comma splices, places where a word appeared twice (one right after another), missing words, and punctuation errors did not destroy my enjoyment of the stories. Since I’m a stickler for good copyediting, that is more testament to what a good job the authors do in telling a story. The errors did distract a bit, and they could be so easily fixed that I can only give the book four stars. But even if they’re never fixed, I still highly recommend this book to anyone who loves crime stories and/or alternate reality stories.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The First Dai and Julia Omnibus has a fascinating and ambitious premise - a modern day Britain where the Romans never left. The book quickly and skillfully defamiliarises the reader by contrasting the familiar and unfamiliar - the main character comments that he has put too much "garum" on his chips.
I enjoyed the first story particularly - it set off at a brisk pace, established two likeable characters and introduced me to an intriguing, textured world. The author deserves credit for balancing a sense of fun, drama and immediacy with political intrigue, character-development and world building. In different hands I think the premise could easily have led to and overly dense and slow-moving book. However, the story, conflict and characters seem to first here, and the author has fun with the concept.
For me, there were some pacing issues in the later stories and the narrative drive lost its way here and there, but the conclusion was satisfying and left me wanting to spend more time in its strange, absorbing world.

[S.D. Mayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is an incredibly complex and well-researched novel, as the author writes about murder and drugs with a twist and the adventures embarked on by her two investigators, the handsome Dai Llewellyn and the petite, Julia Lucia Maxilla.

It was strange to read about her character Dai Llewellyn, who is a Welshman born to a wealthy family, as bizarrely that’s the same name as a rather famous Welsh playboy and socialite, now sadly deceased. I have met the real Dai Llewellyn on several occasions and wondered if the author knew him and named her character after him for a reason, or if it was just a coincidence.

Coincidences aside, this was a fascinating creation in the alternative history genre of having two protagonists who live in a time where they are still ruled by the Roman Empire. Fans of alternative history and historical fiction will love it!

[Bara B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julia and Dai stories are set in a modern day Britain, the way it would be if it were under Roman Empire. The concept alone makes it for quite a unique read, as you slowly get introduced (or sometimes figure out on your own) the hierarchy of the society and different ranks. There i a lot of new terminology, which a lot of the times I had to guess only to find out at the end that there is an actual glossary of Latin terms. But unusual vocabulary and writer's style makes this collection of stories quite different, makes you feel like you are in a different epoch, until some modern technology randomly pops up along the way and snaps you back to reality. Omnibus is a collection of several novellas. It is quite long and might be a bit hard to read one after another, as it starts feeling like a saga and you probably want to mix it up with other readings.

[Mary Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rollicking good fantasy-procedural-adventure

Culture clash-romance-alternate reality detective investigative procedural with strong, discrete and distinctively crafted characters with strong moral compasses and delightful word play.

[Gill Mather · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is overlong. One or two well-written, properly explored investigations would have been enough, rather than 4 or 5 badly written episodes where evidence against suspects was scanty and arrests appear to have been based on hunches. The way the law was applied had a Wild West, gung ho air about it.

The book contains numerous mistakes, typos, words missing or duplicated, inverted commas not closed, unintentional spaces. This was the case throughout the book; several per page.

Also the writing had an amatuerish quality about it including sloppy syntax, non-sentences. There’s too much tell and not enough show, too much over-exaggeration of, e.g., people’s characters and characteristics.

The book appears not to have been proof-read at all.

I also found this book an odd mixture of ancient and modern. No explanation was given why the Romans still occupied and ruled Britain. The book appears to have been set in a modern era with all the main technical advances that have taken place, but brutal punishments still existed such as the amputation of hands and being sent to the arena. An earlier investigator was said to have killed a suspect without being disciplined. The two don’t sit very well together. The indigenous population were underprivileged, poor and downtrodden. Such people in practice tend to rebel and rise up, but the book seemed to sympathise with the efforts of the investigators to bring those committing crimes to the sorts of justice being meted out in this society.

The use of various technologies was selective to suit the plots of the various stories. For example, drones were employed in the hunt for sheep rustlers but not when an important official and his son were abducted. CCTV which is such an aid to police today and solves so many crimes was barely mentioned.

Apart from the Roman and Welsh terms, the dialogue included a degree of cosy homeliness and Wild West slang and much of it wouldn't have been out of place in the Midwest Corn Belt.

Finally, I think I got it pretty early on that Julia is a wonderful person with amazing qualities and a strong personality and that she and her husband Dai were madly in love with each other. Having it continually rammed down one’s throat over the course of such a long book became nauseating.

If one is able to overlook and not be too distracted by all of the above, then the book is reasonably enjoyable, or at least the characters become very familiar after so many pages, hence the three stars.

[Angela Panayotopulos · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would happen if two worlds meshed—that of the Roman Empire and that of modern-day Britain? What would happen if an old-school Imperial Rule clashed with contemporary criminal investigation services? E.M. Swift-Hook and Jane Jago portray their own answer to that question, introducing us to a place called Britannica, a place still under Roman rule. What with the Games—in all their “unrelenting savagery,” indeed—the world is reminiscent of The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones, both containing fascinating premises that completely revamp and revolutionize, in a most bloody fashion, the concept of a “game.”



All in all, this was a smooth, easy read. The premise is unique and fascinating, the material is thoroughly researched and well-crafted, and the characters are multi-dimensional and believable. The transitions are sound, and often much is said of a character with just a few lines. The narrative is action packed, but too physically gory and emotionally glossed over (spoiler alert -- I couldn’t quite fathom Julia’s subdued reaction when she was being grossly tortured and raped at some point, especially given her childhood trauma) in some sections for my taste; perhaps it fits when describing an ethnos that’s reveled in blood sports since the time of gladiator battles. There are many moments of tenderness and romance, too, which juxtapose with the violence poignantly (like when Dai and Julia share a yearning to retire together in a fruit orchard or when they swap secrets while watching a sunset), and I wish there were more of these sooner to illustrate the first phases of their relationship. I actually loved the abundance of Latin and Celtic terminology, too, which helped ease me into this world.



Also, I wouldn’t mine a pair of badass pet wolfhounds myself.

[Joy]

Set in an alternate present-day Britain where Rome never lost its grip on Europe. Privileged Romans ride hovercars and in some places Britons still pull their own ploughs. Hidden forest tribes have portable phones. It takes me a little while to get into each novella, but then I can't stop, because Dai and Julia and their friends are engaging. My favorites, of course, are the longest ones, because they create the world more fully. In "Dying to Be Roman," Briton Dai, resentful of privileged Romans, has to partner with the Roman Julia to bring down a criminal organization in Londinium. In "Dying as a Druid," Dai and Julia face two crimes, both embodying the conflict between Britons and Romans, in an isolated area where there are few Romans compared to a population that adheres to the old ways.

Needs copyediting.