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Spies of Rome #1
Blood & Honour
Rome 27BC.
The civil war is over.
Augustus Caesar is the First Man of Rome.
But Marcus Agrippa has heard rumours of a coup, centred around the senator Lucius Scaurus.
He enlists the help of the poet Rufus Varro and his bodyguard Manius to help investigate.
The senator has recruited a company of actors and school of gladiators to further his ambitions. But what is his ultimate plan?
Varro must get to the heart of the conspiracy, or die trying.
'Spies of Rome: Blood & Honour' is the first book in a new series by bestselling author Richard Foreman.
The civil war is over.
Augustus Caesar is the First Man of Rome.
But Marcus Agrippa has heard rumours of a coup, centred around the senator Lucius Scaurus.
He enlists the help of the poet Rufus Varro and his bodyguard Manius to help investigate.
The senator has recruited a company of actors and school of gladiators to further his ambitions. But what is his ultimate plan?
Varro must get to the heart of the conspiracy, or die trying.
'Spies of Rome: Blood & Honour' is the first book in a new series by bestselling author Richard Foreman.
- GenresHistorical FictionEbooks
273 pages, Paperback
Published May 24, 2018
111 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Richard Foreman
37 books77 followersRichard Foreman is the author of numerous best-selling Kindle books, including Augustus: Son of Rome and the Sword of Rome series of novellas which follow Julius Caesar and his centurion Lucius Oppius during their campaigns in Britain, Gaul and the Civil War. The stories are a blend of action, intrigue and Ancient History.
He is also the author of Warsaw, a literary novel set during the end of the Second World War, and the historical novel A Hero of Our Time, as well as the Raffles series of historical crime novellas.
His latest novel, Band of Brothers: The Game's Afoot, is a story is action, intrigue and historical insight set in medieval times.
He has worked as a literary consultant and publicist to a number of bestselling authors, including Tom Holland, Conn Iggulden and Simon Scarrow. He is now a publishing director at Endeavour Press, the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books, with his business partner Matthew Lynn.
He lives in London.
He is also the author of Warsaw, a literary novel set during the end of the Second World War, and the historical novel A Hero of Our Time, as well as the Raffles series of historical crime novellas.
His latest novel, Band of Brothers: The Game's Afoot, is a story is action, intrigue and historical insight set in medieval times.
He has worked as a literary consultant and publicist to a number of bestselling authors, including Tom Holland, Conn Iggulden and Simon Scarrow. He is now a publishing director at Endeavour Press, the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books, with his business partner Matthew Lynn.
He lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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August 4, 2018I learnt a new word today; it was ‘presentism’. The word describes the application of modern values and ethics upon the past. I was pleased to come across the word as the practice of ‘presentism’ is something I often comment upon. I think there was a lot of this is this novel.
Firstly, let me say I am quite a fan of Richard Foreman, but this story just did not do it for me. A wine drinking wastrel who suddenly turns spy after Agrippa drops in for a favour. A love-struck body guard who has achieved his freedom in the arena as a champion, who is warm, considerate and almost cuddly. It just did not hang for me. The characters suffered from presentism!
In addition, we seemed to have long descriptive pieces that have little bearing on the story – for example the meeting with the actors. Occasionally the situational descriptors are over the top. At one point I wondered if this had been written for an adolescent audience?
Richard Foreman has produced some great yarns, but not this one. I do however, look forward to his next book.
Firstly, let me say I am quite a fan of Richard Foreman, but this story just did not do it for me. A wine drinking wastrel who suddenly turns spy after Agrippa drops in for a favour. A love-struck body guard who has achieved his freedom in the arena as a champion, who is warm, considerate and almost cuddly. It just did not hang for me. The characters suffered from presentism!
In addition, we seemed to have long descriptive pieces that have little bearing on the story – for example the meeting with the actors. Occasionally the situational descriptors are over the top. At one point I wondered if this had been written for an adolescent audience?
Richard Foreman has produced some great yarns, but not this one. I do however, look forward to his next book.
January 15, 2019
Grabbed me from the beginning and never let go
This was a good work of fiction about ancient Rome, yet included real figures of history mixed in throughout the story. The book had everything you would want when you think of ancient Rome, sex, violence, gladiators, and wine. Before I read this book I started something similar, but that author wanted you to know that he knew the Latin word for sandal, threshold, wall, latrine, etc. it felt like I was in the colosseum being sacrificed to the lions. It was painful to read and so unnecessary. Foreman gave you enough Latin but didn't bog you down with mind-numbing excruciating Latin illustration. The author had me hooked from the beginning ttyl the end, and I'm happy to say I'm looking forward to the next read.
This was a good work of fiction about ancient Rome, yet included real figures of history mixed in throughout the story. The book had everything you would want when you think of ancient Rome, sex, violence, gladiators, and wine. Before I read this book I started something similar, but that author wanted you to know that he knew the Latin word for sandal, threshold, wall, latrine, etc. it felt like I was in the colosseum being sacrificed to the lions. It was painful to read and so unnecessary. Foreman gave you enough Latin but didn't bog you down with mind-numbing excruciating Latin illustration. The author had me hooked from the beginning ttyl the end, and I'm happy to say I'm looking forward to the next read.
June 22, 2020
One of the best books about Ancient Rome in some time that left me quite satisfied with the experience. Set some years after the Battle of Actium, its beautifully written, the words brought Rome to life in a manner most other books failed. The characters are very well fleshed out, the details about the setting and the environment very easy to envision. All in all, a must read.
April 4, 2019
Great read
Great read. Love historical fiction and this was one of the best I have read in a long time. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Great read. Love historical fiction and this was one of the best I have read in a long time. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
August 19, 2019
Really enjoyable
Fantastically enjoyable novel by one of the masters of Roman novel writing, it mainly involves a wealthy and well connected man and his gladiator body guard.
Fantastically enjoyable novel by one of the masters of Roman novel writing, it mainly involves a wealthy and well connected man and his gladiator body guard.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews