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The Case of Minerva
A body in a ditch; a love unrequited; a rift between there’s been a murder in Ancient Rome
For Secundus, son of the high priest, his routine was settled. Until he found her.
Now, with his fate re-written, he is forced into investigating the death of the bride-to-be by a dream from the goddess Minerva, and finds relationships at breaking point as Rome reels from his discovery.
With only three days in which to solve the case failure is never far away as Secundus, filled with self-doubt, deals with deceit and lies that lead him to look closer to home for the killer.
Read this first book in a new series from Francis Mulhern, author of the Camillus, Dictator of Rome series.
For Secundus, son of the high priest, his routine was settled. Until he found her.
Now, with his fate re-written, he is forced into investigating the death of the bride-to-be by a dream from the goddess Minerva, and finds relationships at breaking point as Rome reels from his discovery.
With only three days in which to solve the case failure is never far away as Secundus, filled with self-doubt, deals with deceit and lies that lead him to look closer to home for the killer.
Read this first book in a new series from Francis Mulhern, author of the Camillus, Dictator of Rome series.
229 pages, Paperback
Published April 23, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 11, 2024
I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did.
It's hard to pin down exactly what time in Roman history this book is set but I think it's in the early days of the republic as there is some.talk of the time of Kings. The young hero is called Secundus (the second son) he is a widower at nineteen his wife having died in childbirth. Since this time Secundus has spent all his time staying as drunk as he can trying to avoid the memories of his wife's death. His father who has just been elevated to the.position of Quasor (a sort of judge) has finally had enough and has put Secundus to work in the halls of Janus (the courts) here Secundus meets his soon to be friend Gracchius (who also works there). One early morning during the feast of Minerva Secundus is staggering home (once again heavily drunk) when he stumbles over the body of a young girl dead in a ditch. Now Secundus has another dead girl who haunts him whenever he tried to sleep. The girls killer is not found and the case is closed...........until the girls mother contacts Secundus to tell him of a dream she had in which the Goddess Minerva came to her and said Secundus was the man who would find her daughters murderer. Now in this time dreams, especially those sent by the Gods were extremely important and Secundus goes from being the family screw up to being a favoured son...................... Now all be has to do is fine the killer, oh yes and he's only got three days in which to do it............
It's hard to pin down exactly what time in Roman history this book is set but I think it's in the early days of the republic as there is some.talk of the time of Kings. The young hero is called Secundus (the second son) he is a widower at nineteen his wife having died in childbirth. Since this time Secundus has spent all his time staying as drunk as he can trying to avoid the memories of his wife's death. His father who has just been elevated to the.position of Quasor (a sort of judge) has finally had enough and has put Secundus to work in the halls of Janus (the courts) here Secundus meets his soon to be friend Gracchius (who also works there). One early morning during the feast of Minerva Secundus is staggering home (once again heavily drunk) when he stumbles over the body of a young girl dead in a ditch. Now Secundus has another dead girl who haunts him whenever he tried to sleep. The girls killer is not found and the case is closed...........until the girls mother contacts Secundus to tell him of a dream she had in which the Goddess Minerva came to her and said Secundus was the man who would find her daughters murderer. Now in this time dreams, especially those sent by the Gods were extremely important and Secundus goes from being the family screw up to being a favoured son...................... Now all be has to do is fine the killer, oh yes and he's only got three days in which to do it............
December 20, 2022
An enjoyable read!
This was quite a story of gods, goddesses and an ancient Roman class system. A wine soaked good for nothing young man stumbles into a ditch and discovers the body of a murdered young woman. This unfortunate encounter changes his life. He is the second son of a Roman aristocrat who, wrapped up in his own misery, is on the path to self destruction. However, fate takes a hand and he finds himself tasked with finding the murderer within four short days. The goddess Minerva herself had prophesied his involvement in the investigation. What follows is a roller coaster ride of nefarious double dealing, family treachery and the discovery of true friendship in the most unexpected of places. A very enjoyable read.
This was quite a story of gods, goddesses and an ancient Roman class system. A wine soaked good for nothing young man stumbles into a ditch and discovers the body of a murdered young woman. This unfortunate encounter changes his life. He is the second son of a Roman aristocrat who, wrapped up in his own misery, is on the path to self destruction. However, fate takes a hand and he finds himself tasked with finding the murderer within four short days. The goddess Minerva herself had prophesied his involvement in the investigation. What follows is a roller coaster ride of nefarious double dealing, family treachery and the discovery of true friendship in the most unexpected of places. A very enjoyable read.
August 16, 2022
In this book I wanted to create a sense of the role that 'gods' (and devotions to them) as well as the all-powerful patriarchal system played in people's lives. Secundus is a drop-out, a boy whose wife and child died in childbirth and who therefore believes that the gods have forsaken him. His drinking is causing problems with his socially-climbing father who has almost hidden Secundus away to keep an eye on him and stop him causing further embarrassments. And then at the Festival of Minerva Secundus stumbles into a dead body. Driven by nightmares of the dead girl and his anger at the gods for his 'unlucky life' he is thrust into investigating the girl's death when he's named in a dream by a priestess of the cult of Minerva.
As insecurities play against the scheming of his father to create a larger legacy for the 'family' using this dream from Minerva, Secundus clashes with the head man of the temple of Jupiter, Gaius Scavolo, a former centurion who instills fear into everything he oversees and is pushing Secundus harder and harder to solve the mystery or run away as he;s just an embarrassment to the family. Secundus doesn't like to be told what to do and his insecurity comes to the fore as his devotions to the gods cause confusion and his luck seems to run out.
The plot follows his stumbling efforts to find the killer of the girl and to understand why she was killed. A contract for a wedding has recently been cancelled, a boy claims he was her lover and she was seen being chased by someone just an hour before she was found dead. Scavolo arrests a suspect and tortures him until he confesses, but Secundus is convinced they have the wrong man and so bargains with Janus and Minerva to give him the skills to solve this riddle.
Behind the plot to solve the murder is a darker theme of patriarchal control in the life of a Roman second son. Secundus is trying to find his way in life, to get his feet back on the ground after the death of his wife and child and is also unsure of his status and place in life. His insecurity in his decisions, his fear of upsetting the gods and his desire to drink himself into a stupor remain despite this new challenge that is thrust upon him.
As insecurities play against the scheming of his father to create a larger legacy for the 'family' using this dream from Minerva, Secundus clashes with the head man of the temple of Jupiter, Gaius Scavolo, a former centurion who instills fear into everything he oversees and is pushing Secundus harder and harder to solve the mystery or run away as he;s just an embarrassment to the family. Secundus doesn't like to be told what to do and his insecurity comes to the fore as his devotions to the gods cause confusion and his luck seems to run out.
The plot follows his stumbling efforts to find the killer of the girl and to understand why she was killed. A contract for a wedding has recently been cancelled, a boy claims he was her lover and she was seen being chased by someone just an hour before she was found dead. Scavolo arrests a suspect and tortures him until he confesses, but Secundus is convinced they have the wrong man and so bargains with Janus and Minerva to give him the skills to solve this riddle.
Behind the plot to solve the murder is a darker theme of patriarchal control in the life of a Roman second son. Secundus is trying to find his way in life, to get his feet back on the ground after the death of his wife and child and is also unsure of his status and place in life. His insecurity in his decisions, his fear of upsetting the gods and his desire to drink himself into a stupor remain despite this new challenge that is thrust upon him.
July 7, 2022
The Case of Minerva
By
Francis Mulhern
Rating:4.9/5
Description/review:
👉Talking about the title of the book, the title of the book is really so interesting to read.
👉The cover is appealing and attractive as well.Writing style is quite appreciable .A body in a ditch; a love unrequited; a rift between families: there’s been a murder in Ancient Rome.For Secundus, son of the high priest, his routine was settled. Until he found her.Now, with his fate re-written, he is forced into investigating the death of the bride-to-be by a dream from the goddess Minerva, and finds relationships at breaking point as Rome reels from his discovery.With only three days in which to solve the case failure is never far away as Secundus, filled with self-doubt, deals with deceit and lies that lead him to look closer to home for the killer.
Read this first book in a new series from Francis Mulhern, author of the Camillus, Dictator of Rome series.
Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YQF7ZTZ
Wow! What a book! I am in love with the book
For complete read do order the book on @amazondotin @amazondotcom
👉I just loved reading the book and will recommended to everyone ....
Happy reading!..
By
Francis Mulhern
Rating:4.9/5
Description/review:
👉Talking about the title of the book, the title of the book is really so interesting to read.
👉The cover is appealing and attractive as well.Writing style is quite appreciable .A body in a ditch; a love unrequited; a rift between families: there’s been a murder in Ancient Rome.For Secundus, son of the high priest, his routine was settled. Until he found her.Now, with his fate re-written, he is forced into investigating the death of the bride-to-be by a dream from the goddess Minerva, and finds relationships at breaking point as Rome reels from his discovery.With only three days in which to solve the case failure is never far away as Secundus, filled with self-doubt, deals with deceit and lies that lead him to look closer to home for the killer.
Read this first book in a new series from Francis Mulhern, author of the Camillus, Dictator of Rome series.
Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YQF7ZTZ
Wow! What a book! I am in love with the book
For complete read do order the book on @amazondotin @amazondotcom
👉I just loved reading the book and will recommended to everyone ....
Happy reading!..
August 31, 2023
Loved this book!
Travel back to ancient Rome and immerse yourself in a race against time to solve the murder of a priestess’s daughter.
Secundus, son of a high priest, and fellow scribe Graccus, are tasked with tracking down the person responsible for the crime after the priestess is visited in a dream by the goddess Minerva. Struggling to come to terms with the death of his wife and child, Secundus is now faced with overcoming self-doubt, deception and feuding families to bring the culprit to justice.
I became so engrossed in this story that I wanted to grab hold of Secundus and make him wait so I could take a look at the places we were passing through and the buildings we entered. I wanted to stop and observe the people we were talking to, and wander over to the people going about their daily lives to ask them their stories.
This book will entangle you in mystery, and if you love to submerse yourself in history you will not fail to be entertained. The characters and the historical details drew me in and made it really difficult for me to put the book down. I was left not only wanting to know what happens next to Secundus, Graccus and the others we met along the way, but wanting to know more about this era of Rome. I want to know more about the people, the culture, the temples and laws.
The Case of Minerva is the first in the Secundus Sulpicius series so thankfully I don’t have to wait too long too before I can head back to Secundus’s Rome.
Travel back to ancient Rome and immerse yourself in a race against time to solve the murder of a priestess’s daughter.
Secundus, son of a high priest, and fellow scribe Graccus, are tasked with tracking down the person responsible for the crime after the priestess is visited in a dream by the goddess Minerva. Struggling to come to terms with the death of his wife and child, Secundus is now faced with overcoming self-doubt, deception and feuding families to bring the culprit to justice.
I became so engrossed in this story that I wanted to grab hold of Secundus and make him wait so I could take a look at the places we were passing through and the buildings we entered. I wanted to stop and observe the people we were talking to, and wander over to the people going about their daily lives to ask them their stories.
This book will entangle you in mystery, and if you love to submerse yourself in history you will not fail to be entertained. The characters and the historical details drew me in and made it really difficult for me to put the book down. I was left not only wanting to know what happens next to Secundus, Graccus and the others we met along the way, but wanting to know more about this era of Rome. I want to know more about the people, the culture, the temples and laws.
The Case of Minerva is the first in the Secundus Sulpicius series so thankfully I don’t have to wait too long too before I can head back to Secundus’s Rome.
March 2, 2024
A Roman historical mystery, but set back in the distant past, before the republic. Rome is a small settlement among the Etruscans, and the boundary markers Romulus put down are still visible. A wastrel young man who is son of a judge and important man finds himself in the middle of a mystery, declared to be the man who will solve it by a priestess of Minerva.
The writing is solid, with a few minor issues, mostly modern terms and phrases that are out of place in a historical story. The clash of cultures between Romans and Etruscans is interesting, but not violent (yet anyway). Everyone is very, very focused on the gods, favors, curses, sacrifices, etc. Which feels strange to modern readers perhaps but is very appropriate for the times. The mystery was not particularly challenging, but relied on a lot of gaps in information primarily caused by a lack of good technique and experience in the investigators.
Our hero Secundus grows up quite a bit in this story, and while he has a ways to go, develops well as an investigator as well.
The writing is solid, with a few minor issues, mostly modern terms and phrases that are out of place in a historical story. The clash of cultures between Romans and Etruscans is interesting, but not violent (yet anyway). Everyone is very, very focused on the gods, favors, curses, sacrifices, etc. Which feels strange to modern readers perhaps but is very appropriate for the times. The mystery was not particularly challenging, but relied on a lot of gaps in information primarily caused by a lack of good technique and experience in the investigators.
Our hero Secundus grows up quite a bit in this story, and while he has a ways to go, develops well as an investigator as well.
January 10, 2025
1st in the Secundus mystery series.
Rome 400 years before Caesar with the republic in its very early stages and 19 year old Secundus is the youngest son in a prominent Roman family whose father is striving for even higher status. He is adrift after his wife died in childbirth along with their baby. He becomes a wastrel drinking heavily until his father intervenes sobers him up and getting him a position as a menial scribe in his father justice court system. he is a widower at nineteen his wife having died in childbirth. In one of his drunken stupors, he stumbles across the dead body of a young girl and is haunted by her memory.
The mother is a high priestess for the goddess Minerva and claims the goddess named Secundus as the person who will find her daughter's murder. He then becomes involved in trying to discover the murder which involves him in a multitude of plots, covering up, rivalries, unrequited love, etc. along with his father's own manipulations.
Rome 400 years before Caesar with the republic in its very early stages and 19 year old Secundus is the youngest son in a prominent Roman family whose father is striving for even higher status. He is adrift after his wife died in childbirth along with their baby. He becomes a wastrel drinking heavily until his father intervenes sobers him up and getting him a position as a menial scribe in his father justice court system. he is a widower at nineteen his wife having died in childbirth. In one of his drunken stupors, he stumbles across the dead body of a young girl and is haunted by her memory.
The mother is a high priestess for the goddess Minerva and claims the goddess named Secundus as the person who will find her daughter's murder. He then becomes involved in trying to discover the murder which involves him in a multitude of plots, covering up, rivalries, unrequited love, etc. along with his father's own manipulations.
June 23, 2024
Remarkable
I was surprised the book was so easy to understand with all the ancient references and vocabulary. No problems at all. Adds authenticity without complications. Really enjoyed the play between the wildly different characters.
I was surprised the book was so easy to understand with all the ancient references and vocabulary. No problems at all. Adds authenticity without complications. Really enjoyed the play between the wildly different characters.
February 29, 2024
Very enjoyable read!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews