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Ancient Rome #4
The Queen of the Night
As the sun’s insidious heat beats down, murderous forces lurk in the underbelly of 4th-century Rome. The normally cosseted world of the city’s rich and powerful is rocked by a series of violent abductions as children of the elite are kidnapped and held for ransom. Meanwhile, veteran soldiers—men who served Constantine along the Great Wall in northern Britain—are being barbarously murdered. The indignities inflicted on their corpses are reminiscent of the gruesome practices of the Picts whom they fought so many years ago. The Empress Helena summons her secret agent, Claudia, in a bid to resolve these macabre occurrences. But Claudia has problems of her own. The perfectly preserved corpse of a young Christian woman has been disinterred in her uncle’s garden and it falls to her to investigate this mystery too. Now she must track her way through a murky tangle of politics, religion, and murderous violence, ever aware that the slightest mistake could cost her life.
464 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2006
41 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Paul Doherty
263 books611 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 21, 2021
Read this book in 2008, and its the 3rd volume of the Ancient Rome series, featuring Claudia as Empress Helena's spy.
This tale is set in AD 314, and this time Rome is confronted with violent abductions of kids from Rome's rich, and held for ransom.
At the same time veteran soldiers are barbarously murdered, and in the fashion reminiscent of practices inflicted by the Picts.
Claudia is called in by Empress Helena to investigate these cases, while having a problem of her own in that that a perfectly preserved corpse of a young Christian woman has been disinterred in her uncle's garden.
All these cases Claudia will need to investigate, and when doing so she will enter a world full of treachery, dirty politics, religion strife and murderous violence, and in this world she must somehow find out the truth behind all this unrest.
What is to come is an intriguing and thrilling mystery in which Claudia will need to keep her nerve under control for every mistake could cost her life, and while succeeding doing that, she will finally be able to solve these cases within a superbly created and executed plot.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this amazing series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Fabulous "Claudia" Roman Mystery"!
This tale is set in AD 314, and this time Rome is confronted with violent abductions of kids from Rome's rich, and held for ransom.
At the same time veteran soldiers are barbarously murdered, and in the fashion reminiscent of practices inflicted by the Picts.
Claudia is called in by Empress Helena to investigate these cases, while having a problem of her own in that that a perfectly preserved corpse of a young Christian woman has been disinterred in her uncle's garden.
All these cases Claudia will need to investigate, and when doing so she will enter a world full of treachery, dirty politics, religion strife and murderous violence, and in this world she must somehow find out the truth behind all this unrest.
What is to come is an intriguing and thrilling mystery in which Claudia will need to keep her nerve under control for every mistake could cost her life, and while succeeding doing that, she will finally be able to solve these cases within a superbly created and executed plot.
Highly recommended, for this is another excellent addition to this amazing series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Fabulous "Claudia" Roman Mystery"!
March 17, 2023
Голямо удоволствие са ми тези книги,остана ми още една само 😔
July 29, 2022
History an Fiction...
History is a wonderful thing to read, even better when it's mixed with fiction. Don't you think? The story was well done.
History is a wonderful thing to read, even better when it's mixed with fiction. Don't you think? The story was well done.
December 15, 2023
I really enjoy these book about Claudia a spy for The Empress Helena and her gladiator beau Murranus and do hope they get their happily ever after. The supporting characters are also fun, all the customers of Clauda's uncles inn "the She-Asses" along with the Gauls who guard Helena are a joy. The violence is very bloody (secure the times) An isn't Rome was a very cruel place if you were poor and had no infuence. This is the third in the series' Domina book one is not the first book as it deals with Agrippina, mother of Nero who lived about 250 years in the past. Four stars again as I still find myself able to identify the villain without much effort. This one sees Claudia called upon for two mysteries the first is the rash of kidnappings taking place among the elite families of Rome, the victims are always released unharmed after the random is paid but there is no clue as to.the.kidnappers identifies and the Emperor is being put under pressure to find the culprits. Secondly, an ex cohort of Roman soldiers who served in Pictish Brittania are being murdered one by one in a gruesome and horrific way. The evidence points to the murders being for revenge but the remaining soldiers are adamant there is nothing and no one in their past that would account for what is happening now......... Claudia has her hands full.with this one ...............
August 12, 2019
Понеже избързах с четенето на следващата и последна книга от цикъла, тази ми се явява завършваща. Мога да кажа, че като цяло съм доволен и то най-вече от това, че Дохърти не се хвърли да го продължава безкрайно.
След като в предишната книга се намериха убийците на брата на Клавдия, мотивацията и да работи за Елена стана доста по-неубедителна. Освен това още в предишната книга загадките започнаха да влизат в нормалните за автора ситуации, което малко разваля атмосферата на древен Рим. Тук Клавдия вече има писмо от императрицата с което може да задава въпроси на който си иска, а и приятелят и – гладиаторът Муран, обикаля навсякъде с нея като мускул. Клавдия повече ми харесваше като незабележим шпионин, от колкото като полицейски инспектор (каквито Дохърти в началото на всяка книга от цикъла твърди, че не е имало по това време).
Иначе загадките бяха доволно кървави и завъртяни – отвличания на знатни младежи, брутални убийства на ветерани от британската война и един запазен труп на може би християнска светица.
Да добавя, че след като в „Вечната маска на смъртта” имахме римския вариант на Джак Изкормвача, тук същият на Норман Бейтс изобщо не ме изненада.
Хареса ми как Дохърти наблегна този път на египетските култове в столицата на империята – нещото което други автори обикновено пропускат, именно че политеистичен Рим далеч не е отдавал почит само на така наречените римски божества.
След като в предишната книга се намериха убийците на брата на Клавдия, мотивацията и да работи за Елена стана доста по-неубедителна. Освен това още в предишната книга загадките започнаха да влизат в нормалните за автора ситуации, което малко разваля атмосферата на древен Рим. Тук Клавдия вече има писмо от императрицата с което може да задава въпроси на който си иска, а и приятелят и – гладиаторът Муран, обикаля навсякъде с нея като мускул. Клавдия повече ми харесваше като незабележим шпионин, от колкото като полицейски инспектор (каквито Дохърти в началото на всяка книга от цикъла твърди, че не е имало по това време).
Иначе загадките бяха доволно кървави и завъртяни – отвличания на знатни младежи, брутални убийства на ветерани от британската война и един запазен труп на може би християнска светица.
Да добавя, че след като в „Вечната маска на смъртта” имахме римския вариант на Джак Изкормвача, тук същият на Норман Бейтс изобщо не ме изненада.
Хареса ми как Дохърти наблегна този път на египетските култове в столицата на империята – нещото което други автори обикновено пропускат, именно че политеистичен Рим далеч не е отдавал почит само на така наречените римски божества.
August 18, 2017
So far, this is the only Doherty book that hasn't gone to goodwill.
The story was a little predictable, but the characters and settings were fairly well established.
I wish I could enjoy Doherty's books, but I simply don't.
The story was a little predictable, but the characters and settings were fairly well established.
I wish I could enjoy Doherty's books, but I simply don't.
June 6, 2019
Not the first in a series but hard to find in the U.S.; early 4th-century A.D. Rome and an ex-actress works as a spy for the Empress Helena. Very enjoyable, if far-fetched, story and likable characters with a large body count to keep the mystery interesting.
April 17, 2025
Queen of the Night
Kidnapping, revenge, greed, and murder are the themes in this installment of Claudia and Murranus.
The She Asses has a new cook. He is very good. The menu has been kicked up a few notches.
Kidnapping, revenge, greed, and murder are the themes in this installment of Claudia and Murranus.
The She Asses has a new cook. He is very good. The menu has been kicked up a few notches.
August 25, 2017
Quite entertaining. Multiple plots keeps the pace up and it's not without charm and fun. When the end comes you might roll your eyes and sigh though - the wrap up is as far fetched as can be - but what the heck. Up until then you've been satisfied enough. The descriptions of life in Ancient Rome is where you'll find the believability in this series.
July 5, 2025
Great
I can’t stop reading. I have enjoyed very much all the Roman series, one word fantastic!!!!!!!!! I will continue until I finish the series.
I can’t stop reading. I have enjoyed very much all the Roman series, one word fantastic!!!!!!!!! I will continue until I finish the series.
February 12, 2012
a murder mystery set in Rome at the time of the Emperor Constantine! The "detective" is a young woman in the service of Constantine's mother, Helena. We get a picture of what Rome was like at the very beginning of the ascendancy of the Christian church. Two crimes which seem to be totally unrelated - the brutal murders of retired soldiers who had once served on Hadrian's wall and fought the Picts, and the kidnapping for ransom of sons and daughters of wealthy Roman's turn out to be part and parcel of the whole plot. There's an exciting scene in the gladiators arena, and the title refers to a rather terrible form of execution which the guilty suffer!
May 15, 2016
Queen of the night
A good example of historical fact and fiction mixed together, the past comes to life in front of your eyes
A good example of historical fact and fiction mixed together, the past comes to life in front of your eyes
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews