"A fantastic look into a bygone era"
Though he is a Roman senator and his family is very
influential due to their support of the leadership, Decius
Metellus flees town when his enemy Clodius is named as a
Tribune. Decius, accompanied by his slave, slowly heads
towards Julius Caesar's camp in Gaul. When he arrives, the
Proconsul Caesar is disappointed in that his niece's fiancÈ
came with just one person. Decius gets in trouble with Caesar for interfering with
the discipline meted out by the First Spear of the Tenth,
Centurion Titus Vinus to his men. However, someone kills
Titus and Julius asks Decius to investigate because the
evidence points towards the victim's men including the son
of a client of Decius. As he begins his investigation,
Decius prays that he can blame the Germans or the Helveti
for the slaying so good Roman soldiers can be freed. In the sixth SPQR Ancient Rome mystery, John Maddox
Roberts continues to provide an insightful fresh look into
a bygone era. The current tale, NOBODY LOVES A CENTURION,
provides a powerful glimpse at the Roman militia as well as
Julius Caesar from a non-Shakespearean side. Decius remains
a humorous individual who at first glance seems to go with
the flow, but in actuality is a deep caring person who gets
involved. SPQR VI is "excellentus." Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted July 26, 2001
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