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usbsticky's review
4.0
I've read this book about 10 times and own the entire series. It's a rare historical history that I like. I like this series because I like the writing, which is easy to read and follow. I like the characters and the setting. But most of all I like the protagonist's narration.
The protagonist is one Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger, scion of a numerous Roman aristocratic family. He's very chatty and gives a very earthy and knowledgeable narration of contemporary Rome.
He chats about everyday historical Roman figures as people he knows in the present or from the future (which is when he dictates the entire series as his memoirs). We get to hear about these characters like Caesar on a contemporary and personal basis. We also get to see and hear Rome, geographically, her peoples, politics and culture the same way. It's like having a travel and historical guide in one.
Spoilers/summary: The mystery part is a bit stretched. The current Consuls and some others conspire to remove a far away general and take away his battles and glory. If we are to believe Decius, it's normal stuff. So what if a few people are murdered along the way? According to Decius, that's everyday stuff too. And if we are to believe his personality, he would have let discretion be the better part of valor (he's forced to do so anyway in the end).
And the plot is a little bit over-complex. With this style of writing, far better to have a simpler plot. The last time I read the book was at least 10 years ago. In the past I've always liked the setting, the characters and the writing far better than I liked the mystery. Today, as a much better reader I agree with my old self. Decius, his narration of Rome and his style is much better than the mystery itself and the reason why I read it so many times. I'm going to read book 2 now.
The protagonist is one Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger, scion of a numerous Roman aristocratic family. He's very chatty and gives a very earthy and knowledgeable narration of contemporary Rome.
He chats about everyday historical Roman figures as people he knows in the present or from the future (which is when he dictates the entire series as his memoirs). We get to hear about these characters like Caesar on a contemporary and personal basis. We also get to see and hear Rome, geographically, her peoples, politics and culture the same way. It's like having a travel and historical guide in one.
Spoilers/summary: The mystery part is a bit stretched. The current Consuls and some others conspire to remove a far away general and take away his battles and glory. If we are to believe Decius, it's normal stuff. So what if a few people are murdered along the way? According to Decius, that's everyday stuff too. And if we are to believe his personality, he would have let discretion be the better part of valor (he's forced to do so anyway in the end).
And the plot is a little bit over-complex. With this style of writing, far better to have a simpler plot. The last time I read the book was at least 10 years ago. In the past I've always liked the setting, the characters and the writing far better than I liked the mystery. Today, as a much better reader I agree with my old self. Decius, his narration of Rome and his style is much better than the mystery itself and the reason why I read it so many times. I'm going to read book 2 now.
ivinklerkomaric's review against another edition
4.0
Zanimljiva ideja. Detektiv u starom Rimu. Puno se može saznati o Rimu i Rimskoj republici, običaji, povijest, odnos prema robovima, ali ovo je napisano na malo drugačiji način.
mgcco's review
4.0
I read this book while taking a break from Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series. Because I only had two Roma Sub Rosa books left to read, I was scouting for another series set in Ancient Rome (can't get enough of this genre). I saw Roberts' SPQR while surfing the Net, bought the first book in the series, and read it after finishing Saylor's A Mist of Prophecies.
I wasn't disappointed.
While the Roma Sub Rosa series can be described as fast-paced (I practically gobbled up every exhilarating book in the series), SPQR allowed you to savor every page--morsel by interesting, well-written morsel. I want to compare Roma Sub Rosa's Gordianus with SPQR's Decius, but this is supposed to be a "review" of The King's Gambit. Besides, that would be unfair because they are both wonderful protagonists.
I loved the book; it painted Ancient Rome vividly and wonderfully. Many of the characters that I encountered in Saylor's books, such as Caesar, Pompey, and the Clodians, I also encountered here (Roma Sub Rosa and SPQR were both set in the late Roman Republic). It was interesting to take a look at them from another author's perspective (e.g. Titus Annius Milo here was far more likable than in Roma Sub Rosa).
I kinda panicked while reading the last few pages of the book because I thought it was going to wrap up "flatly," but there was a touching surprise at the end. All I can say is, SPQR lessens the pain of having to end Roma Sub Rosa :)
I wasn't disappointed.
While the Roma Sub Rosa series can be described as fast-paced (I practically gobbled up every exhilarating book in the series), SPQR allowed you to savor every page--morsel by interesting, well-written morsel. I want to compare Roma Sub Rosa's Gordianus with SPQR's Decius, but this is supposed to be a "review" of The King's Gambit. Besides, that would be unfair because they are both wonderful protagonists.
I loved the book; it painted Ancient Rome vividly and wonderfully. Many of the characters that I encountered in Saylor's books, such as Caesar, Pompey, and the Clodians, I also encountered here (Roma Sub Rosa and SPQR were both set in the late Roman Republic). It was interesting to take a look at them from another author's perspective (e.g. Titus Annius Milo here was far more likable than in Roma Sub Rosa).
I kinda panicked while reading the last few pages of the book because I thought it was going to wrap up "flatly," but there was a touching surprise at the end. All I can say is, SPQR lessens the pain of having to end Roma Sub Rosa :)
assaphmehr's review
4.0
I've long had Maddox Roberts' SPQR series on my TBR list (ever since I started reading Roman whodunits -- Lindsey Davis, Steven Saylor, et al) but it took some time to get to this series.
What to Expect
A political mystery set in 70 BCE, as a young official is looking into the murders of nobodies and slowly unravelling the machinations and conspiracies of those holding the highest power. The story is told as a first-person detective, common to the whodunit genre, though written as memoirs of an old man about his younger days.
Expect the top names of the period, from Cicero winning his first important court case and Caesar entering his quaestorship, Lucullus fighting Mithridates in the east, and Crassus and Pompey in their first consulship. Politics, perfidy, and pirates abound.
What I liked
As a connoisseur of whodunits and the period, I liked that Roberts took a non-standard association, with Decius in league with Milo and against Clodius Pulcher. (In honesty, both were gang leaders and likely charismatic yet nasty characters at the same time; it's usually that Milo is portrayed as the baser of the two, with Pulcher as the more flamboyantly charming). It is certainly interesting to see a story told from that perspective, as the optimates and their circle often get villified in fiction along with the adoration of Caesar and the populares.
What to be aware of
There were a few choices by Maddox Robberts that left me puzzled. While using the name 'Decius' - a name that didn't exist in ancient Rome - can be taken as a nod to how the character is fictional and inserted into events, some other historical inaccuracies are less so. For example, the vigiles - who report to Decius - were established by Augustus in 6 CE (at 70 BCE, firefighting was firmly in the hands of individuals - eg this is how Crassus made his fortunes).
One also has to wonder at how old Decius was when writing his memoirs - if he was a military tribune during the revolt of Sertorius and yet lived to know Germanicus in his glory, we would have been well over 105.
Lastly, Decius himself occasionally comes across as a bit pompous. While his heart's in the right place and he's relentlessly pursuing justice for everyone, he's a somewhat harder person to like than the easy-going Marcus Corvinus (David Wishart) or the hard-bitten Falco (Lindsey Davis).
Felix's Review
Felix was less fussed than me about the added bureaucracy - it's part of what kept his Roman-esque republic more stable. And though he admires Decius' committment to solving the murders, no matter how low-born the victim, he said that getting the stick out of his butt would improve the story no end. The mystery aspect in itself and its resolution left him wanting.
Summary
It's a classic Roman-Repulic detective, with a lot of potential for a first work. I will be continuing with the series, expecting growth and novel outlooks.
--
Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck is that Felix fellow? Glad you asked! He's the protagonist of the Toags, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome.
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1596954987p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457914061l/29500700._SY75_.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
A political mystery set in 70 BCE, as a young official is looking into the murders of nobodies and slowly unravelling the machinations and conspiracies of those holding the highest power. The story is told as a first-person detective, common to the whodunit genre, though written as memoirs of an old man about his younger days.
Expect the top names of the period, from Cicero winning his first important court case and Caesar entering his quaestorship, Lucullus fighting Mithridates in the east, and Crassus and Pompey in their first consulship. Politics, perfidy, and pirates abound.
What I liked
As a connoisseur of whodunits and the period, I liked that Roberts took a non-standard association, with Decius in league with Milo and against Clodius Pulcher. (In honesty, both were gang leaders and likely charismatic yet nasty characters at the same time; it's usually that Milo is portrayed as the baser of the two, with Pulcher as the more flamboyantly charming). It is certainly interesting to see a story told from that perspective, as the optimates and their circle often get villified in fiction along with the adoration of Caesar and the populares.
What to be aware of
There were a few choices by Maddox Robberts that left me puzzled. While using the name 'Decius' - a name that didn't exist in ancient Rome - can be taken as a nod to how the character is fictional and inserted into events, some other historical inaccuracies are less so. For example, the vigiles - who report to Decius - were established by Augustus in 6 CE (at 70 BCE, firefighting was firmly in the hands of individuals - eg this is how Crassus made his fortunes).
One also has to wonder at how old Decius was when writing his memoirs - if he was a military tribune during the revolt of Sertorius and yet lived to know Germanicus in his glory, we would have been well over 105.
Lastly, Decius himself occasionally comes across as a bit pompous. While his heart's in the right place and he's relentlessly pursuing justice for everyone, he's a somewhat harder person to like than the easy-going Marcus Corvinus (David Wishart) or the hard-bitten Falco (Lindsey Davis).
Felix's Review
Felix was less fussed than me about the added bureaucracy - it's part of what kept his Roman-esque republic more stable. And though he admires Decius' committment to solving the murders, no matter how low-born the victim, he said that getting the stick out of his butt would improve the story no end. The mystery aspect in itself and its resolution left him wanting.
Summary
It's a classic Roman-Repulic detective, with a lot of potential for a first work. I will be continuing with the series, expecting growth and novel outlooks.
--
Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck is that Felix fellow? Glad you asked! He's the protagonist of the Toags, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome.
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1596954987p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457914061l/29500700._SY75_.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
ubalstecha's review
4.0
A man has been found murdered, and it is up to Decius Caecilius Mettelus the Younger, commander of the local vigiles to figure out who did the deed. As the bodies begin to pile up, Decius begins to realize that there is a lot more going on here than simple gang murders or robberies gone bad. But the he begins to come under pressure from the powerful in Rome to sweep the murders under the rug, something he just can't do. This places more than future career in jeopardy and Decius realizes he needs a lot of help and luck to catch the murderer and make it out alive.
A great murder mystery set in late republican Rome. You will recognize some of history's great names in the background (sometimes even as fairly major players). Good mystery with a great setting and an excellent ending.
A must for the historical mystery set.
A great murder mystery set in late republican Rome. You will recognize some of history's great names in the background (sometimes even as fairly major players). Good mystery with a great setting and an excellent ending.
A must for the historical mystery set.
hugtherocks's review
Bored. Slow moving and not engaging. On to more fulfilling time wasting.
staceylynn42's review
4.0
As opening novels go this is a good start. Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger is the hero of our tale. We meet him as he begins his public life in the Roman Republic. He is well born, young, loves the Republic, and is rather feckless in general & very naive where women in specific are concerned. He is also currently the commander of the vigiles (sort of a fire/police type night watch). There are a couple of murders in his district one night, and a fire in a different one that appear to be connected. Decius is sent to investigate.
He meets Milo, whom he likes immediately and Clodius/Claudius whom he dislikes almost as fast. He also encounters Asklepiodes, a Greek physician to gladiators who knows quite a bit about reading wounds. All of these characters will follow him into later books. We get glimpses into a city run mostly be gangs, populated by slaves, the poor, rich freedmen, equites and patricians. It is very well researched, the mystery is clever and the story well written.
He meets Milo, whom he likes immediately and Clodius/Claudius whom he dislikes almost as fast. He also encounters Asklepiodes, a Greek physician to gladiators who knows quite a bit about reading wounds. All of these characters will follow him into later books. We get glimpses into a city run mostly be gangs, populated by slaves, the poor, rich freedmen, equites and patricians. It is very well researched, the mystery is clever and the story well written.
plantbirdwoman's review
3.0
John Maddox Roberts' series of mysteries set in ancient Rome in the time of the Caesars and featuring Decius Caecilius Metellus as his "gumshoe" are a fascinating read for anyone interested in that period of history. These stories, while clearly fictional, are bases on historical fact and feature historical figures. They are extremely well researched and offer insights into Roman culture that are not necessarily possible with a purely straightforward telling of history. The series is best read in order to keep everything in proper perspective. The King's Gambit is a worty introduction.