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A review by staceylynn42
Spqr I: The Kings Gambit by John Roberts
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.