From Publishers Weekly
In Roberts's entertaining, fast-paced Roman historical, his eighth to feature Decius Caecilius Metellus (after 2003's The Tribune's Curse), Decius has just become an aedile, a city manager responsible for overseeing urban infrastructure, when he's summoned to a fatal building collapse that claims more than 200 lives. While the evidence of shoddy workmanship is consistent with the pervasive but tolerated corruption in the construction trade, Decius's trained investigative eye notes anomalies on several of the corpses; he risks his political future and his life to follow the clues. His powerful family's efforts to navigate the treacherous shifting alliances that preceded Julius Caesar's return from the Gallic Wars add to the pressures the aedile faces. Once again, Roberts does a nice job of bringing the past to life, though his scholarship and detail fall short of Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series, which serves as the gold standard for ancient historicals. Despite the small universe of suspects and a solution involving nearly as much luck as dogged legwork, the book's many fine qualities should boost the ranks of Roberts's readers and send newcomers in search of the previous entries. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Book Description
Ancient Rome, in this accurate and evocative series, is just as politics driven as any major American city -- possibly even more. Decius Caecilius Metellus has, through a series of rather wild adventure, and in the act of tracking down killers and other reprobates, barely escaped annhilation several times. Now, newly elected to the office of aedile, the lowest rung on the ladder of Roman authority, he must smoke out corruption and conspiracy that threaten to destroy all of Rome.



About the Author
John Maddox Roberts is the author of several science fiction, private eye, and fantasy novels in addition to his popular SPQR mystery series. He lives in New Mexico.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In the waning days of the Roman republic, the adventures of Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger have taken him from one end of the empire to the other, usually fleeing from trouble just to find himself in more trouble wherever he ends up going. Decius's heart belongs to Rome, however. With a family as impressive as his name sounds, a close friendship with the leader of one of Rome's most powerful street gangs, and a marriage to the niece of Julius Caesar, he has finally taken the first step on Rome's political ladder, with an election to the lowly office of aedile.

As aedile, Decius's most important responsibility is to buy the people's love by staging elaborate games, filled with wild beasts and ferocious gladiatorial combat, all enormously expensive and paid for out of the aedile's own pocket. Decius does have to squeeze in his more mundane obligations, though, such as maintaining records, clearing the sewers, and generally keeping Rome from falling apart.

When Decius's official responsibilities require him to investigate the collapse of a tenement building, his sense of duty won't allow him to write it off as just another example of greedy slumlords using shoddy materials. As Decius's hunt for justice implicates some of Rome's most powerful figures, so powerful that even Cicero can't help Decius, he must turn for help to a most unlikely ally.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In Roberts's entertaining, fast-paced Roman historical, his eighth to feature Decius Caecilius Metellus (after 2003's The Tribune's Curse), Decius has just become an aedile, a city manager responsible for overseeing urban infrastructure, when he's summoned to a fatal building collapse that claims more than 200 lives. While the evidence of shoddy workmanship is consistent with the pervasive but tolerated corruption in the construction trade, Decius's trained investigative eye notes anomalies on several of the corpses; he risks his political future and his life to follow the clues. His powerful family's efforts to navigate the treacherous shifting alliances that preceded Julius Caesar's return from the Gallic Wars add to the pressures the aedile faces. Once again, Roberts does a nice job of bringing the past to life, though his scholarship and detail fall short of Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series, which serves as the gold standard for ancient historicals. Despite the small universe of suspects and a solution involving nearly as much luck as dogged legwork, the book's many fine qualities should boost the ranks of Roberts's readers and send newcomers in search of the previous entries. (Jan. 20) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Although he holds a civic post at the lowest level in ancient Rome, Decius Metellus (SPQR VII: The Tribune's Curse) takes his responsibilities seriously. He must see that construction, sewers, roads, and markets all meet official regulations. The recent collapse of an ill-constructed apartment building and the possible murder of its owner start him on a trail that could lead to men in high places-including members of his own family. The Tiber River, meanwhile, threatens to flood, and the impossibly filthy and clogged sewers promise much damage. An excellent re-creation of a fascinating era in history (look for cameos by famous people), this is recommended for most historical mystery collections. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews