Arms of Nemesis (original 1992; edition 1993)

This is the second book in a series featuring Gordianus “the Finder”, a Roman citizen during the period of the Republic, who makes a living as a private detective. In this episode, which takes place some years after the events of the first book in the series, [b:Roman Blood|102720|Roman Blood (Roma Sub Rosa, #1)|Steven Saylor|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312011787s/102720.jpg|2569207], Gordianus is engaged to discover whether the murderer of Marcus Crassus’ cousin is someone other than household slaves suspected of having joined Spartacus in his revolt.

Saylor makes use of his Classics degree to write an engaging novel, with an interesting combination of real-life and fictional characters and a pleasing prose style. The imparting of historical information – an important feature of both this novel and its predecessor in the series - is achieved with a light hand. I know almost nothing about Roman history, but I was able to acquire pertinent facts without feeling either confused or patronised. That said, the mystery itself is only moderately interesting, even though it contains the usual quotient of suspects and red herrings. For a “finder”, Gordianus does relatively little finding. Indeed, he spends more time being beaten up or otherwise assaulted than he does solving the crime.

Overall, this was a pleasant excursion into historical mystery fiction, made all the more pleasant by (a) reading some of the novel while I was in Rome and (b) sharing the experience with my friend Jemidar. I will definitely want to read the next book in the series at some point.
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A young Finder finds the solution to a difficult mystery—just in the nick of time, amidst danger and desperation. Gordianus uncovers a scheme by unscrupulous nobles to sell weapons to the Spartacus and his slave rebels. One noble is murdered in an attempt to hide this treason, but a thorough investigation leads inexorably to the guilty party. Along the way Gordianus manages to embarrass and anger the powerful politician Crassus, and acquire a new, young slave, who will become his adopted son. An entertaining and fast moving story, rich with detail. ( )

This episode of the Roma sub Rosa series mainly takes place in the coastal town of Baia, a place where the rich have sumptuous villas. Gordianus is brought here by Marcus Crassus, a very wealthy man, bent on building his own army to bring down Spartacus and his rebellious slaves. He is transported on a trireme manned by slaves which horrifies Gordianus and his adopted son, Eco. Crassus' cousin, Lucius Licinius was killed by a blow to his head and the main suspects are two slaves that have disappeared. Unless Gordianus can find that the true murderer was not a slave, all 100 slaves of Lucius' house and estate will be slaughtered in the arena by Crassus' soldiers.

Gordianus feels great empathy for slaves. He married his first slave, Bethesda, who he bought in Alexandria. He was appalled at the treatment of the slaves on the trireme and he is determined to save these innocent slaves.

Saylor has wonderfully mixed a murder mystery in a historical fiction setting with thoroughly researched details about the life and time of Rome in the 50s BC. ( )

This is a pretty cool novel.

(8/10). ( )

This is the second full-length whodunnit in Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series based in the latter years of the Roman Republic (72 B.C.). It's good. It's also unfunny and not particularly literary, but the structural components are solid and he keeps a tight leash on the characters and the plot. It's a light summer read. ( )