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It was a summer of glorious triumph for the mighty Roman Republic. Her invincible legions had brought all foreign enemies to their knees. But in Rome there was no peace. The streets were flooded with the blood of murdered citizens, and there were rumors of more atrocities to come. Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger was convinced a conspiracy existed to overthrow the government-a sinister cabal that could only be destroyed from within. But admission into the traitorous society of evil show more carried a grim price: the life of Decius's closest friend...and maybe his own. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
The second adventure of Decius Caecilius Metellus, and a terrrific read. In the course of an investigation that starts to look a lot bigger than it was starting out, Decius worms his way into the circle of the traitor Catalina. Interesting to contrast this to another version of the same conspiracy by another writer of Roman mystery novels -- Stephen Saylor. This one is much, much dryer, and (not surprisingly) funnier.
On his way to his duties in the temple of Saturn, Decius Caecilius Metellus passes a murder scene. As the number of corpses mounts and there seem to be mysterious comings and goings in the temple, he decides to investigate.
Comparisons with Steven Saylor's version of Catiline are inevitable, and it has to be said Saylor's is a more nuanced and also more memorable character. By comparison John Maddox Roberts's Catiline is something of a cardboard cut-out villain. I do hope DCM is not going to fall victim to the wiles of a sexy, scheming, villainess in every installment.
Comparisons with Steven Saylor's version of Catiline are inevitable, and it has to be said Saylor's is a more nuanced and also more memorable character. By comparison John Maddox Roberts's Catiline is something of a cardboard cut-out villain. I do hope DCM is not going to fall victim to the wiles of a sexy, scheming, villainess in every installment.
Read this because we had talked about Catiline in our Latin class. A fun mystery. Not sure how historically accurate everything was, but it certainly felt realistic.
This is a good series. Our protagonist once again sets out to right some wrongs. In this case the rising Roman Empire could easily be toppled by hidden forces and not so hidden agendas.
I just adore the Simon Vance audible versions of these books. Roberts' knows his Rome through and through and the characters come to life in the series. I'm sure I'll be listening to them all in time.
Second in the series. Low-ranking civil servant Decius Caecilius Metellus investigates murders and political conspiracy in Rome. Good historical fiction, a good series.
En la nueva aventura de Decio Cecilio Metelo el Joven, al que encontramos esta vez encargado de la tesorería imperial, se suceden los asesinatos de personas a las que no unen la menor relación, salvo su condición de acreedores. Al mismo tiempo, Decio detecta en los círculos que frecuenta el inicio de una conspiración para acabar con la república y sustituirla por una dictadura. Todo indica que Catilina está detrás de la conspiración. Cicerón encarga a Decio que se infiltre en la organización y haga fracasar la conjura. Decio cultiva la amistad de Catilina y los favores de la hijastra de éste, Aurelia, y poco a poco descubre que los crímenes forman parte de la conspiración.
Nov 2, 2022Spanish
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64+ Works 6,069 Members
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Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Goldmann (41307)
Work Relationships
Is contained in
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Catiline Conspiracy
- Original title
- SPQR II: The Catiline Conspiracy
- Original publication date
- 1991
- People/Characters
- Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger (Quaestor); Marcus Tullius Cicero; Titus Annius Milo Papianus; Publius Clodius Pulcher; Lucius Sergius Catilina; Lucius Licinius Lucullus (show all 41); Minicius; Marcus Porcius Cato the Younger; Decius Caecilius Metellus the Elder; Caius Antonius Hibrida; Asklepiodes; Caecilia Felicia; Marcus Antonius; Caius Octavius; Manius Oppius; Julius Caesar (Caius Julius Caesar); Lisas; Sempronia; Catullus; Caius Rabirius Postumus; Cato (a Metellii slave); Cassandra (a Metellii slave); Sextus Calenus; Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer; Clodia; Fulvia; Caius Cornelius Cethegus Sura; Aurelia; Decimus Flavius; Helvidius Priscus; Marcus Thorius; Quintus Valgius; Marcus Licinius Crassus; Quintus Fabius Sanga; Amnorix; Publius Umbrenus; Quadratus Vibius; Orestilla; Surena; Amos (son of Eleazar); Lucius Calpurnius Bestia
- Important places
- Rome, Italy; Rome, Roman Empire
- Important events
- Festival of the October Horse; Catalinarian Rebellion
- Dedication
- For Gerald Page-- Who knows all about mysteries, history, and, of course, about armadillos.
Gerald Page - First words
- That summer we received the news that Mithridates was dead.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)These thing occurred during the years 691 and 692 of the City of Rome, in the Consulates of Marcus Tullius Cicero and Caius Antonius Hibrida, and that of Decimus Junius Silanus and Lucius Licinius Murena.
- Blurbers
- Bradley, Marion Zimmer
- Original language*
- Amerikanisch
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- Members
- 387
- Popularity
- 80,428
- Reviews
- 7
- Rating
- (3.78)
- Languages
- 6 — English, French, German, Greek, Polish, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 20
- ASINs
- 6
