
Medicus
A Novel of the Roman Empire
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Narrated by:
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Simon Vance
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By:
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Ruth Downie
Now he has a new problem: a slave who won't talk and can't cook, and drags trouble in her wake. Before he knows it, Ruso is caught in the middle of an investigation into the deaths of prostitutes working out of the local bar.
A few years earlier, after he rescued Emperor Trajan from an earthquake in Antioch, Ruso seemed headed for glory: now he's living among heathens in a vermin-infested bachelor pad and must summon all his forensic knowledge to find a killer who may be after him next.
Who are the true barbarians, the conquered or the conquerors? It's up to Ruso (certainly the most likeable sleuth to come out of the Roman Empire) to discover the truth. With a gift for comic timing and historic detail, Ruth Downie has conjured an ancient world as raucous and real as our own.
©2007 Ruth Downie (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
"Downie's auspicious debut sparkles with beguiling characters and a vividly imagined evocation of a hazy frontier." (Publishers Weekly)
"Fans of Alexander McCall Smith will delight in this series debut set in Roman-occupied Britain and featuring wry army doctor Gaius Petreius Ruso." (Booklist)
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It is read by Simon Vance, who is, as always, an absolute pleasure to listen.
To give you an idea of what I like, I spent 6 moths reading Patrick O'Brian (the audio books are also read by Simon Vance, by the way) and a year reading Terry Pratchett.
Highly recommended
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Great Mystery set in Roman Britania
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Well written and entertaining...
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I like this series
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Is there anything you would change about this book?
3.5 StarsIn this novel Ms. Downie provides plenty of rich detail to give some insight into life of this imaginary army doctor of with Hadrian’s Roman Legions stationed in Britain. Coupled this tapestry of period detail with a moderately interesting story and you have a pretty good novel. However, there is a lack authenticity to all this circumstantiality that gnaws at the reader’s consciousness enough to detract from the work overall.
Recommended: Yes, with reservations.
Great Book with Better Research
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Slow at the beginning, but it picks up
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Love, love, love this!
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Which brings me to the biggest problem I have with the book - SO many anachronisms. Despite the reminders that we were in ancient roman britannia, it never really felt like it. The author's note at the end made me feel a little better about some of the things that felt out of place (or really too modern) for me, but I still couldn't "believe" we were in the ancient roman empire. I've never read anything placed in this era, and I thought it would be great to try something new. I was just too distracted by things that didn't seem fit into that period of history.
Character development was lacking in some regards, it was okay enough for Ruso, but not really for Tilla.
The "mystery" part was okay. I didn't completely see it coming, but I wasn't surprised either. I don't think I thought enough about it to try to figure it out ahead of time.
I got this book on sale, and I'd only get another if it were on sale. Or I could see myself borrowing it from the library instead. Maybe I'd like it better, or be brought into the ancient roman part of the story, if I wasn't hearing the smooth and charming Simon Vance in my ears. Sorry Simon, I still love you.
I tried something a little different...
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Didn't come off very authentic
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The characters and the story are interesting, but there are so many things that feel wildly out of place in an ancient setting that it got in the way of me being able to enjoy it at first. Then I decided to consider this a fantasy story set in some vaguely Roman-inspired world and was able to enjoy all the good things about this story, of which there are many.
Don't come to this story looking for historical fiction, you'll be disappointed, but come to it looking for a reluctant-sleuth murder mystery with some semi-fantasy setting elements and you'll probably enjoy it. I did, at least.
Simon Vance does a magnificent job narrating as well. Makes for a very pleasant listen.
Enjoyable story, just ignore the setting
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