Roman Blood

A Mystery of Ancient Rome

By: Steven Saylor

Narrated by: Scott Harrison

In Rome, 80 B.C., on a warm spring morning, Gordianus the Finder receives a summons to the house of a then-unknown young advocate and orator, Cicero. Ambitious and brilliant, the 26-year-old Cicero is about to argue his first important case. His client is a wealthy farmer, one Sextus Roscius of the town of Ameria, who stands accused of the most unforgivable act in Ancient Rome: the murder of his father.

Hired by Cicero to investigate the charges, Gordianus sets out to discover the truth in a case - and a society - rife with deceit, betrayal, and conspiracy. As he draws nearer to the truth, the conspiracy looms ever larger until Gordianus begins to perceive the hand of the dictator Sulla himself. Playing for stakes much higher than he bargained for, Gordianus finds that not only is he himself endangered but so are all those around him as well.

©1991 Steven Saylor (P)1996 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Remarkable....a stirring blend of history and mystery, well seasoned with conspiracy, passion and intrigue....A classic historical mystery, in every sense." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Saylor's scholarship is breathtaking and his writing enthralls." ( Sunday Times London)
"Gripping....a combination of Hithccock-style suspense and vivid historical detail." ( Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Whodunits and History DO Mix --

What did you love best about Roman Blood?

Saylor crafts his detective mysteries in the nooks and crannies of Roman history. Learn a bit about Julius Caesar or Cicero and Roman culture while reading a detective novel! I have read them all and enjoyed them immensely.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Roman Blood?

The description of daily life in the Subura.

Which scene was your favorite?

It would be hard to pick just one.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Several.

The power of the story to transport the reader to Ancient Rome!

The first person narrator transports the reader to Ancient Rome with detailed descriptions of places, sights and smells; of daily activities and cultural norms and practices. The plot develops as we meander through the streets of the city and meet a variety of characters.

A very enjoyable Roman mystery

This book begins the series of the mature Gordianus the Finder's adventures (there is the trilogy of Gordianus the Finder as a young man, published after this series but taking place earlier in Gordianus's life). What I like in this series is Saylor's storytelling and the way he lays out the historical context of ancient Rome. I think that Saylor does a good job of telling the story through the cultural and social eyes of a Roman. There were a few times where the story dragged a little, but often this was due to Saylor embedding a history lesson into the book. Overall, a very enjoyable read with a number of twists and surprises as Gordianus investigates the case of a man accused of murdering his own father. I had mixed feelings about the narrator. I think that some of the voices he used for the characters did not suit them. He was okay, but I think it would have been better had the voices suited the character's better.

Enjoyable story

Enjoyed the story twists and turns were good some are going off on tangents. Narrating was terrible. There are better voices out there. Overall enjoyed the story

A perfect story

What did you love best about Roman Blood?

Saylor recreates ancient Rome perfectly. The factual story is a wonderful start for the imaginative tale.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gordianus, he is a well rounded character with typical strengths and weakness. His insight is thoughtful. He isn't a super sleuth, he's a digger who has to work for the clues.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narrator sounded stiff, he never seemed to enjoy the story. Unlike some audio-books, the narrator always seemed to be reading from a script rather than living through the characters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Before Cicero made his name in Roman Politics, he made a powerful enemy.