Vita Brevis - Ruth Downie

   2016; 366 pages.  Book 7 (out of 8) in the “Medicus” series.  New Author? : No.  Genres: Cozy Mystery; Rome; Historical Fiction.  Overall Rating: 8*/10.

 

    Heads up, Imperial Rome!  Gaius Ruso has arrived!  He’s brought his wife Tilla, and 7-month-old daughter Mara, along with him.  And not much else, other than a bunch of medical equipment, since Ruso is a Medicus (“Doctor”) by trade, and just recently discharged from serving in a Roman legion.

 

    The first thing to do, of course, is to open up a practice and get some money coming in.  He hopes his former military superior, Publius Accius, who’s somewhere in Rome, will put in a good word for him.  Open some doors.

 

    Well, speaking of opening doors, one just did.  Kleitos, a doctor here in Rome just left town unexpectedly, leaving a whole bunch of patients in the lurch and a fully furnished, doctor’s residence.  What a perfect opportunity for Ruso!  He’s moving in today, along with his family.

 

    He plans to set up quickly, and start seeing Kleitos’s patients immediately.  Oh, and he needs to get someone to remove that barrel sitting on the front porch.  It’s sealed, so who knows what’s in it, but it’s stinking to high Olympus.

 

What’s To Like...

    Vita Brevis is the seventh book in Ruth Downie’s (completed) Roman historical fiction “Medicus” series.  I’ve read the first six books, but that was ten years ago.  The series is set in 123 CE, at the height of the Roman empire, although I think this is the first one where Ruso actually sets foot in the capital city.

 

    The mystery angle starts almost immediately; the reeking barrel is left on Kleitos’s porch on page 4, with Ruso making his entrance shortly thereafter.  The chapters are short: there are 76 of them covering 366 pages.  There’s a “Cast of Characters” section at the start of the book, which I found really helpful, due to my 10-year hiatus from this series.

 

    As expected, a relatively simple mystery (what’s in the stinking barrel?) quickly becomes more complex.  Where did Kleitos go, and why?  Why do thugs keep knocking on Ruso’s/Kleitos’s door asking for payment for “services rendered”?  Can Ruso and his former boss patch things up?  Why didn't Kleitos label his potions bottles?

 

    One of the things I love about this series is Ruth Downie’s skill at setting the story in a believable historical epoch.  One example: all cities had “dung carts” in those days.  Horses and donkeys make great beasts of burden as transportation on the streets of Rome, but in a city this size, they generate a lot of poop on a daily basis.

 

    I thought the author’s handling of the sensitive issue of slaver was also deftly done.  The fate of being a slave was a dicey affair.  It all depended on the master.  Slaves also came in all colors., and many of them eventually garnered enough money to buy their freedom.  The medical scenes were also skillfully rendered.   Herbs and potions were of course commonly prescribed, but sometimes surgery was necessary.

 

    The ending is well thought-out.  It’s not filled with thrills & spills, but that's okay.  Instead it's a product of Ruso's deductive reasoning.  And his ingestion of poppies.

 

Kewlest New Word…

Bodge (n.): something that is completed quickly and carelessly.

 

Ratings…
    Amazon: 4.4*/5, based on 1,098 ratings and 96 reviews.

    Goodreads: 4.13*/5, based on 1,456 ratings and 157 reviews.

 

Excerpts...

    “And how is your wife enjoying Rome?”

    “She’s very busy with the baby,” said Ruso.

    “Oh, dear, yes.  I heard something about that.”

    “Parenthood is a marvelous thing,” Ruso assured him.  “You should try it yourself.”

    “I’m glad to hear it,” Metellus told him.  “Especially after the rumors.”

    Ruso said, “It never pays to listen to rumors.”

    “Actually, I find it pays rather well.”  (loc. 437)

 

    “Horatia was only one opportunity among many.”

    “That’s all he thought of her?”

    “Don’t be silly, Ruso.  Daughters of rich families are part of the business.  They’re born knowing that.  It’s their duty to contribute, and since they can’t do much else, the least they can do is provide helpful alliances and grandchildren.  Not everyone can marry for love and live on beans like you do.”  (loc. 4348)

 

Kindle Details…

    Vita Brevis presently sells for $9.99 at Amazon, as do the other seven books in the series.  Ruth Downie also has a short story, The Bear and the Wolf, and a novella, Prima Facie, both set in the Roman Empire for your Kindle, priced at $0.99 and $2.99 respectively. 

 

Across the room, Mara put her toes in her mouth and sucked them.  (loc. 1371)

    The profanity is sparse in Vita Brevis, so little of it that I forgot to keep count.  I’m sure there were less than ten instances in the entire book.

 

    The quibbles are negligible.  The only one I can think of is subjective: Ruso can be dense at times.  You might solve the mysteries and the crimes before he does.  Heck, it took him, and Tilla, an unbelievable amount of time to determine why that barrel on the front porch smells so rotten, and why someone wants payment for delivering it to Kleitos's house.

 

    Overall, the plusses far outweigh the minuses in Vita Brevis, and it was nice to read a cozy mystery where the author pays just as much attention to developing the mystery as she does to the "coziness".  There’s one more book in this series, Memento Mori, so I gotta hit the used-book stores to find a copy since I can’t remember the last time I saw Ruth Downie’s e-books discounted at Amazon.

 

    8 Stars.  One last thing.  Early on, Ruso scrapes up enough money to buy him a trio of slaves.  Two of them evolve into important characters in the story; but the third simply runs away the first chance he gets.  We aren’t even told his name.  I kept waiting for this plot thread to make an impact on the storyline, but it never does.  I’m hoping he shows up in the final book.

Persona Non Grata - Ruth Downie

    2009; 400 pages.  Book #3 (out of 6) of the Medicus series.  New Author? : No.  Genre : Historical Fiction; Crime Mystery.  Overall Rating : 8½*/10.

    “Lucius to Gaius. Come home, brother!”

    Well, Gaius Petreius Ruso would like to oblige, but he’s a member of a Roman legion in Britain, and all his relatives are in Gaul.  And the army doesn’t give am open-ended leave of absence just because your brother summons you.

    But when Ruso breaks his foot, an extended convalescence is needed anyway, so it’s an opportunity for him to make the long, arduous journey back to his home.  He can even take Tilla along, after all, she’s his wif.., his girlfr…, his serv…, well his companion of uncertain relationship.  Yeah, the family’s gonna love meeting a barbarian.

    So imagine his confusion when, upon his arrival, Lucius wants to know why he chose to return home now, and that the timing could not have been worse.

What’s To Like...

    The setting of Gaul for Persona Non Grata is unique.  All of the other books in the series (thus far) are set in various parts of Britannia.  The book is also unique in that, based on the evidence, Ruso is a prime suspect in the murder.  And if the investigators sent from Rome can’t determine the real killer, they’ll settle for arresting a convenient suspect, like Ruso), quickly followed by execution.  Roman justice is funny that way.

   Since we’re not in Britain (except for the very beginning), almost all the characters are new to the series.  Ruso and Tilla are the only familiar faces, but it’s fun to meet the rest of his family.  Up till now, we’ve only heard about them through letters from home.

    As always, Ruth Downie smoothly combines Historical Fiction with Murder Mystery.  There are the usual anachronisms (ladies’ underwear) and modern-day slang (“Bollocks” and “Blondie), but I’ve learned to accept that.  The murder doesn’t take place until 26%, but it is well-crafted, with lots of suspects, several twists, and a logical-yet-surprising (for me, at least) resolution.  IMO, this is the best Murder Mystery in the series.

   As always, among all the sleuthing and wit, Downie tackles some serious topics.  Here, Capital Punishment is examined and, to a lesser degree, Slavery.  This is a both a standalone novel and a part of a series.  There’s nothing R-rated about it, unless expressions like “Bollocks” offend you, and I pity you if that's the case.

Kewlest New Word...

Embrocation (n.) : a liquid used for rubbing on the body to relieve pain from sprains and strains; ointment; lotion; cream.

Excerpts...

    The carriage rumbled to a halt and he found himself sitting no more than six feet away from its passenger.  A pair of perfectly made-up dark eyes gazed at him from an artificially pale face.  The reddened lips parted to emit the word, “Gaius!”

    “Claudia!”  Ruso was not sure how a man should address his former wife after three years of separation, but he was confident that you’ve put on weight and what have you done to your hair? were not appropriate.  (loc. 1218)

    “If you’re not buying, don’t interfere with the stock.”

    Tilla sighed.  “My people,” she said sadly, gazing out between the masts to where a lump of driftwood was swirling on the current.  “Always the same.”

    Cass said, “ What is the matter with your people?”

    “Nothing,” said Tilla, setting out once more along the wharf.  “They are clever and brave.  But when you offer them something good they can always find a reason why it will not work.”  (loc. 3868)

Kindle Details...

    Persona Non Grata sells for $9.59 at Amazon.  The other Medicus books range in price from $7.55 to $9.99.

“Gaius, you haven’t done something very silly, have you?”  “Frequently.”  (loc. 758)

    Persona Non Grata is unique in one other way – a lot of ink is spent on Tilla becoming a follower of “Christos”, including the requisite theology as the brethren (sisters, actually) educate her about this new God.  I always cringe a little when religion begins to creep into a book or series that previously had none, and I’ve been burnt once or twice in the past by authors trying to sneak their religious dogma into a novel of an unrelated genre.

    I haven’t been reading this series in order, and since this is Book Three in a currently 6-book series, I’ve read the three novels that follow it.  And I am happy to report that the series does not veer into religious drivel.  Tilla adds Christos to her various other deities, and Ruso continues to be skeptical of the value of any of them.  Oh, he’ll offer a sacrifice when it is prudent, but mostly it’s a pragmatic CYA gesture.

    It’s taken me about a year to read all the books in this series, and I’m happy to say it hasn’t become stale at all.  Hopefully, there’s a Book 7 in the works.

    8½ Stars.  FWIW, my local digital library used to offer every book in this series except this one.  But last December I discovered you could make recommendations for further e-books, and so I suggested Persona Non Grata.  About a month later they sent me an e-mail notifying me that they had acquired PNG.  There are other dedicated Ruth Downie fans here in Phoenix, and it wasn’t until now that I found it available.  The point is:  if your local digital library doesn’t carry a book you want, and lets you make suggestions, by all means, do it!

Terra Incognita - Ruth Downie

    2010; 400 pages.  Book #2 (out of 6) of the Medicus series.  New Author? : No.  Genre : Historical Fiction; Crime Mystery.  Overall Rating : 8*/10.

    In Roman-ruled, 2^nd-century Britannia, the natives are restless.  A legionnaire has been murdered, and they fear that the Roman army commander will once again pin the blame on a local, whether it is true or not.

    The Romans are happy of oblige, and finding a suspect is an easy matter.  There’s enough circumstantial evidence to execute one of the local troublemakers for the crime.  But the garrison's own (Roman) medical doctor is also confessing to the crime, which complicates matters.

    Then there’s the visiting medicus, Gaius Petreius Ruso, a naïve do-gooder who doesn’t believe either one of the suspects did it.  He changes his mind often as to who he thinks the murderer is, and admittedly has no evidence against any of them.  He’ll mess everything up with his meddling.

    And wouldn’t you know it, he’s our protagonist.

What’s To Like...

    Terra Incognita is the second book of Ruth Downie’s 6-book (so far) series, and once again is a pleasant combination of Historical Fiction and Murder Mystery.  Tilla is still Ruso’s slave, although that status becomes rather iffy now that they are among Tilla’s people at the northernmost limit of the Roman Empire.

   The Historical Fiction is a mixed bag.  On one hand, you have anachronisms such as candles, women’s underwear, and expressions such as “Right-oh” and “Fellers”.  On the other, there is an unusual and fascinating feeling if living in the hinterlands of a Roman Empire stretched woefully thin, with the restless Britons ready to do some pushing back. 

    The Murder Mystery is also mixed.  It’s a Police Procedural, which I always like, with lots of slimeballs, malcontents, and good-but-suspicious characters to investigate.  Ruso eventually susses out the perp, but lacks any proof.  The ending is average.  I kept waiting for a “twist” but none was forthcoming, and the events leading up to the culprit’s confession called for considerable suspension of belief.

    But it’s the wit and humor that make Terra Incognita an entertaining read.  Things such as the bedbugs at the Golden Fleece Inn and Doctor Ruso’s Special Love Potion will have you chuckling chapter after chapter.  There’s also some romance, some jealousy, and the more serious topic of drug addiction to balance the levity.

    This is both a standalone novel and a key book in a series.  A lot of Tilla’s background gets filled in, and her relationship with Ruso takes a significant turn.  There are lots of new characters to meet, a bunch of old ones from Medicus to greet, plus a handy Cast of Characters in the front should you get confused.  The Epilogue is a particularly compelling way to close out the book.

Kewlest New Word...

Dozy (adj.) : stupid  (a Britishism)

Others : Fug (n.).

Excerpts...

    “When you think about it, we’re all foreigners here.  Except the Britons, of course.”

    “You know what I mean.  Troops who are used to those sorts of conditions.  The sort of chap who tramps bare chested through bogs and picks his teeth with a knife.  They bring them in from Germania, or Gaul, or somewhere.”

    “I’m from Gaul,” Ruso reminded him.

    “Yes, but you’re from the warm end.  You’re practically one of us.”  This was evidently intended as a compliment.  (loc. 228)

    “I’m trying to get the beer drinking under control here.”

    “Really?  Gambax told me you and he had a drink together when you first got here.  Then you asked specially to be put in the room with the barrel.  I hope you’re not falling into bad ways, Ruso.  Beer’s not good for you, you know.  Bad for the membranes, makes you bulge, and produces flatulence.  Dioscorides says so.”

    “Then why are you drinking it?”

    “To be sociable, of course.”  (loc. 4689)

Kindle Details...

    Terra Incognita sells for $9.59 at Amazon.  The other Medicus books range in price from $7.55  to $9.99.  The first novel is no longer a steal at $1.99.

“There was no fun in teasing Albanus.  It was like poking a kitten with a stick.”  (loc. 482)

    This is the fifth book I’ve read in this series (I'm not reading them in order), and I’ve made my peace with the historical anachronisms and modern lingo therein  They enhance the “feel” of the setting, and contribute to the wit.

    My only issue with Terra Incognita concerns “Stagman”, the local leader who’s stirring up the restive Britons with dreams of freedom.   This is a fascinating point in Anglo-Roman history, one of the few times the Empire decided that further conquest was too costly; and Ruth Downie develops this scenario nicely.  Alas, this thread is left unresolved, both here and in the subsequent books.

    This is apparently deliberate on the author’s part, as indicated in her Afterword.  But the reader is left hanging when nothing comes of it.  Oh well, one can always hope for Stagman to show up again sometime later in the series.

    8 Stars.  Don’t let my quibbling deter you from reading these books.  This is a fun and entertaining series, and I’ll be reading the one remaining book, Persona Non Grata, just as soon as I can borrow it from my local library.

Tabula Rasa - Ruth Downie

    2014; 337 pages.  New Author? : No.  Book 6 (out of 6) in the Medicus series.  Genre : Historical Fiction; Crime Mystery.  Overall Rating : 8½*/10.

    Ruso must be getting old; he keeps losing things.  But this time it’s something really big – his clerk, Candidus.  Candidus is also the nephew of Ruso’s close friend, Albanus, who is on his way for a visit.

    Perhaps it is connected to the latest rumor that’s been spreading throughout the garrison like wildfire: that one of the native Briton boys claims he saw a soldier put a body in the wall which the Roman army is in the process of building.  But the rumor doesn’t say where or when, so even if it’s true, no one has any idea where in the wall to look.  And only a fool would want to start tearing down random parts of the emperor’s wall.

    Besides, Candidus wouldn’t be the first man to just up and walk away from the army.  Nor the first one to fall prey to the restless locals.  Heck, just recently they strung a soldier up by his feet, naked, and let the local bugs and critters nip at his flesh all night.  Hmm.  Someone’s gonna pay for that crazy bit of mischief.

    Still, Albanus will be sore disappointed if Candidus isn’t found by the time he arrives.  So Ruso better do some nosing around.

What’s To Like...

    Tabula Rasa is the latest installment in the Medicus series, and takes us to a new area of 2^nd-century Roman-occupied Britain – the northern limit of the Empire’s reach in Britain - Hadrian's Wall.  As such, there is a greater focus on the life of the native tribes, which I liked a lot. Ruso (and the reader) are among Tilla’s people now, and we become acquainted with their gods, their psyche, and their way of life, even as they struggle to naintain their language and cultural identity.  The highlight of all this is the Festival of Samhain, which was a real delight to experience with Ruso.

    As a Historical Fiction novel, I thought this was Ruth Downie’s best book yet.  The linguistic modernisms (“mate”, “ain’t”, etc.) seemed “smoother” and less frequent, and if there were any anachronisms, I didn’t spot them.  A bunch of new characters are introduced, many whom I suspect will play recurring roles.  Senecio is particularly memorable.

    As a Mystery novel, this felt more like a Police Procedural than the other books I’ve read in this series.  Ruso investigates a pair of disappearances, and frankly, doesn’t have much to work with in either case. I l like Police Procedurals, so for me this was a plus.  But readers looking for a whodunit may find Ruso’s methodical ways, with the frequent red herrings and dead ends, feel like the story is sometimes spinning in its tracks.

    There’s still a decent amount of action, however.  And Downie’s trademark gentle-yet-wry humor keeps the storyline fresh and interesting.  Tilla is hit with some personal revelations, which was kewl and didn’t detract at all from the fact that I am not reading this series in order.  As always, this is a standalone novel, with an ending that wraps up all the plot threads quite nicely.

Kewlest New Word...

Hayrick (n.) : another word for “haystack”.

Excerpts...

    “Candidus,” the watch captain repeated.  “Where is he?”

    “Haven’t seen him, sir.”

    “Not ever,” suggested the watch captain, “or just not lately?”

    The man scratched his head, as if this were too subtle a question for one who had only just woken up.

    “He arrived several days ago,” Ruso prompted.  “He was assigned to this tent.”

    “Ah,” said the man, apparently enlightened.  “Him.”  (loc. 1020)

    “Albanus knows nothing of people,” she told him, pointing one slender foot in the air and hiding it inside a sock.  “He spends too long with words and writing.  He thinks I am bad for you.”

    “I’m sure he’s never said that.”

    “He thinks I lead you into trouble.”

    “You do.”  (loc. 1855)

Kindle Details...

    Tabula Rasa sells for $9.99 at Amazon, and, since it is the newest release in this series, is understandably priced the highest.  The other Medicus books range in price from $1.99 (for the first novel) to $9.59.

“You’ve been so much more entertaining since you met Tilla and adopted the native tendency to overdramatize.”  (loc. 1658)

    I enjoyed Tabula Rasa as much as, if not a bit more than any of the other three books I’ve read in this series.  I can’t say whether this is due to the author's style and storytelling improving with each book, or if I’m just developing a better feel for what she’s trying to do with the series.  I will say that Tabula Rasa felt more polished, and that’s a good sign for things to come in this series.

    I admit it - I'm now hooked on Ruso and Tilla, and will probably read Terra Incognita (Book 2 in the series) as soon as it becomes available at my local digital library.  This whole series is highly recommended.

    8½ Stars.  Here's hoping Ruso and Tilla continue to find themselves moving to new parts of the Roman Empire.  It will be unsettling to them, but a treat for readers.

Caveat Emptor - Ruth Downie

    2011; 336 pages.  Book #4 (out of 6) of the Medicus series.  New Author? : No.  Genre : Historical Fiction; Murder-Mystery.  Overall Rating : 8½*/10.

    The Roman tax collector assigned to the city of Verulamium has gone missing.  Well, that’s nothing to get excited about, since Roman tax collectors aren’t very popular, even amongst the Romans.

    But the yearly tax revenues from Verulamium disappeared with the collector, and that does make the case important.  The Romans in Londinium need to find someone to conduct an investigation.  But who?

    Well, Gaius Petreius Ruso has just returned to Londinium from Gaul.  He’d like to find a job as a medicus (doctor).  But he has a history as a reluctant (and politically naïve) investigator.

    Let’s send him!  Just so long as he keeps the priorities in order.  It’s the money that matters.  Not the tax collector.

What’s To Like...

    Caveat Emptor is the third book I’ve read in this series (the others are reviewed here and here), and is frankly my favorite one so far.  The Historical Fiction aspect seemed to be more deeply researched, especially the particulars about Verulamium.  And the Mystery aspect felt more satisfying as well: it was less arbitrary and more logical. 

    Valens is back, a bit more wise to the world, but with a serious personal issue.  Tilla is sometimes a real help in investigating the case, and sometimes quite the hindrance.  And Ruso is, well, still Ruso.  His doggedness at solving the case is inversely proportional to his slowness at grasping the political nuances of the Roman army  and government.  And he and Valens seem to be equally clueless when it comes to women. 

    There is a Cast of Characters at the beginning which once again came in quite handy.  The chapters are short, which made finding a place to stop for the night a breeze.  And the mystery itself starts up almost immediately.

    This time around, telling the good guys from the bad guys was quite the challenge, and I really liked that.  Ruso's investigation has its fair share of unexpected turns, and everything builds to a nice, twisty ending.

Kewlest New Word. . .

Dinning (v.)  :  making someone learn or remember something by constant repetition.

Excerpts...

    The books said that the Iceni had been crushed years ago, but this one did not look crushed.  This one looked tall and fierce and none too clean: exactly how he imagined the raging queen Boudica at the head of her savage hordes.

    When future histories were written about Britannia, Firmus did not want to appear in them as the man who had been fool enough to upset the Iceni again.  (pg. 3)

    “What are you doing in her house?”

    “Princess of the Iceni, eh?”

    Tilla raised her knife to suggest a little more respect.

    The man lifted his hands into the air and backed away in mock alarm.  “It’s all right,” he assured her.  “There’s no need for that.”

    “You can explain to her.  And to the guards.”

    The man lowered his hands.  His grin revealed dimples and even white teeth.  “I’m the captain of the guards, miss.  Put that knife away, or I’ll have to report us both to myself.”  (pg. 122)

 “We caught a sheep stealer last night, so there’s a flogging to organize.”  (pg.  206)

    Once again, there are some anachronistic candles, and the dialogue still grates on my literary nerve, what with modern-day Englishisms such as “ain’t” and “boss”.  But I have to admit that one “mistake” I thought I caught – the use of an abacus – turned out to be correct. The Romans really did have such a device in use by the time of Caveat Emptor.

    I’ve made my peace with this series.  It seems to me that Ruth Downie doesn’t intend it to be as serious as, say, the HF-MM works of Ellis Peters or Steven Saylor.  Instead, she instills a deliberate “lightness” to the story, evidenced by a subtle drizzling of humor throughout the book.  It kind of reminds me of an old TV series, Columbo.  Not particularly believable, but extremely entertaining.

    8½ Stars.  Caveat Emptor, and the Medicus series as a whole, may not be 100% historically accurate, but they are colorfully delightful to read.

Semper Fidelis - Ruth Downie

    2013; 348 pages.  New Author? : No.  Book #5 (out of 6) of the Medicus series.  Genre : Historical Fiction; Mystery.  Overall Rating : 8*/10.

    Something is amiss in the Twentieth Legion, and it’s not just that they’re stationed in the backwater town of Eboracum in Britannia.  Or that they’re stuck with the unenviable job of recruiting and training the local Britons to be loyal Roman legionaries.

    No, it’s the fact that people are saying that the Twentieth Legion is cursed.  And there’s some merit to the claim.  Two recruits are dead, another’s in critical condition due to a training accident, and still another’s gone missing.  Oh yeah, there’s also a recruit up on the roof, threatening to jump to his death.

    But there’s no such thing as a curse, is there?  That’s what Ruso wants to find out.

What’s To Like...

    Semper Fidelis takes place in 2^nd-century Roman-ruled Britain, during the reign of Hadrian.  The book is fast-paced, with Action, Romance, Humor, and a couple of Mysteries all worked into a nice piece of Historical Fiction.  Overall, this is a pleasant, light read, but some serious topics are touched upon; among them slavery, the role of women, torture, and homosexuality.

    I thought the character development was top-notch.  Ruso and his wife Tilla combine to make an effective, if somewhat reluctant (at least on Ruso’s part) sleuthing team that reminds me of Anne Perry’s Thomas and Charlotte Pitt.  The secondary characters stand out as well, even the one-and-dones.  I especially liked the non-stereotypical treatment of the Emperor Hadrian and Empress Sabina.  It is refreshing to meet Roman rulers who aren’t typecast as despots.  All the characters have both noble traits and flaws.  Ruso and Tilla both have a tendency to be whistle-blowers, and suffer the usual punishments for their high-principled but ill-advised disclosures.

    Semper Fidelis is Book 5 in the series.  I read the first book, Medicus, a couple months ago (reviewed here), but skipped the three intervening books.  I’m sure the usual caveat applies – you’ll get more out of the series if you read the books in order – but SemperFi does just fine as a standalone novel.  Tilla and Ruso got married somewhere along the way, and Tilla is investigating a johnny-come-lately deity called Christos.  ANAICT that’s about it for important events that I missed.

Kewlest New Word. . .

Fug (n.) : A warm, stuffy, or smoky atmosphere in a confined space.

Excerpts...

    “Sir, I apologize for that excuse about the man falling off the stretcher.”

    “It wasn’t very convincing.”

    “I’m usually much better at lying, sir.”

    “Perhaps you’d like to tell me the truth now?”

    “I’d rather try for a more convincing lie, sir.”  (loc. 1576)

    “Shall we have her fetched?”

    Tranquillus looked appalled.  A midwife, madam?”

    Clarus said, “A housecleaner?”

    Sabina smiled.  “And an officer’s wife.  I think I should like to meet her.”

    “She’ll have to be checked first,” insisted Clarus.  “I’ll need a name.”

    Sabina sighed.  “Clarus, you have a very large sword.  We are surrounded by the servants and you can call your guards.  If none of those can deal with her, Tranquillus will stab her with his stylus.  I think I shall be safe from one woman, don’t you?”  (loc. 2626)

Kindle Details...

    Semper Fidelis sells for $9.39 at Amazon, as do two others in the series.  The just-issued Book 6, Tabula Rasa, goes for $9.99,  and the remaining two sell for $7.39 and $7.99.

“I hear one of our officers has married you.”  “I have married him also, mistress.”  (loc. 2655)

    Frankly, as a Mystery novel Semper Fidelis is a bit meh.  The main murder doesn’t occur until Chapter 48 (Kindle 56%), so I spent the first half of the book wondering where the main storyline was going.  The solution of the Murder-Mystery seemed arbitrary and hazy, and trying to solve it alongside Tilla/Ruso was a frustrating exercise.

    The Historical Fiction portion was better, although an anachronistic candle still shows up (sorry, there weren't any in the Roman Empire), and Valens still uses ‘modern’ terms like “bollocks” and “old chap”.

    But this is a case where the sum of the book is greater than its parts, probably because Ruth Downie infuses such a vibrant literary color into the world of ancient Britain.  Semper Fidelis in particular, and the Medicus series as a whole, are both a fun and enlightening read. 

    8 Stars.

Medicus - Ruth Downie

    2007; 416 pages.  New Author? : Yes.  Full Title : Medicus: A Novel of the Roman Empire.  Book #1 (out of 5) of Ruth Downie’s Medicus series.  Genre : Historical Fiction; Murder-Mystery.  Overall Rating : 8*/10.

    Gaius Petreius Ruso has woman problems.  Women problems, actually.

    First, there’s his ex, who is a world away, but whose nagging still manages to creep into Ruso’s thoughts.  Then there’s the corpse of a young lady that was just pulled out of the river, who is unidentified and shorn of all her hair.  Finally, there’s the damaged-goods slave-girl that he got talked into unwittingly buying.

    Curiously, it’s the latter one that will give him the most headaches.

What’s To Like...

    Medicus is set in Roman-occupied Britain in the 2^nd Century AD.  Ruso is a recent arrival, and serves in the Roman army as a surgeon/doctor, which in Latin is ‘Medicus’.  I found him to be a well-developed, fascinating character, and enjoyed watching him try to cope with his many and assorted career, financial, and women woes.

    The rest of the crew, who are listed in a handy “Cast of Characters” at the beginning of the book, aren’t particularly 3-D, but at least they’re interesting.  Valens, Ruso’s roommate and fellow doctor, is a great supporting character.  Hopefully, he is a “regular” in the series.  The book is an ambitious mixture of genres – Murder-Mystery, Historical Fiction, and Romance.

    The Romance stays in the background, which will be a plus for most male readers.  The Murder-Mystery is a police-procedural.  It plods along predictably, with the question being not so much “Who done it”, as “How is Ruso going to prove it”.  I kept waiting for a plot twist, but it never came. 

    Frankly, the Historical Fiction is poorly done.  Anachronisms abound.  There are candles, paper, and underwear – none of which were around at the time.  Even worse is the dialogue, riddled with out-of-place verbiage such as “Bollocks”, “Oy”, “Right-Oh”, and (You’re another of those medical) “fellers”.  I don’t expect the characters to speak in Latin, but come on now.  Fellers?!?!

    That being said, the pacing was good and held my interest.  The writing is witty and captivating, which is no mean feat given the underlying serious themes of slavery, prostitution, and imperialism.  The ending is so-so, but it does tie everything up.  The Epilogue is fantastic.

Excerpts...

    The plump woman, casually propping one hand under her jaw to disguise her chins, leaned forward and peered at Ruso.  He was diagnosing short sight as she said, “So, how long have you been in Britannia, doctor?”

    “Two weeks,” replied Ruso.

    The woman appeared to be waiting for more.  He felt there was something else he should add to this reply to pad it out a little, but since he had fully answered the question he could not think what the something might be.  This was another reason why he disliked dinner parties.  (loc. 2084)

    “May you rest in peace, sister.  May you enjoy a better life in the next world than you suffered in this one.  May you forgive us all for not avenging you sooner and …”  He paused to clear his throat, “and may the dead be kind enough to forgive me for not telling the whole truth, because I have a duty to the living.”

    “Sometimes,” murmured a girl’s voice, “is good not to tell too much truth.”    (loc. 6664)

Kindle Details...

    Medicus Sells for $1.99 at Amazon, which is a nice, cost-effective way to become acquainted with Ruth Downie and Gaius Petreius Ruso.  The other four books in the series are priced in the $7.39-$9.99 range for the Kindle.  I borrowed this e-book for free from my local library.

”I’m a doctor, not a fortune-teller.”  (loc. 2723)

    If you read Medicus as a Romance, a Murder-Mystery, or a piece of Historical Fiction, you will probably be disappointed.  But as I read the book, I kept wondering if such expectations were not the author’s intent.

    There is a lightheartedness to the writing that I haven’t seen from any other writer in this genre – Lindsey Davis, Ellis Peters, John Maddox Roberts, etc.  It’s a pleasant change to have someone treat a historical setting with wit and humor, while still telling a story that doesn’t bog down.  The ancients weren’t stodgy and serious all the time.  I’m sure they got drunk, told jokes, palled around, and laughed at both themselves and other ‘fellers’.

    So treat Medicus like it’s an airport novel (aka “beach read”), and enjoy the ride.  Ignore the inaccuracies and colloquialisms; they’re there to enhance the storyline.  If you want to read something more serious along these lines, any of the aforementioned authors are highly recommended.  But Ruth Downie seems to have carved out her own little niche, and I think it’s a pleasant broadening of the literary choices in this genre.

    8 Stars.  Subtract 2 stars if you’re a stickler for historical accuracy.  Add 1 star if you read this on an airplane or at the beach.