However, the detective Gordianus the Finder does not reveal the solution until after going through a series of contrived incidents that violate the readerss suspension of disbelief. The reader is able to figure out whodunit very early on in the book. In Rubicon, Saylor does not use any of the lush characterization or attention to historical detail that he used in his previous novels in the Gordianus the Finder series.Įven worse, was the fact that this is a mystery novel without a real mystery. Lets hope 'Rubicon' is the only one in the series thats this disappointing. Only Gordianus adopted sons seem to have anything to recommend them, and theyre usually shoved into the background. Gordianus is usually wise, but unnecessarily distracted by his family (ever wonder why Sherlock Holmes stayed single?) As a woman reader, I wanted to like Bethesda and Diana, but Bethesda is nasty and haughty Diana manipulates everyone to get her own way. But I really dont find any of the characters sympathetic. Ill keep reading Saylor, since McCullough has finished her series. in Saylors books is like learning something else about the fun characters that Ms. Most of my enjoyment in reading this particular series is derived from the fact that I have read the complete 'Masters of Rome' (historical fiction) series by Colleen McCullough, and rereading about Cicero, Caesar, Pompey, et al. Normally there is a satisfaction in learning who the perp was, but this one left me cold. When it is divulged, near the end, I was astonished and could only feel that Saylor had run into writers block on this one. There are nowhere near enough clues given as to the real killer. In this particular book, there is no possible way to guess who killed Numerius Pompeius. But this is not why I give the book only three stars.Ī chief pleasure in reading mysteries is trying to guess 'whodunit.' Half the time, or more, Im wrong, but the fun of doing it is still there. No one pokes fun at Caesar whenever Caesar appears in the book its basically to give Gordianus a verbal pat on the head and swan off into throngs of adoring soldiers.

Saylor must have a deep respect for Julius Caesar, for while other Big Roman Names are lampooned in his books (Marc Antony, Catilina, Cicero and Pompey are the biggest), Caesar always gets preferential treatment. Rubicon : A Novel of Ancient Rome (A Novel of Ancient Rome) > Rubicon : A Novel of Ancient Rome (A Novel of Ancient Rome)īook > Rubicon : A Novel of Ancient Rome (A Novel of Ancient Rome) > Customer Reviews: Rubicon : A Novel of Ancient Rome (A Novel of Ancient Rome) Rubicon : A Novel of Ancient Rome (A Novel of Ancient Rome)

Rubicon steven saylor