Rating: 
Summary: Good Historical Fiction
Review: "Rubicon" is a brisk, absorbing read, one of the better popular historical novels set in ancient Rome during the lifetime of Julius Caesar. Saylor knows how to tell a story well, and he keeps his murder-mystery plots moving efficiently along. He creates interesting characters and credible conflicts and difficulties for them. This particular novel in Saylor's excellent Rome series is not the strongest, but it was certainly enjoyable. The main problem for this one is that Saylor leaves the mystery behind far too long in one stretch of the book, almost forgetting the murder with which his story began. In fact, Saylor's retelling of the story of Pompey's strategic retreat from Rome after Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon has greater drama than solving the murder of Pompey's nephew. Saylor can't quite make these parts of the story adhere in a completely satisfying way. But I am certainly not complaining. Saylor has given us another fine story of Rome during the fascinating Civil War. His presentation of daily life in Rome is always aptly detailed and engrossing. He also has given this story a bit of philosophical depth by focusing closely at times on the psychology of the series' "detective", Gordianus the Finder. Moreover, the chapters on the battle at Brundisium, in which Pompey barely succeeded in escaping Caesar's fearsome army by fleeing across the Adriatic, are a compelling addition to the massive historical literature on the Roman Civil War. Overall, well done, Mr. Saylor. "Rubicon" does not rise to literature, but it certainly is good historical fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: The Darker Days of Rome
Review: Another great entry in the Roman Sub Rosa series, Rubicon starts out a bit slow but ends with many surprises and is more of a cliff-hanger than any of Saylor's previous novels. Things get darker as Gordianus gets older, and his perspective on life changes with age. I like to give myself a bit of time between these novels to "cleanse my palate" with other books, but this time I don't know how long I can hold out until picking up "Massilia." If you think you know how this one will turn out, you will be in for quite a shock.
Rating: 
Summary: A step down
Review: Even readers not drawn to historical settings should explore Saylor's impressive series (Murder on the Appian Way, etc.) set in ancient Rome. Saylor's protagonist, Gordianus the Finder, whom Cicero characterizes as "the most honest man in Rome," is an astute citizen and a detective for the Senate. An independent thinker, Gordianus has freed his slaves, marrying one, and adopted several orphans whom he has raised as his own sons. But at 61, the wily Gordianus finds his survival instincts pushed to the utmost, for Rome is on the verge of civil war and all must be careful with their alliances. Caesar has crossed the Rubicon with his army, and his rival, Pompey, the head of the Roman Senate, is about to abandon the city, leaving its citizens without laws and protection. In the midst of this turmoil, Pompey's favorite cousin and trusted courier is murdered in Gordianus's garden. Infuriated, Pompey orders the sleuth to find the killer, insuring his loyalty by impressing one of Gordianus's relatives into his own army. While Gordianus copes with this treacherous mix of family and politics, a heightened frenzy overtakes Rome as it awaits Caesar's possible invasion. Saylor writes about ancient Rome as naturally and comfortably as if he had lived there, capturing both its glory and brutality. Finely shadowed characters and an action-packed finale make this a praiseworthy addition to a series that deserves wide attention. Agent, Alan Nevins; author tour.
Rating:
Summary: Mysteries getting lost in the political intrigue
Review: I still like this series because of how well it devels into the interpersonal relationships of the time and how the times can personally affect and change people. However, this is suppose to be a mystery series, yes? Well, the mystery is being far overshadowed by the political and personal intrigues in these last few books of the series. I fear it shall be even worse in the next book "The Road to Massalia". There isn't anything wrong innately about focusing on these intrigues but if a book is marked as a mystery, then it should involve a mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Saylor in fine form ... again
Review: If you haven't read any of Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa novels then stop reading this review and proceed to reading reviews on the first novel in the series, Roman Blood, or better yet simply buy the book and read it. Saylor's novels are best read in sequence.As for Rubicon, we have Gordianus caught up in a power struggle between Pompey and Caesar. He is pulled from Rome with Pompey's entourage and soon finds himself at a mighty battle at the harbour of what is now Brindisi. The battles scenes are enthralling. Better still, Rubicon has a surprise ending - no spoilers here! And he does a nice job in providing a lead-in into the next book the in the series, Last Seen in Massilia. Bottom line: amongst the best in the Roma Sub Rosa series. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Whose Rubicon Is It Anyway?
Review: Once again Steven Saylor breathes life and msytery into the world of late Republican Rome, and honor and ethic into ours. Gordianus and his family share the stage with Pompey, Caesar, Cicero and the Senate and People of Rome in a way which impels the reader to enter Gordianus' world - and examine his own in its context. While the historical backdrop makes the novel available, perhaps enjoyable, to readers who have not explored the full Roma sub Rosa series, the development of Gordianus and his family through the series is a rich reward for the reader who will explore the whole. One does nor turn back after crossing the Rubicon, whether en route to Rome or on a journey of the soul. Saylor invites one to cross the Rubicon with Gordianus, and to examine oneself in the crucible of the Soul. Caesar risked his honor and his life to cross that river. Caught like all of Rome between Pompey and Caesar, with his son in Caesar's tent and his son-in-law in Pompey's power, Gordianus comes to the bank of that dreadful river and stares into the unknown. Gordianus makes crossing the Rubicon personal, and Saylor brings the crossing forward to your soul. You cannot come away from Saylor's novel without knowing when and what you can and will risk when you stand on the far bank and stare into the mystery across your Rubicon. Cross it.
Rating:
Summary: No Payoff!
Review: 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. No one pokes fun at Caesar; whenever Caesar appears in the book it's basically to give Gordianus a verbal pat on the head and swan off into throngs of adoring soldiers. But this is not why I give the book only three stars.
A chief pleasure in reading mysteries is trying to guess "whodunit." Half the time, or more, I'm wrong, but the fun of doing it is still there. In this particular book, there is no possible way to guess who killed Numerius Pompeius. There are nowhere near enough clues given as to the real killer. When it is divulged, near the end, I was astonished and could only feel that Saylor had run into writer's block on this one. Normally there is a satisfaction in learning who the perp was, but this one left me cold. Three hours of reading, and no payoff.
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. in Saylor's books is like learning something else about the fun characters that Ms. McCullough portrayed.
I'll keep reading Saylor, since McCullough has finished her series. But I really don't find any of the characters sympathetic. 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. Only Gordianus' adopted sons seem to have anything to recommend them, and they're usually shoved into the background. Let's hope "Rubicon" is the only one in the series that's this disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: Whither Gordianus?
Review: Saylor remains a master of the written word, crafting a novel that flows seamlessly and effortlessly draws the reader into Ancient Rome. Yet Rubicon strikes with a very different impact from all of the preceeding Roma Sub Rosa novels. For one thing, the prose, while still enjoyable, lacks the power that was evident at times in earlier books. For another, it appears that Saylor has once and for all eschewed mystery in favor of straight historical drama. Although Rubicon begins with a mysterious dead body, the mystery surrounding it disappears quickly; instead, Gordianus becomes deeply enmeshed in the struggle between Caesar and Pompey, spending a great deal of time with Cicero's former slave, Tiro (who turns out to be a character best met in moderation; he suffers from prolonged exposure). Finally, Rubicon is much too short and too fast-paced - it's almost Saylor-lite. All of these things are not *necessarily* bad, but leave me feeling apprehensive about the next book.
Rating:
Summary: It's Good to be Knocking Around 'Ole Rome Again
Review: That's the way this author brings to life the Roman Empire. He is wildly successful in making Rome a comfortable place to be. The plot would be no less fascinating were it to occur in the modern day. Whenever I am reading a novel of ancient Rome, I cannot help but draw comparisons to Colleen McCullough's series (starting with "The Grass Crown"). Her series is unquestionably more researched and has a more in depth feel. However, what Saylor lacks in historical accuracy he makes up for in "page-turn-ability". This is a great read with wonderfully fleshed out and believable characters - even if their sensibilities and language do seem a bit modern. Apparently I have started at the seventh book in his series and I look forward to reading number one and following the series.
Rating: 
Summary: A Suspense Novel Without The Suspense
Review: This book was a colossal disappointment. 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. Even worse, was the fact that this is a mystery novel without a real mystery. The reader is able to figure out whodunit very early on in the book. However, the detective Gordianus the Finder does not reveal the solution until after going through a series of contrived incidents that violate the readers's suspension of disbelief. The only reason why the solution was not revealed early on is that this would have made Rubicon no more than a novelette. In other words, Rubicon is a novelette with about 200+ pages of padding. I give this novel a 1 out of 5 rating.
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