Rating: 
Summary: Rubicon
Review: Steven Saylor's "Rubicon" left me wanting more so I ordered all of the books in his Roma sub Roma series; they are a smashing good read and a history lesson at the same time - "Harry Potter" for adults.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic twist in the war between Ceasar & Pompey.
Review: Steven Saylor's books just keep getting better! With a totally unexpected twist and further development of Gordianus this is the best book yet in this series. A must read!
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: Brillian!
Review: The first Saylor book I read was Murder On The Appian Way, and I was impressed enough to go back to the beginning and read the entire Gordianus Series. I cannot recomend them highly enough.But! Even if you haven't read the others you can certainly pick this one up and plunge right into the world Saylor presents for us. Gordianus is the most human character I've ever read in an historical novel, the next best being Ellis Peters 'Brother Cadfael'. It's true this book is told at a different pace than the first few books, less intensive sleuthing and more travel and adventures. But that's fine with me as it's much more like Murder On The Appian way which was my first introduction to these characters. Read this series and this book! Fall in love with the characters as I did! Learn more about history than you ever thought you'd know!
Rating:
Summary: Saylor brings his series into a new dimension
Review: The great thing about series is the opportunity to reveal the human characteristics gradually, like you learn about real people in your life. Saylor has taken Gordianus through his youth -- meeting a good number of famous and infamous personalities on the way -- and now he is a mature, established, and perhaps a bit jaded member of a Roman society in turmoil (again!). In this story, Gordianus is tested, and tests himself as to what is important in his life. Even as Caesar crosses the real Rubicon river, Gordianus debates what it might mean to cross the figurative rubicon. Not to be missed.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this story!
Review: The hero is back in the thick of the action, even though he is feeling his age. He is thrust into the thick of the most famous Roman Civil War. His puzzle or mystery concerns members of both factions,a nd he interacts with them in a wonderful manner. There is lots of believable history mixed into this adventure, and the characters and situations stand side by side with descriptions from Cicero, Julius Caesar and Lucan! I won't spoil the ending, but I read this in one sitting, well into the wee hours, and placed it down with regret, wishing I could already see the next part of the adventure! I am making this a suggested reading for my Honors World History class! Steven Saylor makes history come alive, with all the shiny swords and polished armor, as well as dingy, smelly backroads and dirty secrets. Take a trip through the time of Julius Caesar, Pompey Magnus and Gordianus the Finder, you will be glad you spent your time so well!
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.
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.
Rating: 
Summary: Not his best, yet better than others
Review: This is certainly not the best work in the Gordanius serie. Yet it has all the historical precision that is absent in the writings of authors like Lindsey Davis. In those books you feel like you're reading about a 21st century mind which accidently ended up in the body of an ancient hero. Not with Saylor, who always succeeds in convincing you that the novel characters are true Romans (even though that can't be true). So even not at his best, Steven Saylor is superior to every ancient suspense writer
Rating:
Summary: Rich historical detail wrapped around a great mystery
Review: This is the first of Steven Saylor's books that I have read and I found it to be very enjoyable. I am a big fan of ancient history and his novel brings to life many rich details that get overlooked in the history books. At times the language seems slightly stiff and implausible, but this does not detract from the story and seems to enhance the fact that the characters are thinking and speaking thousands of years ago in a language that has different syntax and structure from English(the book is in English). A great read for any fan of mystery and history. Can't wait to read some of his earlier works.
| 
