Synopses & Reviews
"Saylor rivals Robert Graves in his knack for making the classical world come alive." --(ortland)
Oregonian "Engrossing...Ironic and satisfying." --
San Francisco Chronicle The third in Saylor's
Roma Sub Rosa novels featuring Gordianus the Finder. Gordianus, disillusioned by the corruption of Rome circa 63 B.C., has fled the city with his family to live on a farm in the Etruscan countryside. But this bucolic life is disrupted by the machinations and murderous plots of two politicians: Roman consul Cicero, Gordianus's longtime patron, and populist senator Catilina, Cicero's political rival and a candidate to replace him in the annual elections for consul. Claiming that Catilina plans an uprising if he loses the race, Cicero asks Gordianus to keep a watchful eye on the radical. Although he distrusts both men, Gordianus is forced into the center of the power struggle when his six-year-old daughter Diana finds a headless corpse in their stable. Shrewdly depicting deadly political maneuverings, this addictive mystery also displays the author's firm grasp of history and human character. On first publication back in 1994,
Catilina's Riddle was a finalist for the Hammet Award.
Steven Saylor is the author of the long running series featuring Gordianus the Finder as well as the
New York Times bestselling novel,
Roma. He has appeared as an on-air expert on Roman history and life on The History Channel. He divides his time between Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas. Using scholarly historical insight and evocative storytelling that brings to life the glories of ancient Rome, Steven Saylor takes the reader from the bloody lines of clashing Roman armies to the backrooms of the Senate floor, where power-hungry politicians wrestle the Fates for control of Rome's destiny.
With the consular election drawing near, Rome is fiercely divided between the conservative Cicero and the tempestuous Catilina, whose followers are rumored to be plotting a bloodthirsty siege for power if their leader fails to win office.
Gordianus the Finder, retired to his Etruscan farm, is happy to be free of the intrigue and danger of the capital. But when his old friend Cicero enlists the Finder in an elaborate plot to control Catilina, Gordianus is drawn back into a familiar world. Now caught in a cloak-and-dagger political struggle for the fate of the Republic, Gordianus finds himself strangely drawn to the controversial candidate. Is Catilina really a subversive renegade, or are Cicero's suspicions part of an even greater conspiracy? When a headless corpse ominously appears on his farm, Gordianus knows he must unlock the secret of Catilina's riddle before Rome tears herself apart. "Engrossing . . . Ironic and satisfying."San Francisco Chronicle
"Saylor rivals Robert Graves in his knack for making the classical world come alive."The Oregonian (Portland)
"Saylor's fashionably inconclusive reading of the conspiracy throws both antagonists, Cicero and Catilina, into bold relief. The result is a spacious, provocative portrait of a fictional detective confronted with a historical mystery finally beyond his powers."Kirkus Reviews
"Saylor has written a sweeping and marvelously evocative story, with page after page of authentic detail and meticulous descriptions of the people, places, and politics of early Rome . . . There's no doubt that history buffs will savor the splendid historical detail."Booklist
"Saylor carefully plots this novel and accurately depicts Roman society; his attentive study of Roman history and culture is evident throughout. The characters are believable and well delineated."Library Journal
"Saylor has written another gripping and entertaining historical whodunit. Shrewdly depicting deadly political maneuverings, this addictive mystery also displays the author's firm grasp of history and human character."Publishers Weekly
Review
"Gripping and entertaining . . . [An] addictive mystery."—
Publishers Weekly"Engrossing . . . Ironic and satisfying."—San Francisco Chronicle
"There's no doubt that history buffs will savor splendid historical detail."—Booklist
Review
"Engrossing . . . Ironic and satisfying."—
San Francisco Chronicle "Saylor rivals Robert Graves in his knack for making the classical world come alive."—The Oregonian (Portland)
"Saylor's fashionably inconclusive reading of the conspiracy throws both antagonists, Cicero and Catilina, into bold relief. The result is a spacious, provocative portrait of a fictional detective confronted with a historical mystery finally beyond his powers."—Kirkus Reviews
"Saylor has written a sweeping and marvelously evocative story, with page after page of authentic detail and meticulous descriptions of the people, places, and politics of early Rome . . . There's no doubt that history buffs will savor the splendid historical detail."—Booklist
"Saylor carefully plots this novel and accurately depicts Roman society; his attentive study of Roman history and culture is evident throughout. The characters are believable and well delineated."—Library Journal
"Saylor has written another gripping and entertaining historical whodunit. Shrewdly depicting deadly political maneuverings, this addictive mystery also displays the author's firm grasp of history and human character."—Publishers Weekly
Review
and#8220;Witty, elegant whodunits. . . . With Aristotle and the Secrets of Life, Margaret Doody launches her characters into more troubled, and troubling, waters. Deftly weaving together known or likely facts of Aristotleand#8217;s biography, from different periods of his life, this time she projects the philosopher himself as the main character of the adventure. . . . There are powerful and sinister forces at work in Athens.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;Eminently enjoyable.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;Why did no one think of this before?and#8221;
Review
andldquo;Aristotle and the Secrets of Life delves more deeply into Aristotleandrsquo;s philosophy and provides a more intricate look at his school and studies. This book is filled with much more political intrigue and gives a clearer look at the aftermath of Alexander the Greatandrsquo;s conquest. . . . Much darker and more intricate.andrdquo;
Synopsis
"Saylor rivals Robert Graves in his knack for making the classical world come alive." --(ortland) Oregonian "Engrossing...Ironic and satisfying." -- San Francisco Chronicle The third in Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa novels featuring Gordianus the Finder. Gordianus, disillusioned by the corruption of Rome circa 63 B.C., has fled the city with his family to live on a farm in the Etruscan countryside. But this bucolic life is disrupted by the machinations and murderous plots of two politicians: Roman consul Cicero, Gordianus's longtime patron, and populist senator Catilina, Cicero's political rival and a candidate to replace him in the annual elections for consul. Claiming that Catilina plans an uprising if he loses the race, Cicero asks Gordianus to keep a watchful eye on the radical. Although he distrusts both men, Gordianus is forced into the center of the power struggle when his six-year-old daughter Diana finds a headless corpse in their stable. Shrewdly depicting deadly political maneuverings, this addictive mystery also displays the author's firm grasp of history and human character. On first publication back in 1994, Catilina's Riddle was a finalist for the Hammet Award.
Synopsis
Saylor rivals Robert Graves in his knack for making the classical world come alive. --(ortland) Oregonian
Engrossing...Ironic and satisfying. -- San Francisco Chronicle
The third in Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa novels featuring Gordianus the Finder. Gordianus, disillusioned by the corruption of Rome circa 63 B.C., has fled the city with his family to live on a farm in the Etruscan countryside. But this bucolic life is disrupted by the machinations and murderous plots of two politicians: Roman consul Cicero, Gordianus's longtime patron, and populist senator Catilina, Cicero's political rival and a candidate to replace him in the annual elections for consul. Claiming that Catilina plans an uprising if he loses the race, Cicero asks Gordianus to keep a watchful eye on the radical. Although he distrusts both men, Gordianus is forced into the center of the power struggle when his six-year-old daughter Diana finds a headless corpse in their stable. Shrewdly depicting deadly political maneuverings, this addictive mystery also displays the author's firm grasp of history and human character.
On first publication back in 1994, Catilina's Riddle was a finalist for the Hammet Award.
Synopsis
Using scholarly historical insight and evocative storytelling that brings to life the glories of ancient Rome, Steven Saylor takes the reader from the bloody lines of clashing Roman armies to the backrooms of the Senate floor, where power-hungry politicians wrestle the Fates for control of Rome's destiny. With the consular election drawing near, Rome is fiercely divided between the conservative Cicero and the tempestuous Catilina, whose followers are rumored to be plotting a blood-thirsty siege for power if their leader fails to win office.
Gordianus the Finder, retired to his Etruscan farm, is happy to be free of the intrigue and danger of the capital. But when his old friend Cicero enlists the Finder in an elaborate plot to control Catilina, Gordianus is drawn back into a familiar world. Now caught in a cloak-and-dagger political struggle for the fate of the Republic, Gordianus finds himself strangely drawn to the controversial candidate. Is Catilina really a subversive renegade, or are Cicero suspicions part of an even greater conspiracy? When a headless corpse ominously appears on his farm, Gordianus knows he must unlock the secret of Catilina's Riddle before Rome tears herself apart.
Synopsis
The sequel to
Aristotle and Poetic Justice, this picks up the story in the summer of 330 BC, when Athenians are feeling threatened by followers of Alexander the Great, whom they call andldquo;foreigners.andrdquo;and#160;Aristotle must flee Athens, so he travels with young Stephanos overseas to the sacred island of Delos and as far east as Kos and Asia Minor. and#160;A colorful cast of travelers joins them on a brilliantly described voyageandmdash;but only Aristotleandrsquo;s wisdom saves them from sea storms, conspirators and pirates. At one point the great philosopher engineers a brilliant escape from pirates by poisoning their stew and throwing octopi on their faces.and#160;Itandrsquo;s all witty, erudite, often bloody, occasionally salacious fun.
Synopsis
Murder and mayhem may seem like unreasonable company for Aristotle, one of the founding minds of Western philosophy. But in the skilled hands of Margaret Doody, the pairing could not be more logical. With her Aristotle Detective novels, Margaret Doody brings a Holmesian hero to the bloodied streets of ancient Greece, trading the pipe and deerstalker of Sherlock for the woolen chiton and sandals of Aristotle. Replete with suspense, historical detail, and humor, and complemented by an ever-growing cast of characters and vivid descriptions of the ancient world, Doodyand#8217;s mysteries are as much lively takes on the figures and forms of the classics as they are classic whodunits in their own right.
With Aristotle and the Secrets of Life, tensions between the Athenians and the Makedoniansand#151;followers of another of Aristotleand#8217;s former students, Alexander the Greatand#151;draw our heroes across the Aegean Sea. Even as Aristotle and Stephanos escape from pirates, uncover conspiracy, and face the horrors of war, Aristotle finds time to discuss his studies of the natural world in this gripping tale of their quest into darkness.and#160;and#160;and#160;
About the Author
Steven Saylor is the author of the long running Roma Sub Rosa series featuring Gordianus the Finder, as well as the New York Times bestselling novel, Roma and its follow-up, Empire. He has appeared as an on-air expert on Roman history and life on The History Channel. Saylor was born in Texas and graduated with high honors from The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied history and classics. He divides his time between Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.
Table of Contents
Map
List of Characters
and#160;
Part I: Parts of Animals
Iand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Sanctuary of Asklepios
IIand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Murdering an Ox
IIIand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Meeting a Monkey
IVand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Sweetness and Bees
Vand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Odour of Blood
VIand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Parts of Animals
VIIand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Monument
and#160;
Part II: Movement of Animals
VIIIand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Preparing for Flight
IX and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Taking Ship for the Islands
Xand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Delos
XI and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Blood at Delos, Flesh at Mykonos
XII and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Naxos
XIII and#160;and#160;and#160; Storm at Sea
XIV and#160;and#160;and#160; The Healing Island
and#160;
Part III: Body and Soul
XVand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Doctors
XVIand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Facing Asia
XVIIand#160;and#160; The Letter
XVIIIand#160; Harpalos the Treasurer
XIXand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Carrying Treasure
XXand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Killing Island
XXIand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Escape
XXIIand#160;and#160; Healing and Light
Epilogue