Book Review: Nobody Loves A Centurion

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Nobody Loves A Centurion     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
John Maddox Roberts
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: SPQR # 6
Dunne, Sep 2001, $22.95, 224 pp.

Though he is a Roman senator and his family are very influential due to their support of the leadership, Decius Metellus flees town when his enemy Clodius is named as a Tribune. Decius, accompanied by his slave, slowly heads towards Julius Caesar's camp in Gaul. When he arrives, the Proconsul Caesar is disappointed in that his niece's fiancé came with just one person.

Decius gets in trouble with Caesar for interfering with the discipline meted out by the First Spear of the Tenth, Centurion Titus Vinus to his men. However, someone kills Titus and Julius asks Decius to investigate because the evidence points towards the victim's men including the son of a client of Decius. As he begins his investigation, Decius prays that he can blame the Germans or the Helveti for the slaying so good Roman soldiers can be freed.

In the sixth SPQR Ancient Rome mystery, John Maddox Roberts continues to provide an insightful fresh look into a bygone era. The current tale, NOBODY LOVES A CENTURION, provides a powerful glimpse at the Roman militia as well as Julius Caesar from a non-Shakespearean side. Decius remains a humorous individual who at first glance seems to go with the flow, but in actuality is a deep caring person who gets involved. SPQR VI is "excellentus."

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner