SPQR IX: The Princess and the Pirates [Hardcover]

The only warning I would issue regarding "The Princess and the Pirates (SPQR IX)" by John Maddox Roberts is that it is not much of a "straight" mystery novel in spite of the fact that it features a murder. In fact, it reads more like an adventure novel. On the other hand, if you're looking for an entertaining read, that is written in a witty and sardonic manner, and which is full of interesting and fascinating historical details, you're bound to enjoy "The Princess and the Pirates" -- though, truth to tell, I'm not sure about the title as Cleopatra (the princess) is more of a colourful feature than the main focus of the book.

After having served two years as an aedile, one would have thought that the next step in Decius Caecilius Metellus' career would be to run for preatorship. Decius' family, however, have other ideas. They feel that Decius hasn't spent enough time doing his military duty. But rather than send him back to Gaul (and to Julius Caesar, whom the Metelli is currently leaning away from), they've decided to send Decius to Cyprus in order to root out the pirates who have been plaguing the Mediterranean. And so Decius his slave, Hermes, and a sorry navy of three liburnian complete with an inadequate crew of sailors and marines soon find themselves in Cyprus, a beautiful island that once used to belong to the Egyptians but which now belongs to Rome, where things are even in a more sorry state than even Decius had expected. To begin with, the island seems to have been stripped of nearly every ship and most of its navy.

Determined to carry out his duties, Decius is soon busy seeing to the refitting of his three ships (to make them battle ready) and hiring extra hands (some of them ex-pirates) to man the ships and act as marines. Fortunately for Decius, also in Cyprus at this time is the young Egyptian princess, Cleopatra, who graciously volunteers her ship into service. Not so fortunately for Decius is the young princess' determination to come along for the fun of hunting pirates. And just when Decius beings to think that he will be able to pull off this enterprise quite successfully and quickly, his host, the governor of Cyprus, Aulus Silvanus, is found murdered. Now it is up to Decius to bring Silvanus' murderer to justice. Getting involved in another murder investigation is a distraction that Decius cannot afford right now, but he is honour bound to avenge Silvanus because he was a guest at the dead man's house. And then there is the suspicious behaviour of Silvanus' good friend, the exiled general Gabinius, who seems a little too eager to take charge and keep Decius out of the murder investigation. Is Gabinius trying to grab the glory for solving the murder or is he trying to cover up something? Deeply suspicious, Decius is determined to keep an eye on Gabinius's activities, and soon finds himself spread thin with no allies when he realises that even the Princess Cleopatra could have had a hand in murdering Silvanus for political reasons of her own...

"The Princess and the Pirates" was an incredibly engrossing and entertaining read. John Maddox Roberts does a first rate job of painting in a thumbnail historical sketch of what was occurring in Rome and with her allies at the time that the novel is taking place -- trade treaties and the reshuffling of power both outside and within Rome (esp amongst her warring generals) were engagingly and comprehensively detailed, and in such a dry and cutting manner that you really are in for a first rate read if you decide to invest time and money for this book. So that even though the murder mystery plot was a bit light weight, the entertaining prose style together with the swift pacing really did make "The Princess and the Pirates" an engrossing page turner.

(I'm not sure as to why John Maddox Roberts' SPQR series would be compared with Steven Saylor's Sub Rosa series. Both series may take place in ancient Rome around the same time, but each series comes across as being quite different because of the differing tone that they are written in. Saylor's series is more serious and poignant, whereas Roberts' series, while dealing with serious matters is written in tones that are sarcastic and irreverent, thus making it something of a lighthearted read. Both series are excellent; but both are different enough not to have to suffer from unwarranted comparisons.)

{New Review}

Series: SPQR

Place in series: 9th book

A declining family attempts to remain important during the end days of the Roman Republic. The Metellus family is very large and has both personal connections to power (as Senators and public figures) and indirect connections through alliances with powerful figures like Pompey and Julius Caesar. The SPQR series has been following one young member of this family, who goes by the name Decius Caecilius Metellus the younger.

In this ninth book in the series, Decius has just finished serving two years as aedile, when the term is normally one year, and is eager to stand for the next position of power. The family, though, has put its resources behind other family member candidates, and Decius will have to wait his turn. Meanwhile, the family has arranged, through the Senate, to have Decius given command of a force tasked with destroying a resurgent pirate presence in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Decius heads off with his small band of sailors and marines to set up shop on the island of Cyprus.

While Decius is attempting to suppress this new batch of pirates, the governor of Cyprus is murdered. Decius now must attempt to solve this murder while keeping his eye on the pirates. An exiled general (a very good friend of the governor, and named Gabinius), a somewhat exiled Egyptian Princess (sent away to protect her; and who adds her ship to Decius armada) called Cleopatra, a mysterious Roman (the leader of the new pirates), and a Roman banker and his scandalous wife are among those that Decius believes might be behind the murder. Helping Decius is a pirate from the old days that doesn't particularly like the new style pirates (named Ariston), Decius wife Julia, niece of Julius Caesar, and an old friend who is now otherwise exiled from Rome (who had lead a gang in Rome, had almost become Consul, and who had married the daughter of the most recent dictator, and whose name escapes me).

Roberts book is very well-written, gripping from beginning to a somewhat weak ending. While not the best book Roberts has written, in my opinion, it is the best book in the series. Robert's book, for the most part, is tightly written, needing just 188 pages (the rest is a glossary) to tell a very good story. The characters are, for the most part, fully formed personalities. The plot is strong. I would give Robert's book 4.39 stars out of five.

John Maddox Roberts is the underrated, best writer of the Roman detective mystery genre. Flawless historicity is combined with excellent writing, humor, and interesting characters, who actually develop and mature as the series progresses. The Princess and the Pirates is one of his best, as our Decius finds himself in a perilous situation on Cyprus, and surprised to be helped by young Cleopatra. As Rome had just taken Cyprus from Egypt, her presence is not as surprising as it might seem. She is but one character to show maturation through this series, including Decius himself, his assistant/bodyguard Hermes, the former street gang leader Milo and his enemy Clodius's sister Clodia.

One nice thing about the SPQR series: despite taking place in the heavily left-right politicized times of Cicero and Julius Caesar, these books adhere to a mildly cynical view of both the aristocratic party and the so-called democratic(demogogic?) one. Decius has ties to leaders of both. Stephen Saylor and a few others imbue their books with first century B.C. leftist manifestos. I can't vote for consul, so leave the heavy-handed good side, bad side politics out. Just give me fun ancient Roman mysteries like the SPQR series.

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