In 88 B.C. it seems as if all the world is at war. From Rome to Greece and to Egypt itself, most of civilization is on the verge of war. The young Gordianus―a born-and-raised Roman citizen―is living in Alexandria, making ends meet by plying his trade of solving puzzles and finding things out for pay. He whiles away his time with his slave Bethesda, waiting for the world to regain its sanity. But on the day Gordianus turns twenty-two, Bethesda is kidnapped by brigands who mistake her for a rich man's mistress. If Gordianus is to find and save Bethesda, who has come to mean more to him than even he suspected, he must find the kidnappers before they realize their mistake and cut their losses. Using all the skills he learned from his father, Gordianus must track them down and convince them that he can offer something of enough value in exchange for Bethesda's release.

As the streets of Alexandria slowly descend into chaos, and the citizenry begin to riot with rumors of an impending invasion by Ptolmey's brother, Gordianus finds himself in the midst of a very bold and dangerous plot―the raiding and pillaging of the golden sarcophagus of Alexander the Great himself.

New York Times bestselling author Steven Saylor returns, chronicling the early years of his detective, Gordianus, before he assumed the title of The Finder. Raiders of the Nile is the latest in his much-loved series of mysteries set in the late Roman Republic.

Product details

Publisher : Minotaur Books; First edition (Feb. 25 2014)
Language : English
Hardcover : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 1250015979
ISBN-13 : 978-1250015976
Item Weight : 522 g
Dimensions : 16.36 x 2.93 x 24.03 cm

Best Sellers Rank: #901,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #8,880 in Historical Mystery

Customer Reviews:
205 ratings

Product description

Review

“If you're going to tour the ancient world, you could find no better guide than Saylor, who has proven his mastery of the form” ―USA Today on The Seven Wonders

“A vivid and robust writer, Saylor invests his books with exquisite detail and powerful drama.” ―The Philadelphia Inquirer on A Mist of Prophecies

“As always, Saylor excels at bringing the past alive, in particular by incorporating the political issues of the day into the action.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred) on The Seven Wonders

“Vivid….Saylor has found a marvelous way to bring Roman history and mores alive. This is an excellent entryway to ancient Rome.” ―Booklist (starred review) on The Seven Wonders

“Saylor's ability to re-create the classical world is always astounding, and The Seven Wonders is no exception. Expertly researched and beautifully written… A thoroughly enjoyable read.” ―The Deseret News

“Steven Saylor’s engrossing series centers around Gordianus the Finder―a kind of Roman Sherlock Holmes.” ―The Wall Street Journal on The Triumph of Caesar

About the Author

STEVEN SAYLOR is the author of acclaimed historical mystery novels featuring Gordianus the Finder, including The Triumph of Caesar, as well as the internationally bestselling historical novels Empire and Roma. He has appeared on the History Channel as an expert on Roman politics and life. He divides his time between Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.

Customer reviews

5 star		62%
4 star		21%
3 star		9%
2 star		4%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from Canada

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Marc Gauthier

Good, but not my favourite Saylor

Reviewed in Canada on May 31, 2014

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I'm a big fan of Saylor's sub rosa series and have read every Gordianus book and story. This one comes across as an obligation book for Saylor. For me, it seems to be missing his usual spark. Still a good read, just not the best.

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Gotlieb

Three Stars

Reviewed in Canada on May 15, 2015

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Not bad. but as I said previouly, not as strong as his previous books

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Alison S. Coad

More of Gordianus the Finder's Youth Portrayed

Reviewed in Canada on November 2, 2014

In "Raiders of the Nile," by Steven Saylor, young Roman Gordianus is living in Alexandria with his slave/lover Bethesda, until on the day of his 22nd birthday, she suddenly disappears. Gordianus applies his detecting skills, by which he has been making a barely adequate living, and soon learns that Bethesda has been mistaken for another beautiful young woman who resembles her, only that young woman is linked with one of the richest and most powerful men in Alexandria; Bethesda has been kidnapped for ransom, but the kidnappers don't know that they've got the wrong girl. It's up to Gordianus to find her before that mistake is discovered because if it is, who knows if Bethesda will survive?.... After completing a long series set in ancient Rome with an older Gordianus plying his trade of "finder" (what we would call private detective work), Saylor decided to fill in some of the gaps of his character's youth; hence the earlier novel, The Seven Wonders," in which a young Gordianus tours the then-known world with his mentor, and now this novel set in Alexandria. As ever, Saylor's research is extensive and draws on many sources, but he has the knack of being able to present historical context without a lot of "info dumping" or other clunky mechanisms that interrupt the flow of the story; the reader barely knows how much she is learning about the ancient world while reading this fictional tale. Aside from historical figures like King Ptolemy X, we are introduced to a world of traveling actors and acrobats, bandits and priestesses, all of whom are well-drawn and very distinctive. I don't think that one needs to have read the earlier Sub Roma series or even "The Seven Wonders" prior to reading this novel, as it works quite well as a stand-alone story, but of course the main characters have more depth when the reader already knows them well. As far as historical mysteries go, these books by Steven Saylor have long been among my favourites; highly recommended!

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Top reviews from other countries

ukcomedywriter

The Finder Finds Trouble

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2017

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Another trip back to the youth of Gordianus, following his journey around the seven wonders of the ancient world, this time an entertaining and thrilling tale set in Egypt. When his beloved slave (and future wife) Bethesda is kidnapped in error, while in Alexandria, the now 22 year old Finder-to-be goes undercover in the Nile Delta to seek the Cuckoo's Nest, the feared hideout of the bandits responsible, ultimately finding himself part of a daring, and some might say foolhardy heist to steal the fabled golden sarcophagus of Alexander the Great. Freed from the constrictions of constructing a whodunnit, Steven Saylor expertly produces an entertaining page-turner with many a twist and turn, more in the Greek style of fiction. Although the adult Gordianus is due to return shortly and witness the assassination of Gaius Julius Ceasar himself, I also look forward to another excursion into his younger life such as this exciting and, as always, educational, tale.

Mr. David Myles

Prequel series

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2020

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Interesting if not brilliant prequel to Gordianus the finder series.

F B Mack

Great stuff. Saylor is awesome and his Finder books ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2018

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Great stuff. Saylor is awesome and his Finder books are really very good. This is one of the timeline jump books Saylor wrote to avoid having to deal with the Ides of March :-), but is all the better because of it...providing excellent background on much loved characters.

Florobbie

Why not more Roma Sub Rosa?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 4, 2016

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Another ripping yarn from Gordianus' early years and fine for that. But I would really like to see the Roma Sub Rosa series extended to the assassination of Caesar and beyond.

Aidanus

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2018

Verified Purchase

Love Steve Saylor's series of books on Rome. Did not disappoint .

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