Caveat Emptor: A Novel of the Roman Empire

By: Ruth Downie

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Ruso and Tilla, now newlyweds, have moved back to Britannia, where Ruso's old friend and colleague Valens has promised to help him find work. But it isn't the kind of work he'd had in mind - Ruso is tasked with hunting down a missing tax man named Julius Asper. Of course, there's also something else missing: money. And the council of the town of Verulamium is bickering over what's become of it. Compelled to delve deeper by a threat from his old sparring partner, Metellus, Ruso discovers that the good townsfolk may not be as loyal to Rome as they like to appear.

While Tilla tries to comfort Asper's wife, an anonymous well-wisher is busy warning the couple to get away from the case before they get hurt. Despite our hero's best efforts to get himself fired as investigator, he and his bride find themselves trapped at the heart of an increasingly treacherous conspiracy involving theft, forgery, buried treasure, and the legacy of Boudica, the Rebel Queen.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend us your ears: listen to another Novel of the Roman Empire.

©2010 Ruth Downie (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Downie excels in bringing the ancient world to life as well as making the attitudes and customs of its inhabitants accessible to a modern audience." ( Publishers Weekly)

I simply adore this series

I have enjoyed immensely every one of the Roman Empire series so far (this is the fourth) and am looking forward to listening to the next volume, though I like to “reward” myself with one of these after listening to some other books that are on my “to listen to” list. I enjoy most of the books I choose, some are amazing, but these are an absolute treat. The characters are great, the stories are engaging, the historical setting is fun, and Simon Vance is a gem. If you enjoy any British mystery series on TV (or a series like Doctor Blake Mysteries), you will love these. Trust me!

A Great Story--Fun

This is another enjoyable installment in the series about a crime-fighting doctor in Ancient Rome. The character development continues to improve with each edition of this series, which makes me want to know what will happen next. Ms. Downie makes her characters likable and approachable. While the mystery-aspect of the story may or may not be up to the level of others in the genre, one does not have to be a fan of mystery novels to like this story. I like it for the well-researched historical details and enjoy a fun, easy to follow story.

Marvelous Series!

I like historical mysteries and this one was set a little further back in history than I normally like but Ruth Downie has written a fantastic series of the Roman empire.

The narrator does a great job with the voices, for the most part, but I don't like the way he does the main woman character.

The characters are well developed and real; even the secondary characters are complete and very human with good sides and flaws.

Simon Vance and great story

I bought the first book because of Simon Vance. His smooth voice is great. Now I have Ruth Downie. I really enjoy these books

Nope!

Not For me! A little too contemporary in the characters thoughts and motivations. It's as if she keeps forgetting that this is supposed to be Ancient Rome, not Ancient Rome of Beverly Hills!

boring

This book was so boring that I couldn't finish it. The purchase was a waste of time.