The King’s Gambit

By: John Maddox Roberts

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Blackmail, corruption, treachery, murder - the glory that was Rome.

In this Edgar Award-nominated mystery, John Maddox Roberts takes listeners back to a Rome filled with violence and evil. Vicious gangs ruled the streets of Crassus and Pompey, routinely preying on plebeian and patrician alike. So the garroting of a lowly ex-slave and the disembowelment of a foreign merchant in the dangerous Subura district seemed of little consequence to the Roman hierarchy. But Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger, highborn commander of the local vigiles, was determined to investigate. Despite official apathy, brazen bribes, and sinister threats, Decius uncovers a world of corruption at the highest levels of his government that threatens to destroy him and the government he serves.

©2007 John Maddox Roberts (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Slow start

Plot was interesting
Historic data great
Best was NARRATION BY JOHN LEE!!!
He made the written word come alive

Classic Classical Mystery

Classic Classical Mystery

John Maddox Roberts gives the reader a very clear vision of what life (and murder) were like in ancient Rome. The story moves quickly and the narration by John Lee is perfect.

Well done indeed

After a few dozen pages or the readers fine work it occurred to me that I had no knowledge of civilian police work within the Roman Empire. All I knew, and I knew damn little, was of the military cohorts and military/political leadership of Rome. This was a interesting look at the civilian police work done against the backdrop of political rivalry. There were only a handful of Latin words used to deftly to season the story line.
I enjoyed and recommend to any one good story. Good reader and overall good.

Bringing history to life

Having listened to various histories of Rome, I really enjoyed this historical mystery novel. The author has created a view of Rome that breathes with vitality. His hero is so appealing in his naive trust in Roman virtue. The author has also added interesting peripheral characters to flesh out our understanding of the ancient city.
I always enjoy this narrator's readings and this was is a worthy addition to his repertoire.

A truly entertaining book

The author really brings ancient room to life along with a great story With ingenious twist.
I keep you controlled throughout the total book

Personality to Toman history

I really enjoyed the historical personalities roiling around the storyline. The narration lit the imagination.

Sherlocus Maximus Holmes

I consider myself a semi-intelligent person but this one was pretty hard to follow. Besides the complicated plotline, all of the Roman names and titles drove me nuts. This is definitely not a book to just have on in the background. Basically, it's a Roman Sherlock Holmes trying to solve a series of murders in his jurisdiction. His investigation turns dangerous when it turns out that there are a lot of higher ups involved and willing to kill to keep things silent. The main character is mildly entertaining, the story seemingly well researched, but wow...those names. Once again though, John Lee's narration is amazing as always. Suffice to say that I probably won't continue the series.

Good story

This is a good story, with a likeable protagonist. It's set in ancient Rome but deals with universal topics of greed, power struggle, dishonesty-and honesty. Also, it is packed with valuable information on ancient Rome's history and customs.

Deep details great delivery

Among the most immersive stories of life in Rome at the end of the republic. It is such a clever premise to use a detective story to explore the setting and it works perfectly. The story travels throughout the city, the culture and the classes looking details great and small. It becomes a tour of history, architecture, archaeology and the myths. The author and reader, the excellent John Lee, conspire to deliver such a wry and ironic performance that seems to perfectly fit the tropes of detective noir and historical Rome. A perfectly surprising mashup. John Maddox Roberts is a genius.

Great start to a series

This is the first book I tried in the series and it is a great Sherlock Holmes style detective story - there's a young man from a noble family charged with clearing up crime in a district of ancient Rome, a Greek physician who helps him, dark conspiracy in high places, etc. You get the idea. And you are not sure exactly how it will turn out till the very last page.