Author Ruth Downie has been penning her Medicus series of Roman crime novels for a number of years, and I am astonished that they have not come onto my radar before I was given the opportunity of reviewing Memento Mori, number eight in the series. These books feature former legionary doctor Gaius Petreius Ruso and his British wife Tilla. This book is a delightful romp through 2nd century Roman Britain, and I now fully intend to begin at the start of the series. This book could certainly be read as a stand alone novel, but I found the characters interesting and well written, and would like to hear more about their stories.
Fans of Lindsey Davis’ Falco series will undoubtedly enjoy this book. The main protagonist, Ruso, finds himself cast into a murder mystery when his best friend is accused of murdering his wife. What entails is Ruso and family having to decamp from an isolated spot in northern Britain to Aquae Sulis (modern-day Bath). Downie does a great job of creating a vivid and engaging picture of the historical city, and much of the action takes place at the bath house and Temple of Sulis Minerva; places that a modern reader may well have visited. The level of historical detail is ideal, in depth enough to grip the reader, clearly well researched, but not labouring the point; this is, after all, a crime novel rather than a piece of factual history. The storyline is compelling and well crafted, with interesting twists and turns in the plot. This is an ideal holiday read, with short chapters, which will keep you engaged long past bedtime as you will want to know what happens next.
The characters are likeable and amusing and I enjoyed seeing the story unfold from the viewpoints of the two main characters. Downie faces the eternal problem of writers of light-hearted Roman fiction; how to tackle the issue of slavery, which was obviously endemic. This is perhaps the only unsatisfactory element of the book, as the relationship between master and slave appears rather benign. However, the book is not seeking to advance any particular agenda and should be enjoyed for what it is, a well-written crime novel with a highly visual historical setting. There is plenty of action, a pacey story, engaging characters and a good sprinkling of humour. I enjoyed this book immensely.
Open access
