Better buy the hard copy!

I was looking forward to this book but the weird naration spoiled it for me. The narator sounded as if he was reading a particularly boring newspaper report. Very strange inflections. Couldn't get past the 2nd chapter

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

An excellent take on the conspiracy of Catilina

This series is excellent - John Maddox Roberts had captured the drama and tragedy of the events that cause the fall of the Roman republic, as witnessed by Decius Metellus, a sort of 1st century BC detective.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Educational and entertaining

It took me a while to get used to the narrator as I had listened to the previous story with a different narrator, but was fine with it by the second chapter. There were lots of historical facts and real-life characters woven into the story, and I found it difficult to take in everything, but it's a good way to educate and entertain at the same time. Story wasn't too long at seven hours so I'm looking forward to delving into more books from the series.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

"I am always serious", he said, seriously.

Although written in his usual sardonic style, and with grand Roman colour filled with intrigue and murder, for some reason John Maddox Robert's second book in this excellent series failed to hold my attention in the same way as did his later stories. And towards the end I found my attention wandering. There are still remarkably engaging sections, such as the race to get a sacrificial horse head safely home through crowds determine to stop Decius in his desperate flight, and the reader is offered many little tidbits of what life was like in ancient Rome towards the end of the Republic. The story itself should have been thrilling but...
The narrator, John Lee, was good and had a suitable haughtiness as he voiced the recollections of these times in the person of the, now, much older, Decius Caecilius Metellus looking back on his youthful indiscretions.

So, not a favourite but still worth reading, however.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Important story - Difficult Narrator

once again Audible find it difficult to get a narrator to just read the material normally.

Mr Lee has a good English Accent so why is he reading this as if he is reading the shipping forecast or the Football results?

He reads in oddly spaced short clipped sentences with no natural flow.

It's not an easy listen.

is it Deliberate?, does he think that's how Roman's spoke?.
The story is one of the most intriguing of the Roman Republic but Mr Lee has vastly reduced the enjoyment.

You can get weird narration on LibriVox, that's why it's free. I expect better from a subscription service.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Another well narrated fun book

I've started reading the series as I really like the narrator (from the Spellmonger series). Looking at other reviews, he is not to everyones tastes - perhaps he grows on you? Anyway, the story filled another day with a good murder mystery in a world that I am unfamilar with, but which is prompting me to read up separately on the key events and characters of the time. I didn't study Latin, so am not overly concerned about pronunciation. On to the third book ...

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

What's with the new 'book cover'?

The book is set in 1st Century BC Rome.. What's with the Building? I preferred the old Book Cover, it was more appropriate to the book ie fun.

Moreover, the precious narrator was better at this book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

A fun book.

It’s fun, and Catalina is a highly controversial and underrated historical figure to me. Was fun to hear a different view, and portrait of the man.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Predictable

I like the narrator, although he could do with being more animated at times.
The story was incredibly predictable and this is only the second SQPR I've listened to. Thank you for providing two on included. I won't be buying more though.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Makes a great case for Non-Fiction

They won’t be rushing to buy this book series for a show on Netflix will they? Or has it already been done? 🤑

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!