Rating: 
Summary: Not much of a rival for Falco.
Review: I was a little disappointed by this book as it had been highly recommended to me by someone who knew I enjoyed Lindsey Davis's Falco books. Given that Mr. Saylor chose to follow Ms Davis's lead by also setting his detective books in Ancient Rome with a private eye as the central character, it's impossible to read this without making comparisons (conscious or unconscious) to the Falco books which are an extremely tough act to follow. Mr. Saylor has certainly done his homework on Ancient Rome and the historical detail is excellent, but I found his characters rather two-dimensional and lifeless. I can cope with most of the characters being essentially unlikable (the Romans really weren't very nice people) but I think one needs to be able to feel more of a connection to the private eye protagonist and despite the story being told in Gordianus's voice I don't think the reader gets to know him or sympathise with him very much. In honesty, I did enjoy the book and found the mystery and its conclusion satisfying, but it suffers greatly in comparison to the Falco series which combines impeccable scholarship with a wonderful dry wit and excellently depicted characters about whom I really wanted to read more.
Rating: 
Summary: Highest Praise for Saylor!
Review: This is the first novel in the series, and I suggest you read them in order. I couldn't recommend them any more highly. They are simply a joy to read, and I hope you will agree!
Rating: 
Summary: well-written historical fiction; ancient Rome comes alive..
Review: 'Roman Blood' is an excellent example of historical fiction where the words 'historical' and 'fiction' are given equal attention. Steven Saylor spins a "whodunnit" mystery based on real events, much like Margaret Atwood does in her excellent 'Alias Grace'. This is unlike the work of Lindsey Davis, an author whose popular Falco mystery series, while in a similar ancient Rome setting, is pure fiction (although the author clearly knows her Roman history).As for the story, hmmm... it's a bit complicated. Broadly speaking it is about a private eye (Gordianus) who is hired by a defense attorney (Cicero) to investigate the bloody death of a Roman citizen. The victim's son is accused of planning the murder and, if convicted, would suffer a most extraordinarily gruesome execution. In the end we witness the murder trial and its aftermath, both of which are rather ... surprising. Yet before then the reader is taken through the very colorful day-to-day events of Roman high-lifes and low-lifes; I found it all to be very educational, and the murder mystery element is very well presented. Compared to the works of Lindsey Davis, 'Roman Blood' is somewhat dry - it doesn't contain much humor, and the characterizations, while completely satisfactory, do not sparkle. Yet I actually prefer the work of Steven Saylor because of its historical accuracy and I find his prose to be richer (ie, it feels more like 'literature' versus 'popular fiction'). Bottom line: not quite James Michener material, but nonetheless a very accomplished piece of historical fiction. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!!!
Review: Thank you Mr. Saylor for your Superb writing. You transported me like no one else has to Roman times. I could almost smell the croweded and dirty streets of Rome. Excellent story. To put it simply , "Roman Blood" is a blend of the Sherlock Holms mystery with an Afred Hitchcock twist at the end. Fantastic!!!
Rating:
Summary: Fun frolic with private eye in ancient Rome
Review: Steven Saylor's series of books about Gordianus the Finder begins with a twisted tale of patricide, and ends with a surprising conclusion in a case that actually took place. Saylor's impeccable research, and mellifluous writing style make these books a pleasure to read. Knowing that the events are based on actual historical cases adds to the fun. (Too bad Saylor didn't get to write the screenplay for "Gladiator" - it would have been a lot more fun.) Gordianus is a wonderful gum-shoe, far more real and relatable than Lindsay Davis' Marcus Didius Falco. Saylor's books are also fresher for being based on actual events. Warning, these books are habit-forming. Read one and you'll be hooked!
Rating:
Summary: Absorbing and Engrossing
Review: It would be easy, as some reviewers have, to find fault with Roman Blood; it is by no means a perfect novel. Nevertheless, I found it to be a wonderful read, bringing Ancient Rome to life in a way no other book - fiction or non-fiction - has. It is one of those most delightful of books - the ones one puts down only with great reluctance. Absolutely worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: A seductive mystery
Review: One might be tempted to compare the Ancient Rome of this novel to the noir Los Angeles of Raymond Chandler or James Ellroy: the tough-but-tender detective on the edge of society; the sweltering Mediterranean climate; the rich folks in the hills lording it over the little people boiling at the foot of the hills; the wealth and decadence; the corrupt officials and back room grabs for power. But this book is so much more than Philip Marlowe in a toga. More than anything else, it is seductive, both in its rich characterizations and in its storytelling. Steven Saylor draws the reader into the world of the Ancient Romans in a sensual way, painting vivid pictures, and strongly bringing that world alive. Sextus Roscius is murdered, his son stands accused, and Cicero, the man who will become known as the great orator, is a young advocate who takes on the case--the first big trial of his career. He hires Gordianus the Finder, the Ancient Roman equivalent of a detective, to ferret out the truth. This search takes Gordianus on a journey through the political and social intrigues of the day, and through the twisting heart of human nature. The intrigue is fascinating, the implications profound, there are flashes of wit, and an erotic thread weaving throughout. The relationship between Gordianus and his Hebrew-Egyptian concubine, Bethesda, is funny, erotic, and tender, and provides a wonderful backbone to the book. I finished the novel with the satisfied air of someone who has just read the first great story in a long series and looks forward to a lot of good reading ahead.
Rating:
Summary: Roman Blood
Review: Having a degree in European history, I appreciated the authinticity of this novel. As a mystery buff, I found this book a great read!! I am delighted to discover this author.
Rating:
Summary: Mystery and great literature: a winning combination
Review: At last a novel that combines the suspense and intrigue of mysteries and the wonderful taste great literature leaves in everyone's mouth. This is a promising series, where life in Ancient Rome is reborn. While we accompany Gordianus around the city and its surroundings, the feeling of "being there" is ever present. The descriptions of the city of Rome, its corruption, its brutality, make us think about an indelible period of history that shaped the world we live in today. I read somewhere that the romans represent a period of history when men made an attempt to rule themselves but ultimately failed. Well, they might have; but Saylor and his novel are all time winners. It is true that the title of the novel is a very accurate representation of what goes on into it. There's lots of blood everywhere, and descriptions of death are sometimes gorry. Saylor writes with all his senses. He does what every great writer does: he shows us. I am more than ever looking forward to further adventures of Gordianus the Finder in Ancient Rome. If it was only even a bit close to this, life in Antiquity must have been fascinating.
Rating:
Summary: Like the Roman empire itself: Slow to start, Quick to burn..
Review: Steven Saylor's historical mystery is a good read for fans of the genre, especially those attracted to Roman history. This is the story of Gordianus, a finder (private detective), hired by a youngish Cicero who is defending a man charged with the horrific crime of patricide. The more Gordianus delves into the mystery, of course, the more it unravels until it becomes a tale that touches even the emperor himself. A skilled writer, Saylor takes the reader on a tour through Roman daily life that most will enjoy. His eye for detail is superb, albeit wordy... There are a few occasions where, just as he's picking up the pace, you're thrust into page after page of too-much narrative, as if our narrator Gordianus has all the time in the world to tell his story (which he does not). By the end, however, Saylor finishes the story with enough flair to make you want to see what Gordianus does on his next case. Luckily, this is just the first of a series of Gordianus the Finder books so the history-mystery fan will be able to sate his desire quickly -- and frequently.
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