Catilina's Riddle

Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: The book started off kind of slow and boring, but once Marcus Caelius shows up and the dead bodies start coming it got really good. The book kept me reading the whole time, and guessing as well. I was always wondering who was leaving the bodies around. As well as creating a murder mystery the author also gave us another perspective about Catilina's conspiracy. Because the book featured characters such as Catilina, Cicero, and Caesar, there was also a lot of politics, which I found to be boring at times. Other than this, the book was very good and very easy to read. I think my favorite part about it was how he interwove history with fiction. It helped me relate to some of the stuff I have been learning in latin class more easily.

Rating:
Summary: An adventurous mystery
Review: Catalina's Riddle is a Roman mystery. I had to read this book for a latin class that I am taking. I must admit that when my teacher first told us we had to read this long book, I was not excited. But once I started reading it, I simply could not put it down. It was not like most other novels that you have to read in highschool, it was actually exciting. Steven Saylor does an excellent job of keeping the reader interested in the book. While he tells a wonderful mystery, he also mangages to describe much about the Roman civilization. I learned a lot of details that I had never known about Rome before. But the best part of the book, was the mystery part. I love mysteries and if you like them too, you will surely enjoy this book!

Rating:
Summary: A Mystery from Ancient History
Review: Catilina's Riddle is a delightful blend of the historical fiction and "whodunit" murder mystery genres. Saylor takes time in developing complex characters, provoking the marble effigies of toga-clad senators to speak. His book stands as evidence that political intrigue is as ancient as murder. As a mystery it is better than some, though don't expect the plot-twisting mastery of Dame Agatha. As historical fiction, the well- researched novel packs more history per square inch than most novels on the market. It is a good, though lengthy read: recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Not just a school assignment
Review: I thought that Catilina's Riddle was a great book that I would recommend to anyone intrested in life lessons. Not only was the book jam packed with politics, mystery, confusion, and utter excitement, but it had a sentimental side that made the characters come alive. This compelling story was one that showed the true complexities of the Ancient Roman family and government structures. I was amazed by Saylor's personal characterizations that made the characters and the plots very believable and relatable to us, in the new millinium. I found myself looking forward to the next page, on the edge of my seat waiting for the adventure to take another wild turn. Read this book and you will find yourself drawn to the themes, and relating them back to your everyday struggles. This memorable book makes you think.

Rating:
Summary: Quasi OK
Review: Catilina's Riddle is an interesting, informative, and mildly enthralling read for anyone vaguely interested in ancient Rome. Its entertainment qualities, however, leave something to be desired. Steven Saylor, undoubtedly an expert on the Catilinian Conspiracies of ancient Rome, sometimes dwells too long on the inocuous and the laboriously tedious details of politics. Yes, to a certain degree, the added details also add to the fullness of the novel. At many times, however, they slow the already lethargic pace of the novel to a nearly stagnant standstill. This could almost be a textbook on the Catilinian Conspiracies, had Saylor not used a nominal amount of poetic licensing. Although the aforementioned points are true about the book, I must say that at parts I found myself enthralled. Yes, on certain occassions when I had nothing else to do, I found myself wanting to read it. One note about the book: it is written in a detectable sexual tone. (Mainly homosexual.) When one reads the book one can only imagine how sexually provocative Catilina was, at least according to Saylor, as his sexual attractions to other men are unabashedly reported. Although this tone exists throughout the entire book, I can say that it was incorporated well, but left me reminding myself at the turn of each page that I wasn't reading something written by Harold Robbins, or Danielle Steel. If you have nothing else to read and love ancient Rome (as well as a pretty nice surprise ending) read Catilina's Riddle; otherwise, go read the Bible, you may find more excitement there.

Rating:
Summary: not so bad
Review: Catilina's Riddle was not the worst book I have ever read. The story itself is very busy, which helps because if you're not too intrested in one aspect of the book, it quickly switches to a story line which hopefully suits your taste better. The book is classified as a mytery. As a mystery, I must confess that the book is a needed breath of fresh air which branches away from the normal whodunit. The plot is very thick, and resides not only with a family, but with an entire city at war with itself. IN ALL, the book is pretty good, but like most books of it's size, it can bore the reader with an occasional lull.

Rating:
Summary: Catilina's Riddle
Review: Complete with murder, deceit, and scandals, Catinlina's Riddle is a suspensful thriller that inables you to put it down. This compact murder mystery reveils the common life of Romans citizens and brings a different prespective on the history behind this book. The problems that occur on the farm and in the city are complex with unsuspective endings. The characters enlighten the story and will either humor you, or make you cry. Because of the variety of ages in the characters, they are appealing to every reader. Catilina's Riddle will keep you guessing on who the murderer is, what their motives for killing were, and if the main characters are pleased with the out comes.

Rating:
Summary: An Enthralling Mystery
Review: I thought that Catilina's Riddle was an excellent book. The author, Steven Saylor, made this book very suspenseful, and it kept me on my toes wondering what would happen next. The author also integrated real Roman history into this excellent fiction book. He also turned a very tumultuous time in Roman history into an action packed mystery. I liked how I got to hear the story of the conspiracy from Catilina's point of view. This is monumental because throughout history, we have only heard Cicero's side of the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history woven into a suspenseful fictional book.

Rating:
Summary: Catilina's Riddle
Review: Catilina's Riddle is an excellent,and compelling murder mystery. This novel allows you to slip into the past unnoticed, and marval at the magnificance of Rome. You are able to live two lives, one in the busy city of Rome, and the other on a farm in the country side. This book allows you to see the postitve and negitive aspects of both lives. While you are constantly forced to compare appearance and reality (things are not always as they seem). Gordonius and his family tried to escape the city, only to realize that what they were running from was everywhere.

Rating:
Summary: MY THOUGHTS
Review: I recently read this book for a Latin class that i am attending. I felt this book taught good morals and that one can gain a lot from reading such a book. Something i especially enjoyed was the twisted ending. I love a great mystery book and recommend this book to anyone who has a great imagination and enjoys a good, exciting, twisted, mystery.