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Summary: Saylor Strikes Again
Review: Yet another fine novel from Steven Saylor. Despite an awkward beginning (a contrived explanation by Gordianus to his daughter about the Roman government), Murder on the Appian Way quickly throws the reader into the turmoil that marked Rome in the 50s B.C. Much better written than McCullough's Masters of Rome series, it also provides a point of view of major events from someone other than the major players, while still showing us the human side of such figures as Cicero and Marc Antony. As others have commented, this one is less mystery than some of its predecessors, but it is historical fiction at its best.
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Summary: Another Stellar Entry in the Gordianus chronicles
Review: How could you not love Gordianus the Finder? He is smart, has remarkably human foibles, assembles a rag-tag family from orphans and ex-slaves, and the reputation of being the "last honest man in Rome". I have read all of Steven Saylor's delightful Roma Sub Rosa series featuring Gordianus, and found this tale of murder and mayhem to be a fine addition to the collection. What I love about Saylor's gorgeously researched and highly readable tales is they truly bring history to life. We get a taste for what life was really like in Rome in the 1st century - what they ate, how they worshipped, the tangled nature of politics, and the struggles of every day Joe's like Gordianus to survive as the Roman Republic's death throws begin. Characters we have come to know from previous novels (no, you don't have to have read them to like this), lend an air of familiarity to this tale, deepending our feelings for them and what happens. Take a walk down the Appian Way, and you'll be hooked on this stellar series.
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Summary: A Great Book and a Thrilling Adventure
Review: I loved this book. It was exciting and intreging. I read it for a Latin class and it was so vivid and amazing. I'm not that big of a fan of murder mysteries, but I really enjoyed this book and the author's style. Who knows? This might just make me a murder mystery reader.
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Summary: Gotta Love Gordiannus
Review: This is one of many books I read throughout my years of school for a book report. I was hooked on Steven Saylor after this. He plays up the mystery of the murder without playing up the gore. Anyone who is fascinated by the Roman empire ought to be interested in this book. I have been told that he is not a true classicist, but he writes an excellent book nonetheless.
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Summary: A further adventure of Gordianus
Review: This is a most definitive novel in the series. Its setting is the murder of Publius Clodius, an event that many historians agree sets the backdrop for the fall of the roman Republic and the onset of the Empire. Even Gordianus himself cannot escape the chaos. He is dragged very much into it and will suffer considerable consequences, not only on his own self, but through his beloved - and very unconventional - family."A murder on the Appian Way" is a most traditional mystery, with lots of travelling involved on the most famous, ancient roman road of all. Clodius is murdered in what appears to be a sudden and unexpected skirmish for everyone involved. Gordianus is summoned by many people at the same time to investigate what really happened on the Appian way that made it all end up so wrong. Although not one of his most rewarding efforts, Saylor's writing will be enthralling and most endearing to his fans. If you've read the previous novels, you won't want to skip this one.
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Summary: a very inviting and warm book
Review: I had to read this book for a clciv class. I didn't really expect much from this book at first, but after a few chapters I realized how good this book really is. The author did an excellent job in developing the characters. The story moves along very smoothy. The dialouge between characters is very intelligent and thoughtful. Do not believe the reviews that trash this book. Most likely these are college students forced to read this book which they had no interest in otherwise. You have to have an idea and opinion of Roman civilization before you read this book.
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Summary: very factual
Review: This book is dry as dust. I kept feeling like I was getting good factual information about Roman culture of the period, but I couldn't stay interested because the characters aren't developed well. I couldn't make myself care. I even tried another book in this series and had the same complaint. I did make myself finish this one but it was a waste of effort. After this, I'll stick with Lindsey Davis's series - any of those books is sure to be "a good read".
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Summary: Saylor makes you feel at home in ancient Rome
Review: Gordianus the Finder has a reputation for being beholden to no one, which makes him the perfect go-between among the factions struggling for power in Rome of the first century B.C. in "A Murder on the Appian Way," the fifth in the series by Steven Saylor. It was the early spring of 52 B.C., and Rome explodes in riots when a popular leader, Publius Clodius, is found murdered on the famous road his ancestors built. Rumors fly that Clodius died during a clash with the bodyguards of a rival politician, and Clodius' allies in response burn the Senate and demand justice. Amidst the rioting, Gordianus is hired by both the dead man's family and none other than Pompey the Great to discover the truth. Saylor takes his time developing his story, which allows the reader to tour Rome with Gordianus as his guide. We get to walk with bodyguards streets that take meanness to another level, take part in public forums in which politicians manipulate the feelings of the masses (no surprise there), and even travel the countryside to visit Julius Caesar. "A Murder on the Appian Way" is based on actual events. The murder of Clodius, Saylor points out in an appendix, had great ramifications for the republic. The inability of Rome to deal with the crisis indicated a power vacuum that both Caesar and Pompey attempted to fill, and the result was a civil war which aided the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. But to the reader, the story's the thing, and Saylor's accomplished mystery is wrapped around an ancient world that, to the imaginative mind at least, could easily look like home, and that's a worthy accomplishment for the historical writer.
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Summary: Pure brilliance
Review: When I began to read Saylor's "Murder on the Appian Way" I confess I was expecting a goos story but not much else. I was pleasantly surprised. Saylor 'knows his stuff' about Ancient Rome and leading characters in it. I particulary liked his portrayals of Cicero and Caelius - Cicero was not a simple character, and Saylor has not attempted to present him as one. He is neither a weak coward or a saint, neither a hero or a fool. Rather, he is a brilliant orator with irritating qualities and good qualities, a good man in some respects yet flawed in others. Caelius is a witty, sharp-tongued young man yet lacking the brain-power or staying power to make it in the world of ancient Rome. His portrayal of the Antony/Curio/Fulvia relationship was interesting - one of the highpoints in the book. In fact, the whole Antony-character was great - likeable, amusing and a great deal of fun! I liked the fact that the book was mixed - a novel about mystery, history, politics and family life is not easy to find, but here it is! It is a superb book, and I am looking forward to hunting out more of Saylor's books.
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Summary: Revising my opinion upward
Review: I reviewed this book in 1997 and gave it a negative review. Since then, I gave it another try and discovered that although it starts more slowly than most of Saylor's books, it becomes an engaging and gripping story. I want to retract my earlier negative comments!
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