Valorie T. (morbidromantic) -
Helpful Score: 4
To put it simply, I loved this book. From the moment I picked it up, I didn't want to put it down. Though the mystery wasn't so much a mystery by the middle of the novel (I guessed the culprit, though perhaps Downie intended for us to get hints along the way and work this out), I still found how it unfolded very riveting. Also, Downie inserts a lot of humor into the novel and you end up feeling both sorry and amused by Ruso all in the same breath. Ruso is a very likable character because he is neither too unfortunate nor too impressive. In the end, Ruso comes out as an average man. Because Ruso was such an interesting and likable character, he sustained the story well enough for me when the plot waned.
What about historical accuracy? In the end notes, Downie herself admits that information about Roman Britain is hard to come by and scant. She also confesses that some of her information is made up or exaggerated to move the plot along. The few books that Downie listed as sources are secondary sources, which are always to be used critically since their information may not be correct or unbiased. A few primary sources would have made her history more credible, certainly. A lot of the speech and infrastructure in Medicus was inspired by modern practices- characters used words like 'lad' and 'bloody'. Still, I was relieved that this book did not read like a textbook and that it did not focus around big names and big people. Yes, Julius Caesar marching on Rome was an amazing thing, but we should only have so many fiction books about it. It is nice to read about an average Roman.
It was refreshing that Downie allowed me to use my own knowledge of Rome to fill in the gaps and set the scene rather than laying it all out for me in a tedious, fact rich way. Like I said, Medicus did not read like a textbook. In a way, it was taken for granted that the reader should know a little something about the Roman way of life. I may be better off than your average reader since I do know a lot about Rome to fill in blanks with. Yet, a non-scholar can still pick out a lot about Roman life such as that slaves were property and frequently abused, Romans wrote on wax covered pages with a stylus, Romans diluted their wine with water, etc. You won't finish this book without some idea of how Romans lived.
What about historical accuracy? In the end notes, Downie herself admits that information about Roman Britain is hard to come by and scant. She also confesses that some of her information is made up or exaggerated to move the plot along. The few books that Downie listed as sources are secondary sources, which are always to be used critically since their information may not be correct or unbiased. A few primary sources would have made her history more credible, certainly. A lot of the speech and infrastructure in Medicus was inspired by modern practices- characters used words like 'lad' and 'bloody'. Still, I was relieved that this book did not read like a textbook and that it did not focus around big names and big people. Yes, Julius Caesar marching on Rome was an amazing thing, but we should only have so many fiction books about it. It is nice to read about an average Roman.
It was refreshing that Downie allowed me to use my own knowledge of Rome to fill in the gaps and set the scene rather than laying it all out for me in a tedious, fact rich way. Like I said, Medicus did not read like a textbook. In a way, it was taken for granted that the reader should know a little something about the Roman way of life. I may be better off than your average reader since I do know a lot about Rome to fill in blanks with. Yet, a non-scholar can still pick out a lot about Roman life such as that slaves were property and frequently abused, Romans wrote on wax covered pages with a stylus, Romans diluted their wine with water, etc. You won't finish this book without some idea of how Romans lived.
This is a readable book, but distinguishable from other "lone Roman in Britain" novels only by its dismal writing style. The author relies heavily on modern idioms and has done such minimal research that I'm inclined to believe she's using "corn" to refer to American maize rather than the rarely-employed general term for grain. The main characters are likable enough, but mostly wooden. Read it if you have nothing else, but you won't be satisfied.
Cheryl (boomerbooklover) -
Historical novel, first in a series, about a Roman doctor in Britannica (England) who becomes involved in a murder mystery. Interesting characters; humorous situations.
This is a good read, the medical parts of this are amazing. To see how "doctors" worked in ancient times is extremely interesting. Good story, and very unusual place and time make this better than most.
#1 in the Gaius Petreius Ruso historical mystery series set in Roman-occupied Britannia. Ruso, a recently-divorced doctor who has moved from his family home in Gaul to an army outpost in Deva (modern-day Chester, UK) and stumbles immediately into a mystery, with the dead, naked body of a young woman brought into his surgery. Most of her red hair has been lopped off, and he's curious not only about her, but about her killer.
When he discovers that she was a "dancing girl" from one of the local bars and that another woman who worked there has disappeared, and no one is investigating, he takes an unofficial but widely-known interest and begins nosing around. All this while attempting to deal with long hours in his duties as a doctor/surgeon, a slave girl he purchased who has a bit of an attitude problem and is unable to do anything because of injuries that need healing, a roommate (in a rather run-down, filthy home) who is vying with him for the position of Chief Medical Officer--a job Ruso badly needs so he can send his family money and avoid their farm going under, and a host of other little problems. Poor Ruso! He's made the mistake of being someone who cares and seems to get slapped down for it time and again in a series of unfortunate events.
The story is written in an engaging style with plenty of wry humor and well-developed characters. The only regret I have is that this book sat on my TBR stacks for way too long--but I am glad to have the next two waiting for me. Excellent!
When he discovers that she was a "dancing girl" from one of the local bars and that another woman who worked there has disappeared, and no one is investigating, he takes an unofficial but widely-known interest and begins nosing around. All this while attempting to deal with long hours in his duties as a doctor/surgeon, a slave girl he purchased who has a bit of an attitude problem and is unable to do anything because of injuries that need healing, a roommate (in a rather run-down, filthy home) who is vying with him for the position of Chief Medical Officer--a job Ruso badly needs so he can send his family money and avoid their farm going under, and a host of other little problems. Poor Ruso! He's made the mistake of being someone who cares and seems to get slapped down for it time and again in a series of unfortunate events.
The story is written in an engaging style with plenty of wry humor and well-developed characters. The only regret I have is that this book sat on my TBR stacks for way too long--but I am glad to have the next two waiting for me. Excellent!
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
An interesting mystery that I enjoyed, despite what happened to several of the girls. I wasn't as put off by some of the non-historical aspects as other reviewers. Like some of them, I did know by mid-book, or at least hoped I knew, who the bad guy was.
Poor Ruso, he so desperately needs a financial advisor. But perhaps he may just have found one.
Poor Ruso, he so desperately needs a financial advisor. But perhaps he may just have found one.
I really cannot decide about this book. it felt too "modern" in language to be a good historical fiction.
The core story is a good one about a medical officer of the Roman army in Brittania.
the characters needed to be fleshed out better,they seem very one dimensional and simple.
there is a second book out in this series,i hope she does a better job with that one.
good story,poorly told.
The core story is a good one about a medical officer of the Roman army in Brittania.
the characters needed to be fleshed out better,they seem very one dimensional and simple.
there is a second book out in this series,i hope she does a better job with that one.
good story,poorly told.
Not really sure that they acted like homicide detectives back in 135 AD
I had no idea what to expect of Medicus by Ruth Downie, I was very quickly interested in Ruso the 20th legion Doctor stationed in Deva modern day Chester.
He becomes a reluctant sleuth. I found the characters engaging and well drawn, I can forgive a few modernisms in their speech. It is a light read and entertaining, I am glad I have the second book Terra Incognita as well and I am looking forward to the continuing story.
He becomes a reluctant sleuth. I found the characters engaging and well drawn, I can forgive a few modernisms in their speech. It is a light read and entertaining, I am glad I have the second book Terra Incognita as well and I am looking forward to the continuing story.
One of the poorest written books I have read in awhile. This book is not historical fiction. You could take the story and drop it into any historical context. The vocabulary and phraseology sound more modern than ancient. Boring, boring, boring...
