That was fun! I need another.

I like period pieces, especially historical fiction with a sort of twist. Which is probably why, when I started reading Lindsey Davis, I immediately lapped Silver Pigs up and never regretted it. Of course, Medicus isn't by Davis, but the setting is still in ancient Rome, the mystery still abounds, and the story is just as compelling.

What really interested me in the book was the fact that Ruso's profession was much different to Falco's. Where Falco was a dashing debonair with almost no self-control, Ruso was the complete opposite, the perfect example of a man who still manages to hold onto a moral compass, even when things end up in the shitter. Excuse my English. It was also refreshing to see the plot unravel not so much in a detective's standpoint, but from someone with a keen eye for observation and a healthy curiosity. Ruso, after all, is a medicus, a surgeon. He is in no way even authorized to conduct proper investigations or to question and arrest suspects. Yet he does what he does through a compelling reason.

Other than that, while I didn't find Ruso's character too charming, he did have highlights. He is chivalrous, I give him that. And while he is certainly a workaholic with financial troubles up to his elbows, somehow he still manages to let his knees buckle due to a pair of beautiful ocean-colored eyes. I'd compare him to Falco again, but I think that would be overkill.

There were, however, some caveats, hence the rating. The business with Tilla was unresolved, though I understand it helps keep some mystery about her for the next book (alas, it's another series!). The snippets of how she went about things were slightly confusing, and I wished there had been more delving of the Britannia that Tilla saw. Frankly, I skimmed some of her passages because it was a little dry; most of it assumed that we knew much of the troubles with the locals just by a few words. What I would have liked was a sort of insight as to the why.

Hopefully the next story will reveal a bit more of Tilla's people. I'd certainly read it for that!

This was a fun read. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.

How disappointing! Really, I can't buy a book about the evils of slavery and human trafficking-- and that was undeniably the point of the brothel characters-- when the main character has a slave who learns to love him and stand by his side.

Very similar to Lindsey Davis, but minus the humor and cynicism. Not as good.

Oh my god what a snorefest. I gave up around 130 pages. It was boring beyond words and I kept thinking "when is the story going to start?"

Couldn't finish.

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