The King’s Gambit

De: John Maddox Roberts

Narrado por: John Lee

Blackmail, corruption, treachery, murder - the glory that was Rome.

In this Edgar Award-nominated mystery, John Maddox Roberts takes listeners back to a Rome filled with violence and evil. Vicious gangs ruled the streets of Crassus and Pompey, routinely preying on plebeian and patrician alike. So the garroting of a lowly ex-slave and the disembowelment of a foreign merchant in the dangerous Subura district seemed of little consequence to the Roman hierarchy. But Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger, highborn commander of the local vigiles, was determined to investigate. Despite official apathy, brazen bribes, and sinister threats, Decius uncovers a world of corruption at the highest levels of his government that threatens to destroy him and the government he serves.

©2007 John Maddox Roberts (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Slow start

Plot was interesting
Historic data great
Best was NARRATION BY JOHN LEE!!!
He made the written word come alive

Classic Classical Mystery

Classic Classical Mystery

John Maddox Roberts gives the reader a very clear vision of what life (and murder) were like in ancient Rome. The story moves quickly and the narration by John Lee is perfect.

Well done indeed

After a few dozen pages or the readers fine work it occurred to me that I had no knowledge of civilian police work within the Roman Empire. All I knew, and I knew damn little, was of the military cohorts and military/political leadership of Rome. This was a interesting look at the civilian police work done against the backdrop of political rivalry. There were only a handful of Latin words used to deftly to season the story line.
I enjoyed and recommend to any one good story. Good reader and overall good.

Bringing history to life

Having listened to various histories of Rome, I really enjoyed this historical mystery novel. The author has created a view of Rome that breathes with vitality. His hero is so appealing in his naive trust in Roman virtue. The author has also added interesting peripheral characters to flesh out our understanding of the ancient city.
I always enjoy this narrator's readings and this was is a worthy addition to his repertoire.

A truly entertaining book

The author really brings ancient room to life along with a great story With ingenious twist.
I keep you controlled throughout the total book

A fantastic series!

I stumbled upon this series recently, and have since listened to the first ten books. All have been excellent, both in quality of story and performance. Each offers a more nuanced view of the great historical figures, as well as glimpses of what life was like for more ordinary people of the time.

Terrific

A great look at the real politics of the Roman Empire. I am eager to read more books in the series and see more of the intrigue behind the history.

Great start to a series

This is the first book I tried in the series and it is a great Sherlock Holmes style detective story - there's a young man from a noble family charged with clearing up crime in a district of ancient Rome, a Greek physician who helps him, dark conspiracy in high places, etc. You get the idea. And you are not sure exactly how it will turn out till the very last page.

diverting with details

entertaining and lively read. great for those interested in Roman historic fiction with or without a background in it.

Excellent

Excellent stories. Excellent narrator. Excellent production. 5 stars all the way around. Thank you for this