The Bottom Line
Rubicon shows the consequences of Caesar's crossing the Rubicon in the daily life of Rome's citizens who, expected to take sides, are now terrified lest they pick the loser in the struggle between Caesar and Pompey.
Pros
- As always, historically based
- Furthers the series' threads
- Fairly detailed travelogue
- Surprise ending
Cons
- Mystery is almost incidental
- The dark side begins
- Lots of loose ends
Description
- Set in Rome at the beginning of the civil war between Caesar and Pompey.
- Gordianus must solve the mystery of the murder of a kinsman of Pompey.
- Pompey takes Gordianus' son-in-law hostage to ensure Gordianus' cooperation.
- Cicero's freedman and scribe Tiro plays a vital role posing as a philosopher.
- Gordianus barely escapes an enraged Pompey bent on murdering him.
- Meto's plans are furthered at great cost to Gordianus.
- Vital to appreciating the following Saylor sub rosa mysteries.
Guide Review - Review - Steven Saylor - Rubicon
Gordianus the Finder is now in his sixties, but his two able-bodied sons are not available to perform the task an imperious Pompey has forced upon Gordianus. On his own, he must find the murderer of Pompey's kinsman Numerius. Not even Davus, the husband of Gordianus' daughter can help because Pompey has illegally conscripted him as hostage-bodyguard.
Gordianus determines to free Davus and for that reason agrees to accompany Tiro, the freedman slave and scribe of Gordianus' former ally Cicero. Tiro has a passport from Pompey that will cover Gordianus in their travels through land loyal to Pompey. In turn, Gordianus should be able to provide safe passage for Tiro when they are in Caesar's territory because Gordianus' son Meto is a highly placed and possibly too well-loved member of Caesar's forces. Despite these assurances of safe passage, there are plenty of hazards on the road. As a result, a bodyguard and a driver are sacrificed for the travelers.
Saylor shows both sides in the civil war as ignoble. The soldiers in both armies demean citizens with strip searches. Cicero who has been a lifelong friend of Pompey but is reluctant to pledge his allegiance contrasts with Gordianus who hates both leaders, but cannot decide whether he hates mad Pompey or Caesar the catamite more.
Gordianus determines to free Davus and for that reason agrees to accompany Tiro, the freedman slave and scribe of Gordianus' former ally Cicero. Tiro has a passport from Pompey that will cover Gordianus in their travels through land loyal to Pompey. In turn, Gordianus should be able to provide safe passage for Tiro when they are in Caesar's territory because Gordianus' son Meto is a highly placed and possibly too well-loved member of Caesar's forces. Despite these assurances of safe passage, there are plenty of hazards on the road. As a result, a bodyguard and a driver are sacrificed for the travelers.
Saylor shows both sides in the civil war as ignoble. The soldiers in both armies demean citizens with strip searches. Cicero who has been a lifelong friend of Pompey but is reluctant to pledge his allegiance contrasts with Gordianus who hates both leaders, but cannot decide whether he hates mad Pompey or Caesar the catamite more.
