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The Venus Throw Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,223 listener ratings
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Rome, 56 BC. The great general Pompey has conquered the East; Julius Caesar is defeating the Gauls; only Egypt, with its strategic granaries and vast treasuries of gold, still eludes the grasp of Rome. The city itself is becoming ever more corrupt, as the last generation of the Roman Republic indulges in political backstabbing, endless lawsuits, scandalous love affairs, and the occasional murder.
In recent days several Egyptian envoys have been viciously assassinated. Fearing that he will be next, the Egyptian ambassador Dio calls on his old friend Gordianus the Finder and all of his special skills for help—but before the night is out, Dio is murdered.
Now Gordianus begins his most dangerous case.Hired to investigate Dio's death by a beautiful woman with a scandalous reputation, he will follow a trail of political intrigue into the highest circles of power and the city's most hidden arenas of debauchery.There Gordianus will learn that nothing is as it seems—not the damning evidence he uncovers, not the suspect he sends to trial, not even the real truth behind Dio's death.
Poison, betrayals, and long-buried secrets confront Gordianus as one of history's most famous trials races to a close. But even after the verdict is delivered, there are secrets still to be uncovered.
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"Another fascinating read in the Roma Sub Rosa series and Gordianus the Finder. I really enjoy these books for both the character development and the historical fiction that is Rome. Saylor takes actual events from Roman history and brings them to life, staying true to the characters he includes from reality. I enjoyed the mystery and the atmosphere and will absolutely continue with this series."
— Mike (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Imaginative…Saylor’s style is smooth…An absorbing look at a time when men tried to rule themselves wisely and failed.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“Engrossing…Intensely dramatic…Erotic, funny, compelling…A bona fide page-turner.”
— Detroit Free Press -
“Steven Saylor transports you to ancient Rome with spellbinding effectiveness.”
— Austin Chronicle -
“Simmering with eroticism, adding engrossing historical filler about Roman law, politics and goddess cult…[an] absorbing brew of Rome's decay.
— Publishers Weekly -
“The remarkably vivid and finely etched historical background at once roots the characters firmly in their time and brings them alive for our own—in this finest flower yet of Saylor’s admirable Roma sub Rosa series.”
— Kirkus Reviews
The Venus Throw Listener Reviews
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" Not my favorite of this series, though I thought the ending was extremely strong. "
— Julie, 2/14/2014 -
" Good historical details, as always, although sometimes I tire of the minutia of Roman politics. "
— Kirsten, 2/8/2014 -
" Making my way through the Gordianus series. Another great entry in the series. Cannot wait to read the next one! "
— Ross, 1/14/2014 -
" 4th book. This is more like the pacing of the first and second rather than the third. Reading this one made me want to start on the 5th right away. This fills in some history of Gordinas, his wife and a little of what they were like when they were in Alexandria. "
— David, 1/10/2014 -
" Well, I didn't particularly enjoy the last book by Steven Taylor but I did have this novel on hand so I figured I might as well read it. Suffice it to say that I wasn't all that enamored with this tale either, although it does improve on Catilina's Riddle as far as I'm concerned. The story actually has a real mystery in it and the resolution is interesting. Then again, if you paid attention (in difference to the main character) you could see the end coming a long way off. The life of Rome is portrayed reasonably well and so are the various characters in the book although I find Clodia's behaviour at the trial (no, not a spoiler :) doesn't match with her portrayal throughout the rest of the book. "
— Peter, 1/9/2014 -
" A decent mystery involving Catullus one of my favorite Latin poets. "
— William, 1/6/2014 -
" Provides a nicely drawn picture of life in Rome at the end of the republic (heavy with the sex), but the characters are uninteresting, the plot rambled and was unengaging, and the primary detective proved fairly oblivious. "
— Tim, 12/30/2013 -
" A weaker Gordianus novel. Saylor cribs far too much from Roman orators, recounts too many ancient Roman stories, and puts his protagonist in too little danger. Gordianus is so much an observer that the story lacks even a modicum of tension. "
— Dev, 9/11/2013 -
" This was my first introduction to the Roma Sub Rosa series by Steven Saylor. From the first pages I was hooked. Now I've read all the books in the series. "
— Travis, 9/4/2013 -
" The "Roma Sub Rosa" series is worthwhile reading for anyone who both enjoys mysteries and is interested in Ancient Roman history. I've found the history more interesting than the mystery in some of the earlier books, but I enjoyed both in this one. "
— Linda, 7/17/2013 -
" Best historical mystery series that I have read. Saylor is great at evoking late Republican Rome; sometimes the mysteries are quite decent as well. "
— Nathanielk, 7/2/2013 -
" The mystery was not bad, and it looks like the historical accounts are reasonably accurate, but I did not care for the writing style. "
— Elizabeth, 7/1/2013 -
" Have decided to read the whole Saylor oeuvre. Having tired of him after three books first time around I am enjoying them more this time although this one not the best of the ones I have read so far. "
— Eunice, 6/14/2013 -
" a great insight into the history of ancient Rome, in a captivating narrative. "
— Paulina, 6/4/2013 -
" I don't know if I really like this series or not. hilariously, the only version of this available at the library was the large print edition. it really took away from the experience. "
— Amy, 6/1/2013 -
" This book took forever to get going. If it wasn't for the setting I am not sure I would have finished it. The mystery didn't really capture me. "
— C.S., 4/3/2013 -
" I liked this and all of Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa mysteries, but then I'm a sucker for ancient Rome, and Saylor really knows it, as if he'd spent a few years there in the Peace Corps. Saylor's P.I,, Gordianus, is sympathetic and entertaining. "
— Beatrice, 12/27/2012
About Steven Saylor
Steven Saylor is a freelance writer, editor, and the author of novels set in ancient Rome. He studied history at the University of Texas at Austin. Saylor’s writing has appeared in the Threepenny Review, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, and the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. He lives in Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.
About Scott Harrison
Scott Harrison is a graduate of the American Repertory Theater Institute in Massachusetts and founder of Ironweed Productions, a theater company in Santa Fe, New Mexico.