SPQR XIII: The Year of Confusion

By: John Maddox Roberts

Narrated by: John Lee

Caius Julius Caesar, now Dictator of Rome, has decided to revise the Roman calendar, which has become out of sync with the seasons. As if this weren’t already an unpopular move, Caesar has brought in astronomers and astrologers from abroad, including Egyptians, Greeks, Indians, and Persians. Decius is appointed to oversee this project, which he knows rankles the Roman public: "To be told by a pack of Chaldeans and Egyptians how to conduct their duties towards the gods was intolerable." Not long after the new calendar project begins, two of the foreigners are murdered.

Decius begins his investigations and, as the body count increases, it seems that an Indian fortune-teller popular with patrician Roman ladies is also involved.

This latest in the acclaimed series is sure to please historical mystery fans.

©2010 John Maddox Roberts (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Readers looking for a crafty and entertaining journey to the past won’t be disappointed." ( Publishers Weekly on SPQR XI: Under Vesuvius)

I hope this not the end of the journey of Decius.

The skillful blend Of John Lee and John Roberts has made this entire series a resounding success. All hail Decius Metellus!

So sad it's the last book in the series

This is a great series. I wish there were more books in it. In this book we have Caesar and Cleopatra and Marc Anthony as well as our old favorites and a lot of other interesting characters

Excellent Historical Mystery Fiction

I really enjoyed this book and I’ve read widely about Ancient Rome, including histories and biographies, including Scipio, Cicero, Julius Caesar, Augustus, Hadrian, etc. And I learned to really fun historical rationales for actions:
1) Caesar’s planned Parthian campaign was more than to recover lost Roman Eagle Standards and to avenge Crassus - it was to equal and excel beyond Alexander the Great by conquering Asia (Parthia and then on to India).
2) Egypt was left in the rule of Ptolemy dynasty prior to Augustus because the Senate did not want to risk authorizing imperium to a Roman General to conquer the richest country in the world - thereby giving that General the power and wealth to potentially become a “king” of Rome.
And well beyond these two interesting observation by the author - it was a really fun read and makes Ancient Rome come to life. I will now read all of this series.

Love this series!!

This guy is fucking brilliant..
Fantastic series ..
Very intelligently written and entertaining.
I have to admit I only started this series because of John Lee. Well that was my introduction and I LOVE it.
Great Job on this series.. Really!!

Loved it

As with the rest of the series. Ready for Spqr XIV. Makes you feel like you're there.