The King’s Gambit

By: John Maddox Roberts

Narrated by: 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.

Personality to Toman history

I really enjoyed the historical personalities roiling around the storyline. The narration lit the imagination.

Sherlocus Maximus Holmes

I consider myself a semi-intelligent person but this one was pretty hard to follow. Besides the complicated plotline, all of the Roman names and titles drove me nuts. This is definitely not a book to just have on in the background. Basically, it's a Roman Sherlock Holmes trying to solve a series of murders in his jurisdiction. His investigation turns dangerous when it turns out that there are a lot of higher ups involved and willing to kill to keep things silent. The main character is mildly entertaining, the story seemingly well researched, but wow...those names. Once again though, John Lee's narration is amazing as always. Suffice to say that I probably won't continue the series.

Good story

This is a good story, with a likeable protagonist. It's set in ancient Rome but deals with universal topics of greed, power struggle, dishonesty-and honesty. Also, it is packed with valuable information on ancient Rome's history and customs.