The Catiline Conspiracy

By: John Maddox Roberts

Narrated by: John Lee

It was a summer of glorious triumph for the mighty Roman Republic. Her invincible legions had brought all foreign enemies to their knees. But in Rome there was no peace. The streets were flooded with the blood of murdered citizens, and there were rumors of more atrocities to come. Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger was convinced a conspiracy existed to overthrow the government, a sinister cabal that could only be destroyed from within. But admission into the traitorous society of evil carried a grim price: the life of Decius' closest friend - and maybe his own.

The author's masterful writing and impeccable faithfulness to historical fact join together to create a grippingly suspenseful tale of murder and conspiracy in ancient Rome.

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

John Lee adds so much

A sly voice adds so much to his reading of the series and makes it from a historical whodunnit into a wry tale and a terrific main character slipping through Rome’s intrigues. Loved it. And it’s predecessor.

Excellent historian

The story is very engaging, the historical context feels accurate, and real, and essential character is wonderfully likable!

GOOD ROMAN TALE

This is history written as a novel and is accurate as far as i know, having heard this particular episode of Republican Roman life a few times from other authors. I have to admit that my appetite for this particular era of history has been spoiled by Colleen McCullough's amazing Masters of Rome novels which sadly are not available on audible. Still, this author gives a good narrative even if it isn't very stirring or exciting or suspenseful. I'd listen to other works by this author who certainly writes well and fluently.

Very detailed historical novel

If you enjoy detailed historical fiction and in particular historical fiction based in Rome you will enjoy the fast paced story. Excellent narrator.

A worthwhile listen

My background in ancient Rome comes from a dry, historical focus. Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcasts covered this episode in "Death Throws of the Republic" series, and I can't tell you how delightful it is to listen to this section of history to come to life in narrative form. It isn't exactly historically accurate, but there are no glaring mistakes. Mostly slight embellishment here and there. The worst being Cateline's attitude towards the Plebes and tribunes, but I can justify it as Roman politicians being duplicitous. They were politicians competing for glory after all.

All in all, I enjoyed this very much. From the blurbs on the other novels in the series, I can see the author is weaving a gigantic narrative set in this epoch in history. Well worth it.