The setting(s) really served as the main character for me (which is what earned the second star in the overall rating). I would suggest this book for anyone who wants to learn about this particular historical niche, but I would advise staying away if you are looking for an exciting mystery or engaging historical fiction plot. I am not sure if he was going for a subtlety of emotion/inflection or if he is just not very good (I have not listened to any of his other performances so I have no basis for comparison) but it comes across as monotone and occasionally awkwardly absent of emotion. I found Plunkett's performance to be bland and monotone. Then, each chapter ends with a quick reference to the fact that Gordianus not only solved a mystery, but oh yea, he also had sex. The fictional aspects of this historical fiction are just too easy - basically every mystery is a murder to which the reader is given no clues and which the protagonist suddenly explains at after he solves it. The result is a book that bounces unpredictably back-and-forth between being targeted at a historical audience and a seven year old. The book fluctuates between interesting histories and a few lesser known sub-stories that are interrupted by a plot that is too easy. However, the story is actually quite bad. In this book, Steven Saylor presents a history of the seven wonders of the ancient world in a narrative form that many could potentially find more engaging than setting out to read Herodotus on their own. I really wanted to love this book and was hoping it would propel me into the rest of Steven Saylors work b/c this is my first experience with his writing.

Steven saylor roma series