| Title | : | Persona Non Grata (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1596916095 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781596916098 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 348 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2008 |
Ruth Downie is published as R.S. Downie in the UK, and this book is available there under the title Ruso and the Root of All Evils.
At long last, Gaius Petreius Ruso and his companion, Tilla, are headed home—to Gaul. Having received a note consisting only of the words "COME HOME!" Ruso has (reluctantly, of course) pulled up stakes and brought Tilla to meet his family.
But the reception there is not what Ruso has hoped for: no one will admit to sending for him, and his brother Lucius is hoping he'll leave. With Tilla getting icy greetings from his relatives, Lucius's brother-in-law mysteriously drowned at sea, and the whole Ruso family teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, it's hard to imagine an unhappier reunion. That is, until Severus, the family's chief creditor, winds up dead, and the real trouble begins…
Persona Non Grata (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #3) Reviews
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rosado mp3
Description: At long last, Gaius Petreius Ruso and his companion, Tilla, are headed home—to Gaul. Having received a note consisting only of the words “COME HOME!” Ruso has (reluctantly, of course) pulled up stakes and brought Tilla to meet his family.
But the reception there is not what Ruso has hoped for: no one will admit to sending for him, and his brother Lucius is hoping he’ll leave. With Tilla getting icy greetings from his relatives, Lucius’s brother-inlaw mysteriously drowned at sea, and the whole Ruso family teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, it’s hard to imagine an unhappier reunion. That is, until Severus, the family’s chief creditor, winds up dead, and the real trouble begins…'
It's the fab characters rather than the mysteries that make this series enjoyable, especially fun to watch Tilla come across Christianity.
3* Medicus (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #1)
3* Terra Incognita (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #2)
CR Persona Non Grata (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #3)
TR Caveat Emptor (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #4) -
Back in his ancestral home at Nemausus (Nîmes), Ruso is trying to untangle family finances, young loves, and old grudges. In between he gets involved (reluctantly!) in investigating a death (because it happened in his house), tries to find employment as a medic with local gladiatorial arena, keep his partner away from strange new cults - and generally miss the simple life in god-forsaken, rainy Britannia.
What to Expect
Charming and complex characters, well-researched details about Roman life in 2nd century Gaul, plot and sub-plots that twist and build up, and a great read overall.
What I liked
This goes for the whole series.
The absolute charm of the writing. All characters are fully fleshed, believable, with their own motivations. The writing is witty, the setting is rich, the plot thought-out, and the mysteries engaging.
These are the kind of books where you care for the characters. Downie has a knack to depict the world-views of the characters realistically, switching viewpoints from a Roman medical officer to a British peasant woman. It is clear that each character - from main to support cast - is a fully realised person, with their own agendas and biases.
The plot of the stories grips you till can't put the book down. Downie is masterfully weaving the investigations through sub-plots, distractions, daily lives, grand events - till you just have to know what happens next. Ruso may be a reluctant investigator, but he has that nagging voice in his head when things don't quite fit well, and it keeps him following and digging for the truth. Tilla has her own sense of fairness, and views on what makes the world tick.
Downie locates each book in a different town, mostly around Roman Britain with this being a notable exception. She has clearly done her research for each location and they all come alive, with the latest modern archaeological understanding of life there seeping through her writing.
What to be aware of
These aren't the noir mysteries I normally read and recommend. While there are certainly some gruesome bits (did I mention gladiatorial combats?), these aren't your typical first-person hard-boiled detective. Rather, the stories are told in a lighter vein, in third person perspective from either Ruso or Tilla's POV. Happily, Tilla gets more page-time as the series progresses.
Ms Downie has experience with archaeology and Latin history, and it shows in her writing. She has elected to translate most Latin terms into modern English (e.g. calling a master 'my lord' rather then 'domine', or using 'doctor' for physician), which may sound a tad weird to those used to Latin terms from similar series.
Be aware that while it's not strictly necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps.
Summary
I absolutely love this series. I have no idea why it took me so long to get back to it, but I am glad I did. If you've read the previous books, this is a great continuation. If not, go back to book one (Medicus) and start reading today!
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Assaph Mehr, author of
Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy. -
2019 bk 84. In this 3rd of the series, I thought to have a view of life in France during the Roman empire. I did receive that. I learned a little more about small town politics (not too terribly different from now), more about medicine of the era, more about vineyards and preparing wine (again not too different from now). What I did not expect was several short scenes that would change the way I though about how and why Christianity spread across Europe from the middle east. We have Paul's story - but the people in this story never had a visit from Paul. With a few copies of letters from Paul and Timothy, slaves who had traveled to Rome and points east who had been exposed to the Christ story returned to Nimes, and from them the word spread that there was a new religion in town, one that changed the way and the worship. From open, grand gestures on the part of the wealthy, even slaves could practice daily acts of kindness to those in worse shape than they. Food could be shared, rides on a cart could be shared - all freely in the name of Christ. It was a revolution in attitudes to others that caused the revolution in religion. And, this was all just a small part of this wonderfully well written mystery. I'm planning on a re-read soon, and I'm looking forward to Book 4 because I want to see if Tilla continues to embrace this new religion.
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Gaius Petreius Ruso's penchant for falling into mysteries and his hapless relationships with former wives, family members and strong-willed British women continues to please.
This third installment of Ruth Downie's series finds Ruso called back to his family's estates in Gaul by a terse letter ostensibly sent by his brother Lucius. The family has been pressured by its creditors ever since Ruso's father's death but things take a decided turn for the worse when the agent of one of the largest creditors is poisoned while meeting with Ruso.
On top of that, Ruso's half-sister Marcia has fallen in love with a gladiator and Tilla has gotten mixed up with those crazy Christians.
Persona Non Grata is comfort food but delicious comfort food and I'll continue to recommend the series. -
Another enjoyable historical mystery from Downie. Our hero Gaius Petreius Ruso receives a mysterious letter beckoning him home to Gaul, only to find that when he arrives he is a persona non grata - not particularly welcomed by his family, which consists of a harried brother, an excessively fertile sister-in-law, two romantically frustrated sisters, and a step-mother who embraces the concept that ignorance is bliss. Not to mention an ex-wife who has "made some very bad decisions in the last few years."
His "barbarian" British companion does not find herself particularly welcomed, either.
Nevertheless, Ruso is called upon to solve a murder and to save his family from bankruptcy.
Ruso's hometown of Nemausus is now Nîmes in Southern France. The novel was inspired by the ruins there, including the Roman amphitheater and temple. -
This third installment of Ruth Downie's Roman Empire series is the best so far. I always have a hard time describing to friends why these books are so entertaining. In simple terms they are historical fiction mysteries. The mysteries are engaging; in fact this was the most interesting mystery yet. In this book Ruso heads home to his family farm bringing along his British girlfriend/housekeeper Tilla. Once there the couple gets drawn into solving the poisoning death of the man who just so happens to be trying to bankrupt Ruso's family. It was a well crafted puzzle that kept the reader pondering how all the pieces fit together until the very end.
But the characters of Ruso and Tilla are what make these books really special. Their problems and relationships are both of their time (2nd century) but also utterly contemporary. For the first time the reader gets to see Ruso dealing with his family face to face rather than through letter and his memory. The family includes a range of well rounded minor characters such as his unsatisfiable ex-wife, extravagant step-mother, and out-of-control teenage step-sister. His relationship with Tilla is an interesting blend of misunderstandings due to cultural differences and the different way men and women see the world. But there is also the complete understanding of people who live together and love one another. I think what makes these so compelling is how the author shows the timeless nature of human relationships.
You could probably pick this book up not having read
Medicus or
Terra Incognita, but I would recommend reading the others first. They are both great and you you would better able to appreciate the characters and their relationships with one another in this book. -
Goodreads freebie (Thanks!) This is the third book in a series about Gaius Ruso. I have not read the others - normally I prefer to read a series in order -- but this one can be read without having read the others.
Gaius Ruso is a medical officer with the Roman Legion serving in Britain when he receives an obscure message ostensibly from his brother, Lucius, demanding that he return to Roma at once. Easier said than done, since the voyage home required more than a month of sea and overland travel. Stranger yet, when he arrives home, his brother denies having sent the message and in fact regrets his arrival since Roman law prohibited seizing the land and property of anyone serving in the army. Lucius had imprudently made some loan and repayment agreements with Serverus who now declares the repayment had never been made and is foreclosing on their property. Ruso, attempts to set things right, but during a meeting with Serverus, the latter falls over dead from poison, claiming "the bitch" has killed him.
Tilla, the barbarian and Ruso's lover, tends to steal the show on occasion, and she is certainly the most interesting character. She appears the more enlightened, hardly the "barbarian," given the Roman predilection for tying people to posts for entertainment and watching wild animals eat them. Nevertheless, we don't see Tilla much -- at least in this book -- in her native surroundings so it's hard to judge.
If I have one complaint, it's that the book did not have enough period detail, something I really like in historical fiction. Many people find it tedious; I do not. On the other hand, little tidbits like, shoving one's feet into "indoor sandals," and "by law, all the household slaves who had been under the same roof as a murdered master should be put to death for failing to save him, even if they could not possibly have helped," and one way to keep a household under control was by executing the relatives. Hmmm, that one has possibilities. -
I originally gave this 4 stars but I'm bumping it up to 5 because I can't get this book out of my head. I don't normally read a lot of mysteries (I'm more into SFF and romance). I picked this up because it was on sale and I'm fascinated with the ancient world, especially the Roman Empire, and I figured for $2, why not give it a try? Now I'm kind of obsessed and I want to read the whole series.
This is book 3. I hadn't read the first two, and it didn't matter; I jumped in without a problem. Gaius Ruso is an army medic on medical leave, returning home to deal with a family emergency. Someone is murdered on his property, and Gaius is one of the prime suspects. He needs to find out who really did it before he is accused himself.
I think the author does a good job writing a sympathetic Roman hero. It's a fine line. He needs to feel authentically Roman, and yet the Romans kept slaves and tortured people in public as entertainment, and were rather misogynistic, so it's tricky. The author's doing it well. I like Gaius, and I do perceive him as Roman. Tilla, his "barbarian" girlfriend, is great too, and provides an outsider's perspective, both for Gaius and for the reader, on the Romans' uglier practices.
I originally gave it four stars because I felt it was a little bit emotionally distant, but that's probably appropriate for the mystery genre. This was an enjoyable and well-structured story with appealing characters and great historical details. I loved reading about a Roman family that wasn't extraordinarily rich or powerful. Gaius is the head of his household. He has farmland and slaves, but the farm, run by his brother, is essentially "underwater"--in debt for more than it's worth. I find his problems easy to relate to, which is fun considering this is a character who would have lived, what, a couple of millenia ago? -
I have been a fan of Ruth Downie since I randomly selected her second novel, Terra Incognita, from my local library a few months ago. Her characters are endearing, her mysteries compelling, and her use of historical elements enthralling.
This book is my favorite of the three Ruso novels. Like the previous two, it follows Gaius Petreius Ruso, a doctor in the Roman army, and his lover Tilla, a "barbarian girl" from Britannia. This time, Ruso is summoned home to Gaul by a cryptic letter from his brother. Upon arriving, he finds his house in more disorder than he could have imagined: the family is facing bankruptcy, his widowed step-mother is in denial, and his brother is overwhelmed. Things only get worse when the agent in charge of the bankruptcy proceedings drops dead in Ruso's house, a victim of slow poisoning. What follows is Ruso's attempts to clear his name, investigate the murder and find the real culprit, all the while trying desperately to maintain order among his family.
This novel brings to life the absurd dynamics of the Ruso family that were only hinted at in the previous books. The relationship between Gaius and Tilla his tested and simultaneously strengthened as they continue to learn more about each other. Alongside these fictional story elements Downie introduces us to the real ancient town of Nemausus and its amphitheater, the genesis of the rise of Christianity in the Roman era, Roman politics and many other historical events and facts.
I would recommend this book to anyone that counts themselves as an armchair-historian, or anyone who enjoys a great classic mystery. -
A delightful series… while not exactly weighty historical fiction, the setting and behaviors are obviously well researched and about as true to the Roman period as any others I've come across. The characters are never jarringly modern even though they share the same emotions and concerns as any era including our own. I've become very fond of the medicus, Gaius Petrious Ruso… who struggles to practice his primitive form of doctoring with any dignity, partly because of his meddlesome barbarian lover Tilla and his extended foolish family. In this book, Ruso has returned home to Gaul from Britannia, to deal with yet another family crisis. While there, he becomes embroiled in a web of deceits including the poisoning of his former wife's husband, the loss of a trading ship, various plots involving scheming officials, all set against gladiatorial games and more domestic squabbles.
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So Roman Britain doesn’t look that bad when you are dealing with massive debts, a sneaky loan collector, a ship wreck, and clogged drains. This entry into the series concerns both the Medicius and Tilla returning to the family home. The mystery really isn’t that mysterious, but the characters and interactions make up for the predictable plot. Part of the fun is watching Tilla’s introduction to fledging religion of Christianity.
Crossposted at
Booklikes. -
Ruso has just injured his foot attempting to rescue a boy from the river (the boy manages to save himself) when an uncharacteristically brief and urgent letter arrives from his brother Lucius: Come home immediately. In a panic about what new disaster is so awful Lucius won't even hint at it, he wangles extended medical leave, and he and Tilla pack up and head for southern Gaul.
Their arrival is a complete surprise, and not a welcome one. One of their major creditors is threatening a bankruptcy action against them, and the absence of the real property owner--Ruso--on public service had been legal protection against a seizure order. Lucius vehemently denies having sent the letter; if he'd thought his elder brother might be contemplating a return home, he'd have sent word not to come. Ruso's return makes them vulnerable to real financial disaster and disgrace.
Things only get worse when that same creditor drops dead during a private conversation with Ruso, poisoned.
Along with putting his investigation skills to work clearing himself and the other prime suspect, his ex-wife Claudia (now the widow of the dead man) of murder, Ruso has to figure out what happened to Lucius' brother-in-law Justinian, steward to Claudia's father, Probus. Justinian had been sent along on a merchant ship to watch over Probus' investment, but the ship has vanished. Ruso and Lucius' stepmother Aria wants to do new, expensive "improvements" to the house, and is certain Lucius is just being stingy and unreasonable in not letting her. And Ruso's half-sister Marcia wants her dowry settled so that she can marry.
Or rather, he discovers, so that she can buy the freedom of a gladiator so that he can marry her.
Oh, and Ruso had never mentioned Tilla in his letters home, and Aria, determined to marry him off to the rich widow next door, is not pleased and does her best to make sure Tilla knows it.
This is, like its predecessors, and excellent mystery, with wonderful characters and nicely twisty plotting. As always, both Tilla and Ruso show real talent for getting themselves into trouble in their attempts to do the right thing, and confuse each other thoroughly trying to communicate across the barriers of their cultural differences.
Recommended. -
This is the third in the ancient Roman, military-mystery series, Gaius Petreius Ruso, Persona Non Grata sets up Ruso's response to an urgent letter from home. A response that, on the surface, seems disastrous to the financial well-being of Ruso's family.
Arranging leave from the Twentieth Legion, Ruso takes Tilla home to Nemausus in Narbonensis (modern-day Nimes) where he proceeds to stick his foot in it right and left with his ex-wife and ex-father-in-law; his missing brother-in-law; the cousin, the senator; and, his own family who aren't sure what to make of this barbarian he's brought home. Ruso has a lot of incentive to solve two murders if he's going to remain an honorable man in the military and prevent the family homestead from being taken.
Poor Ruso, I don't know what he'd do without Tilla---it's an interesting partnership as Tilla has no patience with Roman cultural or personal biases---this angel does not fear to tread! A fascinating look at Roman village interactions and family life with all their prejudices in the south of Gaul/France. Curious to see how similar we still are and makes me appreciate our law a lot more. -
Another amusing historical mystery by Ruth Downie. In this one, Ruso brings Tilla home to meet his dysfunctional family. Unfortunately, Tilla finds that he has neglected to mention her existence, Ruso finds his brother has neglected to mention that the family is about to lose all their assets, and his sister has neglected to mention that she's in love with a gladiator. Horrible social mishaps merrily ensue. And then the man who owns the family debt dies suspiciously in their home. Here we go!
There are moments of deeper character development, too. Tilla is appalled by the idea of gladitorial games, and doesn't know if she can make a life with Ruso. Her honesty and straightforward practicality can get her into trouble. And Ruso finds that even his irritating stepmother has a more sympathetic side.
Great setting details. I'm really enjoying this series. -
First read 1/2/11: I love this series!
Tilla got a lot of time in this book, which made it for me. Her pragmatic acceptance of the new religion was great and her public prayer was HILARIOUS!
And I do love the way Downie always has such great endings. The interactions between gruff, taciturn, and put-upon Ruso and Tilla are so wonderful they make me happy inside! And it's what is not said, that makes them so satisfying, I think.
And the mystery was very satisfying as well. I was sorry to see them leave Britain, but truly enjoyed meeting Ruso's irritating family members.
More please!
Second read 1/28/14: This book is worth it's purchase price just for Tilla's prayer! This series is wonderful. -
Ruso takes a leave from his duties as army surgeon in Brittania to go home to Southern Gaul, when he gets an urgent letter from his brother. It turns out that the family farm is in danger of being taken away by Severus, the new husband of Ruso's previous wife. But things get worse when Severus dies of poisoning at the farm in Ruso's presence. It all turns out well, thanks in part to the sleuthing of Ruso's British housekeeper/lover Tilla. There's a very funny chapter where Tilla goes to a small Christian meeting. She likes the idea of a god who's everywhere and can see everything, but doesn't like that this god won't do curses on her enemies.
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Absolutely delightful light reading!! On a mission of mercy, Ruso breaks his foot and is given medical leave from the Army. He and Tilla return to his quirky, whimsical family in Gallia Narbonensis, for his recuperation. No one admits to knowing about the letter sent to him at Deva: "Brother, come home". After a murder at the Petreius home, Ruso is accused; and he and Tilla set out to solve the mystery. I loved the characters and the sly humor.
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I'm really not sure how to rate this book - it's not a masterpiece, but it was a real pleasure to read. It's a good mystery told well. Neither of the main characters is left out, or upstages the other, and the development of their relationship flows really well. I've liked the series so far, and as far as character development and descriptions go, this is my favorite.
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This is the third installment of an entertaining historical crime fiction series set in the Ancient Roman Empire.
This book begins with hapless do-gooder Roman Army medic Gaius Petreius Ruso breaking his foot while trying to save a child who had been dropped into the river by five drunk legionaries.
His friend and colleague Valens prescribed that he must go easy on it for a good six weeks, “and no wine, of course.” (Part of the fun of this series is learning about the various “cures” used by people in Ancient Rome. Since the author also highlights the food they eat, it seems inevitable, even without murder, that they would need a lot of fixing up.) Valens also delivered a letter to him marked urgent, that read “Lucius to Gaius. Come home, brother.” Since Ruso can’t do anything else for six weeks, he agreed, even though his home in the south of Gaul was over a thousand miles away from his current post in Deva. (Ancient Gaul included the area that is modern France.) He was granted a medical discharge. (It was now June, and his contract with the Legion would be up in January. He had the option to sign on again when he got back from Gaul, and Valens assured Ruso he would want to. Ruso wasn’t so sure.)
Ruso has been living with Tilla, a “Barbarian” from Britannia, for the past two years. He knew he should have found a way to mention Tilla to his family before now, but he had not, and now she was “about to become a surprise.”
When Ruso went to see Tilla’s home in the previous installment, Tilla found her memories didn’t quite live up to the new reality there. Analogously in this book, Ruso has been remembering his home through rosy glasses; a vision dispelled almost as soon as he got there. As Tilla mused in the previous book, Terra Incognita:
“As far as she had been able to work out, the medicus’s family lived in a fine house whose roof baked beneath the everlasting sunshine of southern Gaul, while its foundations stood in a deep and perilous pool of debt. . . . She knew that he sent most of his money home to his brother, and she knew that it was never enough.”
Moreover, to call Ruso’s family “dysfunctional” is an understatement.
In any event, when they arrive, they once again get involved in a murder case, and once again, Ruso, with a lot of help from Tilla, finally figures out what happened, saving his own skin by doing so.
Discussion: Ruso continues to bumble through regular and extracurricular responsibilities, trying to do the right thing and right wrongs while everyone else is trying to take advantage of him. Ruso realizes too that he hadn’t done right by Tilla by not smoothing her way with his family:
“You asked me once if I was ashamed of you.”
“Are you?”
“I’m the one who should be ashamed. I should have introduced you better.”
“And what would you have said?”
“He paused. ‘I would have said, This is Tilla. She is the bravest and most beautiful woman I know, and I don’t deserve her.”
“She smiled. ‘All these things are true.’”
Evaluation: I am greatly enjoying this series, even though many of the characters and events described are most unsavory. But I love the medical information, and the author also shows us how the class and gender disparities of the time played out, which is always interesting. The plot of this book also weaves in the growing appeal of Christianity in the Roman Empire, with the characters who adhere to its tenets explaining just what it is about the religion that attracts them.
Rating: 3.5/5 -
I really enjoyed the second book in the series, but this one was a disappointment. Ruso is summoned home to Gaul to deal with a mysterious family crisis, and he takes Tilla with him. Virtually every member of his family was extremely obnoxious and they treated Tilla like dirt. Unfortunately part of the story involved the gladiator ring, which I really don’t enjoy at all. I probably wouldn’t have finished this one if I hadn’t been reading it for a challenge. Hopefully Tilla and Ruso will be back in Brittania for the next instalment.
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I'm enjoying the Medicus series, and the detail to research makes the books all the more enjoyable. They fit right in with my love of a good historical novel. I just wish Ruso would get a backbone every now and then.
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Fun to follow the characters to new destinations and enjoyed the murder mystery more in this one. Also nice to see Tilla come into her own a little more.
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In Persona Non Grata, the third in Ruth Downie’s Medicus series set in second-century Roman Britannia, Gaius Petreius Ruso and his British companion Tilla (also known as Darlughdacha of the Corionotatae among the Brigantes) travel to southern Gaul, summoned by an ominous letter that says only, “Lucius to Gaius. Come home, brother.” As their father’s heir and effective (if not necessarily effectual) paterfamilias, Ruso has known for some time of his family’s precarious financial situation, legacy of the massive debts their father incurred during his second marriage. Fearing the worst, Ruso arranges leave from his duties as surgeon to the XX Legion and hurries home.
When he arrives on the family estate a few miles outside Nemausus (modern-day Nîmes), Ruso finds the situation is much worse than he imagined, and that they are facing imminent seizure of everything they own. According to Roman law, the seizure order couldn’t go into effect so long as Ruso remained in Britain. Thus his homecoming is greeted not with open arms but consternation.
The threat of foreclosure soon turns out to be the least of Ruso’s problems, however, when the man who had filed the claim—who also happens to be married to Ruso’s former wife—dies by poisoning shortly after arriving to discuss settlement terms with Ruso.
Downie’s Medicus series are among the very few historical fiction books (set in a period I’m familiar with) I can read and enjoy without my historian’s hat on. Intellectually I know both Ruso and Tilla are far too modern in their sensibilities, but I don’t care. Downie’s flair for light comedy is one of her strengths as a writer and probably what draws me back to the series with each new book more than anything else; I was glad to see its return in Persona Non Grata after what seemed to be a bit of a dark turn in Terra Incognita.
Another of Downie’s strengths is in her two leading characters. Ruso is an appealing protagonist who seems cursed to live in a perpetual state of exasperation with everyone he knows, but while he is often the target of Downie’s humor he is never its butt. He is decent, fair, intelligent, and determined to get to the bottom of any mystery thrown in his path--a crucial development since Medicus, the first book, when he practically had to be dragged kicking and screaming into finding the murderer.
Tilla is likewise intriguing, never more so than when she is being Ruso’s chief cause of exasperation, though after three books she remains an enigma. Despite this, Downie deserves praise for the way she has subtly shown Tilla’s growing familiarity with Latin even while Roman culture remains completely foreign (and often incomprehensible) to her. Her impressions of southern Gaul, where Roman civilization was more thoroughly embedded than in her homeland were particularly insightful, just as her attendance at a clandestine gathering of the “followers of Christos” was both hilarious and perceptive in its observations.
Early scenes with Tilla and Ruso’s family make for an interesting twist on the concept of othering, where the British character is the exotic foreigner. Later, when one of Ruso’s half-sisters, trying to persuade Tilla to join them on a shopping excursion, asks, “Don’t you have shops in Britain?” the other responds, “They probably don’t have money either.” It’s not too much of a stretch to imagine a similar exchange in a modern English household with a foreign guest and nod knowingly.
The central mystery in Persona Non Grata--the identity of Severus’ murderer and the connection between his death and the disappearance of an extended member of Ruso’s family--is fairly insubstantial. That said, this is probably the most complex book in the series to date, reflecting Downie’s growing talent as a writer. Though I do find the Medicus series anachronistic at times, especially in its characterizations, Downie has clearly done her research, and she shares her broad knowledge of second-century Gallo-Roman civilization very ably, without resorting to the dreaded “infodump.” Through the eyes of Ruso and Tilla, and the inevitable culture clash engendered by their respective backgrounds and perspectives, the reader glimpses life in a typical Gallo-Roman household, the operation of an estate, commerce and business transactions in the second century, and life in a city far larger than anything Tilla would have experienced in Britannia, including the role of the circus as a vehicle for public entertainment, political maneuvering, and punishing criminals. Downie introduces each of these important aspects of Roman society smoothly and within the context of the larger story, yet doesn’t let them overshadow it.
Persona Non Grata is easily the best in the Medicus series to date. I’m already a fan, and seeing how much Downie has grown as a writer only makes me even more eager for future installments. -
Ruso and Tilla travel to Ruso's native Gaul to sort his family problems out and find themselves in all sorts of shenanigans.
I'm really enjoying this series and these characters. -
This was an Librarything Early Review read, and it is the 3rd in the Medicus series. The series is set in Roman Britain during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. The main character is a Roman doctor/surgeon, Ruso, who is with the Legion stationed there.
In this book he breaks his foot which makes him useless for work. Ruso also gets a letter from his younger brother in Gaul, asking him to come home immediately. Although Ruso is older than Lucius and head of the family, it is Lucius who has been dealing with the family farm/vineyard and the family's debts.
Ruso heads home, and brings his British (barbarian) 'housekeeper' and lover Tilla with him. He has never told the family about her, so they are unprepared for her arrival. He makes a mess of it and they think she is a servant/slave.
Once home Ruso finds out Lucius didn't send for him, and that Ruso's return endangers the family because now that he is not 'away serving the empire', the bankruptcy case in court against them can proceed. Lucius is accused of a short payment on a loan, which he denies.
In an attempt to smooth over the disagreement over whether or not Lucius paid the full amount owed, Ruso goes to visit his father's old friend Fuscus. He is supervising the steward who brought the suit. Getting a semi-positive response from Fuscus, Ruso returns home to find the steward, Severus there waiting for him.
They are working out a new agreement to avoid court, when Severus begins to twitch, complain, and vomit. He collapses and dies. His last words are "The Bitch Poisoned Me.". Ruso is alone with him in his study. He rushes off to send for the steward's family, and to find out if the steward has eaten or had anything to drink in their house. While gone, his stepmother has the maids clean the floor and strip the corpse. Ruso returns and is furious because now it looks like he is covering up something about Sevrus' death.
Ruso has always had problems with his stepmother and she doesn't listen to him. She spends beyond their means and has been treating Tilla badly.
Ruso now finds that Severus was married to his ex-wife, Claudia, and she and her father, the banker Probus, are blaming him for the death, and Fuscus has asked for investigators from the capital. Ruso has to solve the murder before the investigators from Rome arrive. They can torture witnesses they are questioning.
Another thread that seems to be part of the murder is the sinking of a trading vessel that was sponsored by both Probus and Severus. Probus had his steward, Justinius, on the ship to supervise. He died and his sister Cassiana is married to Lucius and determined to find the truth of what happened to the ship.
Cass and Tilla sneak off the question people about the incident after Tilla finds someone who can give her information. She and one of the servants are attending a private meeting of Christians when she hears the news. Tilla also finds a man who can take her to the port town. Cass unexpectedly joins her on the journey at the last minute.
Tilla is happy to be away from Ruso's stepmother who is also trying to fix Ruso up with a rich widow who is their neighbor. She thinks the woman's money will solve their financial woes.
The book goes on to show the family lives of various characters, including the demands of Ruso's sisters who want dowries so they can marry while still young. Cass and Lucius have 5 small children and they romp through the story, since no one can control them. We meet Claudius' ex wife, and get glimpses of her new life, and what Severus' death means to her status.
Ruso is investigating the death, dealing with the various family crises and also takes a job with the local gladiator company. There are big games coming up and they will need a Medicus, with combat-wound experience.
The characters are mostly fun, though a bit cliched, and the story is interesting if a bit too full of positive situations to move the plot along. It is not what I would call meaty, but also not empty fluff. I enjoyed it and cared about the characters. The setting is done well, and Tilla and her forthright outlook is a gem. -
This is one of those times when having half a star would be useful, because for most of the novel I was definitely in 4 star territory, but when I got to the ending it dropped back to a 3. And it's not the solving of the mystery itself that was problematic, but in tying up the other loose ends of the story it felt like the author ran out of steam and things happened too easily. Though, of course, I encourage you to read and decide for yourself.
Persona Non Grata is a historical mystery novel set in Gaul during the reign of Hadrian. It is the third novel about the medicus, Gaius Petreius Ruso, although you need not have read the first two books to appreciate and follow it; I hadn't. Gaius is a medical officer with the 20th legion in Britannia, and he also has taken a lover (I'm thinking concubine might be an appropriate way to describe her, although the term is never used), a British midwife, Tilla. When Ruso injures his leg, and then receives a letter from his brother Lucius reading simply "come home," he and Tilla make for his ancestral estates in the south of France, only to find that Lucius never sent the letter. In fact, the family's financial distress is such that it would have been better for Ruso to have stayed in Britannia, for once he's home, as paterfamilias he must deal with his family's creditors, one of whom ends up dead. . .
Where this novel really seems to shine is in its world-building. Much of the time when I read historical fiction the author has done so much research that s/he can't bear to leave any of it out, and there is info dumping all over the place. That's not the case with Persona non Grata; Downie knows when to drop historical tidbits---such as the political graffiti on the walls of houses or the parade of clients gathered outside a senator's home---without overwhelming the reader.And she does a terrific job of making the Romans both familiar to us and alien; for example, when Ruso's teenage half sister Marcia clamors for her dowry, I was really reminded of a modern teenager begging for a car. And the problems of indebtedness and pressure to keep up with the Joneses haven't disappeared with time, so Ruso and the rest of the Petreius clan are easy to relate to.
I really enjoyed Ruso as a main character; he is hapless and charmingly self-deprecating, but also level-headed and resourceful. I also really liked Tilla, who is illiterate but still intelligent, copes graciously with being a fish out of water, and does as much to solve the mystery of Severus' death as Ruso himself. As a British tribeswoman, Tilla has more physical prowess than the typical Roman matron, but I liked that there were a variety of realistically competent women in the novel; not just Tilla, but also Ruso's sister-in-law Cassiana, and the lovely businesswoman next door, Lollia. Where the novel fell a bit flat for me was in the relationship between Tilla and Ruso. At times it really didn't feel like they had much of a relationship, more that Tilla was a device for getting Ruso information he would not have had otherwise. I definitely want to read the first two books in the series to see how these two ended up together; However, in this installment, it really felt like the two characters didn't spend enough time together, given that Ruso was not only Tilla's lover but her only reason for being in Gaul.
In sum, although Persona Non Grata has its flaws, it's an entertaining read that I recommend to anyone looking for a light historical mystery set in the Roman Empire. I look forward to reading the rest of the series! -
I have a growing fondness for historical mysteries rather than the straightforward military novels or sagas or character biographies. Over the past year or two I have discovered Robin Blake, William Ryan, Luke McCallin, D.E. Meredith and others. But my favourite series is still Ruth Downie’s Ruso books. I read the first two a while back, but have simply not found the time to catch up with the series. Well last week I decided to change that since for once I did not have anything to read to a deadline.
The first of Ruth’s books (Medicus AKA Ruso and the Disappearing Dancing Girls) introduced us to the Roman doctor Gaius Petreius Ruso, as well as to his friend Valens and the headstrong native British woman Tilla. It was set in Chester (Deva) in the reign of Hadrian and immediately hooked me with its clever mix of intricate plot, believable characters, well-dressed setting and gentle humour. The second novel (Terra Incognita/Ruso and the Demented Doctor) was somewhat darker to my mind, following the escapades of our favourite pair in the north, among the forts on the Stanegate where the emperor’s wall will soon take shape. Involved with a native uprising and brutal murders, there was much development in particular of Tilla’s character.
This third installment is so far very much my favourite. Why? Because it has everything that swept me away in the first book, and so much more. Summoned back to his family’s farm in southern Gaul by a mysterious note and with a medical furlough from the army with a wounded foot, Ruso and Tilla hurry back to their lands near Nemausus to find out what has happened.
Cue a beautifully involved plot involving a poisoning, a ship lost at sea, bankrupcy, double-dealing, misdirection and business deals gone horribly wrong. I won’t spoil the plot, but my minor spoiler would be that when the man visits Ruso to discuss his debts and then drops dead in front of him, I almost laughed aloud, realising what this would mean with regards to the suspicions of murder.
It is simply beautifully executed, but with a new added facet: Ruso’s family. An overbearing stepmother, a brother with his head in the sand, an enthusiastic sister-in-law, demanding and disobedient sisters, a worrying ex-wife, a disapproving ex father-in-law and a pack of small children. And more… the cast goes on, and yet each is lovingly treated. The interactions between the characters are what truly make these novels for me.
Yes the plot is excellent, this history faultless, the prose graceful and the atmosphere absorbing, but the icing on the cake is the dialogue. Ruth is plainly the mistress of dialogue.I annoyed my wife yesterday by chortling reapeatedly and interrupting her to read her the choicest snippets. Because Ruth’s dialogue never fails to raise a smile from me. It is often wonderfully light-hearted and engaging, and yet at no point is it in any way unrealistic.
Quite simply, along with one or two other authors (G.G. Kay and Prue Batten leap to mind) Ruth Downie’s writing makes me feel like a talentless hack when I go back over my own.#
I shall not leave it so long this time before I move on to book 4. If you’ve not ready Ruth’s books, do yourself a favour and start… -
"I find that in order to best write most of these reviews, I have to give myself a few days to process what I've read. This book falls into this category. My initial impression was that I was unsatisfied with Ruso and Tilla and the entire setting. All of the characters' actions seemed too...modern - sitting at a desk, receiving mail, looking over the bills, and so forth. The language, however, is what really bothered me. It was as if our current vernacular was taken and put into a Roman or Gaulish setting, which to me is not a true accurate historical picture. In fact, I would find myself utterly disgusted by some of the phraseology.[return][return]In addition, I was disappointed in the characterization of the women. Other than Tilla, most of the women in the book are silly, trite, and utterly obsessed with shopping and appearances. I have no use for women of this nature, and when Ruso expresses a desire that he could find a way to force the women to listen to him, I found myself wishing he could too.[return][return]However, I say that and know that I had a very difficult time putting down the book. I stayed up late, read through lunch, and so forth. I was genuinely interested in solving the murder mystery and understand how Ruso was going to solve his credit problems. The book couldn't have been that bad if I read it obsessively over the course of a few days!![return][return]I was fascinated by descriptions of Gaulish/Roman medicine and even of the events at the amphitheatre. I wish Ms. Downie would have gone into greater detail because, to me, it appeared to be the most authentic historical portions of the book.[return][return]My feelings about Persona Non Grata remain mixed. I still remain fairly turned off by the language and some of the situations described in the book. And yet, I really enjoyed getting to know Ruso, his family, and especially Tilla. As I mentioned, I truly cared about what happened to him, how he was going to get out of trouble and how the book was going to resolve itself. Therefore, in spite of its apparent flaws, I would have to recommend this book to others. I may even have to hit the library and pick up the first two books to read the first few adventures of Ruso and Tilla.[return][return]Thank you to Bloomsbury Marketing for the opportunity to review this ARC!"
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Great series for those who enjoy historical settings and quirky characters. It's a physician of classical Rome, Russo, and his Britain "barbarian" handmaid, Tilla. They care for one another in a warm, funny and true way. They solve family problems, as well as murders. Great beach read.
