Vespasian ~ Tribune of Rome

Vespasian has grown up on a farm, and enjoys the lifestyle.  He doesn’t want to become a soldier like his older brother, Sabinus.  However, their father has declared that Sabinus is to learn how to manage the farm from Vespasian while the latter teaches him how to be a soldier.

Competitive as boys, the pair soon learn from each other and a mutual respect develops.  Early in the new year, the family moves to Rome in order for Sabinus and Vespasian to be introduced into Roman society.  Vespasian is overwhelmed by the huge city and its crowds.  It is hoped that his Uncle Gaius will make the necessary introductions.

At the races, Vespasian spots a beautiful slave girl who belongs to Antonia, sister-in-law to Emperor Tiberius.  Her name is Caenis.  Gaius and his nephews are surprised when Antonia invites them to a meal.  There they meet with Asinius and learn of plots to overthrow Tiberius.  Gaius is given a job in the treasury while Vespasian will be sent east to spy in the hopes of gathering information, which will help protect Tiberius.

Getting out of Rome isn’t going to be as easy as getting into it had been.  There are soldiers looking for Vespasian.  A thug, who serves Antonia offers to be Vespasian’s freedman while he is in the army.  Before long, the pair are off to war in the east.

Author Robert Fabbri has plenty of adventures awaiting Vespasian and his new friend Magnus to the east of Rome.  Treachery and violent death seem to be commonplace.  This was a thoroughly rousing and epic read.  I found it hard to put down, and can’t wait to get my hands on the sequels.

A Question of Identity

DCI Simon Serrailler has had a relaxing holiday in Norfolk with his nephew Sam, but shortly after their return home Serrailler has been called out to a home where an elderly woman has been found strangled to death.  It appears to be a killing for the sake of killing.

The team turns to HOLMES in search of any similar type of killings in the past.  Also, the electrician who had recently visited the victim’s house seems to have disappeared.  However, when they do find him, they are sure that they have their culprit.  The problem is, they don’t.  He strikes again.  Once again another elderly woman in the same complex as earlier.

When Serrailler’s former DS, Nathan Coates, who is now a DCI in Yorkshire, calls him about a similar case, Serrailler’s ears perk up.  The killer had gone to trial, but got off on a technicality.  He had then been given a new identity.  His whereabouts is unknown.

How will it be possible to find their killer if he has an new identity and the old one no longer exists?  How many more deaths will occur before or if they get their man?  Author Susan Hill has plenty of work ahead for Serrailler’s team.  The question is, how do you catch a killer?  A very good read for fans of murder mysteries.

The Blood Pit

DCI Gerry Heffernan and DI Wesley Peterson have been called to the site of a murder.  A man has been drained of all his blood in his home.  Two small entry wounds have been discovered on his neck.  How could he have allowed this to happen?

Surprisingly, at the same time Peterson’s friend, Dr. Neil Watson, an archaeologist, has received what appears to be a threatening letter that also discusses blood letting.

On the night of the Peterson’s anniversary, his mother-in-law was supposed to babysit, but she begged off, ruining the couple’s plans.  That same evening Peterson and Heffernan are called out to where a skeleton has been discovered.  The pathologist says that it had been there quite some time.

The following morning the pair are called out to another murder scene, which matches the first.  However, there seems to be nothing to connect the pair.  When the investigation is expanded to check for other similar cases, the Cheshire police inform them that they had had one, which they had suspected to be suicide, but would now share their info and review their own case in light of these two.

Up in Chester, Heffernan and Peterson discover that all three victims had been at the same school at the same time.  The day after Heffernan and Peterson speak to one of the teachers at the school, he is found dead.  The pathologist suspects poison.  Peterson also finds a suspicious email on the victim’s computer.

Can the Spider, as the press is calling the killer, be captured before he strikes again?  Author Kate Ellis has plenty of detective work remaining for Heffernan and Peterson before they can close the case.  She also provides the reader with a couple of surprises before the end.  A good, quick read.

The Mountain of Gold

Captain Matthew Quinton now commands the Wessex in the Mediterranean where his ship has just captured a Algerian corsair.  The captain turns out to be an Irishman, one Brian Doyle O’Dwyer.  But that will not save his neck from being stretched from a yardarm.  However, his story of a mountain of gold in Africa is tempting.

The governor of Tangier orders Quinton to take O’Dwyer to King Charles post haste.  It isn’t long before Quinton is ordered by the king to take the newly appointed Lieutenant-Colonel O’Dwyer to Africa to find the mountain of gold.  Before he is to leave a betrothal party is held at Ravensden for his brother.  It is here that Quinton’s brother-in-law warns him that the mountain of gold must not be found because King Charles could then become an absolute monarch.

It was time to victual and man his new ship, the Seraph.  But, who would volunteer during a time of peace?  Fortunately, the Cornishmen from his old command, the Jupiter step forward.  At this same time Quinton receives a letter from an old friend in France, who warns of a man who wants to also discover the mountain of gold or eliminate those in England who are not Catholic.

As the Seraph started out on her maiden voyage, a ship with a skeleton crew tried to ram it, but Quinton too evasive action at the right moment.  Who was trying to scuttle the voyage before it began?  Quinton had some ideas, but foremost in his mind was to get on with the voyage to Africa.  First he divides his own quarters in two so that he can keep O’Dwyer close at hand.

Some time into the voyage the chain that operates the bilge pump appeared to be wearing out.  Had the supplier sold the navy shoddy goods, or was it a case of sabotage?  They put into Tenerife to have replacements made.  Once they have the replacements, they set sail for The Gambia.

Having arrived at that destination, Quinton is informed that they will need a couple of months to build boats to get further up river and then a three month march to the mountain of gold!  Allowing for the same time to return, Quinton will be away from England and his wife for a year!

Author J. D. Davies has adventure, exploration of Africa and treachery ahead for Captain Quinton and the crew of his ship.  Will they find the mysterious mountain of gold?  Read on dear reader, read on!

A Murder Too Soon

John Blount has ordered Jack Blackjack to the palace at Woodstock to murder a woman.  With his own life in jeopardy, Jack is only too happy to get out of London.  Apparently the woman has been placed in Princess Elizabeth’s household to spy on her for Queen Mary.  The supporters of the princess will not stand for this situation.

Shortly after arriving at the palace, Jack hears a noise and goes to investigate.  He tumbles over the body of a woman.  He is shocked to discover that her throat has been a slashed and that this is the woman he was sent to kill.  A few short moments later he is cornered by a man with a knife.  He is rescued from this predicament by a woman who clubs the man over the head.

Fortunately, his innocence is proven when a maid who had been with Jack at the time of the killing attests for him.  So, who did kill her?  And why won’t Blount believe Jack that he didn’t kill her?  Jack begins his own investigation since everyone has been locked inside the palace until the coroner arrives.

Once the coroner arrives, everyone meets in the grand hall.  There, the man supposedly hosting Princess Elizabeth admits that the deceased was there to spy on the princess.  The coroner establishes that she was murdered and sets an exorbitant fine for the killing.

Jack has a number of suspects in mind, but how to prove it?  It is a very rough time for him, and he has a lot of confusing things going on all around him.  Who can he trust?

Author Michael Jecks has more trials and tribulations awaiting poor Jack Blackjack before he can solve the mysteries at Woodstock Palace.  The reader is given a twist followed by a twist in another direction before the story concludes.  A very good historical murder mystery.

With Our Blessing

Detective Inspector Tom Reynolds and DS Ray Lennon have been called out early on a December morning to Phoenix Park in Dublin where the body of an elderly woman was discovered.  She has been nailed to a tree in a crucifixion pose with “Satan’s Whore” carved into her chest.

Reynolds immediately assembles his murder squad.  This murder is given priority over any other cases the team may have been working.  It doesn’t take long for the victim to be identified.  She was a Reverend Mother from Limerick.  The nun from the convent in Limerick, who has come to identify the body, doesn’t paint a very nice picture of the deceased.

When Lennon goes to pick up DC Laura Brennan at her home, they are both surprised by Brennan’s mother being quite bitter about the convent.  It turns out that the convent was a Magdalene Laundry!  Could it have been someone exacting revenge for how they had been treated in the past?

Reynolds takes his team to the convent to begin the investigation.  They are greeted warmly by the nuns and given accommodations so that the team can interview the nuns.  As Tom points out the following morning, the place is all honey on top and vinegar underneath.

On the third day of the investigation, the village priest is found dead.  The pathologist sees evidence that he had been injected with something.  Exploring the priest’s house brings shocking revelations to the team.  They will now need a larger team to continue their investigation.

With suspects in mind, Reynolds’ team gathers evidence.  However, he is blindsided by his Superintendent when he sends a criminal psychologist down to help.  He feels there is no need for this intrusion.  However, the psychologist provides another theory for Reynolds to mull over.

But will that theory lead to the killer?  Author Jo Spain’s murder mystery has plenty of suspects, but which one is it?  This thriller is concluded with a surprising twist.  Spain’s first novel is well done and a very good read.

Perfect Remains

DI Luc Callanach has just started with Police Scotland’s Major Investigations Team in Edinburgh.  He is trying to settle into his new office when a call comes in about a body found outside the city.  A scrap of cloth nearby points to it being a woman who has been missing for two weeks.

Callanach is sure that the victim wasn’t killed where she was found.  A bat is found nearby as is a tooth.  Both provide DNA evidence of the missing victim.

Callanach’s team has no luck and information is drying up.  A few weeks later another woman goes missing.  This one is a minister at a church.  Her phone is found near her home, and there is evidence of chloroform on it.    Witnesses have seen the kidnapper without realising it, but their input helps Callanach begin to create a picture of him.

As time goes by, similarities between the two cases begin to emerge.  But will it be enough?

Callanach has begun to establish a friendship with DI Ava Turner, and becomes concerned when a death threat to her is left outside her office.  She has been busy with her own case; babies are being left abandoned in the city.  DCI Begbie orders a full-time guard for Turner.

Turner is suspended over comments she made about the baby case.  That same evening her friend, Natasha Forge, is threatened.  Could she potentially be the next victim? 

Although a profiler has been brought in, Callanach has no faith in him.  Especially when a man is arrested and charged based on the profiler’s say so.

The whole force is shocked when the next woman abducted is Turner!  Can Callanach’s team save her before she is killed?

Wow!  Author Helen Fields’ thriller is just that!  An exciting, absolute thriller that will keep the reader completely engaged.  I can hardly wait to get my hands on the sequels.