Having finished reading the series, I'm reviewing the series as a whole (apart from Book 1).

The series is set in and around the Northwestern Roman Empire, starting in Deva (Chester) in Book 1), travelling around Britain, Gaul and Rome before finishing in Aquae Sulis (Bath). I found most of the books fairly slow going and hard to get into; the plotting seemed somewhat diffuse and to my mind the storylines needed pruning a bit. They appear to be fairly well researched with a list of (semi-)generalist sources in each one. How accurate the depiction of legionary medicine is I don't know; however, given Roman bureaucracy, I see no reason not to believe there was a formal medical corps attached to each legion if only to keep the legionaries fit and able to fight.

I did find the characters not particularly sympathetic, especially the minor female characters. Are all teen-aged girls really that silly in an occupied country when living round an army base? I found that somewhat hard to believe. Even in my youth (living near a Marine base), there was not that much silliness going on. I did find Ruso a bit un-superstitious for a believable Roman, although being a doctor he would have more contact with Greek thought than usual via his medical training. I suspect this was to provide a greater contrast with Tillia, his Brigantan wife who was noticeably more spiritually inclined than her husband, to the point of being a Christian sympathiser.

I would have preferred the writing to be denser; the chapters were fairly short and generally seemed to be a single scene or conversation only. This made for a bit of a choppy read; I would have preferred longer chapters with a bit more description of what was going on.

Overall, I would class the series as a holiday read; especially if you are visiting the various places of the book settings. The two non-British books did seem like they were written in response to a family holiday in the area, especially the one set in Roman Gaul.

3.5 stars ( )

When an army friend is accused of murdering his wife in Augua Sulla Ruso leaves his farm in N. Britain and goes to investigate.

This is the eighth installment of an entertaining historical crime fiction series set in the Ancient Roman Empire.

It is A.D. 123 and Roman Army medic Gaius Petreius Ruso and his small family - his wife Tilla and their adopted baby Mara, along with their two servants, have been summoned to the spa town of Aquae Sulis (Bath, England today), the greatest healing shrine in Britannia. Ruso’s oldest and best friend Valens has been accused of killing his wife Serena. Serena was found three weeks ago floating in the sacred hot springs, having been stabbed in the heart. It turns out she had a lover, and he is now missing. Serena’s father, Pertinax, believed that Valens discovered the affair and killed Serena in revenge. Pertinax has taken the two sons of Serena and Valens into his own custody, and vows that Valens will never see them again. As for Valens, he is in hiding, and it doesn’t look good for him. Ruso, with the help of Tilla as always, needs to find out who really killed Serena before the governor arrives for a trial and Valens faces almost certain execution.

As typical, Ruso has a late, accidental insight that sheds light on what really happened and who is guilty, but not before both Ruso and Tilla get into life-threatening circumstances of their own.

Evaluation: I continue to find this series entertaining. Tilla is a wonderful character, even with her faults, or perhaps even because of them, and Ruso is always adapting in interesting ways. Although I don’t learn as much Roman history as I would like (and as one does with the similar Falco series by Linsey Davis, readers do get exposed to a great deal about how medicine was practiced in Ancient Rome. ( )

It was a hard wait for the latest in my favorite Roman mystery series but I wasn't disappointed. This time Ruso, Tilla, Baby Mara and their two slaves travel to Aquae Sulis [Bath] to prove Valens, Ruso's doctor friend from legionary days, has not killed his wife, Serena, contrary to what everyone else seems to believe and to find the real culprit. Yes, the couple had not got along; yes, Valens' wife did have a boyfriend, and yes, Valens was tempted to do away with her. Although possible motive was damning, he didn't act on it. The practical, levelheaded Ruso and the somewhat whimsical Tilla seek the truth. Their friend, Albanus, Ruso's former clerk, and his flighty wife arrive to help. Serena's father, the redoubtable Ex-Second Spear, Pertinax, who has settled in Aquae Sulis after retirement, is convinced of Valens' guilt and is fiercely protective of his twin grandsons. The governor is coming for a festival in honor of the city's patron goddess and Pertinax is insisting on a trial. Valens and the boys seek sanctuary in the temple of the goddess.

Downie has outdone herself in the progress of the mystery: how she's worked in the events having to do with it--a fire: arson?, disappearances of major characters, the possible expansion of the baths, an assassination gone wrong, and the final reveal. Her trademark dry gentle humor is a large part of the story. Ruso has become less dour and hapless and he and Tilla work well as a team in their sleuthing. Their dialogue was priceless.

Highly recommended. ( )