Buried Too Deep

If you can imagine the imperial Roman conquerors in late-first-century Britain being exactly like Americans in the twenty-first century, then you'll find this audiobook entertaining and plausible. Author Jane Finnis has her Romans using American slang, idioms, and clichés. Narrator Rebecca Rogers furthers this portrayal of Americanized Romans with her accents and intonation. (The English barbarians speak with a variety of English accents.) Heroine Aurelia Marcella sounds believable as she engages in her murder investigation, mainly because she sounds just like detectives on TV. As the suspense builds, listeners are drawn into a world of tribal warfare, fraternal strife, and buried treasure. Rogers acts as a guide to the story's historical period with confidence and authority. D.L.G. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

April 7, 2008
In Finnis's spirited if at times overly complicated third Roman historical to feature innkeeper Aurelia Marcella, who runs the Oak Tree mansio
in the wilds of occupied Britannia (after 2005's A Bitter Chill
), sea raiders believed to be led by a barbarian, Voltacos, have been attacking people along the coast. Aurelia's twin brother, Lucius, a government agent, arrives to investigate the possibility that these raiders are gold-seeking marauders from Gaul. Meanwhile, greedy Roman landowner Ostorius Magnus and his unsavory nephew have been squeezing tribesmen off their lands. A shipwreck sets off rumors of buried treasure when the vessel's strongbox is found to contain a severed head rather than the expected plunder. During their long quest, Aurelia and Lucius spot Voltacos's men mysteriously digging a trench. Various murders further muddy the case. Some readers may have trouble keeping track of the many characters, but all will cheer the upbeat ending.