Roman Games

June 28, 2010
Pliny the Younger turns sleuth in Macbain's less than successful debut, a whodunit set during the turbulent reign of the Roman emperor Domitian in the first century C.E. The emperor charges Pliny, a senator and acting vice-prefect, with discovering the truth about the murder of Sextus Ingentius Vespa, a senate colleague and informer whose bloody corpse was found in his bedroom. Those who might gain from Vespa's death include his son, Lucius; his concubine, Turpia Scortilla; and Ganymede, a handsome young slave who was no stranger to his master's bed. The stakes are certainly high, since Vespa's slaves face execution for murder if the real culprit isn't caught. Unfortunately, Pliny isn't a natural investigator, and the author's bloodless portrayal of him puts this book a step below the work of a first-rate historical writer like Steven Saylor. Hopefully, Macbain, a professor with a Ph.D. in ancient history, will match his knowledge of the time with better characterizations and pacing in the sequel.