Ruth Downie is the author of a series of mysteries featuring Roman Army medic and reluctant sleuth, Gaius Petreius Ruso: Medicus, Terra Incognita, Persona Non Grata, Caveat Emptor, Semper Fidelis, and the newly released Tabula Rasa.Late last month I asked the author about what she was reading. Downie's reply:
I’ve just listened to the audiobook of The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly – a title that was recommended by an Indian reviewer, written by a Korean, and read with an American accent, so it’s truly international. It’s a deceptively simple tale about life, death, love, loyalty, prejudice… that kind of thing. Clearly it’sVisit Ruth Downie's website.never going to have the traditional happy ending, but the place it reaches feels absolutely right, and it’s beautifully done.
On paper, I’ve just read Donna Leon’s A Sea of Troubles. Venetian detective Commissario Brunetti investigates the death of two men in a traditional fishing community, and is very nearly compelled to face his feelings for the elegant Signorina Elettra. Donna Leon tells a great story while offering her readers the chance to visit Venice without the trouble of leaving home.
The ebook I’ve just finished is The Colosseum by Keith Hopkins and Mary Beard. It was the ideal preparation for a recent trip, because it’s not only a refreshing discussion of the evidence, the structure and the subsequent history, but it also tells you how to avoid the enormous queues to get in. Definitely worth reading!
The Page 69 Test: Caveat Emptor.
--Marshal Zeringue
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