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Things get a bit hot for Decius Caecilius Matellus' when his bitter enemy becomes a Tribune in Rome - and therefore able to cause trouble for him - so Decius decides that now would be a good time to leave Italy and get those additional military qualifications he needs in order to be able to stand for the praetorship. Of course, among the uncivilised hairy hordes the going will be tough and he may actually get himself killed, so he makes sure he takes his time travelling and enjoys himself along the way. Eventually, however, he arrives, at Julius Caesar's camp in Geneva, where Caesar has come to subdue the Helvetii. When a Centurion is murdered, Caesar gives Decius the job of uncovering the murderer - a job for which Decius is eminently more suited than he is for soldiering. The case itself seems cut and dried. Around the camp there seems to be little doubt as to who the culprits are and, in fact, other than Decius nobody is particularly bothered, since the victim was a Centurion nobody loved. However, murder is not good for morale and Caesar wants this one solved in a hurry, otherwise heads will roll - and whoever's handy will do. I really enjoyed NOBODY LOVES A CENTURION for a number of reasons. First and foremost the charming Decius makes a great protagonist. He's not particularly brave in a normal, soldierly way, but throughout the book he acts bravely to discover the truth and see that justice is done. I loved his funny asides and his way of looking at the world around him. The supporting cast is colourful and fascinating and the way that historical details are woven into the story makes the book an educational and entertaining read, with a solid plot. I came, I saw, I bought the rest of the series.
Reviewed by Donna Moore, November 2003
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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