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THE WATER THIEF
by Ben Pastor
Thomas Dunne, February 2007
350 pages
$24.95
ISBN: 0312353901


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Ben Pastor's THE WATER THIEF is set in AD 304 and features historian Aelius Spartianus, a former Roman soldier and current historian to Diocletian. Whilst doing some research on the biography of Hadrian he finds himself drawn into a conspiracy that covers centuries.

It appears that his research is stirring up old memories and someone does not like them being resurrected. Soon people are being murdered as well as attempts being made on his life. His investigations take him from Egypt to the back alleys of imperial Rome. Not surprisingly the past intersects with the present in due course.

Ben Pastor and THE WATER THIEF join the long list of historical crime writers who set their books during the Roman period. The story is in fact based on the rather unlikely assumption that there is a mystery surrounding Emperor Hadrian's young favourite, Antinou, who drowned in the Nile during Hadrian's visit to Egypt. THE WATER THIEF is an interesting read and will no doubt be enjoyed by many of those who read this sub-genre of historical crime fiction.

The author valiantly tries hard to impress the reader with her historical knowledge and there is no doubt that she does know her history. This is in fact evident by the way in which she gives a very interesting account not only of life in the garrison but also the way in which she describes life in court and the treatment of Christians.

Nevertheless, the interjection of American slang by her main protagonist does her no favours at all. Not only did I find myself being jolted out of the story several times but her writing style, while good, was sometimes heavy and rambling. Alas, as hard as I tried to enjoy this book it did not resonate with me. The nail in the coffin was for me the fact that the author appears to forget that she was writing a historical crime novel and veers off into the realm of romance instead.

I think it is because I have been spoilt by the likes of Steven Saylor and John Maddox Roberts that I found it so hard to accept. It is not likely that I am going to be changing my allegiance very soon.

Reviewed by Ayo Onatade, March 2008

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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