The House of the Vestals: The Investigations of Gordianus the Finder

Product Description
[MP3-CD audiobook format in Vinyl case.]

[Read by Ralph Cosham]

This wonderfully entertaining installment in the 'Roma Sub Rosa' series contains nine of Gordianus the Finder's thrilling adventures.

It is ancient Rome, and Gordianus the Finder has a knack for finding trouble. Known to many as the one man in the ancient world who can both keep a secret and uncover one, Gordianus lays bare some of his most intriguing and compelling adventures.


The House of the Vestals collects nine of the award-winning stories of Gordianus the Finder by critically acclaimed, bestselling author Steven Saylor. Filling in some of the gaps between novels, this delightful collection of unique and unforgettable mysteries is Saylor at his finest - revealing the intrigues in the secret history of Rome.

In
''Little Caesar and the Pirates'', Gordianus must act as a go-between for kidnappers, but he begins to wonder who is really being held hostage. In
''The Alexandrian Cat,'' a mischievous girl and a tell-tale sneeze reveal an ingenious plot of murder and thievery. In
''The House of the Vestals,'' blackmail goes horribly wrong, and there is no one to take the blame. These stories -and more- make up an engrossing collection of finely wrought mystery tales with all the suspense and craft that are the trademark of Saylor's work.
Review
''This collection of short stories . . . shows how a fine hand at historical research can enliven the most traditional and well-titled of genres . . . Gordianus himself is a compelling character.'' --
Rock Hill (SC) Herald

''Saylor's fluid and probing characterization work as effectively in the short story as they have in his admirable Gordianus novels.'' --
Publishers Weekly

''Ingenious . . . Saylor offers rich history with great imagination.'' --
Seattle Times

''Entertainment of the first order.'' --
Washington Post Book World

''Saylor serves up a collection of short stories designed to fill in some of the gaps that have piqued the curiosity of devoted fans of his popular Roma sub Rosa series . . . While each brief mystery presented is a gem in and of itself, readers will delight in the informational overview provided by the collection as a whole. As usual, Saylor does a superb job of seamlessly incorporating the tumultuous history of the Roman Republic into the narrative flow. A welcome addition to the ever fascinating chronicles of Gordianus the Finder.'' --
Booklist

''Three groups of readers will find these stories irresistible: history buffs who appreciate Saylor's careful research into Roman politics and Roman mores; fans of his five novels who want to find out how [the Finder] first became Lucius Claudius' friend, or how he acquired his faithful slave Belbo; and anyone who enjoys leisurely, literate storytelling.'' --
Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
STEVEN SAYLOR is a freelance writer, editor, and the author of novels set in ancient Rome. He studied history at the University of Texas at Austin. His writing has appeared in the
Threepenny Review, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, and the
Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. He lives in Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.