The Venus Throw (Signed First Edition)

Saylor, Steven

ISBN 10: 0312119127 / ISBN 13: 9780312119126

Published by St. Martins Press, 1994

About this Item

New York: St. Martins, 1994. First Edition. First printing. Hardbound. New, in dust jacket. The fourth book in the Rome series. A perfect unread copy. Less than 7500 copies in first edition. Signed by author on title page (name only). A historical mystery set in 56 B.C., "The Venus Throw" follows Gordianus the Finder as he investigates the murder of his former mentor, the Egyptian ambassador Dio, amidst political intrigue involving Rome and Egypt. This is the fourth novel in the Roma Sub Rosa series, continuing Saylor s acclaimed blend of historical fiction and detective narrative.

Seller Inventory # 3252

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Venus Throw (Signed First Edition)
• Publisher: St. Martins Press
• Publication Date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0312119127
• ISBN 13: 9780312119126
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: New
• Dust Jacket Condition: New
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)

About this title

Synopsis

On a chill January evening in 56 B.C., two strange visitors to Rome - an Egyptian ambassador and a eunuch priest - seek out Gordianus the Finder whose specialty is solving murders. But the ambassador, a philosopher named Dio, has come to ask for something Gordianus cannot give - help in staying alive. Before the night is out, he will be murdered.

Now Gordianus begins his most dangerous case. Hired to investigate Dio's death by a beautiful woman with a scandalous reputation, he will follow a trail of political intrigue into the highest circles of power and the city's most hidden arenas of debauchery. There Gordianus will learn nothing is as it seems - not the damning evidence he uncovers, not the suspect he sends to trial, not even the real truth behind Dio's death which lies in secrets - not of state, but of the heart.

Review

Steven Saylor's series of thrillers about Gordianus the Finder play cleverly with what we think we know about the last days of the Roman Republic. Gordianus does the legwork for prosecutors and defenders in a system of trials which have become increasingly politicised; even his former patron Cicero has become less interested in justice than in winning and Gordianus is, almost notoriously, the last honest man in Rome. Most of his cases deal with murder trials in which Cicero appeared--part of the fun of reading Saylor is his attentive reading of the great advocate's brilliantly partisan rhetoric. And for those less interested in such intellectual games, the books are attractively atmospheric, showing a Rome still small enough for everyone to know each other's business. Here Gordianus finds himself investigating the murder of a former mentor, Dio, a philosopher and leader of an embassy from Egypt; the triumvirs, Pompey, Caesar and Crassus, are contemplating annexing Egypt and its exiled king is only too prepared to act as their catspaw. And Gordianus finds himself the ally of Clodius and Clodia, the two most notoriously dissolute siblings ...There is nothing so deceptive as what we think we know and Gordianus is as often tricked here as is the reader. --Roz Kaveney