Persona Non Grata cover art

Persona Non Grata

A Novel of the Roman Empire

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Persona Non Grata

By: Ruth Downie
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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About this listen

 At long last, Gaius Petreius Ruso and his companion, Tilla, are headed home - to Gaul. Having received a note consisting only of the words "COME HOME!" Ruso has (reluctantly, of course) pulled up stakes and brought Tilla to meet his family. But the reception there is not what Ruso has hoped for: no one will admit to sending for him, and his brother Lucius is hoping he'll leave.

With Tilla getting icy greetings from his relatives, Lucius's brother-in-law mysteriously drowned at sea, and the whole Ruso family teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, it's hard to imagine an unhappier reunion. That is, until Severus, the family's chief creditor, winds up dead, and the real trouble begins.

Engrossing, intricate, and - as always - wonderfully comic, Ruth Downie's latest is a brilliant new installment in this irresistible series. This is everything we've come to expect from our charming, luckless hero.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend us your ears: listen to another Novel of the Roman Empire.©2009 Ruth Downie (P)2009 Tantor Historical Mystery Fiction

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Critic reviews

"This lively sequel to Medicus and Terra Incognita continues Downie's delightful historical series.... Highly recommended." ( Library Journal)
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Like the rest of the series, another fuck dramatic investigative story of our favorite limping (for now) medicus and Brittani blonde, and the quarrels of family and financial trouble, and a murder intrigue to top it off as always. I enjoyed the early Christians, and the talk of their god ‘Kristoff’.

Fun as always.

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The third book in the Ruso series. It's every bit as good as the first two! This time Ruso and Tilla travel to Italy, summoned by a note from his home. He arrives to discover his family on the brink of bankruptcy and flatly denying they sent for him. His brother in law has been killed and his sister is demanding her dowry. Within days, Tilla is being treated as a slave, and their creditor (who happens to be married to Ruso's ex-wife) has dropped dead in Ruso's study. Then things really start to go downhill . .
As ever, Ruso's eye-rolling 'not again' attitude and Tilla's practical nature are great fun as they struggle through an adventure with many twists and turns.
I loved every minute of it and can't wait for the next one.

Another wonderfully researched Roman Whodunit

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the murder setting of an Agatha Cristie novel, the upstairs downstairs narrative of an episode of downtown Abbey and characters that a modern audience can relate to- but set in ancient Rome!

the narrator is good too!

book has everything a murder mystery needs

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An enjoyable story, great characters and excellent narration. I don’t know enough about this but if the Brigandi did end up as modern day Irish, I like the use of the lilt in Tilla’s speech during the narration.

Enjoyable

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This is a very interesting story, giving a great insight into ordenary life in the Roman Empire, coupled with a compelling mystery, expertly read.

Thoroughly enjoyable

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There is nothing to dislike or argue about after listening to this outstanding audio-book. It sets itself up very well and the generous use of humour sits comfortably with a mystery that rewards the listening. Characters are drawn well and the audio-book's performer - Simon Vance - excels in making them real and funny. Characters are more fully witnessed in this third novel of the series and there is development which means that I will be relishing the next novel before long. Ruth Downie should be judged well and not in comparison with others. Audible should be thanked for making this title available to members in the Plus Catalogue. The Plus Catalogue was my easy introduction to this author and series; I am very grateful.

A Gripping, Enjoyable Read

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Like all good historical novels this tale has the credibility that it really is set in the past. I could not fault the audio performance and look forward to listening to further exploits of Russo and the other excellent characters.

Excellent story with good characterisation

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Three books into this series and I can’t get enough. There’s enough mystery and suspense to keep me firmly attached at the expense of everything else I should be doing today, humour which makes me chuckle out loud and characters who I grow to adore more and more with each story. Eager to start book four.

Refreshing and engaging

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I love the world of Ruso and Tilla. immediately absorbed in this latest adventure. off to next chapter.

excellent

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This is a story that is slow to build. Ruso and Tilla return to his family home. A letter and a broken foot sends Ruso into the stifling summer heat of the South of France and his family. He and Tilla face his rackety family, the family's intractable debt problem, the heat of summer, and the hostility of the locals. Ruso feels obliged to sort it all out. Tilla's problems include Ruso's family and the mysteries of Roman customs.

All will be well, but not without a lot of luck and hard work. On the way the readers learn much about the life of Romans at work and play in the South of France. Simon Vance tells a good tale and, although this was my first audio tale of Ruso, I am sure I shall listen to more of the Medicus and Tilla.

Festina lente

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