43:
570:
525:
In "The King of
Sacrifices", dated at 20 BC, Decius claims to be in his 73rd year, indicating he was born in either 93 or 92 BC. However, in the story itself Julia is claimed to be "betrothed" to Agrippa, whom she married 21 BC, i.e. at least one year
1140:
458:"An Academic Question" (51 BC): Decius investigates a murder during his visit to Athens mentioned as part of his leisurely trip to Cyprus at the beginning of "The Princess and the Pirates"
1160:
1185:
1180:
1170:
224:. In later books, Decius is betrothed and then married to the (fictional) niece of Caesar, Julia Caesaris. The dates are all listed at the end of each book in the
642:
1165:
380:, Decius must deal with accusations that he murdered a man who had threatened to denounce him for actions he took while on Cyprus the previous year.
1135:
1175:
1031:
233:
In 2015, a German company had planned to adapt the series for TV, however, they have withdrawn from the project in 2022 for financial reasons.
924:
888:
1145:
1155:
1190:
1150:
1116:
1095:
1074:
1017:
990:
965:
944:
908:
864:
839:
814:
789:
764:
739:
714:
689:
668:
126:
617:
488:
Roberts also wrote a short story, "The
Mountain Wolves", which is also set in ancient Rome, but is not part of the SPQR series.
519:
515:
475:
64:
452:"Mightier Than the Sword" (53 BC): Decius investigates the murder of a victim found in the basement of a townhouse in Rome.
544:
The
Sacrilege has a clear external date and there is a strong indication that "Statuette" takes place in the same year as
107:
177:
The stories are told in first-person form by
Senator Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger (born c 90-95 BC), nephew of
79:
60:
170:
86:
53:
209:
250:
93:
504:, which can be dated at 62 BC, Decius claims to be turning 29, indicating he was born in 91 BC; however, in
284:
213:
587:
506:
324:
293:
75:
31:
408:, Decius investigates the murders of a group of priests of Apollo during the period just before Caesar
461:"Venus in Pearls" (46 BC): Caesar hires Decius to locate his stolen breastplate before his Pompeian
409:
157:
1049:
446:
405:
391:
153:
1112:
1091:
1070:
1013:
986:
961:
940:
920:
904:
884:
860:
835:
810:
785:
760:
735:
710:
685:
664:
481:"The King of Sacrifices" (20 BC): An elderly Decius investigates the death of a candidate for
347:
313:
289:
205:
496:
The above dates are approximate because there is contradictory information within the texts.
1009:
511:
419:
182:
594:
530:
423:
226:
200:
Decius' companions include his slaves Cato, Cassandra, and Hermes; his friends, the Greek
190:
17:
100:
189:. The stories are told in flashback-form by the old Decius, writing during the reign of
1053:
372:
263:
161:
1129:
982:
621:
575:
514:(95 BC). Confusingly, however, in the same book, Cato claims to have been born "when
462:
365:
221:
178:
164:. SPQR (the original title of the first book, until the sequels came out) is a Latin
1004:
482:
197:) to 20 BC ("The King of Sacrifices"), and have both an exciting and comedic tone.
186:
317:
149:
42:
467:"Beware the Snake" (45 BC): Decius must locate the missing sacred snake of the
569:
565:
441:
The series also includes the following short stories, in chronological order:
165:
445:"The Statuette of Rhodes" (60 BC): Decius finds a corpse at the base of the
309:
201:
356:(51 BC): Decius investigates the murder of his host, the Roman governor of
395:
387:
277:
259:
246:
919:
Published in
Germany in January 2009, and in English in February 2010;
426:, and investigates the murders of several astronomers who developed it.
377:
337:
333:
329:
273:
302:(59 BC): Decius investigates the murder of his kinsman Metellus Celer.
455:"The Etruscan House" (52 BC): Decius investigates a senator's murder.
361:
357:
217:
160:, published between 1990 and 2010, and set in the final years of the
474:"The Will" (44 BC): Decius investigates Caesar's will following his
174:("The Roman Senate and People"), the official name of the Republic.
468:
216:. Along the way, he is often helped by his father, as well as by
36:
903:
in
Germany in October 2005, and in English in December 2008;
422:, Decius is commissioned to oversee the adoption of Caesar's
1109:
Classical
Stories: Heroic Tales from Ancient Greece and Rome
27:
Series of historical mystery stories by John Maddox
Roberts
292:, Decius investigates the murder of a philosopher at its
376:(51–50 BC): While running for election to the office of
350:, uncovering systematic fraud in the construction trade.
883:
in
Germany in 2001, and in English in December 2007;
541:
and "The
Statuette of Rhodes" are clearly erroneous.
1141:
Fictional depictions of Julius Caesar in literature
67:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
204:physician Asklepiodes and the gangster/politician
981:(1998), collected by Miriam Grace Monfredo &
360:, while on the island to deal with an upsurge in
510:, he finds that he was born in the same year as
1161:Fictional depictions of Cleopatra in literature
1186:Fictional depictions of Augustus in literature
1181:Cultural depictions of Publius Clodius Pulcher
1171:Cultural depictions of Marcus Licinius Crassus
245:: In 70 BC, Decius uncovers a plot to subvert
328:(55 BC): Decius investigates the murder of a
308:(58 BC): Decius investigates the murder of a
8:
782:SPQR VI: Nobody Loves a Centurion: A Mystery
732:SPQR IV: The Temple of the Muses: A Mystery
682:SPQR II: The Catiline Conspiracy: A Mystery
432:(unfinished as of Roberts's death in 2024)
394:, Decius investigates a murder near Mount
1088:The Mammoth Book of Historical Detectives
958:The Mammoth Book of Historical Whodunnits
346:(53 BC): Decius investigates a collapsed
127:Learn how and when to remove this message
830:Roberts, John Maddox (19 January 2004).
780:Roberts, John Maddox (10 October 2003).
730:Roberts, John Maddox (13 October 1999).
705:Roberts, John Maddox (13 October 1999).
208:; and his staunch enemies, the siblings
755:Roberts, John Maddox (2 October 2003).
680:Roberts, John Maddox (21 August 2001).
609:
557:have been modified for dramatic effect.
364:. The eponymous princess is the young
857:SPQR IX: The Princess and the Pirates
805:Roberts, John Maddox (5 April 2003).
7:
1067:The Mammoth Book of Roman Whodunnits
832:SPQR VIII: The River God's Vengeance
65:adding citations to reliable sources
1032:Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine
855:Roberts, John Maddox (June 2005).
707:SPQR III: The Sacrilege: A Mystery
25:
553:Roberts has noted that events in
568:
522:were consuls.", which was 93 BC.
272:(62–61 BC): Decius investigates
193:. The stories range from 70 BC (
41:
1166:Cultural depictions of Catiline
1111:(1996), edited by Mike Ashley,
1069:(2003), edited by Mike Ashley,
960:(1993), edited by Mike Ashley,
939:(1996), edited by Mike Ashley,
52:needs additional citations for
1136:Book series introduced in 1990
1090:(1995) edited by Mike Ashley,
1:
1176:Cultural depictions of Pompey
807:SPQR VII: The Tribune's Curse
418:(46–45 BC): During Caesar's
354:The Princess and the Pirates
258:(63–62 BC): Decius uncovers
1146:Historical novels by series
583:Carthage Victorius series:
181:and member of the powerful
1207:
1156:Novels set in ancient Rome
1046:Down These Strange Streets
1035:, July/August 2001, pg. 36
618:"Zum Goldenen Lamm - SPQR"
386:: In 50 BC, while touring
249:' army in the war against
171:Senatus Populusque Romanus
29:
18:Julia Caesaris (character)
1191:Historical mystery novels
344:The River God's Vengeance
262:'s plot to overthrow the
1151:Mystery novels by series
659:Originally published as
306:Nobody Loves a Centurion
288:(60 BC): While visiting
539:The Temple of the Muses
285:The Temple of the Muses
256:The Catiline Conspiracy
276:'s desecration of the
979:Crime Through Time II
643:"John Maddox Roberts"
555:The Year of Confusion
416:The Year of Confusion
32:SPQR (disambiguation)
937:Classical Whodunnits
901:Das Orakel des Todes
316:at the start of the
61:improve this article
30:For other uses, see
588:Hannibal's Children
512:Marcus Porcius Cato
507:The Tribune's Curse
410:crosses the Rubicon
325:The Tribune's Curse
158:John Maddox Roberts
1050:George R.R. Martin
1048:(2011), edited by
1008:(1998), edited by
757:SPQR V: Saturnalia
447:Colossus of Rhodes
406:praetor peregrinus
402:Oracle of the Dead
392:praetor peregrinus
183:Caecilius Metellus
154:historical mystery
925:978-0-312-59507-4
889:978-0-312-37088-6
500:For instance, in
243:The King's Gambit
230:calendar system.
206:Titus Annius Milo
195:The King's Gambit
137:
136:
129:
111:
16:(Redirected from
1198:
1120:
1105:
1099:
1084:
1078:
1063:
1057:
1042:
1036:
1027:
1021:
1010:Maxim Jakubowski
1000:
994:
975:
969:
954:
948:
933:
927:
917:
911:
897:
891:
877:
871:
870:
852:
846:
845:
827:
821:
820:
802:
796:
795:
777:
771:
770:
752:
746:
745:
727:
721:
720:
702:
696:
695:
677:
671:
657:
651:
650:
647:www.facebook.com
639:
633:
632:
630:
629:
620:. Archived from
614:
578:
573:
572:
132:
125:
121:
118:
112:
110:
69:
45:
37:
21:
1206:
1205:
1201:
1200:
1199:
1197:
1196:
1195:
1126:
1125:
1124:
1123:
1106:
1102:
1085:
1081:
1064:
1060:
1043:
1039:
1028:
1024:
1001:
997:
976:
972:
955:
951:
934:
930:
918:
914:
898:
894:
878:
874:
867:
854:
853:
849:
842:
829:
828:
824:
817:
804:
803:
799:
792:
779:
778:
774:
767:
754:
753:
749:
742:
729:
728:
724:
717:
704:
703:
699:
692:
679:
678:
674:
658:
654:
641:
640:
636:
627:
625:
616:
615:
611:
606:
595:The Seven Hills
574:
567:
564:
533:dates given in
494:
439:
239:
227:ab urbe condita
191:Augustus Caesar
133:
122:
116:
113:
70:
68:
58:
46:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1204:
1202:
1194:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1128:
1127:
1122:
1121:
1100:
1079:
1058:
1054:Gardner Dozois
1037:
1022:
995:
970:
949:
928:
912:
892:
872:
865:
847:
840:
822:
815:
797:
790:
772:
765:
747:
740:
722:
715:
697:
690:
672:
652:
634:
608:
607:
605:
602:
601:
600:
599:
598:
591:
580:
579:
563:
560:
559:
558:
551:
550:
549:
527:
523:
493:
490:
486:
485:
479:
472:
465:
459:
456:
453:
450:
438:
435:
434:
433:
427:
413:
399:
384:Under Vesuvius
381:
373:A Point of Law
369:
351:
341:
336:on his way to
321:
303:
297:
294:famous library
281:
267:
253:
238:
235:
185:family of the
162:Roman Republic
135:
134:
49:
47:
40:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1203:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1133:
1131:
1118:
1117:1-85487-812-3
1114:
1110:
1107:Published in
1104:
1101:
1097:
1096:0-7867-0214-1
1093:
1089:
1086:Published in
1083:
1080:
1076:
1075:0-7867-1241-4
1072:
1068:
1065:Published in
1062:
1059:
1055:
1051:
1047:
1044:Published in
1041:
1038:
1034:
1033:
1029:Published in
1026:
1023:
1019:
1018:0-7472-7501-7
1015:
1011:
1007:
1006:
1002:Published in
999:
996:
992:
991:0-425-16410-1
988:
984:
983:Sharan Newman
980:
977:Published in
974:
971:
967:
966:1-84119-373-9
963:
959:
956:Published in
953:
950:
946:
945:0-7867-0418-7
942:
938:
935:Published in
932:
929:
926:
922:
916:
913:
910:
909:0-312-38093-3
906:
902:
899:Published as
896:
893:
890:
886:
882:
881:Mord am Vesuv
879:Published as
876:
873:
868:
866:0-312-33723-X
862:
858:
851:
848:
843:
841:0-312-32319-0
837:
833:
826:
823:
818:
816:0-312-30488-9
812:
808:
801:
798:
793:
791:0-312-32019-1
787:
783:
776:
773:
768:
766:0-312-32018-3
762:
758:
751:
748:
743:
741:0-312-24698-6
737:
733:
726:
723:
718:
716:0-312-24697-8
712:
708:
701:
698:
693:
691:0-312-27706-7
687:
683:
676:
673:
670:
669:0-312-27705-9
666:
662:
656:
653:
648:
644:
638:
635:
624:on 2015-11-19
623:
619:
613:
610:
603:
597:
596:
592:
590:
589:
585:
584:
582:
581:
577:
576:Novels portal
571:
566:
561:
556:
552:
547:
543:
542:
540:
536:
535:The Sacrilege
532:
528:
524:
521:
517:
513:
509:
508:
503:
502:The Sacrilege
499:
498:
497:
491:
489:
484:
480:
477:
476:assassination
473:
470:
466:
464:
460:
457:
454:
451:
448:
444:
443:
442:
437:Short stories
436:
431:
428:
425:
421:
417:
414:
411:
407:
404:(50 BC). As
403:
400:
397:
393:
389:
385:
382:
379:
375:
374:
370:
367:
366:Cleopatra VII
363:
359:
355:
352:
349:
345:
342:
339:
335:
331:
327:
326:
322:
319:
315:
311:
307:
304:
301:
298:
295:
291:
287:
286:
282:
279:
275:
271:
270:The Sacrilege
268:
265:
261:
257:
254:
252:
248:
244:
241:
240:
236:
234:
231:
229:
228:
223:
222:Julius Caesar
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
198:
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
179:Metellus Pius
175:
173:
172:
167:
163:
159:
155:
151:
147:
144:
143:
131:
128:
120:
117:December 2015
109:
106:
102:
99:
95:
92:
88:
85:
81:
78: –
77:
76:"SPQR series"
73:
72:Find sources:
66:
62:
56:
55:
50:This article
48:
44:
39:
38:
33:
19:
1108:
1103:
1087:
1082:
1066:
1061:
1045:
1040:
1030:
1025:
1005:Past Poisons
1003:
998:
978:
973:
957:
952:
936:
931:
915:
900:
895:
880:
875:
856:
850:
831:
825:
806:
800:
781:
775:
756:
750:
731:
725:
706:
700:
681:
675:
660:
655:
646:
637:
626:. Retrieved
622:the original
612:
593:
586:
554:
545:
538:
534:
505:
501:
495:
487:
483:Rex Sacrorum
440:
429:
424:new calendar
420:dictatorship
415:
401:
383:
371:
353:
343:
323:
305:
299:
283:
269:
255:
242:
232:
225:
220:and a young
202:gladiatorial
199:
194:
187:Roman Senate
176:
169:
145:
141:
140:
138:
123:
114:
104:
97:
90:
83:
71:
59:Please help
54:verification
51:
332:who curses
318:Gallic Wars
314:10th Legion
251:Mithridates
156:stories by
1130:Categories
628:2015-11-18
604:References
546:Saturnalia
492:Chronology
300:Saturnalia
290:Alexandria
166:initialism
87:newspapers
520:Herennius
430:Dolabella
368:of Egypt.
310:centurion
562:See also
526:earlier.
516:Valerius
396:Vesuvius
388:Campania
278:Bona Dea
264:Republic
260:Catiline
247:Lucullus
463:triumph
378:praetor
338:Parthia
334:Crassus
330:tribune
312:of the
274:Clodius
214:Clodius
101:scholar
1115:
1094:
1073:
1052:&
1016:
989:
964:
943:
923:
907:
887:
863:
838:
813:
788:
763:
738:
713:
688:
667:
362:piracy
358:Cyprus
348:insula
280:rites.
237:Novels
218:Cicero
210:Clodia
150:series
146:series
103:
96:
89:
82:
74:
469:Marsi
148:is a
108:JSTOR
94:books
1113:ISBN
1092:ISBN
1071:ISBN
1014:ISBN
987:ISBN
962:ISBN
941:ISBN
921:ISBN
905:ISBN
885:ISBN
861:ISBN
836:ISBN
811:ISBN
786:ISBN
761:ISBN
736:ISBN
711:ISBN
686:ISBN
665:ISBN
661:SPQR
529:The
518:and
212:and
168:for
142:SPQR
139:The
80:news
531:AUC
390:as
152:of
63:by
1132::
1012:,
985:,
859:.
834:.
809:.
784:.
759:.
734:.
709:.
684:.
663:;
645:.
537:,
1119:.
1098:.
1077:.
1056:.
1020:.
993:.
968:.
947:.
869:.
844:.
819:.
794:.
769:.
744:.
719:.
694:.
649:.
631:.
548:.
478:.
471:.
449:.
412:.
398:.
340:.
320:.
296:.
266:.
130:)
124:(
119:)
115:(
105:·
98:·
91:·
84:·
57:.
34:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
