A Prisoner of Privilege (A Libertus Mystery of Roman Britain)

Written by Rosemary Rowe
Review by Waheed Rabbani

In 194 AD, following civil war, Septimius Severus is proclaimed Emperor of the Roman Empire, but Pescennius Niger is still contending for the throne. In Britannia, Governor Clodius Albinus is “bought off” with the courtesy title: Caesar and Co-Emperor of the West. The Britannia legions are looked upon with suspicion, and public figures are being denounced and imprisoned, or even murdered for anti-Severian sympathies.

In Glevum (present-day Gloucester), the duumvir—joint magistrate—Libertus is summoned by Marcus Septimus, the senior magistrate, to join him at the baths. Just as Libertus had suspected, Septimus is requesting a favor. This time it is to accommodate a visitor from Rome, a former Praetorian and Septimus’s distant cousin, in Libertus’ apartment. Septimus doesn’t want to entertain his cousin in his home, since he suspects the cousin is on a spying mission for the Emperor. While Libertus agrees, for the apartment was gifted to him earlier by Septimus, it gets him into serious trouble. When four murders occur in quick succession, and Libertus is accused not only of murder but of treason as well, he needs to muster all his sleuthing skills to uncover the pieces of evidence and identify the culprits.

This novel is the latest of Rosemary Rowe’s fine murder mysteries set in Roman Britannia. Although it’s the 18th in the series, sufficient historical details and character back stories are seamlessly provided. Rowe has used the turmoil of this period within the Roman Empire, and particularly its impact in Britannia, to craft the plot skillfully. Although it takes time for the plot to develop, and events move slowly from then until the denouement, the events feel realistic, and the superb dialogue and descriptions make us feel as if we are among the characters living in Roman Britain. The novel abounds with numerous interesting and informative details of that era, making it a pleasurable read. Highly recommended.