Persona Non Grata by Ruth Downie Series: Gaius Petreius Ruso #3
Published by Self-Published on July 14, 2009
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 366
Format: eBook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
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 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' brother-in-law mysteriously drowned at sea, and the whole Ruso family being sued for bankruptcy, it's hard to imagine an unhappier reunion. That is, until Severus, the plaintiff in the bankruptcy suit, winds up dead, and the real trouble begins...
As I progress through the historical mystery series set in the world of the Roman Empire, I was curious now that the series is moving from Roman Britain to Ruso’s family home in Gaul. Ruth Downie has an interesting blend of humor, historical detail, colorful characters and intriguing mystery plot all woven into one engaging story so I’m always eager when I begin each next installment in the series.
Persona Non Grata is book three in the series (which goes by Roman Empire, Gaius Petrius Ruso, or the Medicus depending on what book source or edition one picks up) and picks up the story right where the previous book, Incognita, leaves off. It’s a new standalone mystery, but the character and relationship story arcs carry through from the previous so they are best read in order.
Ruso just broke his foot stopping bored legionnaires from antagonizing the locals and now gets a mysterious brief message from his brother, Lucius, to come home. Turns out the foot was the excuse he needed to get leave and head home to the family vineyard and olive farm in Gaul (modern day southern France near Nimes). Tilla agrees to come with him and he’s of two minds on that having a Britain house slave who rejected his proposal of marriage along for his family’s particular brand of crazy.
The situation is indeed bad because the family property and assets are getting ready to be brought to court for seizure due to a late payment on a loan- that his brother paid on time, but the Senator’s man in charge in the area lied and claimed only half was paid. Lucius didn’t get a receipt or have a witness because he’d never needed one before the new steward took charge. Oh, and this new steward, he’s married to Ruso’s ex, Claudia. Ruso also gets hit with his step-mother’s demands that he improve the house, his step-sisters demand their dowries, his sister-in-law wants him to help locate her missing brother lost at sea, his nieces and nephews are running about like hoydens, and his brother swears he never sent for Ruso and this is just an excuse for big brother to come home and try to take over.
But, it gets better because Severus, Claudia’s new rich hubby, dies of poisoning in Ruso’s house after others know he went there to press the legal charges on the late mortgage. Never ask if it can get worse.
Tilla is an outsider and treated with little hospitality by Ruso’s family, but she feels sorry for him and now understands much better why he’d rather doctor for the legion in a war zone than live at home. She’s not happy with him half the time, but she will help him sort out his troubles. She can get answers from the servants and slaves who won’t talk to ‘Master’ or a Roman, but she twitches to have a knife when she spots his step-mother trying to arrange a rich wife for him and he refuses to suspect Claudia for the murder of Severus though there is more evidence against her than Ruso.
Persona Non Grata was a fun blend of quirky family, mystery solving, and Roman life there near a city surrounded by farmland in the dry, hot southern part of Gaul. The mystery isn’t hard to figure out once one has all the pieces to work with. There were a couple little nice surprises, action moments here and there, and a good suspenseful finish. I got a kick out of Ruso and Tilla as usual. His family were a zany element. But, Tilla’s take on the Christians had me cackling hard.
All in all, an entertaining, well done historical cozy mystery that left me satisfied and eager for the next book.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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Sounds like an interesting backdrop for a cozy mystery! I heard a lot about Roman Empire and the Medici’s when I was in Italy in November.
That’s right! I forgot about your trip to Italy. Neat that you saw so much that was Roman. I keep thinking it would be fun to visit Bath, England to the Roman baths since they mention Roman baths so often in these.
Pay the loan on time but someone lies about it so your belongings get seized. Now that’s terrible.
Yeah, there was definitely some injustice going on in this one. Any time there are people involved, trouble happens… 🙁
You have me intrigued 😉
Glad it tempts you, Carole. 🙂