Semper Fidelis by Ruth Downie @ruthsd.bsky.social @sophiarose1816 #SundaySeries

Posted April 5, 2026 by Sophia in Book Review, Sunday Series / 8 Comments

 

 

Semper Fidelis by Ruth Downie @ruthsd.bsky.social @sophiarose1816 #SundaySeries Semper Fidelis by Ruth Downie
Series: Gaius Petreius Ruso #5
Published by Self-Published on April 1, 2021
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 512
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon,  Audible,  Libro.fm
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Back at his post as a doctor in the Twentieth legion in Roman-occupied Britain, Ruso uncovers a new danger even closer to home than the neighboring barbarians. As mysterious injuries, and even deaths, begin to appear in the medical ledgers, it's clear that all is not well amongst the native recruits to Britannia's imperial army. Is the much- decorated Centurion Geminus preying on his weaker soldiers? And could this be related to the appearance of Emperor Hadrian? Bound by his sense of duty and ill-advised curiosity, Ruso begins to ask questions nobody wants to hear. Meanwhile his barbarian wife, Tilla, is finding out some of the answers-and marked as a security risk by the very officers Ruso is interrogating. With Hadrian's visit looming large, the fates of the legion, Tilla, and Ruso himself hang in the balance.

Ruso’s back in the army slogging to his next post with the Twentieth Legion with his wife, Tilla, when a stop at a post along the way leads to a brutal and bizarre turn of events and an encounter with the Emperor Hadrian and his retinue.  Ruth Downie’s series continues to draw me in and keep me glued to the pages until the very end.

Semper Fidelis is the fifth in the Gaius Petreus Ruso series set in the Roman Empire era in Britain.  While each book carries a standalone mystery, the characters and relationships grow as the series progresses.

Ruso gladly leaves behind that stint of official investigator work and has re-upped as Medicus to the Twentieth Roman Legion headed to augment the legion stationed in Deva in Britain’s far northwest region below the progress on the Emperor Hadrian’s new wall.

Stopping along the way at a northern post on the eastern side of the country, the legion’s commander is happy because his relation is the Centurion in charge of the post and he will be there for Geminus’ out-going ceremony into retirement.

But their arrival is in time for a series of disturbing events from the third ‘accidental’ death of a Britain recruit.  Ruso is suspicious especially when he sees the state of one of the hospital’s patients and the state of the hospital records.  He’s warned to keep his curiosity and most particularly, his questioning to himself, but Ruso can’t let the situation go.  Tilla is staying in town and getting the local Britains’ take on what his happening at the fort and she agrees with Ruso that this is not the time to sit back and ignore trouble.  Danger threatens even as the unexpected arrival of Hadrian, his empress, and their retinue of staff and Praetorian Guards who were caught in a storm off the coast and seek shelter before he progresses to check the work on his wall.

Danger lurks and a murderer strikes with the hubbub around the emperor- and Ruso is now the chief suspect in a murder.  Tilla and a few others must do what they can to find answers fast.

Semper Fidelis goes a little darker in places and the danger factor is high as Ruso must go up against corruption and power to find justice for those being victimized and killed.  Ruso and Tilla’s amusing interactions are present, but for the most part, they are working separate ends of the case.  Their marriage is more and more solid, but they still face struggles because he’s Roman and she’s a tribeswoman of Britain.  I thought it was fascinating to return to the life of the legion, but added in traveling imperial group.  Things came to a nail-biting head and had a satisfying end.

As I work through this series, I grow more and more reluctant to reach that last book.  I love the characters, backdrop, and mysteries and don’t want it all to end.

 

Sophia
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Posted April 5, 2026 by Sophia in Book Review, Sunday Series / 8 Comments

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