Memento Mori by Ruth Downie Narrator: Simon Vance
Series: Gaius Petreius Ruso #8
Published by Tantor Audio on March 6, 2018
Genres: Historical Mystery
Length: 10 hours, 40 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
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A scandal is threatening to engulf the popular spa town of Aquae Sulis (modern-day Bath). The wife of Ruso's best friend, Valens, has been found dead in the sacred hot spring, stabbed through the heart. Fearing the wrath of the goddess and the ruin of the tourist trade, the temple officials are keen to cover up what's happened. But the dead woman's father is demanding justice, and he's accusing Valens of murder.
If Valens turns up to face trial, he will risk execution. If he doesn't, he'll lose his children.
Ruso and Tilla do their best to help but it's difficult to get anyone--even Valens himself--to reveal what really happened. Could Ruso's friend really be guilty as charged?
After a brief stop in Gaul for a family visit, Ruso and Tilla return to Britain where they are now staying with her relations on the farm. Ruso hides his relief when his former scribe/clerk arrives to ask him to come to help his old medicus friend, Valens, who now stands accused of murdering his wife. Off to Aquae Sulis (modern-day Bath) he goes- though not alone as Tilla insists on them all going together to solve the case and stand by a friend.
Memento Mori is the eighth and final book in the Gaius Petreius Ruso series set in Roman Era Britain. It has been a journey from the beginning to end that really must be experienced in order for the relationship and the case-solving ability to progress. The mystery is standalone, but several of the characters and their past associations carry over from previous books not the least is the murder victim, her family and closest acquaintances.
Memento Mori takes place in a spa town- the Romans equivalent of a healing and a vacation spot. People come to pray to the goddess, take the hot mineral waters and baths for healing while others come as tourists to see the festivals and relaxing activities. The locals are adamant that a murder must not ruin their reputation and the commercial aspects even while retired centurion Vertinax has no desire to sweep his daughter’s death under the rug and plans to demand justice of the governor himself when he arrives for the goddess festival. Ruso and Tilla have very little time to find proof of Valen’s innocence. Though Aquae Sulas is a new town to them, Ruso and Tilla have a few familiar faces in the form of his old scribe who is now tutor to Vertinax’s grandsons, his wife who was once Tilla’s servant, and Vertinax himself who was once Ruso’s boss in the Twentieth Legion.
Ruso learns quickly that there are two opposing groups in a tug of war over the hot baths at the center of the town- the retired veteran soldiers and the priests with the merchants caught in the middle. Was the death related to all this or did the likely suspect who was seen quarrelling with his wife and angry with her, really do it? And, where has the wife’s new lover, the spa’s engineer designer, gotten to?
Memento Mori had that wonderful blend of well-drawn historical setting and Roman life backdrop, well-developed characters particularly the engaging Ruso and his British wife Tilla, and the obscure-at first, but twisting along to the truth mystery plot thread. Ruso had his usual share of bad luck circumstances to bring a light chuckle and those moments when he and Tilla got in each other’s way as they went about things so very differently. The life of a spa town, what it was like for retired Roman soldiers, the way the Romans and Britains were attempting to blend their religions over the goddess of the spring-spa, and even the way investigation and justice was carried out was all so fascinating and woven well into the plot of the story.
All in all, if the series had to end, Memento Mori was a strong, satisfying finish. Ruso and Tilla are well settled into married life even if settling into a place to call home eludes them, things are left in a good place for several of the surrounding characters, too. I will be sorry to leave Ruso’s Roman world and the mysteries. Maybe Ruth Downie will come back to the series at some point. Historical mystery fans should definitely try these.
Narration:
Simon Vance is a talented, familiar narrator and I loved his way of rendering the book and the previous books of the series. The story really came to life for me under his talented voices and narration.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Simon Vance
Award winning audiobook narrator and actor. Winner of 14 Audio awards and 67 Earphone awards.
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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Yea!! I love when series have strong, satisfying conclusions. And now that’s one less series in your TBR!
It felt great to finish a series, but particularly one I loved from beginning to end. 🙂
I’m glad the series finish was good for you. That’s always good.
Yes!!! It was a really good one and I’m glad I finally got around to reading it.
You’re cranking through your challenge! Happy to hear the series ended on a high note, Sophia!
Yes, it is fab to get a good series all the way through and to finish off a series from the backlist. 🙂
Love a great character
I really will miss more Ruso and Tilla mysteries.