Persona Non Grata by Ruth Downie

I listened to Ruth Downie's "Persona Non Grata" by Ruth Downie and read by Simon Vance. As usual Ms. Downie brings a wonderful description of life in imperial Rome, this time in Ruso's home in Gaul. Ruso, the unwitting protagonist of Ruth Downie's Roman murder history series, decides it is a good time to take leave from the 20th Legion in Britain and brings Tilla, the native he saved in the first book, to his home in Gaul. Ruso received a letter requesting his urgent return and arrives to a house deep in family debts and not expecting his return. The confusion becomes mystery when Ruso works a deal to stave off legal action on the family debts with the main creditor just minutes before the creditor drops dead in Ruso's home. Ruso's brother, step-mother, and step-sisters all cause Ruso irritation and seem to get in the way of his efforts to solve the murder and keep the family name clear. Once again the characters, physical description, and Ruso's inner monologue are all delivered with the wonderful and detailed method that Ruth Downie delivers every time. Simon Vance did a wonderful job reading each character and delivering unique tone and depth to each. Overall the audio version of Persona Non Grata was wonderful and worth the listen.

Medicus by Ruth Downie

This book was fantastic! Medicus, by Ruth Downie, is the first in series of books about Roman life in Britannia. In particular life among Roman Legions as they work to secure the remote province. The main character, Gaius Petreius Ruso, is a doctor recently transferred to Deva (what is now Chester, England) assigned to the 20th Legion hospital. He brings with him the baggage of an ex-wife and the debt of father. With his family in Gaul owing money on the farm his father left to them he volunteers with the intent to send earnings back to his brother to save the family farm. Ruso settles into a meager life of attending patients and living with old friend Valens, another doctor assigned to the Legion. But it isn't long before Ruso's curiosity gets the best of him and he intervenes on behalf of a slave, ultimately buying her with the intent of treating her and selling her. He names her Tilla and rehabs her broken arm and eventually finds he has no desire to sell her. However, she proves more trouble than a simple slave and soon the Medicus is poking his nose into the disappearance of other slave girls from a local bar owned by Merula. From there the story introduces the reader to life in Roman Britannia, the less than wholesome life of a slave of Rome, and the corruption of Roman officials. Ms. Downie weaves a wonderful story including references of history and development of character that capture the imagination.