What We're reading: Edward

Persona Non Grata: a novel of the Roman Empire

by Ruth Downie

Gaius Ruso is the quintessential nice guy who always finds himself involved in other people's problems. To escape problems at home, Ruso signs up to be the Medicus, doctor, to the Twentieth Valerian Victorious Legion in Britannia. His adventures there are chronicled in the two previous books in this series (Medicus, 2006 and Terra Incognita, 2008). Now the injured Ruso receives a note telling him to come home. He returns to Southern Gaul to find his family in turmoil. Being the head of the family, he finds the family farm threatened with seizure for past debts. His sister is demanding her dowry, which she hopes to use to buy the freedom of her beloved, a gladiator slave. His step-mother is adding to the house and demands a lifestyle above their means. Tilla, his slave, lover, confidant, finds herself on the outs with the family. On top of all this the chief creditor is poisoned and falls dead while talking to Ruso. He and/or his family are suspects in the murder. Can Ruso solve all the family problems before he returns to Britannia? Will he and Tilla return?