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Medicus: A Novel of the Roman Empire (The Medicus Series, 1) Paperback – March 11, 2008

4.1 out of 5 stars 2,284 ratings

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Divorced and down on his luck, Gaius Petreius Ruso has made the rash decision to seek his fortune in an inclement outpost of the Roman Empire, namely Britannia. In a moment of weakness, after a straight thirtysix-hour shift at the army hospital, he succumbs to compassion and rescues an injured slave girl, Tilla, from the hands of her abusive owner.
Now he has a new problem: a slave who won't talk and can't cook, and drags trouble in her wake. Before he knows it, Ruso is caught in the middle of an investigation into the deaths of prostitutes working out of the local bar. Now Ruso must summon all his forensic knowledge to find a killer who may be after him next.
With a gift for comic timing and historical detail, Ruth Downie has conjured an ancient world as raucous and real as our own.

"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“I loved this book.” ―Scott Simon, NPR

“[A] lavishly, often hilariously detailed portrayal of the world that absorbs Ruso's exhausted wits and energies. [He] is a wonderful character, fueled by a dyspeptic machismo and sullen charm reminiscent of Harrison Ford in his heyday. A charming novel.” ―
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

About the Author

In 2004, Ruth Downie won the Fay Weldon section of BBC3’s End of Story competition; Medicus is her first novel. She is married with two sons and lives in Milton Keynes, England.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury USA
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 11, 2008
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1596914270
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1596914278
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.47 x 1.11 x 8.21 inches
  • Book 1 of 8 ‏ : ‎ The Medicus
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 2,284 ratings

About the author

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Ruth Downie
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Ruth (RS) Downie left university with an English degree and a plan to get married and live happily ever after. She is still working on it. In the meantime she is also the New York Times bestselling author of a mystery series featuring Roman legionary doctor Gaius Petreius Ruso and his British partner, Tilla.

The latest book is a novella, PRIMA FACIE, published in July 2019.

There are eight full-length novels:

MEDICUS (the first story, AKA 'Medicus/Ruso and the Disappearing Dancing Girls')

TERRA INCOGNITA ('Ruso and the Demented Doctor')

PERSONA NON GRATA ('Ruso and the Root of All Evils')

CAVEAT EMPTOR ('Ruso and the River of Darkness')

SEMPER FIDELIS (at last, only one title!)

TABULA RASA

VITA BREVIS

MEMENTO MORI

In 2015 Ruth helped to put together 'A YEAR OF RAVENS: a novel of Boudica's rebellion' with co-conspirators Stephanie Drey, E Knight, Kate Quinn, Vicky Alvear Shecter, SJA Turney and Russell Whitfield. 2017 saw the publication of 'THE BEAR AND THE WOLF', a short story of love and danger on Rome's northern border, written with SJA Turney. IN 2019 she was a contributor to 'RUBICON', the Historical Novel Society's collection of Roman-era short stories.

Ruth lives in North Devon with a husband, a fine view and too many cats. She is not the same person as the RS Downie who writes real medical textbooks. Absolutely none of the medical advice in the Ruso books should be followed. Roman and Greek doctors were very wise about many things but they were also known to prescribe donkey dung and boiled cockroaches.

Find out more at www.ruthdownie.com

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
2,284 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's plot engaging, with one describing it as a well-crafted murder mystery that grabs readers from the start. The writing style receives mixed feedback - while many find it well written, some express disappointment with the author's lack of research. Customers appreciate the character development, particularly the well-drawn background, and enjoy the historical portrayal of Roman Britain, with one noting how it brings the setting to life. The humor is appreciated, with customers finding the writing witty and evocative of life in Britain. The pace receives mixed reactions, with some finding it well-paced while others note it slows down in the middle.

130 customers mention "Readability"110 positive20 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an entertaining and enjoyable story that keeps readers engaged until the end.

"All in all it is a good read, one that I recommend...." Read more

"...n't seem to have his life together, and its both heartbreaking and entertaining to see him struggle to keep all his affairs in order...." Read more

"...before, but beings it has been a while, I'm ready for another enjoyable read." Read more

"Good read about a period in time difficult to research even though scratching the surface of Great Britain usually turns up something Roman." Read more

93 customers mention "Character development"82 positive11 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them delightful and well-drawn, with one customer noting the main character's astonishing sense of humor.

"...The characters are great and so is the setting...." Read more

"...A good combination of history, characters, mystery and action; but the writing can be a bit dense for the subject matter at times...." Read more

"...The characters were interesting and well drawn and the mystery was very well plotted...." Read more

"Good characters, great setting. The Kindle version needs a better editor as the punctuation and capitalization errors were distracting...." Read more

49 customers mention "Value for time"49 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth their time, with one mentioning it encapsulates everything they love about reading.

"...These books are funny, serious, educational, and very well written and edited. They get my highest recommendation." Read more

"The idea for this book is a good one. Set in ancient Rome, Medicus is a physician who takes care of the legionaries in Britannica...." Read more

"...It promises to continue interesting and unusual and worth reading." Read more

"...voice of an author just really, really works for me and this one is absolutely perfect...." Read more

46 customers mention "History"37 positive9 negative

Customers appreciate the historical content of the book, particularly its portrayal of Roman Britain and its well-researched depiction of the Roman occupation of the region.

"...The novel's other characters provide a colorful supporting cast and stimulate marvelous images of human comedy and tragedy, especially when they..." Read more

"...This was an interesting look at the ways a high-ranking Roman army officer could pilfer funds for his own use; the seedy, low-class undertakings in..." Read more

"...Ancient Britain is exotic and wild in the hands of the author, and half of the fun of the book is exploring the world...." Read more

"...Gaius is an interesting character, and the setting in Roman Britain was very interesting to me after reading all of Bernard Cornwell's Saxon books..." Read more

34 customers mention "Humor"34 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the author's humor in the book, finding it quite witty and writing that evokes life in Britain, with one customer noting how it stimulates marvelous images of human comedy and tragedy.

"...These books are funny, serious, educational, and very well written and edited. They get my highest recommendation." Read more

"...There's a good mix of mystery, history and humor. This is the first in what is now a four-part series...." Read more

"...Ruso is an engaging character - serious, stubborn, and clever - who brings the reader into the Roman world comfortably...." Read more

"...This was an enjoyable read with a blend of humor, mystery, and history." Read more

34 customers mention "Pace"23 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it well-paced and easy to read, while others note that it gets slow in the middle and has a slow-moving plot.

"...A fast read. Because I like historical novels, I liked this one. Another reviewer said the novel lacked spice...." Read more

"...It's cool, an easy read and I sometimes find myself laughing aloud at the grumpy protagonist." Read more

"...Not sure what I was expecting, but this book disappointed in terms of pace and storyline for me...." Read more

"...A well-constructed plot in and around the fort location of Deva keeps a steady pace...." Read more

Good reading
4 out of 5 stars
Good reading
This is a pretty good book. The adventures of Doctor Gaius Russo. Definitely enjoyable reading. It's intelligent, has a little bit of mystery to it, and a little bit of the will they won't they kind of romance included.. I won't elaborate on that point so as not to spoil it for people who have not read this series. In any case it's definitely worth a try. If you enjoy it, you may end up reading one or three more..
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    One subject that never fails to get my heart pumping is history. I've discovered an enjoyment for historical fiction as well. Sometimes, the holes in history are filled in fairly well by a writer's imagination. In the 8th grade, I read Johnny Tremaine. As I've grown and studied the period surrounding our American Revolution, I found it to be fairly accurate, but the fictional element added an interesting spice to my understanding of the period.

    I found a similar experience with Medicus. One historical period with which I'm particularly fascinated is the Roman Empire. Yet some parts of the history of the empire were recorded better than others. The British Isles were one area for which little written history remains.

    I came across Medicus as a Kindle freebie. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The main character, Gaius Petrius Ruso, is a Roman Army doctor in Britain during the period when Trajan died and Hadrian took over as emperor (approximately 117-118 AD or CE depending on your perspective). The book begins with a girl turning up dead and Ruso is forced to deal with it as the only doctor not sick or away from the hospital. This girl's death leads him unwittingly into buying an injured slave girl and investigating a string of murders of bar prostitutes.

    Complicating the plot, Ruso is also juggling the aftermath of his father's death among an over extension of credit. Though Ruso is divorced, his brother maintains the family farm in southern Gaul (France), and his responsibility is to send whatever money he can from his Army salary to support his family and somehow repay his father's massive system of debt. Ruso's solution is his own intricate system of loans that threaten to unravel at any moment, especially when the tyrannical hospital administrator gets involved.

    I enjoyed the book and the characters. The narration is predominately told in the third person surrounding Ruso, the main character, although occasionally we're given a glimpse into the mind of Trilla, the slave girl. The switch didn't seem very consistent though.

    Other reviewers on Amazon said the other characters were two-dimensional. I didn't think so. Since the story was mostly told from the perspective of the main character, obviously the other characters didn't appear as filled out. At least, it's obvious to me. I'm not a trained book reviewer, but I am a trained reader. I know what I like. I also wonder how "two-dimensional" people in my life would appear if the only way you knew them was through my journal. No, you can't read it.

    My biggest complaint about Medicus is I'll have to buy the rest of the series now that I'm invested in the main character. There are at least 3 more books following this one, and none have shown up as Kindle freebies yet. If you love the triumvirate of history, fiction, and the Roman Empire, you should enjoy Medicus.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Deceptively understated writing that follows the daily comings and goings of the title character, a Roman Legionnaire who happens to be a medical doctor in a Brittanica outpost in the far-reaching Roman Empire. He is a solemn man, whose life is totally filled by his job. His more easy going room-mate, the handsome one, Valens is always urging him to live it up a bit and find himself some distractions. Rusa, however, is divorced from the ambitious Claudia, whom he has left behind in Africa and is anxious to rise within the ranks to become CMO of the hospital, a position also sought by Valens.
    Rusa is in financial straits, primarily the result of poor money management by his now deceased father and his spend-thrift step mother. He is attempting to write a Concise Medical Handbook that he hopes will also help strengthen his pocketbook. He is, you see, almost to end of the last pay period and his brother and other family are attempting to hang onto the family vineyards in Gaul. He must send them money for their living expenses as well as support himself.
    While walking through the streets of Deva on his way back to the hospital, contemplating his position and also the mystery of the suspicious death of a woman pulled from the river and deposited in his infirmary, he comes upon a slave dealer and an almost dead female slave who is bloodied and appears to have a broken arm. Though he tries to avoid becoming involved in the workings of the town and its native inhabitants he finds himself using the last of his money to purchase this slave and take her to the hospital where he sets her arm.
    So begins a series of seemingly unrelated events with which he becomes involved, not the least of which is this new unanticipated responsibility, the young blonde slave he calls Tilla.
    The short chapters, interesting history of Legion life, the medicine of the times, the interaction between Romans and Britons all keep the story moving until its final revelations, which are not entirely surprising though more complex than expected. This is the first in a series of novels telling the story of Rome and its occupation of Britain. It promises to continue interesting and unusual and worth reading.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • K. Brandner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Humorvolle Studie eines widerwilligen Helden
    Reviewed in Germany on September 8, 2010
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Es ist also möglich: Selbst in dem hoch kommerziellen, dank unzähliger Neuerscheinungen unüberschaubaren Genre der Historienromane fällt gelegentlich einem Autoren oder hier, einer Autorin, noch etwas Originelles ein, und das auch noch mit einer überzeugenden Schreibe. Gaius Petrius Ruso, der Titelheld der Geschichte, ist ein vom Schicksal gebeutelter Mann. Sein Vater ist kürzlich gestorben, den lieben Hinterbliebenen einen riesigen Schuldenberg hinterlassend; seine Frau, eine ehrgeizige und dümmliche Schreckschraube, hat sich von ihm scheiden lassen und nun ist er - nicht gerade auf dem Höhepunkt seiner Karriere - in einer Provinz gelandet, in der es von Nagetieren, unfreundlichen Zeitgenossen und verwaltungstechnischen Schikanen nur so wimmelt. Unser Held ist unglücklich, monetär klamm, einsam und vom Pech verfolgt - und das ist so vergnüglich zu lesen und mit solch staubtrockenem Witz erzählt, dass hier die Lektüre ein wahrer Genuss ist. Gaius Petrius Ruso ist 2000 Jahre alt und doch ein höchst aktueller Antiheld. Er will eigentlich immer nur seine Ruhe, aber da er auch stur einem inneren System folgt, landet er mitten in einer Morduntersuchung und erwirbt auch noch eine zwar höchst attraktive, aber dummerweise auch sehr aufmüpfige Britin als Sklavin. Unser wackerer Mediziner hat hier spürbar Schwierigkeiten, die Fasson, die Übersicht und die Oberhand zu bewahren. Während er mit den Rätseln weiblichen Verhaltens hadert, schlüpft er widerstrebend und innerlich knurrend in die Rolle eines Privatermittlers, der den Tod zweier Prostituierter untersucht. Im Laufe der nicht gerade hoch professionellen Detektivarbeit gerät er an einen tobsüchtigen Zenturio, einen perücketragenden Verwaltungshengst, gewaltbereite Exsoldaten und mehr oder weniger laszive Straßenmädchen. Und zum Dank für seine Bemühungen scheint jeder in diesem gottverlassenen Garnisonsort auf ihm herumzutrampeln. Diese erbauliche Studie über einen völlig unheroischen Mann, der eigentlich immer nur das Richtige tun will und - ach schnöde Welt - dafür den Preis bezahlen muss, den gutmütige Menschen in jedem Zeitalter zahlen müssen, kommt ganz ohne Schlachtengemälde oder Schwertgeklirr aus - und ist doch fesselnd und humorvoll bis zur letzten Seite. Eine angenehme Abwechslung zu den ständigen Blut- und Eisensagas, die den Mainstream dieses Genres dominieren.
    Report
  • Kris
    3.0 out of 5 stars Terriblement lent
    Reviewed in France on September 24, 2018
    La trame du roman presente un intérêt plus documentaire que quant à l’intrigue en soi. Mais ce qui rend la lecture pénible c’est le rythme de l’écriture qui se traîne à la vitesse d’un escargot rhumatisant. Je ne pense pas acheter la suite des romans “romains” écrits par Ruth Downie.
  • Catherine Czerkawska
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Historical Novel!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 16, 2024
    I loved this book so much, I read it twice. Once because I enjoyed it, and the second time to try to figure out how she had managed to make her characters 'feel' real without ever being anachronistic.

    Incidentally - do ignore the negative reviews. I had a look at them and wondered if we had been reading the same book, but sometimes the nitpicking is because of linguistic differences. The word 'corn' for instance, picked up as inaccurate by one reviewer, is used generically for wheat, barley and oats in British English, so is perfectly fine for Roman Britain. Wanting characters to speak in a weird recreation of Latin-as-English isn't how language works. Any writer of historical fiction has to try to make dialogue sound real and accurate - as people would have heard it at the time - while keeping it within the constraints of that time and place. Downie always manages it.

    Nevertheless, she wears her learning lightly. This 'feels' contemporary in that she brings her characters so vividly to life that we could be there. Ruso is not just likeable but loveable. Tilla is utterly believable. But both protagonists still seem to be very much of their time. For once, this isn't just about 'the Romans in Britain' but about Britain at the time of the Romans as well.

    I went on to read the whole series. Loved them all and will probably go back to them.
  • Parcianello Mario
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ben scritto e avvincente
    Reviewed in Italy on July 29, 2018
    E' il primo libro che leggo di Ruth Downie e l'impressione che he ho avuto è decisamente positiva.
    I personaggi sono caratterizzati bene e la storia non è banale.
    Questo è il primo libro di una serie, oggi acquisto il secondo, sperando che sia sullo stesso standard.
  • Bill Grant
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting insight into a medic in the Roman Army
    Reviewed in Canada on August 23, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The book arrived in great condition. Ruth Downie is a new author for me and I've put more of her books on my wish list to follow Medicus Ruso in his career. In addition to the day to day routine of a Medicus it also involved politics deceit and suspence, very enjoyable.