Render Unto Caesar

When you have been waiting for a book a long time - it is even easier to disappoint the anticipation. So here is the story. Hermogenes, a Roman citizen from Alexandria comes to Rome to claim an outstanding debt from a wealthy and powerful Consul. Doing this he rolls the little stone that starts a full avalanche down on him. In fast succession he is laughed at, spat at and attacked. But he is like a little bulldog that simply will not let go of the butcher's trousers ... so he keeps on trying to make people honour his rights. He is rescued by a barbarian gladiatrix and this unlikely couple teams up to show Rome their teeth. The plot is excellent and the different twists it takes, keep you turning the pages unaware of the time, the background is livid and the characters, even the side-characters are unique. The style of writing is typical Bradshaw - she concentrates on the story without elaborate language. I wish she had done so even more. I can not help myself feeling that at some points she has written for the readers or the publishers, not for the story-line. This is especially true in the case of a few love-scenes (an hitherto unknown thing in Bradshaw books, if I am not mistaken), which feel like Bradshaw's heart was not into it, like she just added some sex because of public demand. I wish she hadn't. At some points the language as well feels, like the book has not been to the lector yet, but it is only a few small paragraphs. So why still the five stars? Because a Bradshaw - even if not up to her usual standard - is still better than a lot of other books out there and well worth reading. And because the story captures you so well, that it is not difficult at all to overlook a few tiny flaws. My Message to Gillian Bradshaw: ENCORE!!! - I am already waiting for the next