Memento Mori by Ruth Downie
Gaius Petreius Ruso, retired army medicus, is living with his wife Tilla, baby daughter Mara, and two slaves with his wife's Briton family. He spends his days working on the family farm until his former clerk Albanus arrives with the unexpected news that Serena, wife of Ruso's friend Valens, has been found murdered in the sacred springs of Aquae Sulis (modern day Bath). Valens is considered to be the prime suspect, and he has sent Albanus to urge Ruso to come to Aquae Sulis to help him. Instead of traveling alone, Tilla insists on traveling with him, along with the baby, the nanny, and their second slave to mind their luggage. But when Ruso arrives in the famous resort town, he finds that the situation is a lot more complicated than he expected. Serena's father Pertinax, who not only loathes Valens but is one of Ruso's frenemies, is already on the scene and howling for Valens' blood. It turns out everyone in the town knew that Serena had a boyfriend, who has conveniently disappeared. In addition, the chief engineer, the high priest, and the baths manager all want to hush up the crime so as not to damage the town's reputation and scare away the tourists. Ruso and Tilla must work together to solve the crime and clear Valens' name so that he can retain custody of his twin sons.
The 8th installment in Ruth Downie's Medicus series featuring Roman military doctor Gaius Petreius Ruso and his British wife Tilla is just as well-researched as previous titles in the series. It is also a snapshot of two marriages where neither partner understands the other, but Ruso and Tilla care deeply for each other and are determined to continue stumbling forward together, as compared to the crumbling marriage of Valens and Serena. Valens has treated Serena shabbily and she has fallen out of love with him and found someone who loves and values her; Valens, like many men before and since, doesn't particularly want to be with Serena, but he doesn't want anyone else to have her, either. A sad but all too common tale.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys accurate historical mysteries or novels set in ancient Britain.
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