Reading order · 13 books · 1991 to 2015 · Set in Rome
Roma Sub Rosa Books in Order
Roma Sub Rosa follows Gordianus the Finder, an investigator in the last decades of the Roman Republic, whose cases bring him into contact with Cicero, Crassus, Pompey and Caesar. Three later books go back to Gordianus’s youth as he travels to see the Seven Wonders of the World.
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Series facts
- Books
- 13
- Published
- 1991 to 2015
- First book
- Roman Blood
- Latest
- Wrath of the Furies (2015)
- Setting
- Set in Rome
- Order
- Story order differs from publication order
The reading order
Every Roma Sub Rosa book in publication order, with the story order a switch away. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
13 books · Set in Rome
- 1Roman Blood1991With Gordianus the FinderIn 80 BC, a young lawyer named Cicero hires Gordianus to help defend a man accused of murdering his own father.Buy on Amazon
- 2Arms of Nemesis1992With Gordianus the FinderDuring the slave revolt of Spartacus, the overseer of a great estate owned by Crassus is murdered, and two slaves who have fled are blamed.Buy on Amazon
- 3Catilina's Riddle1993With Gordianus the FinderIn 63 BC, Gordianus, now living on a farm in the countryside, is drawn into the conspiracy of Catiline.Buy on Amazon
- 4The Venus Throw1995With Gordianus the FinderAn Egyptian philosopher asks Gordianus for help, and is murdered soon after.Buy on Amazon
- 5A Murder on the Appian Way1996With Gordianus the FinderIn 52 BC, the politician Clodius is killed on the Appian Way, and Rome erupts in riots.Buy on Amazon
- 6Rubicon1999With Gordianus the FinderIn 49 BC, as Caesar crosses the Rubicon, a cousin of Pompey is murdered in Gordianus’s house.Buy on Amazon
- 7Last Seen in Massilia2000With Gordianus the FinderGordianus goes to the besieged city of Massilia to search for his son.Buy on Amazon
- 8A Mist of Prophecies2002With Gordianus the FinderA mysterious seeress dies in Gordianus’s arms.Buy on Amazon
- 9The Judgment of Caesar2004With Gordianus the FinderGordianus travels to Egypt, where Caesar, Cleopatra and her brother are struggling for power.Buy on Amazon
- 10The Triumph of Caesar2008With Gordianus the FinderIn 46 BC, as Caesar celebrates his triumphs, his wife Calpurnia hires Gordianus to uncover a plot against him.Buy on Amazon
- 11The Seven Wonders2012With Gordianus the FinderAs a young man, Gordianus travels with his tutor, the poet Antipater, to see the Seven Wonders of the World, solving mysteries along the way.Buy on Amazon
- 12Raiders of the Nile2014With Gordianus the FinderIn Alexandria, young Gordianus sets out to rescue a kidnapped girl, and falls in with a band of robbers.Buy on Amazon
- 13Wrath of the Furies2015With Gordianus the FinderYoung Gordianus travels to Ephesus to rescue his old tutor, during the war between Rome and King Mithridates.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in order of the main series, starting with Roman Blood. The Seven Wonders, Raiders of the Nile and Wrath of the Furies are prequels about Gordianus as a young man.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Gordianus the Finder | Bethesda | Eco | Meto | Diana | Cicero | Julius Caesar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Roman Blood | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |||
| 2 Arms of Nemesis | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ||||
| 3 Catilina's Riddle | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 4 The Venus Throw | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 5 A Murder on the Appian Way | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 6 Rubicon | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 7 Last Seen in Massilia | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 8 A Mist of Prophecies | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 9 The Judgment of Caesar | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 10 The Triumph of Caesar | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 11 The Seven Wonders | LLead | ||||||
| 12 Raiders of the Nile | LLead | MMajor | |||||
| 13 Wrath of the Furies | LLead | ·Minor |
Characters in the Roma Sub Rosa books
7 characters from Steven Saylor’s chart, with the number of Roma Sub Rosa books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Gordianus the FinderRoman investigator | 13 | Roman Blood 1991 |
| BethesdaGordianus's slave, then wife | 12 | Roman Blood 1991 |
| EcoMute boy Gordianus adopts | 10 | Roman Blood 1991 |
| MetoGordianus's adopted son, later Caesar's agent | 8 | Catilina's Riddle 1993 |
| DianaGordianus's daughter | 7 | The Venus Throw 1995 |
| CiceroOrator and lawyer | 4 | Roman Blood 1991 |
| Julius CaesarGeneral and dictator | 4 | Rubicon 1999 |