The Peacekeeper - (Britanna Romanus) by Jess Steven Hughes (Paperback)

About the Book

From the birth of Christianity to the backstabbings in the Senate, to lives of the slaves and commoners, to the behind-the-scenes of the worlds of the Roman emperors, The Peacekeeper will bring the duplicitous, colorful, and raw streets of Rome to brilliant life, and will leave you breathless until the final page.

Book Synopsis

45-69 AD

Marcellus, a Spanish Centurion in the Roman Army, is unsafely ensconced in tumultuous and murderous Rome, a city that can claim its victims in an instant and give its chosen ones glory at a moment's notice. After confronting his nemesis and former commander, Anicius Pedius Gallus, in the boisterous Roman forum, Marcellus escapes yet another close call with a "Roman ally," and races home to the object of his desire--Eleyne, a feisty, British-Celtic princess. And one that is none too happy about being a royal hostage. But love counters betrayal in this harsh city, and the two are married against a backdrop of mysterious treacheries and secrecies. Even as the two start a family and Marcellus advances through the ranks, the evil Gallus seems to lurk in the shadows around every corner.

As a resident of Rome, Marcellus is no stranger to chaos, but when he's thrust into the role of commander of the Watch's Seventh Cohort and must lead a ragtag group of men to quell a bloody riot numbering in the hundreds of thousands, can he do the job? And when a new emperor takes hold of the reins, siding with scoundrels and slaughterers, can Marcellus save everyone he holds dear or will he be left alone with blood on his hands?

From the birth of Christianity to the backstabbings in the Senate, to lives of the slaves and commoners, to the behind-the-scenes of the worlds of the Roman emperors, The Peacekeeper will bring the duplicitous, colorful, and raw streets of Rome to brilliant life, and will leave you breathless until the final page.

Review Quotes

I have loved every book written by Jess Steven Hughes, historical novels and set in Roman Britain. Where, you say? Read the First four Hughes books, once referred to as the "Sign of the Eagle" series, and find out. Now Hughes has given us a new book, the Peacekeeper. And with it, new branding for his historical adventure series begins in earnest: Henceforth called the "Britannia Romanus" series, the triumph of these earlier volumes is about to be eclipsed with the publication of the Peacekeeper, #5 in this story but a magnificent stand-alone read as well. Why do I recommend the Britannia Romanus series? Because it's that good, good enough to recommend without reservation. Few can do what Hughes does, mixing genres to bring us books that open doors into worlds previously unknown, time after time. Hughes writes a combination of mystery, adventure, suspense and romance seldom equaled. A former Marine and police detective, real-life experience informs every sentence, every page. Those characters breathe and suffer and scheme and love and hate as if they were ripped from history whole cloth.

The Peacekeeper is suitable for young and old. At times, Hughes' writing reminds me of Umberto Ecco, at other times, Wallace Breen. With the Peacekeeper, Hughes delivers on the promise of earlier volumes, delivering a deeply-researched historical novel filled with mystery, adventure, romance, and command of his period so strong and effortless, so real, you'll think you've been to Roman Britain yourself!

Few can equal Jess Steven Hughes. So come spend some time in Roman Britain with a gifted author whose skill is never obtrusive and whose characters you'll never forget. -- Janet Morris