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  • Persona Non Grata

  • A Novel of the Roman Empire
  • By: Ruth Downie
  • Narrated by: Simon Vance
  • Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (167 ratings)
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Persona Non Grata cover art

Persona Non Grata

By: Ruth Downie
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Summary

At long last, Gaius Petreius Ruso and his companion, Tilla, are headed home - to Gaul. Having received a note consisting only of the words "COME HOME!" Ruso has (reluctantly, of course) pulled up stakes and brought Tilla to meet his family. But the reception there is not what Ruso has hoped for: no one will admit to sending for him, and his brother Lucius is hoping he'll leave.

With Tilla getting icy greetings from his relatives, Lucius's brother-in-law mysteriously drowned at sea, and the whole Ruso family teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, it's hard to imagine an unhappier reunion. That is, until Severus, the family's chief creditor, winds up dead, and the real trouble begins.

Engrossing, intricate, and - as always - wonderfully comic, Ruth Downie's latest is a brilliant new installment in this irresistible series. This is everything we've come to expect from our charming, luckless hero.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend us your ears: listen to another Novel of the Roman Empire.
©2009 Ruth Downie (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This lively sequel to Medicus and Terra Incognita continues Downie's delightful historical series.... Highly recommended." ( Library Journal)

What listeners say about Persona Non Grata

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Festina lente

This is a story that is slow to build. Ruso and Tilla return to his family home. A letter and a broken foot sends Ruso into the stifling summer heat of the South of France and his family. He and Tilla face his rackety family, the family's intractable debt problem, the heat of summer, and the hostility of the locals. Ruso feels obliged to sort it all out. Tilla's problems include Ruso's family and the mysteries of Roman customs.

All will be well, but not without a lot of luck and hard work. On the way the readers learn much about the life of Romans at work and play in the South of France. Simon Vance tells a good tale and, although this was my first audio tale of Ruso, I am sure I shall listen to more of the Medicus and Tilla.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Mr
  • 20-01-24

Meandering and not very interesting

I quite enjoyed the 1st and 2nd in the series, but the “overly spoilt, stupid, spoilt Roman women really do grate on the nerves. So much so that they really spoil the book.
Sadly I was looking forward to a great series of books but with the way the writer and narrator portray the female characters in the over exaggerated way- causes the books to fall flat.
The female characters portrayed do no more than frustrate the story and
just add hours of unnecessary listening.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Quite the best

Quite the best, wittiest and most excellently read historical series by a knowledgeable, informative writer and superb actor that I’ve come across in a long time. Terrific insights into daily and political life in the grisly and cocksure Roman Empire, intriguing characters, lots of chuckles and jolly good plots…. Absolute gem

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Gripping, Enjoyable Read

There is nothing to dislike or argue about after listening to this outstanding audio-book. It sets itself up very well and the generous use of humour sits comfortably with a mystery that rewards the listening. Characters are drawn well and the audio-book's performer - Simon Vance - excels in making them real and funny. Characters are more fully witnessed in this third novel of the series and there is development which means that I will be relishing the next novel before long. Ruth Downie should be judged well and not in comparison with others. Audible should be thanked for making this title available to members in the Plus Catalogue. The Plus Catalogue was my easy introduction to this author and series; I am very grateful.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Hard to Finish

The book starts slow and then starts to build in pace. Unfortunately every one chapter of investigation seems to be followed by two or three of fighting family members or people doing really stupid things. By 3/4 through I no longer cared who commit the murderer and just wanted the story to be over.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another fine tale from Ruth Downie

What an absorbing story! It is full of incident and detail that explains a very different world - that of the Roman empire.
I generally like the narration, but he is much better with men than women - his characterisations often make women seem unintelligent or silly when this is not in the writing.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

slow story, silly voices

Some elements of this work or fascinating, including the little details of the lives of ordinary people at the time and the relationship between the two protagonists. However, it was let down by frustratedly slow progress, too many red herrings in the plot, so when I got to the end, I really didn't care who done it.

The narrator seemed to run out of convincing voices for the young women characters and just made them whiny.

Overall, quite a let down, as I'd enjoyed the previous books in the series. I think I'll give it a rest for a while.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • GB
  • 26-10-22

Enjoyable

An enjoyable story, great characters and excellent narration. I don’t know enough about this but if the Brigandi did end up as modern day Irish, I like the use of the lilt in Tilla’s speech during the narration.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent

I love the world of Ruso and Tilla. immediately absorbed in this latest adventure. off to next chapter.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent romp through ancient Neimes

This, the third instalment of Tilla and her Roman Medicus’ tale takes us to Gaul. The pace is exhilarating, the characters wonderful, and the historical detail is woven beautifully throughout the whole. I loved it! Off to buy the next one.

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