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Life Of Caesar

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Podcast

On the 19th August, 14 CE, 767 years after the founding of Rome, nearly exactly 2001 years ago, the...

All My Gods HD

Games and Entertainment

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App

From the creators of Roads of Rome series Become a Roman god! Don't be shy! Epic game that topped...

Warlord of Britannia (Warlord #2)

Simon Scarrow and TJ Andrews

6.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

The enthralling new drama in the epic story of the barbarian king who led the tribes of Britannia...

ClareR (6242 KP) rated The Last Hour in Books

Mar 28, 2018

The Last Hour

Harry Sidebottom | 2018 | Thriller

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

A Roman 24!!

That was one crazy ride from start to finish! The author has said that it's a historical take on 24 (the TV show with Jack Bauer/ Kiefer Sutherland), and he isn't wrong. But where I got fed up with the TV show, this kept my attention from start to finish. The attention to historical detail is so good (you can tell that the author is an academic - he knows how to do his research!), and sitting in my living room reading the book, I was transported to ancient Rome with all the sights and smells (my drains work just fine, thank you!).
The main character, Ballista is instantly likeable. A man with morals and honour, he discovers a plot to assassinate the Emperor that runs deep in the political and military world of Rome. He, and he alone, is the one to stop the assassination of his friend, the Emperor Gallienus. Rightly or wrongly, whether he agrees with the way that Gallienus runs the Empire or not, he is duty bound to save him - if only to save the lives of his wife and children.
I would love to be able to pick out and describe a favourite part of the book, but that comes well in to the second half (and I don't want to spoil the fun for anyone else!). I haven't read a book with quite so much action in a long time. There were some real 'heart in mouth' sections, and great character building (how Harry Sidebottom found the time and space to do that, well! I suppose that's why he writes and I don't!).
I will be on the look out for more of the authors books!
Thanks to The Pigeonhole for the chance to read this book!