LemonSky reviewed Persona Non Grata by Ruth Downie
Review of 'Persona Non Grata' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
In [b:Terra Incognita|9427467|Terra Incognita (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #2)|Ruth Downie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328358336s/9427467.jpg|1631028] we got to meet Tilla's family. This time around, we get to meet Ruso's - and see just why he left Gaul for Britannia. I really don't blame him. As head of the family, he is the main support of a stepmother, two teenage half-sisters, a brother, sister-in-law, and a growing number of nieces and nephews. His stepmother, Arria, spends her time planning home improvements and trying to pair Ruso off with a wealthy, widowed neighbor. His younger brother, Lucius, does his best to handle the family estate and a troublesome - and growing - family. To make matters worse, Lucius's brother-in-law has recently drowned in suspicious circumstances and the family is deeply in debt. Their main creditor, Severus, is married to Ruso's ex-wife, Claudia. Then Severus dies of poisoning while having a drink with Ruso in Ruso's own home. Ruso …
In [b:Terra Incognita|9427467|Terra Incognita (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #2)|Ruth Downie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328358336s/9427467.jpg|1631028] we got to meet Tilla's family. This time around, we get to meet Ruso's - and see just why he left Gaul for Britannia. I really don't blame him. As head of the family, he is the main support of a stepmother, two teenage half-sisters, a brother, sister-in-law, and a growing number of nieces and nephews. His stepmother, Arria, spends her time planning home improvements and trying to pair Ruso off with a wealthy, widowed neighbor. His younger brother, Lucius, does his best to handle the family estate and a troublesome - and growing - family. To make matters worse, Lucius's brother-in-law has recently drowned in suspicious circumstances and the family is deeply in debt. Their main creditor, Severus, is married to Ruso's ex-wife, Claudia. Then Severus dies of poisoning while having a drink with Ruso in Ruso's own home. Ruso has to solve the murder and save his family and estate (such as it is) from bankruptcy, which would destroy all of them.
I really enjoyed this volume. Tilla is delightful as ever - trying to understand Roman ways, but just remaining as perplexed as ever. For example, she is considered a barbarian, yet the Romans throw condemned criminals to wild animals. How is that civilized? Her attempts to understand Christos (Christians) are delightful and very funny. Ruso's relatives come across as real people, not caricatures. I even felt sorry for Arria, selfish and clueless, who had to deal with being the second wife in a household where everyone still loved the first wife. Ruso's memory of his mother's death and his younger brother's illness is touching. Despite everything, he does take his role as head of the family seriously.
Another thing about Downie's mysteries - her villains have perfectly reasonable (to them) excuses for their behaviors. We're not talking wild-eyed serial killers or the stereotypical "last person you would ever suspect" who really doesn't seem capable of hurting anything or anyone. When Downie's killers are caught and you learn why they did what they did, it makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, that's rare nowadays.
This is a series that that I really enjoy, and I am glad I discovered it due to Goodreads. Very well done and worth reading again and again.
Highly recommended.