Browse plot descriptions, book covers, genres, pseudonyms, ratings and awards. Web publication order of medicus investigation books.
Ruth downie books series#
Web ruth downie began medicus investigation series in 2006 when medicus the first book in the series was published. Shop amongst our popular books, including 27, memento mori, vita brevis and more from ruth downie. Web there are 10 books in the ruth downie series. Web welcome to my website! She is famously known as the author of medicus.
Her first novel, medicus and the disappearing dancing girls. Web ruth downie (born 18 april 1955, north devon, united kingdom) is a british author.she is best known for her mysteries featuring the “reluctant sleuth”, gaius petreius ruso, that. Turney short stories/novellas in publication. She is famously known as the author of medicus. If so, I'm very glad she did.Ruth Downie Books In Order. Subsequently, Downie seems to have republished under her own imprint.
Ruth downie books full#
I don't know the full history of this novel or its excellent British author, but I suspect it and at least some others in the series may have been traditionally published at first, (to rave reviews). A quick glance at their website shows that to be the case. A friend here in Scotland asked for it in Waterstones and was told it was unavailable, even to order. In the UK at least, you'll probably have to get it on Amazon. She is fully aware of the the cultural differences, the reluctant or self interested accommodations that must be made, the mistaken assumptions - all of these are part of the rich mosaic of each book, but she never loses her deft, storytelling touch. Downie explores the tensions between two races and cultures occupying the same space, one dominant, the other mutinous, sometimes overtly, sometimes subtly. Tilla is clever, brave, enterprising and passionate. Ruso manages to be both hilarious and sexy, which is quite an achievement.
This is far more subtle, more immersive, more true to life - and far more funny than that. Some historical writers seem to feel the need to cram every last bit of research into their books. Downie has extensive knowledge of the time and place, but she wears it lightly and handles it perfectly. I remember being fascinated by a poem called The Ruin by an Anglo Saxon poet, contemplating the ruins of the 'works of giants' - aka the Roman city of Bath. My first degree was in Mediaeval Studies, but I'd always been fascinated by the centuries before, and by the interaction between the incoming Romans and the native British culture, as well as what came after. Years ago, I wrote a drama series for BBC R4 called Voices from Vindolanda, and did a hefty chunk of research about Roman Britain, as well as visiting Hadrian's Wall and Vindolanda itself But even before that, I'd been interested in the time and place. 'With a gift for comic timing and historic detail, Ruth Downie has conjured an ancient world as raucous and real as our own.' I can hardly do better than quote from a New York Times review. And I love the subtlety of the growing and occasionally problematic attachment between him and Tilla, more credible than so much manufactured 'sexual tension' in other fiction. Nothing more attractive than a man who makes you laugh. The last time I was so invested in the central character of a novel was when I read Fred Vargas's Commissaire Adamsberg novels, during the pandemic. We see the world mostly through these two believable characters. Also reluctantly because he's strapped for cash, he buys her from the rogue who is ill-treating her.
Somewhat reluctantly, he treats her broken arm. Tilla (Darlughdacha, but he finds the name difficult) is the British girl he rescues from a fate worse than death. Gaius Petreius Ruso is an experienced army doctor posted to Britannia. Partly, it's because Downie has created a pair of thoroughly (and instantly) engaging central characters. I finished it quite quickly, moved on to the next in the series (I'm on Book Four right now) and at some point, went back and read Medicus again, this time wearing my writer's hat, just to see how she had done it. I went home, downloaded it onto my Kindle where I read almost all my fiction these days, started it that night, and loved it so much that I could hardly bear to go to sleep. She suggested that she had enjoyed the whole series.
I wouldn't have known about this book at all if it hadn't been recommended by a member of our village book group. Which is what happened with Medicus by Ruth Downie. I used to review professionally for various magazines and newspapers, but I seldom do it now, unless I've fallen in love with a book so completely that I just have to tell people.
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