Point of View

The entire novel is narrated from the point of view of Gordianus the Finder. Given that Roman Blood's primary generic designation would be "murder mystery", this fact is unsurprising. Aside from the historical backdrop, the novel is a fairly standard detective story. In modern terms, Gordianus the Finder is actually a private investigator and his first-person perspective allows the reader to follow his progress, learning what Gordianus learns at each step of the case. As a narrator, Gordianus the Finder is more than reliable. What is interesting in the case of this work of historical fiction is "seeing" ancient Rome through the eyes of one who is neither a noble nor a slave. From his vantage point in the middle of Roman social strata, Gordianus is an observer with more mobility than would have been afforded someone born higher or lower than himself.

The only exception...