Published by Pulcheria Press,
12 September 2019.
ISBN: 979-1-09731020-2 (PB)
12 September 2019.
ISBN: 979-1-09731020-2 (PB)
ISBN: 979-1-09731019-6 (ebook).
The Roma Nova books are an
alternative history series based on the precept that the Roman Empire never
totally disappeared but instead several eminent families relocated and made a
new life for themselves in the small but influential country of Roma Nova. The
country is ruled by descendants of the original families, and inheritance and
leadership pass through the female line. The Mitela family is one of the most
powerful leading families and it is ruled by Aurelia Mitela. Aurelia is a
wealthy woman with large estates to administer but, as a good Roma Novan, she
is also dedicated to the service of her country. She is a diplomat and
sometimes an investigator, but she can never forget her earlier role as a major
in the Praetorian Guard and her experiences in Special Forces. In her personal
life, Aurelia is vulnerable in only two ways, in her devotion to her young
daughter, Marina, and her love for her life partner, Miklós Farkas.
The
story opens in 1970s London, where Aurelia is filling in as her country’s
ambassador during the illness of the current ambassador. Miklós and Marina have
accompanied her, although Miklós, whose passion is horses and horse breeding,
has little taste for formal ceremonies. Aurelia has to juggle her diplomatic duties
with her life as a mother, especially difficult in a society whose expectations
of the female role is very different to that of Roma Nova. When she realises
that Marina is being bullied at school, Aurelia intervenes to protect her
daughter, the aftermath of which gains her an unpleasant enemy. She is
confronted by a far more difficult parenting role when her friend, Harry
Carter, asks for her help in locating his son, Tom. Harry is a senior official
in the British Foreign Office, he has been a single parent for many years,
since the death of his wife, and Tom is his only child. Aurelia has known Tom
since he was a sullen, secretive teenager and suspects that there is little
hope of finding him if he does not want to be found, and even less probability
of persuading him to return home if he is unwilling. Nevertheless, she and Miklós
try to find Tom, a mission that proves surprisingly hazardous.
Back
in Roma Nova, Aurelia is asked to lead an investigation into the suspicious
deaths of three prominent men, based in different parts of Europe and all
linked to banking. Leaving Marina safely at home, Aurelia and Miklós set out to
uncover the conspiracy that lies behind the deaths. As they probe deeper,
Aurelia realises that there is a link between the killings and their previous
hunt for Tom Carter. The violence escalates and Aurelia realises that, unless
she acts swiftly and ruthlessly, there is a very real danger that she will lose
forever the man that she has chosen as her life partner.
Nexus
is set a few years after Aurelia, the first novel that chronicles the life of
Aurelia Mitela as a young woman. It is a fast-moving novella with powerful and
engaging characters. It explores different aspects of life in the 1970s, where
conventional attitudes often clash with the lifestyle and life choices of a
young woman of authority and integrity, who is used to acting decisively in her
own right. A great read for those who enjoy exploring different settings and
alternative history, with an unconventional, strong, female protagonist. Highly
recommended.
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Reviewer:
Carol Westron
Alison Morton Even before she pulled on her first set of combats,
Alison Morton was fascinated by the idea of women soldiers. Brought up by a
feminist mother and an ex-military father, it never occurred to her that women
couldn’t serve their country in the armed forces. Everybody in her family had
done time in uniform and in theatre – regular and reserve Army, RAF, WRNS, WRAF
– all over the globe. So busy in her day job, Alison joined the Territorial
Army in a special communications regiment and left as a captain, having done
all sorts of interesting and exciting things no civilian would ever know or
see. Or that she can talk about, even now…
But something else fuels her writing… Fascinated by the mosaics at Ampurias (Spain), at their creation by the complex, power and value-driven Roman civilisation she started wondering what a modern Roman society would be like if run by strong women…
But something else fuels her writing… Fascinated by the mosaics at Ampurias (Spain), at their creation by the complex, power and value-driven Roman civilisation she started wondering what a modern Roman society would be like if run by strong women…
Now,
she writes Roman-themed alternate history thrillers with tough heroines:
http://alison-morton.com
Carol Westron is a successful short story writer and a Creative
Writing teacher. She is the moderator
for the cosy/historical crime panel, The Deadly Dames. Her crime novels are set both in contemporary
and Victorian times. The Terminal Velocity of Cats the first in her Scene of Crimes novels,
was published July 2013. Carol recently gave an interview to Mystery People. To
read the interview click on the link below.
http://carolwestron.blogspot.co.uk/ To read a review of Carol latest book Strangers and Angels click on the title.
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