Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • Semper Fidelis

  • A Novel of the Roman Empire
  • By: Ruth Downie
  • Narrated by: Simon Vance
  • Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (138 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Semper Fidelis

By: Ruth Downie
Narrated by: Simon Vance
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £20.99

Buy Now for £20.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Back at his post as a doctor in the 20th legion in Roman-occupied Britain, Ruso uncovers a new danger even closer to home than the neighboring barbarians.

As mysterious injuries, and even deaths, begin to appear in the medical ledgers, it's clear that all is not well amongst the native recruits to Britannia's imperial army. Is the much-decorated centurion Geminus preying on his weaker soldiers? And could this be related to the appearance of Emperor Hadrian?

Bound by his sense of duty and ill-advised curiosity, Ruso begins to ask questions nobody wants to hear. Meanwhile his barbarian wife Tilla is finding out some of the answers -and is marked as a security risk by the very officers Ruso is interrogating.

With Hadrian's visit looming large, the fates of the legion, Tilla, and Ruso himself hang in the balance.

©2013 Ruth Downie (P)2013 Tantor
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

Medicus cover art
Dragonfly cover art
Past Imperative cover art
Cathedral of Bones cover art
The Unquiet Bones cover art
The Seeker cover art
The Capsarius cover art
A Conspiracy of Violence cover art
Nox Dormienda (A Long Night for Sleeping) cover art
Marius' Mules I: The Invasion of Gaul cover art
The Wolves of Savernake cover art
A Plague on Both Your Houses cover art
Satan's Lullaby cover art
Ruritanian Rogues: Volumes 1-3 cover art
Live Free or Tri cover art
The Course of Honour cover art

Critic reviews

"Downie injects a modern who-done-it twist into the imperial action." ( Kirkus)

What listeners say about Semper Fidelis

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    101
  • 4 Stars
    33
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    104
  • 4 Stars
    20
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    88
  • 4 Stars
    33
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Easy listen

I find this series enjoyable. Nothing to stretch the mind, no violence no offence, no need to work anything out. When you want a relaxing listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Another fun listen.

Another story in the roman world following Gaius the Medicus and his wife. Another curious mystery, another likable characters, and I was excited to have Emperor Hadrian and his wife as characters for our enjoyment. Whenever real historical characters are introduced, especially some as large as Hadrian, their personalities always stand out. One has their own visions of how they would act and behave, and it’s always fun to see others’ own versions.
Another good listen with no lows, a calming narrator and tone. I will continue with the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great performance and story telling

I love these stories. hard fast historians may find some if the listening difficult but the stories are well written the characters are interesting and the perdormance is great. i like hearing how Gaius and Tilla's relationship develops, and seeing each pitfal that Gaius falls into as the tale progresses. very enjoyable

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sharp characters - great story

Thoroughly enjoyed this story of Russo and his' difficult 'wife Tilla. Based on real history - it is wonderfully told.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another atmospheric story

Interesting plot that makes good use of known history and gives us the authors imagination to fill in the gaps. Great to get an insight into background research at the end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Getting better with every book

The addition of new characters as prestigious as Emperor Adrian and his wife Sabina was fascinating. Cant wait for the next book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great story

great story, I think it is the best book in the series since the first one, Medicus.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

one of the best in the series

moves along well, character development good. nicely thought out story. Narrator is very good. Recommended

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good historical detail.

Would you listen to Semper Fidelis again? Why?
Yes, I have listened to it twice because I enjoy listening about Ruso struggles again humanity.

What other book might you compare Semper Fidelis to, and why?
The other Ruso books.

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favourite?
It's always Ruso but I also enjoyed listening to Valance (spelling?) and his father-in-law.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Ruso's very grim situation.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So glad I found this series

The unwilling detective - it gets better and better. Great characters, plausible storyline - enjoyed every minute.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!