Signet, 2003, $7.99, ISBN 0-451-20904-4, 392 pgs., paperback

Is there such a thing as a noble Roman? Lucius Aurelius Valens thinks so as he tries to live up to his grandfather's "Truth and Honor" memory. His rich father arranges for Lucius to be posted as a tribune in the 6th Legion in Syria, where he promptly foils the legate's looting ways and runs afoul of the governor. Saved only through the intervention of Germanicus of the Imperial family, he receives a promotion to prefect of the 3rd Gallic Cavalry in Judea. As he avoids various assassination attempts, her arrives to find a murdered Roman Senator and his party near a small town in Galilee. If Lucius' life wasn't interesting enough, it takes a variety of twists and turns as he investigates the murder.

In a nutshell, The Tribune is a murder mystery set in Judea (Israel) in "the fifth year of Tiberius Caesar" or around 10 AD (19 CE). It is vaguely reminiscent of Steven Saylor's Gordianus the Finder mysteries, although not as focused on prominent people, and compares favorably to the over written Colleen McCullough books.

Larkin has a nice touch with prose, leaking out small details as Lucius meanders, bumbles, and storms on. Of course, you can figure out exactly where they are--the little town of Nazara--and which local carpenter is more than just your ordinary artisan. And with a cast of characters that includes an astrologer, Praetorian Centurion, Parthian horse archers, and a cameo by Herod, you can expect twists and turns aplenty.

I must admit, I'm not a murder mystery genre reader. Also, don't look to me for guidance, as I am inept at figuring out whodunit. But I can say The Tribune was a pleasant read, the character of Lucius (flaws and all) proved admirable and I can see this being adapted as a TV movie.

On the nitpicking side, I'm not quite sure which type of Tribune Lucius represents. I recall a passage noting he was a "narrow-striper," which would make him a tribuni angusticlavii. He had previously commanded a cohort of light infantry for four years, which I deduce is a praefectus cohortis peditatae, the rank below his current one. Germanicus promotes him to prefect of 3rd Gallic cavalry, which would be the next logical rank--praefectus alae.

In any case, it would be interesting to read a sequel, and see how Lucius gets out of the jam he creates at the end of the book.

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