When I picked up this book to read, my initial thoughts were: here we go another book set in Roman Britain. However, I will be the first to say that I was pleasantly surprised with Get Out or Die. While it did take me sometime to get into it I am glad that I persevered. This is a debut novel that grew on me as I continued to read it.
Set in 91 AD when Roman Britain is still a raw border area and Roman settlers have gathered to settle in the new area all is not well. Aurelia “Relia” Marcella a young innkeeper soon finds herself and her friends in the middle of not only a series of murders being committed by the Shadow of Death but also an espionage incident of massive proportions that could cost her, her life. Relia Marcella who is the narrator, runs the inn with her sister on behalf of their brother, who is constantly away on secret Government business. Of course this means that the inn is also used as a secret meeting point for Government spies ……..
As historical crime fiction novels go Get Out or Die is a well written and smooth tale of betrayal, disloyalty, and murder told in the style of a report. The reader is not slowed down with too much historical information; what historical details that we are given is conveyed with just the right touch and is just the right amount. One of the main reasons why I enjoyed this book so much was due to the fact that unlike some of the other historical crime fiction novels set in the same era, the main protagonist is not male or a slave. Relia Marcella is a thoroughly sensible and feisty young woman with a mind of her own. Despite becoming romantically involved (too early in my opinion) with a thoroughly suitable young man, she does not allow that to cloud her judgment.
Get Out or Die is a welcome addition to historical crime fiction set
in Roman Britain and I can only hope that from the way it ended that it will
become a series. I look forward to reading a lot more about Relia and her cohorts.
If I want to know a lot more about Roman Britain then I certainly know where
to go
. ----
Ayo Onatade