Conspirata is the sequel to Imperium which I reviewed a couple days ago in this blog. Marcus Tullius Cicero rules as consul of Rome, but he’s immediately confronted by the murder of a young boy whose throat was cut and whose organs had been removed from his body. Cicero immediately realizes this a ritual murder done as a sacrifice. This ritual murder investigation leads to a large conspiracy to seize power and destroy the Roman republic. Harris captures the political scheming and the tangled electoral relationships among Rome’s power brokers. I hope Harris continues Cicero’s story. Once again, this is historical fiction written masterfully. GRADE: A-

Carter Dickson/John Dickson Carr’s clever The Curse of the Bronze Lamp is the third and last of Art Scott’s recommended “impossible crimes” mysteries. This all started a month ago when I reviewed John Dickson Carr’s The Three Coffins (The Hollow Man) for FORGOTTEN BOOKS. Art argued that The Crooked Hinge, The Judas Window, and The Curse of the Bronze Lamp were superior to the convoluted The Three Coffins. To summarize: I loved The Crooked Hinge and The Judas Window. The Curse of the Bronze Lamp concerns the disappearance of archeologist Helen Loring. Lady Helen had been threatened that she would be “turned into dust” if she brought the sacred Bronze Lamp from Egypt to England. And, as soon as Helen Loring set foot in her home, Severn Hall, she disappeared! Of course, Sir Henry Merrivale is on the scene to solve the mystery. The Curse of the Bronze Lamp is the weakest of Art’s recommended books. I figured out what was going on in short order. But the plot is clever and there are a few surprises. If you’re a devotee of “impossible crime” mysteries, The Curse of the Bronze Lamp will delight you.

Robert Harris presents Marcus Tullius Cicero as a young lawyer on the make in Imperium. The story is told by Cicero’s slave, Tiro, who invented a short-hand system that provided invaluable in legal and political situations. Cicero, without money or family connections, manages to climb the Roman bureaucracy through his brilliant skills at rhetoric and speaking. Harris captures the intrigue of the Roman Senate and the corruption of the political process. If you enjoyed I, Claudius, you’ll find this fictional biography very satisfying. Harris has done his research and insists “Although Imperium is a novel, the majority of events it describes did actually happen; the remainder at could have happened; and nothing, I hope (a hostage to fortune, this), demonstrably did not happen.” This is excellent historical fiction! GRADE: B+

Last night, Diane and I went to a concert featuring GRAMMY Award-winning Chanticleer, the only full-time classical vocal ensemble in the U. S. Over its 22-year history their interpretation of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz, and from gospel to Christmas carols is legendary. With its seamless blend of twelve male voices, ranging from countertenor to bass, Chanticleer is known as “an orchestra of voices.” Since 1994, Chanticleer has been recording exclusively for Teldec Classics International, with 22 recordings to its credit. If these guys show up in your neighborhood, you need to hear their joyous music. I liked their Doo-Wop version of “Summertime.”

FUNKY MIDNIGHT MOVER – THE ATLANTIC STUDIO RECORDINGS (1962-1978) captures legendary soul singer Wilson Pickett’s career in a 6 CD collection. FUNKY MIDNIGHT MOVER includes all of Wilson Pickett’s originally issued recordings for Atlantic Records, as well a full CD of rare and previously unreleased recordings. This set’s 154 tracks include all 35 of the Pickett’s R&B smashes – including five #1 hits – from “In The Midnight Hour,” his first hit for Atlantic Records, to 1973’s “International Playboy,” his last chart entry for that label. A 92-page book with rare photos and comprehensive liner notes includes intros by Jerry Wexler who produced several of Wilson Pickett’s albums. If you’re a fan of the “Wicked Pickett” this is a must-buy! GRADE: A

David vs. Goliath. You’ll hear this comparison plenty of times leading up to the tip-off of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship tonight. Little Butler University taking on mighty Duke! In the Final Four games Butler struggled against Michigan State, pulling out a 2-point win while Duke cruised over West Virginia by 21 points. Most commentators predict Duke will crush Butler. But, I think it will be a closer game than most people think. Maybe Cinderella has one more bit of magic left to show us…

Over the decades, I’ve read and admired Bernard Cornwell’s SHARPE series. Richard Sharpe is a British soldier who rises through the ranks of the British Army from book to book because of his courage and bravery. He’s a natural warrior and manages (with Cornwell’s help) to be a participant in every important battle of the Napoleonic Wars. With Waterloo behind him, Sharpe retires. But, he’s drawn back into the Great Game when he accepts a mission in India. Here, an insurgency threatens British rule. Fans of Top Chef will recognize Padma Lakshmi as the beautiful (but treacherous) Madhuvanthi. Sean Bean brings just the right blend of grit and sophistication to these SHARPE adventures. I have them all on DVD (as well as the books), but these are two new episodes presented as part of MASTERPIECE CLASSIC on PBS. Check your local listings for times in your area.

The Judas Window (aka, The Crossbow Murder and The Bowstring Murders) features both a locked room murder and a dramatic courtroom explication of how the murderer pulled off such an impossible crime. Avery Hume, master archer, is found dead from an arrow shot into his heart. The only other person in the locked room is young James Answell, Hume’s future son-in-law who is charged with the murder. Answell claims he was drugged and when he regained his consciousness, Hume was dead. Crusty barrister Sir Henry Merrivale untangles the twisted plot and reveals not only the real killer, but manages to punish a blackmailer in unique fashion, too. This is the first time I can recall nude photographs being part of a locked room plot. If you like mind-boggling puzzle mysteries, The Judas Window is one of the best. Thanks go to Art Scott for recommending it!

I’m a sucker for books like Andrew Martin’s Funny You Should Say That: Amusing Remarks From Cicero to the Simpsons. I can dip into it and always find some thought-provoking and funny remarks. How about this one: “Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor…which is one very strong argument in favour of matrimony.” Jane Austen said that. Or, how about: “I hate television. I hate it as much as peanuts. But I can’t stop eating peanuts.” Orson Welles said that. The book is organized by themes. There are author biographies, an index by author, and a subject index. What a wonderful book! A browser’s delight! GRADE: A