My first Roman mystery novel, The Governor’s Man, was acquired and published by Sharpe Books in a happy blur last spring. Consequently there wasn’t time then to include the character list I had wondered about adding.
Some readers have asked for one, nonetheless, and I’m always delighted to oblige where I can. So, dear readers, here are the named characters from The Governor’s Man, listed at the locations they first appear in. I hope you find it useful!
Character List [by location of first introduction]
Rome
Castra Peregrina
Quintus Valerius: former Praetorian officer, now frumentarius, an imperial investigator.
Gnaeus: stator (groom) to Quintus.
Commandant Licinius Pomponius: commanding officer to Quintus.
On the Quirinal Hill
Lucilla Valeria: younger sister to Quintus.
Tribune Justin Petrius: officer in the Praetorian Guard; childhood friend of Quintus; husband to Lucilla.
Silenus: freedman steward to Quintus.
Londinium, Britannia
Gaius Trebonius: governor of Britannia Superior; former legate of the Second Augusta legion; friend of Quintus.
Tiro: disgraced former NCO, a Londoner, pancratium martial arts champion.
Aradius Rufinus: procurator (finance minister) for Britannia Superior.
Aquae Sulis
Lady Julia Aureliana: noblewoman of the Durotriges tribe of the Summer Country; trained healer.
Medicus Anicius Piso: surgeon in charge of the hospital at Aquae Sulis; colleague of Julia.
Britta: housekeeper and close friend of Julia.
Senovara: cook at Julia’s townhouse.
Lady Aurelia Aureliana: niece of Julia; daughter of Marcus, Julia’s brother.
Velvinna: herbalist, teacher; Wise Woman; friend of Julia.
Silvanus: steward to Velvinna.
Centurion Marcellus Crispus: commander of the statio cohort at Aquae Sulis.
Fulminata: actress on tour from Londinium.
Summer Country, Britannia
Bo Gwelt
Magistrate Marcus Aurelianus: tribal leader of the northern Durotriges; town councillor at Lindinis; owner of the Bo Gwelt estate in the Polden Hills; father of Aurelia; brother of Julia.
Claudia: second wife of Marcus; sister of Claudius Bulbo; stepmother to Aurelia.
Demetrios: Greek tutor to Aurelia, and trained doctor.
Rufus: senior groom at Bo Gwelt.
Morcant: estate manager at Bo Gwelt; brother of Britta.
Gwenn: wife of Morcant.
Narina: daughter of Gwenn and Morcant.
Cerberus: Aurelia’s dog.
Bawdrip
Decurion Agrippa Sorio: neighbour and friend to the Aurelianus family; town councillor at Lindinis.
Drusus Sorio: his son.
Vebriacum mines/Iscalis
Lucius Claudius: nephew of Claudia; son of Claudius Bulbo.
Claudius Bulbo: leaseholder of Mendip lead/silver mines.
Tertius: freedman manager and accountant at the mines.
Antoninus Labienus: Roman patrician.
Sextus Caesulanus: former centurion, now security manager at Vebriacum.
Enica: cook at Iscalis mansion of Bulbo.
Corinium
Decimus Senecio: optio to Marcellus.
Felix Antonius: primus pilus of Second Augusta legion; formerly at Londinium cohort.
Cassius Labienus: younger brother of Antoninus Labienus.
I’ve also had requests for a map. I’m already working with the exceedingly talented architectural illustrator Chris Fothergill to produce a map for the follow-up Quintus Valerius book (working title The Carnelian Phoenix), in which the main characters travel from Britain, across France to Italy, and then by sea via Spain, Portugal and France back to Britain. Quite a lot of ground and water to cover there!
Chris kindly offered to create a map for The Governor’s Man as well, so I hope to have that soon to share with you.
In the meantime, here’s a less polished offering from Him Indoors: