For readers of Bernard Cornwell, Ben Kane, Simon Scarrow and Conn Iggulden, this is a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat
Harry Sidebottom was brought up in racing stables in Newmarket
where his father was a trainer. He took his Doctorate in Ancient
History at Oxford and has taught at various universities including
Oxford, where he lectures in Ancient History. His first book
Ancient Warfare: A Very Short Introduction was published in 2004 to
critical acclaim and he has published numerous chapters in books,
and articles and reviews in scholarly journals. His foray into
fiction began with Fire in the East, the first of his six-novel
'Warrior of Rome' series, which has sold over half a million copies
worldwide. His next series, Throne of the Caesars, was equally
acclaimed. The Last Hour, his tenth novel, introduces us once again
to Marcus Clodius Ballista, hero of the 'Warrior of Rome'
books.
www.harrysidebottom.co.uk
Relentless, brutal, brilliant, this is Jack Reacher in ancient
Rome
*Ben Kane*
A cracking tale. More twists and turns than the Tiber itself
*Rory Clements*
Cracking, page-turning stuff
*James Swallow*
Makes you feel as though you are there.
*The Times*
Grabbed me from the start. I loved it
*Donna Leon*
Harry Sidebottom's epic tale starts with a chilling assassination
and goes on, and up, from there.
*Mary Beard*
An amazing story of bloodlust, ruthless ambition and revenge.
*The Times*
An extraordinarily vivid take on the ancient world. Think of The
Killing crossed with Andy McNab crossed with Mary Beard, and you're
there.
*Evening Standard*
Ancient Rome has long been a favourite destination for writers of
historical military -fiction. Much the best of them is Harry
Sidebottom.
*Sunday Times*
Swashbuckling as well as bloody, yet curiously plausible ... a real
gift for summoning up a sense of place.
*Times Literary Supplement*
The best sort of red-blooded historical fiction - solidly based on
a profound understanding of what it meant to be alive in a
particular time and place.
*Andrew Taylor*
Absorbing, rich in detail and brilliant.
*The Times*
An exceptionally gifted story-teller drawing on prodigious
learning.
*Tim Severin*
This is a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat
*Netgalley*
24 Jack Bauer style...the time brought to glorious life by Harry's
blisteringly fast paced writing...Harry Sidebottom manages to keep
you the reader perched on the very edge of the page throughout the
book, with regular chapter ending cliffhangers that make a book
that you cannot put down and will lose sleep over...I very highly
recommend this book, hands down the best in the series so far
*Parmenion Books*
Sidebottom expertly creates a fantastic sense of place, rich in
authentic detail. Once the final quarter of the book is reached,
however, the chase is really on, and the author piles on an
adrenalin rush of 24 hours in Rome until the satisfyingly dramatic
conclusion at the Coliseum
*Historical Novels Review*
The Best New Mystery and Thrillers
*Netgallery*
Sidebottom has a profound knowledge of the topography and people of
ancient Rome. In Ballista's race through its murky streets, he
meets prostitutes and watermen, messianic Christians and priapic
beggars. It is this rich detail which makes The Last Hour an
engaging read.
*The Times*
if you want to be entertained as well as reliably informed, enjoy
all-action thrillers, fancy a fascinating whistle-stop tour of the
ancient City of Rome, and revel in witnessing a bygone world
brought to vivid, visceral life, then The Last Hour should tick
every box
*Lancashire Evening Post*
A taut historical thriller which plunges you bloodily into the time
and place
*Weekend Sport*
A ripping story...this transplanting of 24 to Ancient Rome is a
great success
*The Telegraph*
Sidebottom is on cracking form in this sensational,
race-against-time adventure. In trademark style, Sidebottom also
gives us an intriguing insight into the Roman way of life...if you
want to be entertained as well as reliably informed, enjoy
all-action thrillers, fancy a fascinating whistle-stop tour of the
ancient City of Rome, and revel in witnessing a bygone world
brought to vivid, visceral life, then The Last Hour should tick
every box
*Lancashire Evening Post*
Harry Sidebottom is an excellent writer - I greatly enjoyed his
writing style and tone of voice. Along with being descriptive (but
not overly so, thank goodness), Sidebottom does an excellent job of
pacing. The whole story starts out with an action scene full of
danger, immediately griping the reader, and it continues to wax and
wane and overall keep the pace steady
*Quirky Cat*
It's extremely fast-paced, like online gaming, with a new peril
confronting our hero Ballista literally every corner he turns.
Sidebottom's novels are well-written, with an outstanding sense of
location and geography, excellent characterization, and
psychologically interesting plots. They are always well researched,
as we might expect from an Oxford academic who lectures in Roman
history...the details of each episode, and some ingenious plot
points, offer astonishing insights into the Rome of the 3rd century
of the Christian Era. I look forward to leisurely banter, some
reflection time, some ominous pacing and unexpected "Gotcha's!"
when next we meet Ballista.
*Elly MacDonald Writer*
This book is what I believe is known as a page-turner, the sort
which is hard to put down because the story grips you and drags you
along...Harry's scholarship is much in evidence...a great read
*Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy Magazine*
If Marcus Clodius Ballista has a time-traveling doppelganger, it's
Jack Bauer. This was my first adventure with Ballista. I understand
that there are some older voyages and battles that I can still
enjoy with him. The Last Hour still works well on its own. Ballista
was a strong, captivating character. His charisma immediately
pulled me to his side. The Last Hour is a fun, fast-paced book. It
was an excellent introduction to the writing of Harry
Sidebottom
*2 Book Lovers Review*
One of the masters of historical fiction
*PaperPlus NZ*
This tale of bloodlust, ruthless ambition and revenge offers an
extraordinarily vivid take on the ancient world. While it swashes
its bloody buckle to the full it is somehow curiously plausible and
the author's gift for summoning up a sense of place and the life of
the Empire at street level with its multitude of religions,
factions, slaves, criminals, bars, baths and brothels actually
makes you feel as though you are there
*Crime Review*
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