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Rome: The Emperor's Spy (Rome 1)

A high-octane historical adventure guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat…

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Rome: The Emperor's Spy (Rome 1)

By: Manda Scott
Narrated by: Philip Stevens
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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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Brought to you by Penguin.

From bestselling author MC Scott, a heady, fast-paced and exciting historical adventure full of religious and political tensions, passion and intrigue. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Robert Harris and Conn Iggulden.

AD 64: Rome is burning. Only one man can save it.

The Emperor: Nero, Emperor of Rome and feared by his subjects for his temper and cruelty, is in possession of an ancient document predicting that Rome will burn.

The Spy: Sebastos Pantera, assassin and spy for the Roman Legions is ordered to stop the impending cataclysm. He knows that if he doesn't, his life - and that of thousands of others - is in terrible danger.

The Chariot Boy: Math, a young charioteer, subject to the wiles and schemes of the Emperor and the Spy.

Who will win this game, where death stalks the drivers - on the track and off it.

"As exciting as Ben Hur, and far more accurate..." - The Independent.
"A gripping tale..." - Daily Mail.
"I was totally engrossed..." - Reader review.

© Manda Scott 2010 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

 Ancient Historical Historical Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Espionage Mystery Rome
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Critic reviews

As exciting as Ben Hur, and far more accurate
A gripping tale, with more to come
A heady, fast-paced, well-written, and exciting book...Brilliant stuff
All stars
Most relevant
It’s a shame the chapter numbers don’t match the audio. Overall really good. Well worth listening to.

Really good story, well read.

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I tried this having loved the Boudica series by Manda Scott. Although I haven't found the characters as compelling as those in the stories about Boudica, it is nevertheless a great listen and I would recommend it to anyone to try, whether a fan of Manda Scott or new to her writing. Looking forward to the second instalment now.

An entertaining listen

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An exploration of the culture of Rome & her provinces & the tussle between the forces that hold her together & pull her apart told through the lives of real (Nero /Seneca) and imagined characters whose bravery & peril & love shine through. Thought provoking & inspiring.

Conjuring a world

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I loved this audio book. The narrator was excellent and enhanced the listening experience. The narrative is rich in detail and drama and left me wanting to hear more of the story. I’m now going to download the second in the series.

The Emperor’s Spy

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Having recently read the Boudica series which was excellent I was looking forward to this new series coming out, and I was not disappointed. Great story which follows on from the Boudica series, so I would suggest reading that 1st, as the characters link which makes it much more interesting. Brilliantly read as always by Philip Stevens who is probably my favourite narrator at the moment.

Great follow on to the Boudica Series

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