this was an okay read. I wanted more history then i did present day but for a free book it was good ( )

A historical mystery based on the Pagan Goddess Vesta. Set in Rome at the time of Nero and his burning of the city. The second mystery, the abduction of the niece of the Prime Minister in current times.

India Sommers is drawn into the mystery by a visitor at the library who is trying to identify a coin. She joins with Brandon Walker, SAS to find the murderer and the abducted child.

Well researched. Though this is my least favorite story format, two stories told in alternating chapters. I was rewarded with the fascinating twists and turns of an interesting plot. ( )

India Sommers, librarian and old coin aficionado, is going about her normal business when a mysterious man stumbles into her library, asks her to examine a curious ancient coin, stumbles back out, and is murdered. When the enigmatic Brandon Walker asks for her aid to tie the artifact to a high-profile kidnapping and a string of brutal murders, India is thrown into a breakneck adventure that leads her all over Europe as well as back in the past. The novel deftly interweaves the 64AD narrative of Rubria, a vestal virgin in the time of Nero, with India's present-time adventure. As the story races towards the denouement, their stories become inextricably intertwined.

I would say this novel falls squarely into the category of historical/conspiracy thriller rather than murder mystery or detective story. For me, the way it linked ancient intrigue with present-day mayhem was very reminiscent of Dan Brown, and in fact I would describe this as a rather gentler story very much in the style of The DaVinci Code. In terms of style, Ashman favors very simple, straightforward prose that makes the book a very fast read. There are numerous grammatical errors, mainly punctuation and capitalization, but I did not feel that they detracted from the narrative. (I read the printed book; the ebook has apparently undergone additional editing).

Thrillers aren't my normal fare, and like most thrillers, the plot falls well outside the realms of probability. I didn't so much suspend disbelief as have to throw it out the window. As someone who is fascinated by mythology, although I don't mind conspiracy theories and know that a little factual leniency is standard in the genre, I tend to find minor inaccuracies in the tiny details rather galling. A few of my hypercritical quibbles: for one, a blonde, blue-eyed Roman citizen such as Rubria would be incredibly unusual in 64 AD, and the casual mentions and depictions of "heaven" felt much more Christian than Roman. I was also jarred by a few anachronisms such as ancient Romans with names like "Amy" and "Rose" (as opposed to Amata/Rhoda/Rosa)and use of expressions such as "okay" or "fuck". I also had trouble reconciling the mythology presented here with that I had previously encountered; given the persnicketiness of my complaints, especially given the syncretism of the region, I spoiler-tagged the specifics: hover for spoiler

At the same time, it is clear that Ashman researched both the historical landmarks and legends that he weaves into the story. I loved the small details he included such as the way early Christians co-opted iconography of Isis into depictions of Mary, mother of Jesus. In the present day portion of the narrative, I faced similar difficulties with my skepticism. I couldn't really reconcile the concept of a special forces operative behaving so haphazardly and unprofessionally or picking up such inexperienced specialist. I also found it somewhat difficult to connect the antagonists' impressive web of conspiracy and intrigue with the rather dubious talents of some of their employees. For such a murderous and far-reaching gang, they seemed to lack a certain level of competence and were oddly shy about harming the protagonists. (Perhaps they failed to read the evil overlord handbook.) Again, however, it's no more improbable than, say, Indiana Jones' or Robert Langdon's adventures. I also loved that the genre-savvy narrator and characters wryly lampshaded some of the scenes that relied heavily on thriller tropes or Bondsian moments. I loved that neither the characters nor the narrator took themselves completely seriously and nicely punctuated the story with humour.

Once my disbelief had been firmly defenestrated, I found it an enjoyable read. Despite my quibbles above, I really loved the way Ashman tied together a historical mystery and the legend of Rubria into a long-hidden conspiracy. I also thought Ashman did an excellent job of bringing characters such as Rubria and Nero to life. I enjoyed the Romans' casual mentions of Boudicca and the way that historical events, such as the burning of Rome, played integral roles in the plot. I found Rubria to be an engaging and sympathetic character and was quickly drawn into her story. In the present-day portion, however, I found Brian and India to be rather flat, and neither seemed to be firmly rooted in their world. I felt that they lacked the backgrounds, relationships, and quirks that delineate personalities. My favorite parts of the present-day portions were the interactions with incidental characters such as a talkative, sexually obsessed, yet oddly motherly inkeep, a laconic Italian guide, and a sarcastic and entertaining cab driver.

Overall, although it didn't quite fit my tastes, I can see this as being a great read for those who like their page-turners a little more towards suspense than mystery. With its web of wide-reaching conspiracies tied to ancient religious artifacts, The Dead Virgins is an enjoyable light thriller that will appeal to fans of Dan Brown, Sam Bourne, and Indiana Jones.

Note: I received this book through the Goodreads First Reads program. ( )