A Senseless Death in a Dying Republic

A young man, Justinian, is setting out to join the Roman army during a period of bitter tensions during the last years of the Roman republic. His enlistment gets off to a bad start when he loses contact with his fellow soldiers while on a march. A chance meeting with a young woman sets off a series of events which lead to criminal charges of desertion and malicious killing.
Set during the turbulent times of the Marian and Sulla civil war, A Senseless Death in a Dying Republic is a gripping story of lost dreams and a disregard for human life. The novel features historical characters such as Sulla, Marius, Pompey, Cicero and Catalina.

A Senseless Death in a Dying Republic is John Rook's first novel. In a career spanning 40 years, John has worked as a photographer, teacher and journalist. Apart from photography qualifications, he has a Bachelor of Arts (major: Journalism) and a Masters in Adult Education. He served for 9 years in the Royal Australian Navy as a navy cameraman. John has long been an avid reader of ancient history and studied Ancient History at Macquarie and New England Universities. He is married and lives with his wife at Buff Point in NSW, Australia.