THE TRIBUNE

Being a whistleblower is risky business, especially in ancient Rome. Lucius Aurelius Valens, a foot soldier in the Sixth Legion, witnesses a brutal act of carnage and soon becomes convinced that his superior officer is not only looking the other way, but is complicit in the massacre. A man who prizes his honor above all else, Lucius takes matters into his own hands and leads a small band of troops against the marauders, in the process making bitter enemies of virtually every powerful officer in the Roman army. A just and compassionate high-ranking official transfers Lucius to a patrol in Galilee as a means to escape his situation, but Galilee provides problems of its own. There Lucius collides not only with a complex political situation that threatens to bring King Herod's fury down on an entire city, but also with one of the most pivotal people in human history (yes, that Galilean). Larkin's story is ambitious and well plotted, but it moves at a snail's pace and is nearly twice as long as it ought to be. Though the "surprise ending" is no surprise at all, it still manages to wrap up a story that, unfortunately, fails to live up to its fascinating premise. (June)