Product Description

Simon Scarrow's brilliant adventure novels about the Roman army appear with stunning new covers.

After a series of bloody battles, Camulodunum (modern-day Colchester) has fallen to the invading Roman army. The Emperor has returned to Rome, leaving the fearless Centurion Macro and his young Optio, Cato, to rest and regroup, along with the rest of the Second Legion. As their leader General Plautius plans the next phase of their campaign, word arrives that the ship carrying his family to join him was wrecked in a storm off the south coast. His wife and children have fallen into the hands of a dark sect of Druids, who now demand the return of those of their brotherhood taken prisoner by the Romans. Unless their demands are met within one month, Plautius's family will be burned alive. Will Cato and Macro discover where the Druids are hiding their hostages? And can they find some way to rescue them before time runs out?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41076 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Review
'The third in Scarrow's historical series featuring hardbitten Roman centurion Macro and his young sidekick Cato - and it's probably the best... Rollicking good fun' (Mail on Sunday )

About the Author
Simon Scarrow is a former teacher who now devotes himself to writing full time. He lives outside Norwich with his family.

Customer Reviews

What a magnificent series this is!
Cato and Macro's third outing is the best yet. Having survived the full horrors of battle in the previous two books they find themselves embarking on a mission to rescue General Plautius's family from the clutches of some pretty bloodthirsty and terrifying Druids. As before, the principal characters are thoroughly three-dimensional and the dialogue crackles with smart one-liners and the kind of bluff words you'd expect soldiers to utter. The action is fast and frantic and the overall pace of the book accelerates away so that it becomes impossible to put the thing down. I don't want to spoil the ending for those who haven't yet had the chance to read this excellent addition to the series, but I can't wait to see how Macro and Cato's relationship weathers the new situation they find themselves in.
Having read Cornwell, Forester et al, I have to say that this is the best historical adventure series I have come across in years and I can't wait for the fourth one to appear.

WHEN THE EAGLE HUNTS
The third Macro & Cato action-adventure more than lives up to its predecessors. Action, intrigue and mystery all in an evocation of the Roman Empire unparalleled since the days of Robert Graves and "I Claudius". Scarrow's characterisation is wonderful, not just of Cato, but also of secondary characters like Figulus, the clumsy Gaul legionary and Prasutagus, the giant Iceni warrior with a relish for violence, both of whom are hilariously drawn. Scarrow does lose a star though for the grating blokish dialogue he puts in the mouth of Macro and some of the other legionaries. That said the Macro & Cato novels remain a delicious treat, easily outclassing Bernard Cornwell. I for one can't wait for the next instalment.

Hurry up! Where's the next one.
For all those fans of Bernard Cornwell, I have some shocking news. There is someone better. Even from the first pages of 'Under the Eagle' it was apparent that there was a great new storyteller about to hit the UK. His first book was gripping right from the start, his second was no disappointment to those doubting he could keep it going, the third 'Where the Eagle hunts' is just a masterpiece of excitement, humour and a thouroughly good read. The likable characters of Optio Cato, a self doubting yet courageous youth, trying to survive in an army his intellect has not prepared him for, and Centurion Macro, his Superior officer and mentor, to whom Cato is a youth showing more than a little military nouse. In this book, Scarrow manages to create a story that contains the descriptive ferocity of war, the cold-blooded cruelty of the ancient Druids and the strict, harsh life of a Roman soldier. And yet, Scarrow constantly manages to lighten by the dry and worldly humour displayed by our 2 main characters. A cliff hanger to the final word, this book really takes you to the noise and brutality of battle. It's an old cliche to say 'I couldn't put it down'. Well, I didn't. Not from cover to cover. Please Mr Scarrow, hurry up and write quickly so we can read some more.