Spqr I The Kings Gambit

Decius Caecillus Metellus the Younger, an employee of the civil detective force of Rome, investigates two murders that are connected with secret information leaked from the Vestal temple, and uncovers corruption at the highest levels of government that co

Blackmail, corruption, treachery, murder--the glory that was Rome. In this Edgar Award-nominated mystery, John Maddox Roberts takes readers back to a Rome filled with violence and evil. Vicious gangs ruled the streets of Crassus and Pompey, routinely preying on plebeian and patrician alike, so the garroting of a lowly ex-slaved and the disembowelment of a foreign merchant in the dangerous Subura district seemed of little consequence to the Roman hierarchy. But Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger--highborn commander of the local vigiles--was determined to investigate. Despite official apathy, brazen bribes, and sinister threates, Decius uncovers a world of corruption at the highest levels of his government that threatens to destroy him and the government he serves.

Blackmail, corruption, treachery, murder--the glory that was Rome. In this Edgar Award-nominated mystery, John Maddox Roberts takes readers back to a Rome filled with violence and evil. Vicious gangs ruled the streets of Crassus and Pompey, routinely preying on plebeian and patrician alike, so the garroting of a lowly ex-slaved and the disembowelment of a foreign merchant in the dangerous Subura district seemed of little consequence to the Roman hierarchy. But Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger--highborn commander of the local vigiles--was determined to investigate. Despite official apathy, brazen bribes, and sinister threates, Decius uncovers a world of corruption at the highest levels of his government that threatens to destroy him and the government he serves.

The King's Gambit is the most daring and dangerous opening. White throws caution to the wind, and Black must know what he is doing to avoid early defeat. The King's Gambit was all the rage in the 19th century, but has an enduring popularity throughout the chess world. Remarkably, it is once more the focus of the top grandmaster attention, for example when Nigel Short played it three times in a row against the world's best at the Madrid 1997 tournament.

Michael Mueller has waited twenty years. He is finally the right age. He is more prepared than any player in history. All he needs is an opponent. It is time to start the game. The Kings of New York City are dying and Michael, obsessed with Bobby Fischer and the game of chess, is killing them at specific sights on certain dates across the grid of New York City's chess board. The killer wants the ultimate match, in front of the biggest crowd, in the world's most renowned city. New York City Homicide Detective Paul Worton has seen it all in his thirty years on the force, but when he and his squad are sent to Carnegie Hall to solve the murder of New York City Philharmonic Director Vincent Antonelli, he may have met his match. This first brutal execution blossoms into a string of sensational deaths connected by one distinct clue which signals the presence of a diabolical serial killer. The stakes are enormous in the final game as New York City landmarks become killing grounds and pressure from the public, the media, and the top brass scream for the capture of the Chess Board Killer. In this race against time, will Worton be able to sift through the moves and counter moves and piece together enough clues to stop this psychopath, or will Mueller fulfill his dream and become the most renowned chess player of all time?

The Kings Gambit must be the favourite opening of every attacking player. In the glory days of Paul Morphy in the nineteenth century, to play anything else was regarded as almost cowardly but in modern times the popularity of the Kings Gambit has faded. Todays players, under the malign influence of their computer programs, are more materialistic and loath to sacrifice a pawn for long-term compensation. The honourable exceptions are Alexander Morozevich and Nigel Short, two world-class players who are willing to risk the Kings Gambit. John Shaw seeks to popularise this ancient opening, with in-depth analysis solving many of the supposed problems with this opening. Despite the complexity of the material, the reader will have no difficulties following the book, as Shaw clearly explains the issues using his skill as an experienced author. The romantic Kings Gambit was favoured by the chess elite of the 19th century, but can it thrive in the 21st century? Grandmaster John Shaw takes up the challenge.