Although I did not enjoy this as much as the first, most of the elements that made the Disappearing Dancing Girls such a good read are still in place and Ruso, the intrepid doctor, remains his inquisitive self, a decent man with a lively curiosity and healthy scepticism for anything that hints at superstition.
In this adventure Ruso has headed to the northern frontier with Tilla, his very irritating 'housekeeper', and takes over the running of the army infirmary in her home town, when the incumbent doctor goes mad and insists on confessing to a murder the authorities want to ascribe to a 'local'.
The local is innocent and Ruso is determined to prove it - despite the fact that he is wildly jealous of the man who was Tilla's childhood friend and lover. Native uprisings, druidish mysticism, army corruption and unsympathetic superiors do not make his job any easier but with the help of Valens [who, on the run from an aggrieved father in Deva, has joined them in Coria] and Tilla [more infuriating, obstinate and feisty than ever now she is back in the land of 'her people'] Ruso wins through.
A highly enjoyable read, not bogged down in too much historical detail, and with reallyfascinating insights into the state and practice of medicine back in the the days before the Dark Ages. ( )

In Terra Incognita, Medicus Ruso and his housekeeper Tilla travel from Deva with the Twentieth Legion to join the Tenth Batavians in Coria, which is located just at the British boardlands and has little else for Ruso but good wine and trouble. Once there, Ruso finds himself involved in another murder investigation. This one involves a dead trumpeter by the name of Felix who met his end in an ally, and who is also missing his decapitated head. The old army doctor Thessalus has confessed to the murder, but the army is blaming a native basket maker named Rianorix for the murder. Relations between the Romans and the Briton natives are tense, and there have been sightings of a native God named Cernunnos, the The Stag Man, who the army fears will incite violence in the native population.

Ruso is convinced that neither Thessalus nor Rianorix are guilty of the murder. Unfortunately for his conviction, Thessalus is quite adamant about his guilt-- he’s also a very passionate consumer of poppy tears and quite possibly insane. Ruso would be a bit more sympathetic towards Rianorix if not for the fact that he was found in bed with Tilla. The army wants to blame Rianorix no matter what Russo can prove or what Thessalus proclaims. Not only did Rianorix have an argument with Felix the night of his death, but a drawn stag man was found at the scene of the crime. No matter what, the Batavians want Coria to look good for the visit of the Governor of Britannia.

The story becomes more complicated when certain facts start to come to light. First, Felix was ‘engaged’ to a native girl by the name of Aemilia who was also courted by Rianorix. Second, Felix had his hands in some unscrupulous but fruitless business ventures complete with his own book of debtors. If only the head of Felix could be found, the investigation may come closer to the truth. Naturally, nothing can ever come easy for Ruso who is at the same time plagued by relationship woes. Tilla is finally home with her family and friends. The fact that she is taking the side of Rianorix while declaring her distaste for Romans is cause for alarm for the enamored Ruso.

I love this book and it’s a great follow up to Downie’s first book Medicus. Ruso, for all his naivety and insecurity, is a great character. He contrasts perfectly with the stubborn and strong-willed Tilla. The story is full of plot twists and new revelations that keep the story constantly moving and always surprising. Ruso is so unfortunate that he provides a great deal of comic relief; a reader can’t help but feel bad for him as bad luck strikes again and again.

Terra Incognita has a lot of cultural conflict. The relationship between Ruso and Tilla is often times conflicted by cultural differences. Ruso cannot understand Tilla any more than she can accept the Romans in general. Though the two of them feel obvious affection for each other, they are often left vexed or upset by cultural misunderstandings. We also see the cultural differences of the Romans and Britons-- Romans are confident conquerors who see their way as the only natural way, and the Britons regard the Romans with suspicion and dislike. The Romans want to stamp out old customs while the Britons resent the Romans for imposing their culture on them. The Roman army trusts the Britons about as much as the Britons trust the Romans, though, so the feelings are mutual.

As I have said before about Downie and her style of historical fiction, I love that she doesn’t write for the purpose of showing off her vast knowledge of history. So many writers of historical fiction add in superfluous paragraphs that serve only to let the reader know just how ‘expert’ the author is. While I love getting as much historical information as possible, I likewise love it when an author makes a matter-of-fact type story that is smooth and believable simply because the storytelling is humble. Downie fits her characters into Rome seamlessly, without grand pronouncement or showing off. They just belong there. ( )

The sequel to Medicus, Terra Incognita is well-written. Author Ruth Downie clearly put a lot of time and research into bringing Roman Britannia to life. I thought that the story dragged, though, quite a bit, especially towards the end. Terra Incognita is a worthwhile read.

http://archthinking.blogspot.com/2009... ( )

The second installment in the Ruso series has Ruso, a Roman medic, escorting his housekeeper/friend/lover/freed slave close to the border (where Hadrian's wall will soon be erected) between Roman Britain and the unconquered northern tribes.

Other reviewers have mentioned this book being disjointed. In one respect, I agree, but when I read it, some how I got the impression that Downie might be doing this intentionally, in order to convey the "disjointedness" Ruso is feeling in his own life.

Downie does mention in her author's note that her treatment of the northern tribes is very speculative, but Terra Incognita does not purport to be a truly historical account..

I personally liked Medicus more, but there is no concrete evidence to base this decision on. I like that Downie is dealing with a different place in the Roman Empire than most of the other Roman historical mystery writers employ. ( )

The hero is a doctor, following a Roman legion up to Hadrian's Wall, where the natives are restless. It's OK, just not very absorbing. ( )