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Marcus Didius Falco #5
Poseidon's Gold
A.D. 72: To many, Rome is the center of the Empire. To Marcus Didius Falco, Imperial spy and casual informer, it is the home of his mother, the domineering matriarch who has kept the Didius clan together since her husband absconded with a redhead some twenty years before. Trouble is the last thing Falco wants on his return from a six-month mission to the German legions. But trouble is in store: his apartment has been wrecked by squatters and an ex-legionnaire friend of his colorfully heroic brother, Festus, has parked himself in the only other possible refuge, his mother's kitchen. What's worse, the man is demanding money allegedly owed him and his legion from one of Festus's wild schemes. Worse still, the only client Falco can get is his mother, who wants him to clear the family name. But little does he realize that trouble is only just beginning: the legionnaire is found viciously stabbed to death, with Falco the prime suspect. His friend Petronius is investigating the case, and while the intrepid Falco treads the dingy streets of Rome, his girlfriend, Helena Justina, is arrested as an accomplice, leaving her aristocratic family even more certain that this plebeian will not make a suitable husband. Even if her family were to agree to the marriage, Falco still needs an impossible 400,000 sesterces to buy himself into the middle rank. And to clear the family name, he has to find Geminus, the father who left all those years before, for he is the only one who knows what Festus was really up to. Compelled to face the past he deplores and a future he despairs of, Falco has just three days to prove he is not a murderer, to trace the real suspect, amass evidence, and win a fortune...
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
181 people are currently reading
1097 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Davis
79 books1,496 followersLindsey Davis, historical novelist, was born in Birmingham, England in 1949. Having taken a degree in English literature at Oxford University (Lady Margaret Hall), she became a civil servant. She left the civil service after 13 years, and when a romantic novel she had written was runner up for the 1985 Georgette Heyer Historical Novel Prize, she decided to become a writer, writing at first romantic serials for the UK women's magazine Woman's Realm.
Her interest in history and archaeology led to her writing a historical novel about Vespasian and his lover Antonia Caenis (The Course of Honour), for which she couldn't find a publisher. She tried again, and her first novel featuring the Roman "detective", Marcus Didius Falco, The Silver Pigs, set in the same time period and published in 1989, was the start of her runaway success as a writer of historical whodunnits. A further nineteen Falco novels and Falco: The Official Companion have followed, as well as The Course of Honour, which was finally published in 1998. Rebels and Traitors, set in the period of the English Civil War, was published in September 2009. Davis has won many literary awards, and was honorary president of the Classical Association from 1997 to 1998.
Her interest in history and archaeology led to her writing a historical novel about Vespasian and his lover Antonia Caenis (The Course of Honour), for which she couldn't find a publisher. She tried again, and her first novel featuring the Roman "detective", Marcus Didius Falco, The Silver Pigs, set in the same time period and published in 1989, was the start of her runaway success as a writer of historical whodunnits. A further nineteen Falco novels and Falco: The Official Companion have followed, as well as The Course of Honour, which was finally published in 1998. Rebels and Traitors, set in the period of the English Civil War, was published in September 2009. Davis has won many literary awards, and was honorary president of the Classical Association from 1997 to 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
February 5, 2020
This one is the best book in Falco series, yet. It features more of Falco and his dysfunctional family, especially his estranged father. And Falco's love interest the aristocratic Helena Justina is more involved with him. The everyday hustle and bustle of Rome in AD 70 is brilliantly portrayed by the author. Looking forward to the next book.
October 9, 2021
Read this book in 2012, and its the 5th volume of the incredible Marcus Didius Falco series.
The book is set in the year AD 72, and will take place on Falco's familiar patch, being Rome.
This tale is all about his family, his heroic Legionary brother, Festus, his absconded father, Didius, his domineering mother, and last but not least Falco himself.
After having returned from his mission in Germania, Falco finds his apartment at Fountain Court wrecked, while an ex-legionary friend of heroic brother has parked himself in his mother's kitchen.
This man is demanding money owed to him by Festus and his legion, and when he's found brutally stabbed, Falco's mother demands that the family name be cleared, with Falco himself on the run in the streets of Rome and Helena Justina arrested as an accomplice, they have only three days to clear their name and safe themselves.
What is to follow is an intriguing Roman mystery, with quite a few twists and turns, and after an exciting plot in which the real suspect will be traced and dealt with while possessing the real evidence, it will all end well for Falco for that evidence will turn out to be a fortune for him and his girlfriend, Helena Justina, in the end.
Highly recommended, for this is a superb addition to this marvellous series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Sublime Golden Falco Mystery"!
The book is set in the year AD 72, and will take place on Falco's familiar patch, being Rome.
This tale is all about his family, his heroic Legionary brother, Festus, his absconded father, Didius, his domineering mother, and last but not least Falco himself.
After having returned from his mission in Germania, Falco finds his apartment at Fountain Court wrecked, while an ex-legionary friend of heroic brother has parked himself in his mother's kitchen.
This man is demanding money owed to him by Festus and his legion, and when he's found brutally stabbed, Falco's mother demands that the family name be cleared, with Falco himself on the run in the streets of Rome and Helena Justina arrested as an accomplice, they have only three days to clear their name and safe themselves.
What is to follow is an intriguing Roman mystery, with quite a few twists and turns, and after an exciting plot in which the real suspect will be traced and dealt with while possessing the real evidence, it will all end well for Falco for that evidence will turn out to be a fortune for him and his girlfriend, Helena Justina, in the end.
Highly recommended, for this is a superb addition to this marvellous series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Sublime Golden Falco Mystery"!
December 11, 2017
Poseidon's Gold is the fifth novel in teh Falco series, and the first in which we are introduced to his family and past. In the same vein, Falco's love life is also getting more complex.
Expect a novel that explores the ancient world's art trade, from sculpting and shipping to forgery and rapine.
Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
Expect a novel that explores the ancient world's art trade, from sculpting and shipping to forgery and rapine.
Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
July 6, 2009
I really liked this one, more so than the previous book. Falco and Helena are back in Rome, trying to solve a mystery involving one of Falco's late brother's schemes, and Falco is forced to interact with his estranged father.
This series continues to be a pleasure to read. The books are funny, with a touching love story and likable characters. There are very nice details about the period, and the author's narrative style is really growing on me.
This series continues to be a pleasure to read. The books are funny, with a touching love story and likable characters. There are very nice details about the period, and the author's narrative style is really growing on me.
December 25, 2016
'Poseidon's Gold', book 5 in the Marcus Didius Falco ancient Rome detective series, finally fills in the backstory of Falco's dead brother, Festus, Roman war hero and legendary talented older brother. We readers have been given to understand from the previous books Festus was the best and brightest sibling of the Didius family, and his early death during the Roman war in Judea has continued to darken the family's normal high spirits and energies.
Another thread throughout the books has been Falco's extreme hatred of his father, now a wealthy auctioneer. Geminus (Marcus Didius Favonius) walked out on the family of seven children and wife when Falco was a little boy, which brought painful starvation and poverty to the family for a time, although currently all of the children have grown up. Most of them got married and now have families of their own. Meanwhile, Geminus remarried and became wealthy in selling household goods and art.
A soldier, T. Censorinus Macer, who served under Festus, turns up claiming Festus stole money from the Fifteenth Legion in a scheme to upsale Greek statuary. The ship the goods were on sank while sailing to Rome, but the soldier claimed that was a lie. Censorinus thinks Festus sold the art and kept the money, and that the Didius family knows where it is. Festus died three years ago, and if he had stolen any money, the secret of where it could have been hidden, IF it had been stolen, died with him.
Falco is angry and does not believe the story - but, maybe Festus did it. Festus always did have schemes going on to make money, after all, although as far as the family knows, he would have never done something this underhanded. Maybe. People do change. Anyway, after he tries to question Censorinus further in a nearby bar, the two men get into a fist fight, witnessed by many other customers. Falco goes home, thoughtful and disturbed.
As the next day dawns, Falco discovers to his shock he is being sought by the authorities for the murder of Censorinus! Plus, the family's sense of personal honor and their memories of a favorite boy will be seriously harmed if the story of Festus cheating his fellow soldiers is true. As Falco begins to investigate Censorinus' murder one step ahead of the Rome police, he learns his father is being threatened by a pair of art dealers claiming they had prepaid Festus for a valuable art work on the ship which had sunk.
Calamity upon calamity! Will Falco discover the truth before he is scheduled to be strangled for murder and theft?
I recommend reading this series in order.
Another thread throughout the books has been Falco's extreme hatred of his father, now a wealthy auctioneer. Geminus (Marcus Didius Favonius) walked out on the family of seven children and wife when Falco was a little boy, which brought painful starvation and poverty to the family for a time, although currently all of the children have grown up. Most of them got married and now have families of their own. Meanwhile, Geminus remarried and became wealthy in selling household goods and art.
A soldier, T. Censorinus Macer, who served under Festus, turns up claiming Festus stole money from the Fifteenth Legion in a scheme to upsale Greek statuary. The ship the goods were on sank while sailing to Rome, but the soldier claimed that was a lie. Censorinus thinks Festus sold the art and kept the money, and that the Didius family knows where it is. Festus died three years ago, and if he had stolen any money, the secret of where it could have been hidden, IF it had been stolen, died with him.
Falco is angry and does not believe the story - but, maybe Festus did it. Festus always did have schemes going on to make money, after all, although as far as the family knows, he would have never done something this underhanded. Maybe. People do change. Anyway, after he tries to question Censorinus further in a nearby bar, the two men get into a fist fight, witnessed by many other customers. Falco goes home, thoughtful and disturbed.
As the next day dawns, Falco discovers to his shock he is being sought by the authorities for the murder of Censorinus! Plus, the family's sense of personal honor and their memories of a favorite boy will be seriously harmed if the story of Festus cheating his fellow soldiers is true. As Falco begins to investigate Censorinus' murder one step ahead of the Rome police, he learns his father is being threatened by a pair of art dealers claiming they had prepaid Festus for a valuable art work on the ship which had sunk.
Calamity upon calamity! Will Falco discover the truth before he is scheduled to be strangled for murder and theft?
I recommend reading this series in order.
March 24, 2017
This is where the series takes off like a rocket.
Falco is back in Rome, trying to clear up a mess attached to his dead hero of a brother, his shyster lowlife of a father, and increasingly himself. Its the first book that takes us deep into the Didii family history and that adds a rich vein of drama to the story. That we also get Davies' best mystery in the series up to that point as well is another win - intriguing, well paced and ultimately a bit tragic.
There's some great set piece moments, particularly between Falco and his parents, but also between him and the various artists, and the meeting between Helena Justina and Marina. The interplay of characters and the sharp dialogue is always one of the main attractions for one of the Falco books and Davies gets it spot on here. The best interplay of all though is between Falco and the memory of his brother he loved, hated, worshipped and ultimately never truly knew.
If you're looking for a detective story with wit, soul, pizzazz and a good mystery - historical noir with a chatty soft-hearted family man - look no further.
Falco is back in Rome, trying to clear up a mess attached to his dead hero of a brother, his shyster lowlife of a father, and increasingly himself. Its the first book that takes us deep into the Didii family history and that adds a rich vein of drama to the story. That we also get Davies' best mystery in the series up to that point as well is another win - intriguing, well paced and ultimately a bit tragic.
There's some great set piece moments, particularly between Falco and his parents, but also between him and the various artists, and the meeting between Helena Justina and Marina. The interplay of characters and the sharp dialogue is always one of the main attractions for one of the Falco books and Davies gets it spot on here. The best interplay of all though is between Falco and the memory of his brother he loved, hated, worshipped and ultimately never truly knew.
If you're looking for a detective story with wit, soul, pizzazz and a good mystery - historical noir with a chatty soft-hearted family man - look no further.
March 23, 2011
The Didius boys! Finally, Falco's returned to Italy after that lengthy six-month trip to Germania Libera. Not that I had much to complain about in the previous book (I am still amused at the ending myself). But a Roman mystery is not a proper Roman mystery until one is in the city herself! Plus, Poseidon's Gold had to do with artwork and implicated murders.
It was much more riveting when it was Falco's innocence that was at question here, and even more so when he spent most of his time running around with a misfit band of artists, runaway slaves, crazy family members, and hated--though otherwise kindred--auctioneers. Oh, and Helena Justina, of course. Can I just say brava and finally over those two? Not that they're married yet, but I swear they will be!
The best character in this story was definitely Geminus, the frivolous auctioneer with problems on every side of Rome. And best supporting non-existent character? Definitely Didius Festus. Which goes to show that the Didius boys rocked the story.
I didn't think I could love most of these books continually, and with such high fervor! Now if only Borders would make good and actually send the backorder copy of the next book that I bought weeks ago...
It was much more riveting when it was Falco's innocence that was at question here, and even more so when he spent most of his time running around with a misfit band of artists, runaway slaves, crazy family members, and hated--though otherwise kindred--auctioneers. Oh, and Helena Justina, of course. Can I just say brava and finally over those two? Not that they're married yet, but I swear they will be!
The best character in this story was definitely Geminus, the frivolous auctioneer with problems on every side of Rome. And best supporting non-existent character? Definitely Didius Festus. Which goes to show that the Didius boys rocked the story.
I didn't think I could love most of these books continually, and with such high fervor! Now if only Borders would make good and actually send the backorder copy of the next book that I bought weeks ago...
November 14, 2020
leído en 2011.
Aunque me gusta la serie de libros sobre el detective romano Didio Falco, este creo que es el más flojo que ha pasado por mis manos.
Aunque me gusta la serie de libros sobre el detective romano Didio Falco, este creo que es el más flojo que ha pasado por mis manos.
July 16, 2023
Siempre resulta divertido e instructivo reencontrarse con Marco Didio Falco y toda su parentela. La verdad es que lo hago muy esporádicamente pero siempre me acabo preguntando por qué he tardado tanto en volver a él. Humor, ironía, costumbrismo y un toquecito de intriga en la época de los Romanos. Eso sí, creo que con algunas páginas menos se podría haber contado lo mismo de forma aún más efectiva.
January 20, 2011
Sometimes I wish I liked Lindsey Davis' Marcus Didius Falco's series more than I do. I am put off by Falco's contemporary attitude on the one hand but entranced with the stories, the characters and the plots on the other hand.
This was a good one with lots of twists and in addition to the usual characters some interesting new ones. We get to know Falco's father a lot better and also learn more about his older brother, Festus, a charming soldier and con man. His lover, the aristocratic Helena, is her usual incredible self. One can't help but wonder why she sticks with Falco. Falco gets himself in all kinds of trouble trying to clear Festus' name at the behest of his mother who, while not Jewish, certainly fits the stereotype of the "Jewish Mother".
All through the story, Falco tries to accumulate enough assets so he can move up the social ladder and marry Helena, whose father, though impecunious is a Senator. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone, so I'll just say what fun it was to follow Falco as he tried to figure out just what his brother had gotten himself into.
In spite of my intermittent distaste for Davis' attempt to make a Roman Informer sound like a present day Private Eye, i must admit each volume in the series gets and holds my interest. This one is no exception.
This was a good one with lots of twists and in addition to the usual characters some interesting new ones. We get to know Falco's father a lot better and also learn more about his older brother, Festus, a charming soldier and con man. His lover, the aristocratic Helena, is her usual incredible self. One can't help but wonder why she sticks with Falco. Falco gets himself in all kinds of trouble trying to clear Festus' name at the behest of his mother who, while not Jewish, certainly fits the stereotype of the "Jewish Mother".
All through the story, Falco tries to accumulate enough assets so he can move up the social ladder and marry Helena, whose father, though impecunious is a Senator. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone, so I'll just say what fun it was to follow Falco as he tried to figure out just what his brother had gotten himself into.
In spite of my intermittent distaste for Davis' attempt to make a Roman Informer sound like a present day Private Eye, i must admit each volume in the series gets and holds my interest. This one is no exception.
August 16, 2018
Este é um dos livros mais divertidos da série. Falco e o seu arisco pai perseguem uns artistas muito duvidosos para tirarem a limpo a última negociata do defunto irmão Festo. Há cenas hilariantes. A vida do nosso informador sofre algumas alterações, umas boas e outras nem por isso. A relação com o pai melhora aos nossos olhos.
August 25, 2013
As always, I enjoyed this Marcus Didius Falco novel by Lindsey Davis. It seemed a bit slower paced than her other Falco books but that may be just me being tired and being pulled in a dozen different directions while trying to read it. Certainly there was nothing about the book that would make me not finish it.
July 4, 2020
Enjoyable to me mostly for Falco's dynamics with his father, previously mysterious but now in the fore in this mystery featuring antiques. Falco must prove his innocence in a particularly gruesome murder and redeem his brother's reputation in a dodgy art sale scheme.
February 9, 2009
The best one so far - you learn much moire about Falco's family, and throgh them, you learn more about Falco. Also a really good mystery.
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April 17, 2025How? My Marcus Didius Falco audio read.
What? Returning from Germany, Marcus finds a soldier colleague of his dead brother's staying at mom's house and bothering her about some money the brother owed his colleagues. Apparently brother had a rise and grind mentality, perhaps helped by dad who is an auctioneer -- and whose abandonment of the family is still greatly bothering to Marcus. Soon the soldier is murdered, Marcus looks like the culprit, and has to find the murderer and figure out his brother's schemes.
And to do all that, he has to partner (eventually) with his dad, whom he hates.
Yeah, so? In one of the earlier books, Marcus works with an auctioneer who may be his dad, and it seems like that's a mystery -- an unpleasant spy threatens to tell him. In this book, that mystery is dispensed: they know each other and don't get along. I was a little disappointed that the mystery just evaporated for story reasons, and there's (as usual in these books) a little too much hemming and hawing in Marcus's character, but ultimately: I'm a sucker for a story about people forgiving each other and recognizing that they share too much to walk away.
I'll add, and this is a big spoiler, the murder turns out to be done by an escaped slave, who worried that he was recognized and would be returned after many years; and one of the characters is a beggar who used to be a teacher. All in all, there's a lot of side character stories here that had me really close to tears (which is pretty easy).
What? Returning from Germany, Marcus finds a soldier colleague of his dead brother's staying at mom's house and bothering her about some money the brother owed his colleagues. Apparently brother had a rise and grind mentality, perhaps helped by dad who is an auctioneer -- and whose abandonment of the family is still greatly bothering to Marcus. Soon the soldier is murdered, Marcus looks like the culprit, and has to find the murderer and figure out his brother's schemes.
And to do all that, he has to partner (eventually) with his dad, whom he hates.
Yeah, so? In one of the earlier books, Marcus works with an auctioneer who may be his dad, and it seems like that's a mystery -- an unpleasant spy threatens to tell him. In this book, that mystery is dispensed: they know each other and don't get along. I was a little disappointed that the mystery just evaporated for story reasons, and there's (as usual in these books) a little too much hemming and hawing in Marcus's character, but ultimately: I'm a sucker for a story about people forgiving each other and recognizing that they share too much to walk away.
I'll add, and this is a big spoiler, the murder turns out to be done by an escaped slave, who worried that he was recognized and would be returned after many years; and one of the characters is a beggar who used to be a teacher. All in all, there's a lot of side character stories here that had me really close to tears (which is pretty easy).
December 9, 2017
This is my favorite of the series so far. We learn more about Marcus Didius, his scalawag brother, his absentee father, and why everyone in the family gets along as poorly as they do. Correspondingly, we waste less time on Vespasian and family. There’s an art heist and forgery. Helena Justina is brilliant and not distracted by foolish jealousy, even as she finds out more of her lover’s checkered past. Their romance deepens.
I do object to using enslaved Judeans as a plot device. That’s my only objection. I am glad there are more of these metals in the series.
I do object to using enslaved Judeans as a plot device. That’s my only objection. I am glad there are more of these metals in the series.
October 5, 2025
A refreshing change for me is to read a book in English.
Correct spelling and grammar, lovely.
Not only does Davis write accurately, but her books are sardonically funny, very entertaining.
Poseidon's Gold is no exception; it's as good as any of her other books before the fifth volume in her series of detective stories set in Rome under the Caesar Vespasian.
I loved it.
I cannot recommend this English writer who writes in proper English highly enough.
Correct spelling and grammar, lovely.
Not only does Davis write accurately, but her books are sardonically funny, very entertaining.
Poseidon's Gold is no exception; it's as good as any of her other books before the fifth volume in her series of detective stories set in Rome under the Caesar Vespasian.
I loved it.
I cannot recommend this English writer who writes in proper English highly enough.
October 23, 2017
The life of Didius Falco is much like a roller coaster. Just when things are going well, the bottom drops out and then he fights and investigates and drinks until things go better. Luckily he still has his dear Helena to comfort him and since she is so intelligent, confer with him on whatever mystery he is working on. In this story we learn a lot more about Falco's deceased brother, Festus and his father Germanius.
May 24, 2024
Read by Gordon Griffin.
Falco’s deceased brother, Festus, seems to have left a debt that Falco and his family are being pressed to repay. A Roman legionary is murdered and Falco is accused. He has a couple of days to clear himself, find the real murderer, and discover just how deeply Festus was involved in a scam with a valuable statue thought lost at sea. As before, the narrator, Gordon Griffin, is not the best. Later books narrated by Christian Rodska are better.
Falco’s deceased brother, Festus, seems to have left a debt that Falco and his family are being pressed to repay. A Roman legionary is murdered and Falco is accused. He has a couple of days to clear himself, find the real murderer, and discover just how deeply Festus was involved in a scam with a valuable statue thought lost at sea. As before, the narrator, Gordon Griffin, is not the best. Later books narrated by Christian Rodska are better.
May 29, 2023
With a complex plot involving a number of different threads, and many ups and downs--this book was interesting to the very end. I always enjoy time spent with Falco and his friends and family, and this one was particularly engaging, as Falco and his estranged father worked together to solve (and survive) the mystery left by Falco's dead brother. Competently read by Simon Prebble.
December 5, 2021
I read and enjoyed several books of this series decades ago - just checked to see if they held up, and they do.
November 22, 2023
Struggled through this audio book after having thoroughly enjoyed previous ones. Not sure why but this seemed very drawn out and lacking any real story. I hesitate to call it boring but it was hardwork to find it anything but a drag. Also, an issue I’ve had with this series before, Gordon Griffin is an excellent narrator but sounds 60 not 30 as Falco is supposed to be at this point. Difficult to believe this is a young man’s struggles when he sounds like a pensioner. Maybe just not the right moment for me.
September 28, 2023
3.5 Stars really . I enjoyed this much more than the previous 4 I have read. At last we meet Falco's father, who had left Falco's mother and their children some years ago. Falco had always stayed away from anything to do with his father but it seems his eldest brother, who had recently died whilst fighting in the army, had been in business with his father and had persuaded some of his comrades from the army to invest in some statues that were bought cheap but had a valuable price in Rome. One of the centurions was actually staying with his mother whilst Falco had been away on his own business as an informer. ( what nowadays we would call a spy) The centurion had been found brutally murdered, following a fight with Falco, so naturally Falco was the prime suspect. Luckily, the investigating officer is Falco's best friend, so Falco is still under arrest but allowed to investigate the murder whilst hard evidence is found.
I think what lifted the book for me was the will they/won't they, was not a big issue between Falco and Helena.
I think what lifted the book for me was the will they/won't they, was not a big issue between Falco and Helena.
January 3, 2018
'Poseidon's Gold' is Lindsey Davis not so much at her best, but at her most comfortable with her ancient Roman hero, Marcus Didius Falco. The preceding novels in the Falco series are all in some way new experiences for her lead character and the supporting cast (including the addictive Helena Justina). However in this fifth entry in the series Davis has 'domesticated' Falco and his 'detective' narrative. There are no dangerous expeditions to Britannia, Magna Graecia or Germannia, no near fatal conspiracies against the Flavians or Falco himself. Instead 'Poseidon's Gold' is all about Falco coming to terms with his family and doing so almost entirely within the seven hills of Rome.
Davis adopts a Terentian dramatic technique of providing two related plot problems (i.e. a murder and a missing piece of Greek sculpture) to test Falco's abilities, however this is (as becomes more and more the norm with the Falco books) a contrivance for the author to create anachronistically engaging characterisations that riff wonderfully off the stereotypical 'gumshoe' archetypes. In fact, what is most enjoyable about reading any of the Lindsey Davis Falco novels is the way she gives all her characters, even most minor ones, a vigour that keeps the reader engaged. Aside from the standard cast (Falco, Helena, Petronius) 'Poseidon's Gold' presents a panoply of personae who all have their favours and flaws. Falco's parents and siblings colour his past and present, whilst a minor 'actor' such as the caupona waiter Epimondas has enough presence in the story to give the reader pause for thought when his fate is revealed.
Ultimately this book is all about continuing the saga of Marcus Didius Falco and his romance with Helena Justina. Therein lies the most rewarding achievement of Lindsey Davis; she is feeding the hunger of her audience for a rattling good love story within all the disguises and contrivances of both a detective genre story and an ancient Roman historical context.
Davis adopts a Terentian dramatic technique of providing two related plot problems (i.e. a murder and a missing piece of Greek sculpture) to test Falco's abilities, however this is (as becomes more and more the norm with the Falco books) a contrivance for the author to create anachronistically engaging characterisations that riff wonderfully off the stereotypical 'gumshoe' archetypes. In fact, what is most enjoyable about reading any of the Lindsey Davis Falco novels is the way she gives all her characters, even most minor ones, a vigour that keeps the reader engaged. Aside from the standard cast (Falco, Helena, Petronius) 'Poseidon's Gold' presents a panoply of personae who all have their favours and flaws. Falco's parents and siblings colour his past and present, whilst a minor 'actor' such as the caupona waiter Epimondas has enough presence in the story to give the reader pause for thought when his fate is revealed.
Ultimately this book is all about continuing the saga of Marcus Didius Falco and his romance with Helena Justina. Therein lies the most rewarding achievement of Lindsey Davis; she is feeding the hunger of her audience for a rattling good love story within all the disguises and contrivances of both a detective genre story and an ancient Roman historical context.
August 26, 2024
Giallo questa volta più "casalingo" per Marco Didio Falco, che deve scoprire una qualche magagna che riguarda suo fratello Festo. Cerca così di ricostruire gli ultimi periodi della sua vita, prima di diventare l'eroe osannato che ha conquistato la corona civica per essere stato il primo ad aver varcato i bastioni di una città semisconosciuta della Giudea. Si tratta di un'indagine senza ricompensa, dunque, anche perché Falco si deve scagionare da un'accusa di omicidio che gli pende sul capo, dal momento che un centurione che aveva un conto in sospeso con Festo, Censorino, è stato assassinato subito dopo aver litigato con Falco.
Ci sono due persone con cui Marco è costretto a parlare, anche se proprio non vorrebbe farlo: la fidanzata ufficiale di Festo, Marina, con cui Falco è stato l'ultima sera che Festo ha trascorso a Roma (tanto da non sapere di chi è la figlia nata circa nove mesi dopo); e suo padre, Gemino, il banditore d'aste che lo ha abbandonato quando era ancora un bambino, rifacendosi una vita con una rossa.
Nel corso delle indagini, Falco riesce forse a ritrovare un rapporto col genitore che lo ha abbandonato, e con cui Festo aveva invece aveva una relazione piuttosto stretta, ma forse perché Festo aveva un carattere diverso, e inoltre, quando il genitore è andato via, era più grande e non aveva bisogno come Falco di una figura paterna più presente, perché l'aveva già avuta.
Comunque il finale è davvero molto amaro per Falco, che ha sì ritrovato un rapporto con il padre - ma anche con la madre - ma non riesce a coronare il suo sogno ora che potrebbe, per un capriccio di Domiziano, il figlio minore dell'imperatore. Decide così di partire con Elena da Roma... e sì, perché il prossimo caso si svolgerà all'estero, no? Un caso a Roma e un caso in giro per l'Impero. 😜
Ci sono due persone con cui Marco è costretto a parlare, anche se proprio non vorrebbe farlo: la fidanzata ufficiale di Festo, Marina, con cui Falco è stato l'ultima sera che Festo ha trascorso a Roma (tanto da non sapere di chi è la figlia nata circa nove mesi dopo); e suo padre, Gemino, il banditore d'aste che lo ha abbandonato quando era ancora un bambino, rifacendosi una vita con una rossa.
Nel corso delle indagini, Falco riesce forse a ritrovare un rapporto col genitore che lo ha abbandonato, e con cui Festo aveva invece aveva una relazione piuttosto stretta, ma forse perché Festo aveva un carattere diverso, e inoltre, quando il genitore è andato via, era più grande e non aveva bisogno come Falco di una figura paterna più presente, perché l'aveva già avuta.
Comunque il finale è davvero molto amaro per Falco, che ha sì ritrovato un rapporto con il padre - ma anche con la madre - ma non riesce a coronare il suo sogno ora che potrebbe, per un capriccio di Domiziano, il figlio minore dell'imperatore. Decide così di partire con Elena da Roma... e sì, perché il prossimo caso si svolgerà all'estero, no? Un caso a Roma e un caso in giro per l'Impero. 😜
July 12, 2012
The retconning in this one kept me from really enjoying it. In The Silver Pigs we're told that Falco's father abandoned the family when he was young, running off with some woman, and has totally disappeared. From that point up until this book, the story gradually changed: first there's an auctioneer who might be the long-lost Didius patriarch; then it's taken for granted that he is, but none of the family have contact with him; and now . Much as I like Favonius Didius Falco, and the conflict he brings to the story, I have an irrational feeling that Davis should have thought things through in the first place--irrational because I know authors aren't perfect, but blast it, they ought to be.
I also have some personal frustration with one of the characters central to the plot of art theft and forgery. Orontes is a cheat and a liar, and the sort of weak-spined person who annoys me in real life. Again, it makes for a great story, but I kept wanting to punch him in the face, and that's difficult to do when the person is a fictional construct.
I also have some personal frustration with one of the characters central to the plot of art theft and forgery. Orontes is a cheat and a liar, and the sort of weak-spined person who annoys me in real life. Again, it makes for a great story, but I kept wanting to punch him in the face, and that's difficult to do when the person is a fictional construct.
June 9, 2015
If you went by what appears in this book you'd wonder how Marcus Didius ever managed to keep body and soul together. We don't really follow all his inquiries into witness statements and he mentions spending hours poking around Rome but we don't know what he was doing. In spite of that this was an interesting case of great personal interest to Marcus (I'm assuming we may be free with his personal name) since it involved his famous brother, his mother, several more distant relations, and his father - that man who disappeared in some sense years ago but appears to be not a bad sort at all. We learn about art collectors, parian marble, and statues by Phydias. There must have been statues by famous sculptors still around so the whole case is quite possible. This was a particularly well planned case and we are led up several unpleasant garden paths before the final solution appears. Helena goes through yet more of the same.
October 29, 2012
Lindsey Davis must have met my friend Mike's family. His parents are first-generation Sicilian immigrants and could have provided the source material for Falco and his.
Poseidon's Gold finds Falco discovering uncomfortable facts about his dead brother Festus, the darling of the family and decorated hero of the Judaean War, and he becomes the prime suspect in the murder of one of his brother's former associates.
As usual, though, despite a certain pig-headed stubbornness Falco manages to work things out (even saving Festus' reputation - such as it was - in the process).
Poseidon's Gold finds Falco discovering uncomfortable facts about his dead brother Festus, the darling of the family and decorated hero of the Judaean War, and he becomes the prime suspect in the murder of one of his brother's former associates.
As usual, though, despite a certain pig-headed stubbornness Falco manages to work things out (even saving Festus' reputation - such as it was - in the process).
March 23, 2022
Una nueva entrega de las aventuras del investigador Marco Didio Falco, está vez la trama se ambienta en Roma y lugares cercanos.
Como siempre, la autora nos permite descubrir algún tema nueva y en esta ocasión trata sobre arte y chanchullos varios relacionados con el mercado artístico. A destacar el tándem que forma Falco con su padre, la siempre atrayente relación con Helena Justina y lo interesante de conocer más sobre el difunto hermano de Falco, Festo.
Estas novelas son canela en rama.
Como siempre, la autora nos permite descubrir algún tema nueva y en esta ocasión trata sobre arte y chanchullos varios relacionados con el mercado artístico. A destacar el tándem que forma Falco con su padre, la siempre atrayente relación con Helena Justina y lo interesante de conocer más sobre el difunto hermano de Falco, Festo.
Estas novelas son canela en rama.
January 23, 2017
Less a mystery (though that's part of it) than a family drama, Poseidon's Gold delves deeply into Falco's relationships with his late brother, much loved but not entirely trustworthy, and his estranged father—with Helena in the midst of everything. Davis weaves together numerous threads in the complex story, resisting pat conclusions with bittersweet finesse.
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