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Marcus Didius Falco #10
Two for the Lions
Lumbered with working alongside reptilian Chief Spy Anacrites, Marcus Didius Falco has the perfect plan to make money-- he will assist Vespasian in the Emperor's 'Great Census' of AD73. His potential fee could finally allow him to join the middle ranks and be worthy of long-suffering Helena Justina.
Unexpectedly confronted with the murder of a man-eating lion, Falco is distracted from his original task, uncovering a bitter rivalry between the gladiators' trainers. With one star gladiator dead, Falco is forced to investigate and the trails leads from Rome to the blood-soaked sand of the arena in North Africa.
Unexpectedly confronted with the murder of a man-eating lion, Falco is distracted from his original task, uncovering a bitter rivalry between the gladiators' trainers. With one star gladiator dead, Falco is forced to investigate and the trails leads from Rome to the blood-soaked sand of the arena in North Africa.
434 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
116 people are currently reading
872 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Davis
77 books1,493 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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March 3, 2022
Execution by lions in ancient Rome was reserved for the worst criminals.
Some people did not deserve to die.
An ex-consul,
a lion,
an ostrich,
a wild girl,
a gladiator,
a drunken brother-in-law.
Not dying is an eloping brother-in-law, and an extinct(?) plant.
All lead Falco to North Africa for a showdown in the arena.
Auditing the merchants of death
Anacrites and I were working among the suppliers of wild beasts and gladiators for the arena Games in Rome; every time we took our auditing note tablets on a site visit, we spent the day surrounded by those who were destined to die in the near future and those who would only escape being killed if they killed someone else first. Life, the victors’ main prize, would be in most cases temporary.
But there amongst the fighters’ barracks and the big cats’ cages, death was commonplace. Our own victims, the fat businessmen whose financial affairs we were so delicately probing as part of our new career, were themselves looking forwards to long, comfortable lives—yet the formal description of their business was Slaughter. Their stock-in-trade was measured as units of mass murder; their success would depend upon those units satisfying the crowd in straightforward volume terms, and upon their devising ever more sophisticated ways to deliver the blood.
We knew there must be big money in it. The suppliers and trainers were free men—a prerequisite of engaging in commerce, however sordid—and so they had presented themselves with the rest of Roman society in the Great Census. This had been decreed by the Emperor on his accession, and it was not simply intended to count heads. When Vespasian assumed power in a bankrupt Empire after the chaos of Nero’s reign, he famously declared that he would need four hundred million sesterces to restore the Roman world. Lacking a personal fortune, he set out to find funding in the way that seemed most attractive to a man with middle-class origins. He named himself and his elder son, Titus, as Censors, then called up the rest of us to give an account of ourselves and of everything we owned. Then we were swingeingly taxed on the latter, which was the real point of the exercise.
Instructions for the executioner
Our first subject to investigate was Calliopus, a semi-successful lanista from Tripolitania who trained and promoted gladiators, mainly the kind who fight wild beasts. When Calliopus produced his personnel list I had heard of none of them. He owned no top fighters in the glamor class. No women would throw themselves at his mediocre crew, and there were no gold victory crowns displayed in his office. But I did know the name of his lion: Leonidas.
The lion shared his praenomen with a great Spartan general; that hardly endeared him to Romans like me, who had been brought up from the crawling frame to be wary of Greeks in case we became infected with louche habits like wearing beards and discussing philosophy. But I loved this lion before I even met him. Leonidas was a man-eater, a trained one. At the next suitable Games he was going to execute a repulsive sexual killer called Thurius. Thurius had been preying on women for decades, then chopping them into pieces and dumping the remains; I myself had identified and brought him to court. The first thing I had done when Anacrites and I met Calliopus was to ask for a conducted tour of the cages, and once there, I made a beeline for the lion.
Addressing Leonidas like a trusted colleague, I explained very carefully the degree of ferocious savagery I expected from him on the day. “I’m sorry we can’t get it over with at the Saturnalia, but that’s a festival of jollity, so the priests say doing away with criminals would pollute the event. Well this gives the bastard longer to dwell on his agony when you finally get to him. Rip him to shreds just as slowly as you can, Leo. Make him linger.”
“No use, Falco.” The keeper, Buxus, had listened. “Lions are kind and polite killers. One pawswipe and you’re out.”
“I’ll make a note to ask for the big cats if I ever fall foul of the law!”
A death in the menagerie
Buxus offered to open the lion’s huge mouth and exhibit his teeth for me. Since this was closer than I ever wanted to be to a live lion, I agreed politely. I always welcome new experiences. Calliopus stood watching, frowning over his loss as he reckoned up what replacing Leonidas would cost him. The keeper bent over the prone animal. I heard him mutter some only half-ironic endearment. Gripping the rough mane with both hands, Buxus heaved hard to turn the lion over towards us.
Then he let out a cry of real disgust. Calliopus and I took a moment to respond, then we stepped closer to look. We smelt the powerful reek of lion. We saw blood, on the straw and in the matted fur. Then we noticed something else: from the great beast’s chest protruded the splintered handle of a broken spear.
“Somebody’s done for him!” raged Buxus. “Some bastard’s gone and murdered Leonidas!”
Questions from the detective
I sighed. With a cold corpse at your feet, it’s all the same. That this one was a lion did not change how I felt. The same old dreary depression at life being wasted for some barely credible motive and probably by some lowlife who just thought he could get away with it. The same anger and indignation. Then the same questions to ask: Who saw him last? How did he spend his last evening? Who were his associates? What did he eat last? Whom did he eat, in fact?
Letter from home
Most of Calliopus’ animals came via his hometown of Oea in the province of Tripolitania. They were delivered by one regular shipper, who was probably his third cousin. All the shipments were put together over there at the menagerie which Anacrites and I had doubts about, the one which allegedly belonged to Calliopus’ “brother,” the “brother” whose existence we thought might be faked. We had certainly failed to find any scribbled notes from him saying, “What are the women like in Rome?” or “Mother had another bad turn last week”—let alone that old family favorite “Please send more money.”
Home and Family - a husband's duties
My apartment was full of people. Most had come to annoy me, but it’s the duty of a good Roman to make himself available at home to those who wish to fawn on him. Naturally I wanted my daughter to grow up with an appreciation of the sociable customs that had applied in our great city since Republican times. On the other hand, since Julia Junilla was little over six months old, her only current interest was in applying her crawling skills to heading out to the landing as fast as she could and flinging herself off into the street ten feet below. I scooped her up just as she reached the edge, let myself be charmed by her sudden beaming smile of recognition, and went indoors to tell the rest of them firmly that they could clear out.
It got me nowhere as usual.
Bath time - an interlude
Giving Julia her bath was my job (hence the jibes about Cato the Elder and the late hour I had slunk home).
“I want her to grow up knowing who her father is,” said Helena.
“Is that to ensure she will be rude and defiant to the right person?”
“Yes. And so you will know it is all your own fault. I don’t want you ever to say ‘Her mother brought her up and ruined her’!”
“She’s a bright child. She should manage to ruin herself.”
It took me at least twice as long to clean up the baby as it took Helena to rinse out her little tunics in another cauldron. Helena disappeared, I hoped she had gone to prepare my dinner back at home.
I was left to make my usual failed attempt to interest Julia in the floating ship I had whittled for her, while she played instead with her favorite toy, the cheese grater. We had to bring it or there was screaming. She had perfected how to smack it down on the water apparently aimlessly, though with a true knack of soaking her papa.
You can choose friends, but you get family
My brother-in-lat Famia worked—if you can call it that—at the chariot-horse stables used by the Green team. We had nothing in common; I supported the Blues. Once, many years back, Famia had actually done something sensible; that was when he married Maia. She was the best of my sisters, whose one aberration had been her alliance with him. Jove knows how he persuaded her. Famia had made Maia a drudge, fathered four children just to prove he knew what his plunger was for, then gave up the struggle and set himself the easy target of an early death from drink.
Details of how the Roman Empire keeps new citizens
As the poet said, my mission was bringing civilized pursuits to the known world. In the face of tenacious opposition, I believed you whacked them, taxed them, absorbed them, patronized them, then proscribed human sacrifice, dressed them in togas, and discouraged them from openly insulting Rome. That done, you put in a strong governor, and left them to get on with it.
After investigating a gladiator trainer
“Thank you for your help,” I said to Saturninus. This was all a nice game.
“I have enjoyed our talk,” he replied, as if it had been just a tight set of draughts. Then he startled me by adding, “You seem an interesting character. My wife is very keen on entertaining. Perhaps you would accept an invitation to dine with us tomorrow night? With your guest of choice,” he suggested, in a very civilized manner leaving me free to bring a wife, a prostitute, or a bug-eyed little boy masseur from the baths.
It was folly for a state auditor to fraternize with the subjects of his current investigation. Naturally I said yes.
Going out to diner with a cold and a duffel coat
“You look very smart, Marcus.” I sighed. “I’ve borrowed my parents’ litter so you won’t be exposed to the weather. It’s a cold evening though—” As if the new tunic were not trouble enough, then she hit me with the ultimate embarrassment: “You could wear your Gallic coat!”
Bought in Lower Germany in a rash moment, this was a sturdy shapeless, warm felt robe. It had wide sewn-on sleeves that stuck out at right angles and a ludicrous pointed hood. It was intended to be storm-proof; stylishness had not been part of its makeup. I had sworn never to be seen in my home city wearing anything so crude. But I must have been really sick that night: despite all protests, Helena somehow swaddled me in my Gallic coat, fastening the toggles under my chin as if I was three years old.
Now I knew I should have stayed in bed. I had planned to waylay Saturninus with my sophistication. Instead, I arrived at his smart house, bundling out of a borrowed litter with a runny nose, fevered eyes, and looking like some little hunchbacked Celtic forest god. What made me most furious was that I realized Helena Justina was laughing at me.
In this adventure Falco must watch out for an escaped leopardess, poisoned ostriches, desert nomads, be caught up in a animal hunt, and umpire a deadly three-way gladiatorial bout. Feel ancient Rome come alive in this detailed novel. Danger and humor, delight and sadness go hand in hand.
Enjoy!
Some people did not deserve to die.
An ex-consul,
a lion,
an ostrich,
a wild girl,
a gladiator,
a drunken brother-in-law.
Not dying is an eloping brother-in-law, and an extinct(?) plant.
All lead Falco to North Africa for a showdown in the arena.
Auditing the merchants of death
Anacrites and I were working among the suppliers of wild beasts and gladiators for the arena Games in Rome; every time we took our auditing note tablets on a site visit, we spent the day surrounded by those who were destined to die in the near future and those who would only escape being killed if they killed someone else first. Life, the victors’ main prize, would be in most cases temporary.
But there amongst the fighters’ barracks and the big cats’ cages, death was commonplace. Our own victims, the fat businessmen whose financial affairs we were so delicately probing as part of our new career, were themselves looking forwards to long, comfortable lives—yet the formal description of their business was Slaughter. Their stock-in-trade was measured as units of mass murder; their success would depend upon those units satisfying the crowd in straightforward volume terms, and upon their devising ever more sophisticated ways to deliver the blood.
We knew there must be big money in it. The suppliers and trainers were free men—a prerequisite of engaging in commerce, however sordid—and so they had presented themselves with the rest of Roman society in the Great Census. This had been decreed by the Emperor on his accession, and it was not simply intended to count heads. When Vespasian assumed power in a bankrupt Empire after the chaos of Nero’s reign, he famously declared that he would need four hundred million sesterces to restore the Roman world. Lacking a personal fortune, he set out to find funding in the way that seemed most attractive to a man with middle-class origins. He named himself and his elder son, Titus, as Censors, then called up the rest of us to give an account of ourselves and of everything we owned. Then we were swingeingly taxed on the latter, which was the real point of the exercise.
Instructions for the executioner
Our first subject to investigate was Calliopus, a semi-successful lanista from Tripolitania who trained and promoted gladiators, mainly the kind who fight wild beasts. When Calliopus produced his personnel list I had heard of none of them. He owned no top fighters in the glamor class. No women would throw themselves at his mediocre crew, and there were no gold victory crowns displayed in his office. But I did know the name of his lion: Leonidas.
The lion shared his praenomen with a great Spartan general; that hardly endeared him to Romans like me, who had been brought up from the crawling frame to be wary of Greeks in case we became infected with louche habits like wearing beards and discussing philosophy. But I loved this lion before I even met him. Leonidas was a man-eater, a trained one. At the next suitable Games he was going to execute a repulsive sexual killer called Thurius. Thurius had been preying on women for decades, then chopping them into pieces and dumping the remains; I myself had identified and brought him to court. The first thing I had done when Anacrites and I met Calliopus was to ask for a conducted tour of the cages, and once there, I made a beeline for the lion.
Addressing Leonidas like a trusted colleague, I explained very carefully the degree of ferocious savagery I expected from him on the day. “I’m sorry we can’t get it over with at the Saturnalia, but that’s a festival of jollity, so the priests say doing away with criminals would pollute the event. Well this gives the bastard longer to dwell on his agony when you finally get to him. Rip him to shreds just as slowly as you can, Leo. Make him linger.”
“No use, Falco.” The keeper, Buxus, had listened. “Lions are kind and polite killers. One pawswipe and you’re out.”
“I’ll make a note to ask for the big cats if I ever fall foul of the law!”
A death in the menagerie
Buxus offered to open the lion’s huge mouth and exhibit his teeth for me. Since this was closer than I ever wanted to be to a live lion, I agreed politely. I always welcome new experiences. Calliopus stood watching, frowning over his loss as he reckoned up what replacing Leonidas would cost him. The keeper bent over the prone animal. I heard him mutter some only half-ironic endearment. Gripping the rough mane with both hands, Buxus heaved hard to turn the lion over towards us.
Then he let out a cry of real disgust. Calliopus and I took a moment to respond, then we stepped closer to look. We smelt the powerful reek of lion. We saw blood, on the straw and in the matted fur. Then we noticed something else: from the great beast’s chest protruded the splintered handle of a broken spear.
“Somebody’s done for him!” raged Buxus. “Some bastard’s gone and murdered Leonidas!”
Questions from the detective
I sighed. With a cold corpse at your feet, it’s all the same. That this one was a lion did not change how I felt. The same old dreary depression at life being wasted for some barely credible motive and probably by some lowlife who just thought he could get away with it. The same anger and indignation. Then the same questions to ask: Who saw him last? How did he spend his last evening? Who were his associates? What did he eat last? Whom did he eat, in fact?
Letter from home
Most of Calliopus’ animals came via his hometown of Oea in the province of Tripolitania. They were delivered by one regular shipper, who was probably his third cousin. All the shipments were put together over there at the menagerie which Anacrites and I had doubts about, the one which allegedly belonged to Calliopus’ “brother,” the “brother” whose existence we thought might be faked. We had certainly failed to find any scribbled notes from him saying, “What are the women like in Rome?” or “Mother had another bad turn last week”—let alone that old family favorite “Please send more money.”
Home and Family - a husband's duties
My apartment was full of people. Most had come to annoy me, but it’s the duty of a good Roman to make himself available at home to those who wish to fawn on him. Naturally I wanted my daughter to grow up with an appreciation of the sociable customs that had applied in our great city since Republican times. On the other hand, since Julia Junilla was little over six months old, her only current interest was in applying her crawling skills to heading out to the landing as fast as she could and flinging herself off into the street ten feet below. I scooped her up just as she reached the edge, let myself be charmed by her sudden beaming smile of recognition, and went indoors to tell the rest of them firmly that they could clear out.
It got me nowhere as usual.
Bath time - an interlude
Giving Julia her bath was my job (hence the jibes about Cato the Elder and the late hour I had slunk home).
“I want her to grow up knowing who her father is,” said Helena.
“Is that to ensure she will be rude and defiant to the right person?”
“Yes. And so you will know it is all your own fault. I don’t want you ever to say ‘Her mother brought her up and ruined her’!”
“She’s a bright child. She should manage to ruin herself.”
It took me at least twice as long to clean up the baby as it took Helena to rinse out her little tunics in another cauldron. Helena disappeared, I hoped she had gone to prepare my dinner back at home.
I was left to make my usual failed attempt to interest Julia in the floating ship I had whittled for her, while she played instead with her favorite toy, the cheese grater. We had to bring it or there was screaming. She had perfected how to smack it down on the water apparently aimlessly, though with a true knack of soaking her papa.
You can choose friends, but you get family
My brother-in-lat Famia worked—if you can call it that—at the chariot-horse stables used by the Green team. We had nothing in common; I supported the Blues. Once, many years back, Famia had actually done something sensible; that was when he married Maia. She was the best of my sisters, whose one aberration had been her alliance with him. Jove knows how he persuaded her. Famia had made Maia a drudge, fathered four children just to prove he knew what his plunger was for, then gave up the struggle and set himself the easy target of an early death from drink.
Details of how the Roman Empire keeps new citizens
As the poet said, my mission was bringing civilized pursuits to the known world. In the face of tenacious opposition, I believed you whacked them, taxed them, absorbed them, patronized them, then proscribed human sacrifice, dressed them in togas, and discouraged them from openly insulting Rome. That done, you put in a strong governor, and left them to get on with it.
After investigating a gladiator trainer
“Thank you for your help,” I said to Saturninus. This was all a nice game.
“I have enjoyed our talk,” he replied, as if it had been just a tight set of draughts. Then he startled me by adding, “You seem an interesting character. My wife is very keen on entertaining. Perhaps you would accept an invitation to dine with us tomorrow night? With your guest of choice,” he suggested, in a very civilized manner leaving me free to bring a wife, a prostitute, or a bug-eyed little boy masseur from the baths.
It was folly for a state auditor to fraternize with the subjects of his current investigation. Naturally I said yes.
Going out to diner with a cold and a duffel coat
“You look very smart, Marcus.” I sighed. “I’ve borrowed my parents’ litter so you won’t be exposed to the weather. It’s a cold evening though—” As if the new tunic were not trouble enough, then she hit me with the ultimate embarrassment: “You could wear your Gallic coat!”
Bought in Lower Germany in a rash moment, this was a sturdy shapeless, warm felt robe. It had wide sewn-on sleeves that stuck out at right angles and a ludicrous pointed hood. It was intended to be storm-proof; stylishness had not been part of its makeup. I had sworn never to be seen in my home city wearing anything so crude. But I must have been really sick that night: despite all protests, Helena somehow swaddled me in my Gallic coat, fastening the toggles under my chin as if I was three years old.
Now I knew I should have stayed in bed. I had planned to waylay Saturninus with my sophistication. Instead, I arrived at his smart house, bundling out of a borrowed litter with a runny nose, fevered eyes, and looking like some little hunchbacked Celtic forest god. What made me most furious was that I realized Helena Justina was laughing at me.
In this adventure Falco must watch out for an escaped leopardess, poisoned ostriches, desert nomads, be caught up in a animal hunt, and umpire a deadly three-way gladiatorial bout. Feel ancient Rome come alive in this detailed novel. Danger and humor, delight and sadness go hand in hand.
Enjoy!
October 10, 2021
**Should Read as 4.5 Stars!**
Read this book in2013, and its the 10th episode of the wonderful Marcus Didius Falco series.
Set in the year AD 73 in Rome, and Falco once again into full investigative actions.
This time a star man-eating lion is supposedly murdered and while investigating this he will encounter a bitter rivalry between the gladiator's trainers, resulting finally in the murder of one them.
Now Falco will come into full action, and after some difficult adventures within and without the arena, he will be able in a witty but also determined way to reveal and apprehend the culprit of these murderous actions.
Very much recommended, for this is another excellent Falco outing and part of a fabulous series, and what this episode is concerned I like to call it: "A Very Hungry Falco Mystery"!
Read this book in2013, and its the 10th episode of the wonderful Marcus Didius Falco series.
Set in the year AD 73 in Rome, and Falco once again into full investigative actions.
This time a star man-eating lion is supposedly murdered and while investigating this he will encounter a bitter rivalry between the gladiator's trainers, resulting finally in the murder of one them.
Now Falco will come into full action, and after some difficult adventures within and without the arena, he will be able in a witty but also determined way to reveal and apprehend the culprit of these murderous actions.
Very much recommended, for this is another excellent Falco outing and part of a fabulous series, and what this episode is concerned I like to call it: "A Very Hungry Falco Mystery"!
September 5, 2024
A bit of a different story for Falco this time. For once things seem to be going Falco's way, he's managed to get Falco and partner hired as assessors working on the Roman census ordered by Vespasian and they will be making a hefty commission on any they found to be cheating. Although it's still Falco so.instead of investigating the rich landowners he and Anacrities have been assigned the Lanista's these are the people who run the gladiators and also supply the exotic animals used in the games turns out it's a very lucrative business. Falco being Falco though it's not long before he manages to get distracted by a dead body..................... Unusually though the dead body in question belongs to a Lion................
December 13, 2017
Falco (and Davis) explore and expose the life and death of gladiators.
Expect a lot of Anacrites, the antagonist we all love to hate, travelling to Northen Africa, some fighting action, and a general behind-the-scenes look at glafiator training and shows. Davis touches about the ambivalent attitudes of Romans towards gladiators: love the show, despise the performers. Notorious gladiators might enjoy some celebrity status, but generally all participants are despised as the dregs of society. This places an extra stress on Falco, because though he does not technically sell himself for appearance in the arena, being involved in this trade is still enough to damage his good name.
Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps - certainly so far into the series.
--
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 lot of Anacrites, the antagonist we all love to hate, travelling to Northen Africa, some fighting action, and a general behind-the-scenes look at glafiator training and shows. Davis touches about the ambivalent attitudes of Romans towards gladiators: love the show, despise the performers. Notorious gladiators might enjoy some celebrity status, but generally all participants are despised as the dregs of society. This places an extra stress on Falco, because though he does not technically sell himself for appearance in the arena, being involved in this trade is still enough to damage his good name.
Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps - certainly so far into the series.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
September 12, 2016
This was kind of a rambling entry in the saga of Marcus Didius Falco, and although the mystery get solved, the interpersonal issues don't really. I thought there were some gutsy structural choices, and I liked the way Falco had to learn to work with Anacrites. (I mean, "learn" or whatever.) I did have to keep putting it down, which kind of made me lose track of things for a bit. But it was a nice time, anyway.
I sometimes wish Falco and Helena and Vimes and Sybil could meet. Falco is rather like Vimes, but I think Vimes would probably find Falco insufficiently . . . serious. Helena gets a lot to do in this book, actually. She's become more and more a co-detective, which I really like. And Marcus likes it too, even if it stresses him out. Anyway, I'm in this series for the long haul.
I sometimes wish Falco and Helena and Vimes and Sybil could meet. Falco is rather like Vimes, but I think Vimes would probably find Falco insufficiently . . . serious. Helena gets a lot to do in this book, actually. She's become more and more a co-detective, which I really like. And Marcus likes it too, even if it stresses him out. Anyway, I'm in this series for the long haul.
January 21, 2015
And I once again remark that returning to this series is like visiting a good friend. Though if Falco keeps gaining partners at this rate, it won't be long before he as the largest informer agency in Rome.
January 12, 2020
Marcus Didio Falco is trying to make money by helping with the census. He gets sucked into solving the mystery of who killed a lion belonging to a gladiator manager. There's a big rivalry between various schools, and Marcus gets right in the middle of it.
Pretty good stuff.
Pretty good stuff.
April 12, 2019
If you like traveling through first century North Africa and taking in the sights, smells, colors, and customs, this is the book for you. If you are mainly interested in following the follies of the extended family Falco, you will see touching and comical scenes and get hints of things to come.
Unfortunately, since this is a mystery series, Davis had to go and wrap a perfectly good historical novel around an improbable series of murders for an implausible set of motives.
I hope the next one isn’t a Sacred Goose chase.
Unfortunately, since this is a mystery series, Davis had to go and wrap a perfectly good historical novel around an improbable series of murders for an implausible set of motives.
I hope the next one isn’t a Sacred Goose chase.
August 6, 2022
The plot might be too convoluted by half; the novel may be too long by a quarter; but the climax and ending of the 10th Falco mystery is brilliant, shocking, and stunning!!
September 9, 2014
This was my last M. Didius Falco mystery, set during the reign of Vespasian. I have liked the Falco books very much but this was not the best one of the bunch. Falco is doing some work for the emperor - checking how people are living vs what they have reported on their taxes. In this role, he gets mixed up in a feud among 3 men who provide gladiators and wild animals for games. all 3 are jockeying to be on top when the Flavian Amphitheatre (aka the Coliseum) is completed. He's also tracking down his younger brother-in-law, who ran away with the older brother-in-law's betrothed. Although I learned interesting details about life in 1st-century rome and, in this case, its colonies in northern Africa (formerly known as Carthage), this plot just did not hang together for me.
June 22, 2009
Humerous, with a snappy pace, Two For The Lions makes an entertaining and fascinating read. Davis' depth of knowledge of Roman society and her witty, cynical commentary of it via Falco substantially enhances her plot. Her writing is easy to read, without the overload of Latin or blocks of factual information that sometimes makes historical fiction so hard to enjoy.
July 23, 2018
This author hovers in the 2-3 star range for me. Either the modern feel works for me or it doesn't. This one didn't work. I still like the way this author writes her mysteries. I'm wondering how her books would strike me if she wrote a contemporary novel. With historical fiction, I really like some history to bite into and I think that is what I'm the most disappointed with. So 2 stars.
August 29, 2011
One of weaker installments in the series, mainly because the plot seems unnecessarily convoluted, but despite that isn't all that interesting. For those of us that have followed Falcos adventures from the start it's still a good read. On it's own it fails to make an impression.
January 6, 2017
'Two for the Lions' goes deep inside the gladiator entertainment machine of 74AD Rome! The book describes an industry which is a very familiar business to those of us who have set our devices to vibrate whenever any celebrity news floods into social media outlets. Two thousand years of technical progress and social process hasn't changed people a jot, based on Lindsey Davis' ancient Rome research supporting her #10 book in the Marcus Didius Falco's 'informer' detective series. All I can say it is a good thing some Enlightenment era politicians began the work to raise public civility sensibilities through education, social manipulation and legal changes (for instance, making drawing and quartering legally obsolete as a public entertainment and punishment, although I suspect the law was changed because the public got bored with the show and quit turning up).
However, recent election results and uprisings around the world show people are rolling back the efforts which tamed humanity's natural ferocity for scapegoats. The Afghanistan Taliban were all in for public stadium executions while in power, and more recently the Daesh have been enthusiastic supporters of ancient Roman fun. Making more tentative steps in bringing back Roman entertainments are the Philippines, Russia and some parts of Africa and Asia 'punishing' homosexuals, illegal drug users, women and people who are of a different tribe or faith. In America, blood venues remain mostly hidden behind closed doors and mostly involve animals, such as pit bulls and chickens, with occasional videos of gang-bangers escaping out onto websites such as Facebook and Youtube. However, with the closing down of abortion clinics while cutting all funding for supporting single mothers without any financial means to raise babies they didn't want or expect is certain to bring back blood sports into the public eye, i.e. riots and mass shootings.
The Romans, however, created more flashy and extremely crowd-pleasing professional spectaculars with African large game animals and enslaved humans in the same arena. Many gladiators who survived close combat with other slaves or condemned enemies of the State or wild animals had fan clubs. They could buy their freedom if they lived and won enough fights which stylistically enchanted viewers. But of course, in the smaller stadiums, the public executions were often less satisfying or professional, although many Roman gladiator stars got their start in small towns in Africa, the Middle East and in small Italian towns.
The private, family-owned Roman and African businesses who supplied and trained gladiators or who sponsored the capture of or bought wild animals were highly competitive enterprises, based on the story of 'Two for the Lions'. Falco and Partner become involved with two such businesses after being hired by the Emperor Vespasian to perform audits of Roman businesses.
Falco is distracted from examining the assets of a gladiator/animal supply firm, Calliopus, when a famous man-eating lion Calliopus owns is mysteriously killed. Falco begins an investigation on his own, out of pure curiosity, primarily because he sees signs of an employee coverup. Eventually, he digs up nefarious corporate skullduggery and spying from a rival gladiator company run by Saturninus, who may or may not be responsible for killing the lion. As Falco turns up more and more strange sabotage between the two organizations, things become more serious when the murders begin...
Will there be enough of Falco's partners and family left standing for another humorous book in the series? Yes! But maybe not those for whom we have grown an affectionate attachment! I'm not telling...
However, recent election results and uprisings around the world show people are rolling back the efforts which tamed humanity's natural ferocity for scapegoats. The Afghanistan Taliban were all in for public stadium executions while in power, and more recently the Daesh have been enthusiastic supporters of ancient Roman fun. Making more tentative steps in bringing back Roman entertainments are the Philippines, Russia and some parts of Africa and Asia 'punishing' homosexuals, illegal drug users, women and people who are of a different tribe or faith. In America, blood venues remain mostly hidden behind closed doors and mostly involve animals, such as pit bulls and chickens, with occasional videos of gang-bangers escaping out onto websites such as Facebook and Youtube. However, with the closing down of abortion clinics while cutting all funding for supporting single mothers without any financial means to raise babies they didn't want or expect is certain to bring back blood sports into the public eye, i.e. riots and mass shootings.
The Romans, however, created more flashy and extremely crowd-pleasing professional spectaculars with African large game animals and enslaved humans in the same arena. Many gladiators who survived close combat with other slaves or condemned enemies of the State or wild animals had fan clubs. They could buy their freedom if they lived and won enough fights which stylistically enchanted viewers. But of course, in the smaller stadiums, the public executions were often less satisfying or professional, although many Roman gladiator stars got their start in small towns in Africa, the Middle East and in small Italian towns.
The private, family-owned Roman and African businesses who supplied and trained gladiators or who sponsored the capture of or bought wild animals were highly competitive enterprises, based on the story of 'Two for the Lions'. Falco and Partner become involved with two such businesses after being hired by the Emperor Vespasian to perform audits of Roman businesses.
Falco is distracted from examining the assets of a gladiator/animal supply firm, Calliopus, when a famous man-eating lion Calliopus owns is mysteriously killed. Falco begins an investigation on his own, out of pure curiosity, primarily because he sees signs of an employee coverup. Eventually, he digs up nefarious corporate skullduggery and spying from a rival gladiator company run by Saturninus, who may or may not be responsible for killing the lion. As Falco turns up more and more strange sabotage between the two organizations, things become more serious when the murders begin...
Will there be enough of Falco's partners and family left standing for another humorous book in the series? Yes! But maybe not those for whom we have grown an affectionate attachment! I'm not telling...
September 14, 2012
So here we are at book ten of Davis' popular Falco novels. Marcus Didius Falco, the hapless private detective is still playing nursemaid cum bodyguard cum business partner to his long-time enemy Anacrites when he is called to assist with Vespasian's 'Great Census'.
Ever the good citizen *snort* and loyal subject of the Flavians *double snort*, Falcowillingly accepts sees the opportunity to fast track his social climb and soon stubmles into his most unusual case yet. While recording the assets of a slave trader, he is thrust into investigating the curious case of a murdered lion - the prized executioner Leonidas. This opens up a whole can of worms including a bitter rivalry between gladiators, slave traders and more revealed plots to poison further esteemed animals of the Roman world: ostriches and sacred geese.
When the chief suspect of the Leonidas' murder is himself killed, Falco and Anacrites are at a loss and Falco expresses his exasperation in a short passage of near-metatheatre when he points out the cliche of crime fiction where the protagonists give up only to find a clue by accident. The next chapter reads only:
Priceless! Anyway, on with the summary/review...
When a mysterious benefactor offers Falco a commission, he eventually travels to North Africa and the old lands of Carthage to solve the mystery.
At a shade short of 400 pages, it is the typical length of a Falco novel. Though the pacing does slow down in the middle, you know that there is always something around the corner to shake up the story again. It is in this middle section that we get a bit of an update on the Falco and Justinus families. It is a welcome break from the talk of animal murderings. Yes there are the customary laughs but not as many as perhaps in some previous efforts.
This is a slightly more eccentric offering than previous efforts with far less focus on the growing Falco clan and more on an intriguing, bizarre and in some ways madcap plotting to show the cutthroat world of the Roman games. An interesting addition to the series; the high quality of Davis' writing continues.
Onto book 11 then...
Ever the good citizen *snort* and loyal subject of the Flavians *double snort*, Falco
When the chief suspect of the Leonidas' murder is himself killed, Falco and Anacrites are at a loss and Falco expresses his exasperation in a short passage of near-metatheatre when he points out the cliche of crime fiction where the protagonists give up only to find a clue by accident. The next chapter reads only:
Hello. Still waiting for an unexpected development? There was none. It happens. It happens all the time.
Priceless! Anyway, on with the summary/review...
When a mysterious benefactor offers Falco a commission, he eventually travels to North Africa and the old lands of Carthage to solve the mystery.
At a shade short of 400 pages, it is the typical length of a Falco novel. Though the pacing does slow down in the middle, you know that there is always something around the corner to shake up the story again. It is in this middle section that we get a bit of an update on the Falco and Justinus families. It is a welcome break from the talk of animal murderings. Yes there are the customary laughs but not as many as perhaps in some previous efforts.
This is a slightly more eccentric offering than previous efforts with far less focus on the growing Falco clan and more on an intriguing, bizarre and in some ways madcap plotting to show the cutthroat world of the Roman games. An interesting addition to the series; the high quality of Davis' writing continues.
Onto book 11 then...
December 29, 2019
Lindsey Davis uses the Roman "informer" to inform her readers what life could have been like in Vespasian's Rome, AD 73-4. In an unconventional arrangement with a Senator's daughter, Helena Justina, they have a year-old daughter. To earn sufficient funds to build a proper home for Helena and baby Julia, Didius Falco takes on a job for the Census, teaming up with his former rival, Anacrites. Their first case is auditing the rivals who train gladiators and provide beasts for them. That job completed (first having discovered a dead lion among other crimes), Falco learns that he will not be paid what he was promised. In disgust, he and Helena, baby and nephew, brother-in-law, depart for North Africa to search for Helena's brother, Justinus. Oh, the adventures they have, the troubles they encounter, and the background we learn! Through it all, Davis's wit shines through to provide a most entertaining escape from our winter weather.
December 2, 2023
Never have I cared so little about who did the crime in a whodunnit :/
June 3, 2019
Honestly this series is just so good. The ending was nice and bloody. Can't wait for the next book.
May 23, 2011
Two for the Lions sees Marcus partnering up with his old nemesis Anacrites as Census fraud investigators. Anacrites (who had tried to arrange for our hero’s death in Last Act in Palmyra) attracted the sympathy of Falco’s ma when he received a severe knock on the head in A Dying Light in Corduba. Much to Falco’s chagrin, the Chief Spy now boards at his mother’s house and considers himself part of the Didius family. The money-grubbing Emperor Vespasian hires the two men to investigate the estates of those who claimed a suspiciously low income during the Census. Vespasian means to have every last denarius due him, and if Marcus and Anacrites can prove tax fraud, they will get a large cut of the profits.
Dovetailing nicely with the previous book, the investigation focuses on the sporting world and, specifically, the purveyors of men and animals. The new amphitheater Vespasian is constructing (i.e. the Coliseum) has produced great tension between rival purveyors. Who will get the contract to supply the gladiators and wild beasts for the huge arena? When a man-eating lion meets with a mysterious accident, Falco decides to investigate the death. His inquiries leads him as far afield as Carthage and onto the sand of the arena where no man is safe.
Two for the Lions is an engaging story, particularly the subplot following Helena’s brother Justinus and the bride he stole from his brother in the previous book. The deserts of North Africa have proved a very unromantic location to elope to. Does Claudia Rufina still have any affection for her new husband, and did Justinus ever have anything else in mind besides her large fortune?
Dovetailing nicely with the previous book, the investigation focuses on the sporting world and, specifically, the purveyors of men and animals. The new amphitheater Vespasian is constructing (i.e. the Coliseum) has produced great tension between rival purveyors. Who will get the contract to supply the gladiators and wild beasts for the huge arena? When a man-eating lion meets with a mysterious accident, Falco decides to investigate the death. His inquiries leads him as far afield as Carthage and onto the sand of the arena where no man is safe.
Two for the Lions is an engaging story, particularly the subplot following Helena’s brother Justinus and the bride he stole from his brother in the previous book. The deserts of North Africa have proved a very unromantic location to elope to. Does Claudia Rufina still have any affection for her new husband, and did Justinus ever have anything else in mind besides her large fortune?
August 23, 2018
I don't know how Falco does it, but he is a proper disaster magnet!
This novel starts with him actually on a proper government contract, conducting investigations for the official Vespasian Census for tax purposes. One of their clients is the owner of a Gladiator school and provides wild animals for the regular Games in Rome. Working with the Chief Spy, Anacrites, who is still on extended sick leave after being attacked and left for dead two novels ago, Falco is drawn into his more regular line of work - informing/investigating - when a lion is found stabbed to death in his cage at the gladiator school. This particular Lion was not only a wild beast, but a State Executioner, due to kill the convicted killer from the previous case Falco was working on (Three Hands in a Fountain).
The investigation stalls as one lead after another refuses to speak or divulge any information, and despite Falco's best attempts proving something dodgy did happen which ended in the animal's death, no one is talking.
The second string to this novel is the re-appearance of Helena's younger brother, who absconded with his brother's affianced bride and fled abroad. With one of Falco's horrifically useless brothers-in-law, Famia, in tow, Falco and family travel overseas to assist the wandering Justina brother and the young lady with him, and the case involving the lion suddenly opens up like a flower.
Certainly shocking in parts, the deaths occur by lion, gladiator, poisoned corn and scorned woman - more twists at the end of the book had my eyes opening wider than I had expected!!
Borrowed from the works library, returned today.
This novel starts with him actually on a proper government contract, conducting investigations for the official Vespasian Census for tax purposes. One of their clients is the owner of a Gladiator school and provides wild animals for the regular Games in Rome. Working with the Chief Spy, Anacrites, who is still on extended sick leave after being attacked and left for dead two novels ago, Falco is drawn into his more regular line of work - informing/investigating - when a lion is found stabbed to death in his cage at the gladiator school. This particular Lion was not only a wild beast, but a State Executioner, due to kill the convicted killer from the previous case Falco was working on (Three Hands in a Fountain).
The investigation stalls as one lead after another refuses to speak or divulge any information, and despite Falco's best attempts proving something dodgy did happen which ended in the animal's death, no one is talking.
The second string to this novel is the re-appearance of Helena's younger brother, who absconded with his brother's affianced bride and fled abroad. With one of Falco's horrifically useless brothers-in-law, Famia, in tow, Falco and family travel overseas to assist the wandering Justina brother and the young lady with him, and the case involving the lion suddenly opens up like a flower.
Certainly shocking in parts, the deaths occur by lion, gladiator, poisoned corn and scorned woman - more twists at the end of the book had my eyes opening wider than I had expected!!
Borrowed from the works library, returned today.
March 4, 2010
This is the tenth novel in this series, and it’s a fun one. Our focus this time around is the social function of gladiator battles. Falco, now uneasily partnered with his nemesis Chief Spy Anacrites, is on a census fact checking mission to catch tax evaders for the Emperor, his motivation sweetened by the fact that profits from this enterprise could raise the funds required to buy his entitlement to a higher social rank and legally marry his beloved, that aristocratic but headstrong Helena, something he desires more and more as their daughter Julia is on the verge of moving into the toddler stage. While investigating tax fraud among owners of gladiator teams, Falco happens upon a murdered lion. This leads to uncovering an ongoing struggle among three factions, each based in a different city in North Africa, that are trying to corner the wild beast and gladiator games market. One of the added delights of this series is the author’s readiness to move plots out of Rome and around (or beyond) the empire, to enhance our knowledge of other cultures, traditions, and social practices in the first century A.D. Falco heads off—accompanied by several of his eccentric but well intentioned family members—to find out what’s going on in Africa, and we have opportunities to learn about climates, nature, international trade routes, legacies of Greek culture, architecture, and religious rituals in Cyrenaica in 74 A.D. Astute readers will be able to guess the ending before they get to it, but the climax is so exhilarating that it is entertaining to make your way there, anyway.
September 22, 2015
It's been a while since I last read a Falco mystery, and Two for the Lions is a good one to pick up the general storyline and characters again. Marcus Didius Falco finds himself involved in a murder--albeit it's a dead lion found in a gladiator's menagerie--while doing another "dirty job" for the emperor, that of census auditor looking for lost tax revenue. He's partnered with his former nemesis, too, Anacrites the former chief spy. To make matters worse, Vespasian won't even pay him what he's owed for doing the work as promised from auditing Calliopus and Saturninus, the two most vengeful gladiator managers imaginable.
When the gladiator Rumex is found murdered right under their noses, and the clues lead no where, Marcus has had enough. He and Helena take their baby daughter and go looking for Helena's runaway brother Justinus and his girlfriend Claudia. They two young lovers have been looking for a rare herb that could make them all rich and is only found in Cyrenaica. Once in north Africa, Marcus meets up with the two warring gladiator managers and a third, Hanno, along with the grieved Scilla, a woman who seems to know how to play the game better than any of them.
An enjoyable read from beginning to end, my only complaint is that it just "ends" after a climactic gladiatorial contest, and I don't know what's become of Helena and the others. Oh, well, I guess I'll just have to read the next book in the series and find out!
When the gladiator Rumex is found murdered right under their noses, and the clues lead no where, Marcus has had enough. He and Helena take their baby daughter and go looking for Helena's runaway brother Justinus and his girlfriend Claudia. They two young lovers have been looking for a rare herb that could make them all rich and is only found in Cyrenaica. Once in north Africa, Marcus meets up with the two warring gladiator managers and a third, Hanno, along with the grieved Scilla, a woman who seems to know how to play the game better than any of them.
An enjoyable read from beginning to end, my only complaint is that it just "ends" after a climactic gladiatorial contest, and I don't know what's become of Helena and the others. Oh, well, I guess I'll just have to read the next book in the series and find out!
October 1, 2012
C1998. FWFTB: Census, man-eating, lion, gladiator, arena. Falco is definitely a guilty pleasure these days. I know what to expect and enjoying going along for the ride. This one was all about gladiatorial combat and the import of the wild beasts for the arena. Much more interesting than the one about the aquaducts although the murderer features a bit. In each book, I always seem to find a particularly funny paragraph or two and in this book it was Falco’s and Justinus’ reaction when they woke up with a hangover and saw what had happened whilst they were asleep. Brilliant.This book is dedicated to “all the readers” – a nice touch!The Mail on Sunday is on the back of the book saying “For more laughter visit ancient Rome in Lindsey Davis’ tenth novel.” Too right. The cover shows a rather portly figure about to be eaten by a lion with the strap line – “Fighting for truth in North Africa.” A little misleading as North Africa really only features in the last third of the book.Definitely recommended to the normal crew.FCN: Marcus Didius Falco, Camillus Justinus, Saturninus, Calliopus, Scilla. “Hello. Still waiting for an unexpected development? There was none. It happens. It happens all the time.”
October 10, 2012
Originally published on my blog here in January 2001.
It seems incredible that Davis' enjoyable Falco series could have already reached its tenth instalment, yet this is it. He has ended up working with one-time Empire Chief Spy Anacrites, whom he despises. The Emperor Vespasian is currently organising a tax census, and the two of them are given the job of investigating returns which seem too low, in return for a percentage of the extra they collect. They concentrate on a seedy but profitable industry, the supply of animals and gladiators for the circus. While they are carrying out an audit of one supplier, one of his lions is killed, and Falco becomes fascinated by the mystery of the animal's death.
Basically, if you like the other Falco novels, this one will please you too. It is amusing, and a well-constructed mystery. The background is not quite as well done as usual; this seems to be because Davies has smoothed out some of the rougher edges to counteract modern distaste for Roman popular entertainment. While Two For the Lions is not a good source of historical data on the circuses, it is fun, enjoyable and lightweight.
It seems incredible that Davis' enjoyable Falco series could have already reached its tenth instalment, yet this is it. He has ended up working with one-time Empire Chief Spy Anacrites, whom he despises. The Emperor Vespasian is currently organising a tax census, and the two of them are given the job of investigating returns which seem too low, in return for a percentage of the extra they collect. They concentrate on a seedy but profitable industry, the supply of animals and gladiators for the circus. While they are carrying out an audit of one supplier, one of his lions is killed, and Falco becomes fascinated by the mystery of the animal's death.
Basically, if you like the other Falco novels, this one will please you too. It is amusing, and a well-constructed mystery. The background is not quite as well done as usual; this seems to be because Davies has smoothed out some of the rougher edges to counteract modern distaste for Roman popular entertainment. While Two For the Lions is not a good source of historical data on the circuses, it is fun, enjoyable and lightweight.
September 15, 2008
Imagine if Sam Spade had operated out of ancient Rome. Lindsey Davis has transplanted all the things that make up a good noir mystery novel to Rome in the reign of the Emperor Vespasian and shows us, people haven't changed much in a couple thousand years.
Her descriptions of rome are so casual that you start to wonder if she does research or just has a time machine and pops back to double check details.
Falco takes what he thinks will be easy money, check the accounts of several men that provide gladiators and animals for the arenas, for possible cheating on taxes.
Instead he finds corruption, plots, hordes of women swooning outside the quarters of the 'star' gladiators, an escaped leopard and as always, trouble with his various family members.
Clever mystery, great dialogue and descriptions and after awhile you forget that you are learning stuff as well.
A great series where you can start at the beginning if you want, but you can also jump in anywhere and not feel lost.
Her descriptions of rome are so casual that you start to wonder if she does research or just has a time machine and pops back to double check details.
Falco takes what he thinks will be easy money, check the accounts of several men that provide gladiators and animals for the arenas, for possible cheating on taxes.
Instead he finds corruption, plots, hordes of women swooning outside the quarters of the 'star' gladiators, an escaped leopard and as always, trouble with his various family members.
Clever mystery, great dialogue and descriptions and after awhile you forget that you are learning stuff as well.
A great series where you can start at the beginning if you want, but you can also jump in anywhere and not feel lost.
April 9, 2016
This volume of the Falco series has him gaining work on Vespasian's census with the chance of earning some serious money, hopefully enabling him to achieve the social elevation he so desperately wants. However, a dead lion, and a feud between two lanistae lead him into dangerous waters yet again. Alongside the various issues in both his own family, and that of Helena Justina, this book takes him from Rome to North Africa. As usual, Falco deals with all his problems with a sense of humour, ably supported by Helena. The only part that doesn't work well for me - following on from the last book - is the role of Anacrites. His change of role, and some of the things he gets up to in this volume seem so totally out of character, that I found it jarring. I know that as Chief Spy, he probably has a murky background, but it seemed a bit too far-fetched.
October 3, 2018
Book 10 in the Falco series finds Falco with a new partner: Anacrites, the Chief Spy of Vespasian and usually his nemesis. Anacrites is recuperating under the nursing of Falco's mother so of course she thinks he would be a big help to Marcus. As usual a wonderful job turns into a not-that-well-paying job, in this case helping in the great Census. Basically this means auditing rich people to see if they lied about their income (of course they lied!) and then getting them to cough up more money, a percentage going to Falco and Partner.
But first, a dead body! In this case it's a man eating lion used to execute criminals. The owner says it was just an accident but of course Falco is not good at letting things go. This books takes Falco & Helena from Rome to northern Africa and continues the story of Helena's youngest brother Justinus and his runaway bride Claudia Rufina.
But first, a dead body! In this case it's a man eating lion used to execute criminals. The owner says it was just an accident but of course Falco is not good at letting things go. This books takes Falco & Helena from Rome to northern Africa and continues the story of Helena's youngest brother Justinus and his runaway bride Claudia Rufina.
September 15, 2010
Another great installment in the Marcus Didius Falco series! Falco has a new partner - Anacrites! They actually have a legitimate, above-board job too. They are auditing the accounts and "lifestyles" of potential tax cheats for the imperial Censor (non other than Vespasian, himself). Of course, misadventure is never far from Falco, and this time it takes him into the world of the arena. A celebrity lion has been murdered, and Falco wonders why. And has Anacrites actually come to admire and emulate Falco? Falco's investigations explore the world of gladiators and takes him and his entourage to the shores of Africa. This is another engrossing (and funny) novel.
February 24, 2017
Rome, the first century after Jesus walked around, is a bustling place full of commerce and gossip and friction. This time the challenges occur in the world of gladiatorial spectacle.
There is a lot to learn about human history during this time. I tend to forget that we have been a thinking and organizing species for millennia. Davis gives me history and anthropology lessons that are interesting. (I sure hope it's accurate.) Theses Marcus Didius Falco stories are somehow completely current. Oh yeah, people don't actually change the way they react to emotional events and greed has been around forever, too.
There is a lot to learn about human history during this time. I tend to forget that we have been a thinking and organizing species for millennia. Davis gives me history and anthropology lessons that are interesting. (I sure hope it's accurate.) Theses Marcus Didius Falco stories are somehow completely current. Oh yeah, people don't actually change the way they react to emotional events and greed has been around forever, too.
January 25, 2013
Falco's Ma gets her way, at least at the beginning of the story, but I am sure that she will be surprised by her favourite's antics - nice twist. This novel certainly pulls together a lot of the tantalisingly unfinished sub-plots from the previous books whilst setting up even more for subsequent outings. Falco & Helena's wanderlust is evident yet again. The story is woven together with pathos and some lighter moments (the incident with those pesky goats and their insatiable appetite for anything green is a lovely touch!).
Another enjoyable episode in the Falco saga.
Another enjoyable episode in the Falco saga.
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