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Learn moreRome, AD 71. Marcus Didius Falco is desperate to leave the notorious Lautumiae prison—though being bailed out by his mother is a slight indignity.
Things go from bad to worse when a group of nouveau riche ex-slaves hire him to outwit a fortune-hunting redhead, whose husbands have a habit of dying accidentally, leaving him up against a female contortionist, her extra-friendly snake, indigestible cakes, and rent racketeers. All the while Falco tries to lure Helena Justina to live with him, a dangerous proposition given the notorious instability of Roman real estate. In a case of murder as complicated as he ever faced, Falco is at his very finest.
Lindsey Davis is an English novelist of historical fiction and best known for her award-winning historical crime stories set in ancient Rome and its empire, the acclaimed Marcus Didius Falco series and the Flavia Albia series. Her novels have won numerous awards, including the Crime Writers’ Association Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award and in 2011 the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers Association for lifetime achievement. Born and raised in Birmingham, England, she read English at Oxford and worked for the civil service for thirteen years before becoming a writer.
Simon Prebble has worked extensively on British and American television as both actor and narrator.
Reviews
“Another redolent dip into corruption in Vespasian’s Rome…original and delightful.”
“An irresistible package of history, mystery, and fast-moving action, all punctuated by a sense of humor that few writers can match.”
“Davis’ ancient Rome is a rambling, weird, wonderful invention that at times resembles something from the broadest kind of farce…Falco is a treasure, and Davis is a genuine master of the smart-ass one-liner. What’s more, she helpfully begins this third Falco novel with a listing of the good guys and bad guys. Of course, no one said the list was exactly accurate.”
“Period details, humor, and Falco’s modern sensibility add up to another sterling performance from Davis.”
“Falco’s good-humored but intelligent narration provides a fascinating and authentic re-creation of a Rome bustling with activity…A wonderful escape.”
“Intriguing characters abound in this skillfully written, Chandleresque mystery that gives readers a peek at the seamy side of life in first-century Rome.”
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