In a detective thriller set in ancient Rome, Marcus Didius Falco goes on an undercover mission into Roman Germany to deal with an uncivil Batavian rebel chieftain. By the author of Silver Pigs. 15,000 first printing.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In A.D. 71, the Emperor Vespasian sends his reluctant agent Marcus Didius Falco to Germany to bring a rebel chieftain into line and to find a missing legate whose battle-worn legion had surrendered him to a druidic sorceress. In his fourth appearance, after Venus in Copper , the worldly-wise, ever - entertaining Falco journeys up the river Rhenus, encountering hardships and danger, including murder, and resolving puzzles of politics and commerce. In Roman Germany, Falco's military experience in Gaul and his knowledge of historic Gallic battles will help him deal with fort intrigues and the mysterious ways of the forest tribes. His travails in Upper Germany are as much physical as cerebral; indeed, he saves his company from a wild aurochs in a last-ditch leap that recalls ancient Greek bull-dancing practices. Accompanied in part by his lover, the high-born Helena Justina (who has caught the eye of Vespasian's son Titus), and aided by her brother Camillus Justinus, an untried but courageous young officer, Falco stays alive, accomplishes the Emperor's mission and holds on to his girl--feats as accomplished as Davis's seamless blending of humor, history and adventure.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
YA-The adventures of Marcus Didius Falco, a Roman detective, continue in this fourth tale of sleuthing in A.D. 71. Still in love with the patrician Helen, Marcus is sent to the German wilderness to determine the loyalty of the Fourteenth legion to Rome by Titus Caesar, a would-be suitor of Helen's. Carrying a giant iron hand, a gift of the god Mars to the Fourteenth legion, Marcus must contend with barbarians, incompetent army recruits, and a potential scandal over a pottery contract. Falco's never-ending wise cracks, humorous self-abasement, and genuine niceness are more than enough to captivate readers; the rich historical details add a caloric layer of frosting.
Pam Spencer, Thomas Jefferson Sci-Tech, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Pam Spencer, Thomas Jefferson Sci-Tech, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Lindsey Davis' Roman novels begin chronologically with The Course of Honour, the love story of the Emperor Vespasian and Antonia Caenis. Her bestselling mystery series features laid-back First Century detective Marcus Didius Falco and his partner Helena Justina, plus friends, relations, pets and bitter enemy the Chief Spy; there is a reader handboook, 'Falco: the Official Companion'. 'Master and God' set in the time of the Emperor Domitian, will be published in 2012. She has also written an epic novel of the English Civil War and Commonwelath, 'Rebels and Traitors'. Her books are translated into many languages and serialised on BBC Radio 4. Past Chair of the Crimewriters' Association and a Vice President of the Classical Association, she has won the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, the Dagger in the Library, and a Sherlock award for Falco as Best Comic Detective. She has also been awarded the Premio Colosseo for enhancing the image of Rome, and the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement as a mystery writer.
She was born in Birmingham but now lives in London.
She was born in Birmingham but now lives in London.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thriller in Germania nicely Roman,
By ginlindzey@mindspring.com (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Iron Hand of Mars: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery (Hardcover)
Lindsey Davis has the uncanny ability to capture the Roman attitude and prejudices toward the lands across the Alps. The Romans considered those tall, blonde, celtic warriors to be the most foreign of foreigners, with their hideous rites of human sacrifice and odd Druidic worship. Falco and company tread where most Romans feared to tread, both in foreign, barbarian territory and through the battle grounds of lost legions, slaughtered by the enemy. Yet Davis also understands that people are people, and that some aspects of nature never change, such as trade and prosperity being reliant on local army installations, as the Gauls and Celtic tribes within the Roman province are. The somber tone of this novel is broken up with the humorous and familiar universal traveler with his traveler's woe. As Americans, it is sometimes difficult for us to appreciate what it is like for Europeans who live among Roman relics, whose history is intricately tied to that of Rome. It is easy to overlook the place of Germania in the Roman world, and the fact that it was the tribal north who finally conquered Rome. The Iron Hand of Mars should not be overlooked, nor underestimated. It is a thrilling adventure into unknown territory combined with the humor of travel and the problems of having too many relations.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An unconventional mystery story,
By Barbara B. (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Iron Hand of Mars: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery (Hardcover)
I agree with the other reviewer that this is *not* a conventional murder mystery. However, for me, that was part of its charm.It IS part mystery, but it's also part action adventure, part thriller, and part history. All together, it combines to create a great addition to the Falco series, with enough of each element to keep things interesting, and author Davis' unique brand of anachronistic humor to prevent the story from taking itself too seriously. Even I have to admit that the journey -- a la The Odyssey -- was a tad too long for comfort and the meeting with the priestess Veleda was a let down. But what book does not have a few flaws? This one has fewer than most and I will look forward to reading the next book in the Marcus Didius Falco series.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Little Less,
A Kid's Review
This review is from: The Iron Hand of Mars: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery (Hardcover)
I love all of the Falco books, but I found this one to be a little too confusing. It helps to know a lot about Roman military history.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
