Customer Reviews

Poseidon's Gold

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the fifth novel in the mystery series featuring Marcus Didius Falco, an informer and sleuth in Rome at the time of Vespasian. A series of books that have become hugely popular, so much so that the author is now at the forefront of historical mystery writers. It was probably a stroke of genius on her part to have novels that are extremely well researched and contain all the elements that would be and should be found in the Roman world of circa AD70, but to have a lead character who has the vocabulary of a present day New York cop. In this the fifth novel Falco and Helena Justina seem like old friends.

Falco is eager to get back to the hustle and bustle of Rome after what has seemed like an endless journey from Germania where his last adventure took him. Falco and Helena are shocked to find the apartment in Rome has been ransacked and used by squatters. Falco has been talked into staying with his mother until he finds out that she already has a lodger, an ex-legionary friend of Festus, Falco's brother and this so called "friend" is demanding money he says he is owed to him by Festus from a business venture.

The next day the ex-legionary is found stabbed to death and the chief suspect is guess who? Falco has his work cut out to prove that he is innocent, find the real killer and also prove that his brother is innocent of the crime too. The last part won't be easy because it is just the sort of crude justice that Festus would employ. As if that wasn't bad enough Falco may have to call on someone else for help. The last person he wants to be indebted to . . . Geminus, formerly Marcus Didius Favonius, Falco's father. If his mother finds out his life won't be worth living.

Dodgy relative deals.


Back from Germania, Falco again has to deal with trouble that is literally much closer to home, or at least closer to family. His male relatives have more than a touch of the Arthur Daley about them, and it seems, in this particular antique business, somethign valuable has gone missing.

Amusing investigations and the odd bad joke follow. Definitely a good one.

Poseidon's Gold pits Falco against the forces that would defame the good name of his not-so-honorable brother Festus, his father and a band of art thieves trying to collect a questionably unpaid debt. This lacked some of the action that marks the earlier Falco novels which is why it only merited four stars, but it's still great fun. It's not entirely fare to compare Davis with Saylor - his writing is very different and while it is sophisticated it lacks the irony and humor of Davis' work. Read her when you want to smile and let's hope poor Falco gets a break in one of her future books.

This is an excellent book. It's sharp and witty like all Didius Falco books, but in this one we see a more vulnerable Falco as he tries to get rid of a lot of preconceived notions about his father. Geminus Falco is a wonderful character, and I certainly hope we see more of him in upcoming books. In this book Falco and his father are working together to try to clear his late brother's name and some very outstanding debts. Falco gets in a lot of scrapes as usual, but this is more of a caper book than the others I've read so far. It's great fun, and hard to put down.

I've been a fan of Lindsey Davis for some time. I am an amateur historian who is especially interested in ancient Rome, so I've read dozens of books on the subject. I am amazed at the wealth of detail contained in this book (and in all of Davis' Falco mysteries, all of which I've read). Such minute attention to detail not only provides an absorbing background to Davis' stories, but also testifies to her admirable efforts at presenting a plausible snapshot of ancient Rome, its geography, its history, and its populace. Davis' novels are both literature and history. This would not be exceptional were it not for the fact that Davis is a hell of a story-teller. Her tantalizing mysteries are spiced with the day-to-day details of life in ancient Rome, and the result is a fascinating read. Highly recommended!!

Fresh back from Germany, Falco lands in the middle of a family secret that threatens to bankrupt him or, worse, send him to the executioner or, even worse, cost him his girlfriend Helena Justina. In the process of this latest adventure, Falco has to come to terms with the last deeds and death of his brother, Festus, and we get a more in-depth introduction to the extended Didius family.

Although there are side trips to Ostia and Capua, the bulk of the action takes place in Rome as Falco tries to clear his brother's name and accounts and keep himself from the city strangler. Along the way we learn a lot about the world of art collecting and other home decorating, and celebrate Falco's 31st birthday and the anniversary of his first kiss with Helena. (After six books has it really been only a year?)

This book features many threads, all of which are (too?) neatly tied up by the end, in Davis' familiar witty style. It also inches forward the Falco/Helena relationship, with the by-now-expected hiccups and speed bumps, hope and heartbreak, that keeps us wondering what will finally overcome the by-now familiar obstacles: he needs 400,000 sesterces to qualify for the Equestrian (Knight) class; as a Knight he'd be only one rank below the Senatorial Helena Justina, so it wouldn't be too scandalous to her Senatorial family for him to marry her. Family approval is more or less there; the money isn't; even with the money, he needs the Emperor's power/approval as Censor to enroll him in the appropriate class. Vespasian has both offered him Knighthood, and turned him down when he learned why Falco wanted it, in "The Silver Pigs." This book offers both hope and heartbreak for Falco's ambitions.

Although individual scenes are entertaining, the pacing is a bit slow, and an Informer as talented as Falco should by rights have figured out many of puzzles far earlier. But where family is concerned we often have blind spots, so it's forgiveable.

I received this book shortly after placing the order, which was great, and it was in great condition. Based on this, I recommend this seller.

This was, in my opinion, one of the best Marcus Didius adventures. Marcus's relationship with his father adds great humor to an already wonderful story.