Every time I start reading one of the books in this series I think. " not as good as the last one" and then, before I know it I am completely caught up in the story staying up late to read just a few more pages and throughly enjoying myself. I like the way Marcus has developed over the years. In the first book he was single, down on his luck and not sure what the future held for him. Now he is a family man, married to the love of his life with two daughters and is the head of the family firm of "informers". This story gives a lot of information about how the legal system of Ancient Rome worked which means there is more talk and less action in this book than usual but that is not a bad thing. Lindsay Davies employs a few narrative tricks to make sure the reader gets the important information in digestible, bite sized chunks. The dry wit that runs through the whole series is still there and Marcus has a way of looking at things that somehow manages to feel contemporary and modern at the same time. If you haven't read any of the Falco stories previously I wouldn't recommend you start with this one, treat yourself and go back to the beginning and work your way through the series. If you are familiar with Marcus, Helena, their extended family and friends then this book will be a rare treat and I'm sure you will enjoy it.
I have honestly never been so disappointed in a book I was suggested. After informing a local bookstore owner that I highly enjoyed Steven Saylor's work, I was introduced to Lindsey Davis. I attempted this book and did not get far. The story might have been entertaining but was written poorly and lazily. There was a great chunk of story missing where she simply put the report given to the employer instead of actually writing what they found. She uses phrases that did not exist at the time, such as, "It's a real bummer, Falco." (Page 95, Lindsey Davis) The people that are being accused are going to court over Parricide and the characters keep talking about how the accused may be "sent to the lions." Parricide was a severe crime in rome and was punished by the guilty sewn into a bag along with a live monkey, dog, snake, and cock. It does not take a whole lot of research to find this info. Now I understand that the story continues on but I could not get over how poorly the first 1/2 of the book was written. I will say that there were points of time that I enjoyed the humor but that was not enough to get over the writing itself. If you really want a good mystery based in ancient Rome take a look into Steven Saylor. This book was not good at all.
Do You like book The Accusers (2004)?
This book was fabulous! Well-paced and well-plotted, it had me on the edge of seat till almost the very end as I waited for Marcus Didius Falco to solve the senator’s suicide/murder and discover what nefarious secret the family is trying to cover up. The name of the book comes from the role played by the two lawyers, former “accusers” during Nero’s reign. In order to stand up to their legal machinations, Falco is forced to become a lawyer himself. As well as providing an enthralling mystery, this book also gives a thorough picture of the Roman legal system and inheritance laws. Since these novels are best understood when read sequentially, you would be well advised to read the fourteen previous Falco novels, just so you can have the pleasure of reading this one.
—Rosanne Lortz
Once again I am not disappointed in Lindsey Davis and Marcus Didius Falco. This is fairly mellow installment in the saga. Falco is engaged by to investigate an alleged senatorial suicide. This eventually involves him defending an alleged murderer in the Roman courts. Rome's legal system is the main character here, and Falco &Co are our guides. I enjoyed the way Falco was less of a lone ranger this time, and really involved Helen and her brothers. As usual, his wit and wily ways get him into some difficult situations, including defending himself against a charge of impiety in his role as the guardian of Juno's Sacred Geese.
—Deb
I love Lindsey Davis' Marcus Didius Falco mysteries, both because they are set in a convincingly imagined Ancient Rome and because her characters are endearing. She manages to make the hard-bitten detective style work beautifully in the historical setting. This particular one of the series has been my least favorite, though. It's a complicated case involving legacies, and the poisoning seems to be almost an afterthought. The ending is also anticlimactic. If you've never read any of these, you should start with the first one: The Silver Pigs.
—Ian
