Product Description

Rome, AD 71 - Against his better judgement, Marcus Didius Falco secretly disposes of a decayed corpse for the Emperor Vespasian, then heads for the beautiful Bay of Naples with his best friend Petronius. He conveniently forgets to mention to his companion that this will be no holiday. They have been sent to investigate the murderous members of a failed coup, now sunning themselves in luxurious villas and on fancy yachts. Nor does the idyllic seaside location help his doomed romance with Helena Justina. The deeper he probes, the more it seems Helena is inextricably connected to the elite plotters, in ways that the smitten Falco cannot bear to contemplate..."Shadows in Bronze" is the second book in Lindsey Davis' bestselling "Falco" series.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16449 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

From the Back Cover
'I was the new boy, so they saddled me with the worst jobs'

Rome, AD71. While desperate for employment, Marcus Didius Falco secretly disposes of a decayed corpse for the Emperor Vespasian, then heads for the beautiful Bay of Naples with his best friend Petronius. He conveniently forgets to mention that this will be no holiday but a dangerous pursuit: They must find the murderous members of a failed coup, now sunning themselves in luxurious villas and on fancy yachts.

The idyllic seaside location further complicates his seemingly-doomed romance with Helena Justina. The deeper he probes, the more he believes Helena is inextricably connected to the élite plotters, in ways the smitten Falco cannot bear to contemplate...

'One of the best of the current writers in this field' Donna Leon, The Times

'Surely the best historical detective in the business' Mike Ripley, Daily Telegraph

About the Author
Lindsey Davis has written nineteen novels, beginning 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. 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 was born in Birmingham but now lives in London.

Customer Reviews

Read it - only not for the mystery
I can understand those that are looking for a brain-teasing mystery being disappointed by this book, but that is missing the point. Although the idea of a gumshoe (long) before his time is amusing, and is handled with panache, Davis is not especially good at the mystery side of things -I'm generally there way before Falco.

What makes this book - and the whole series - worth reading are two things. The first is the believable and wonderfully detailed picture of everyday life in the Roman Empire from the point of view of the ordinary folk.

The second is the characterisation. Both Falco and Helena Justina, the woman he (hopelessly?) loves, are interesting and engaging people. In this book in particular, the development of their relationship, beset as it is with issues of background and class, is managed with great skill. Amongst the jokes, Davis has a lot to say about human behaviour. I don't want to give any plot spoilers, but towards the end they face a personal crisis that is handled with a sensitivity that few "serious" novelists could match.

So read and enjoy, but don't expect to be too baffled.

BBC Radio Drama at its best
Anton Lesser makes a perfect Falco! Who else could play him? Anna Maddely is not yet 'quite' my idea of Helena - her voice seems too young and actually reminds me of the actress who played Sosia in The Silver Pigs - but then Fritha Goodey ia a hard act to follow. I like the way that the plot details are not quite the same as in the book - Falco's conversations with Larius about his burgeoning sexuality are hilarious. Camillus' revelation to Falco about Helena and Falco's reaction are just right. Buy this recording and the book itself; you'll achieve two equally enjoyable experiences.

Reading it was a Rare Pleasure
This is the second novel in the mystery series featuring Marcus Didius Falco, an informer and sleuth. 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 Rome in AD70, but to have a lead character who has the vocabulary of a present day New York cop.

In this novel the hero Marcus Didius Falco has returned from the remote island of Britannia, a god forsaken place whose people are morose and surly and the weather, well the weather is best left to its own devices. Marcus has lost his heart to senator's daughter Helena but is not sure that the passion he feels is reciprocated. Why is that women he is not interested in, fall over themselves to get to him, but the one that he has lost his heart to, treats him with a cool disdain?

He has not long returned to the welcoming arms of Rome before a series of fatal accidents and things that go bump in the night convince Falco and the Emperor that there are traitors still conspiring and they must be brought to book. Falco is not happy, it seems he must leave his beloved Rome yet again, but the conspirators are serious about their plans and will not let anyone stand in their way. Will Falco ever return . . .