Book description
It is the Roman holiday of Saturnalia. The days are short; the nights
are for wild parties. A general has captured a famous enemy of Rome,
and brings her home to adorn his Triumph as a ritual sacrifice. The
logistics go wrong; she acquires a mystery illness - then a young man
is horrendously murdered and she escapes from house arrest.
Marcus Didius Falco is pitted against his old rival, the Chief Spy
Anacrites, in a race to find the fugitive before her presence angers
the public and makes the government look stupid. Falco has other
priorities, for Helena's brother Justinus has also vanished, perhaps
fatefully involved once more with the great lost love of his youth.
Against the riotous backdrop of the season of misrule, the search
seems impossible and only Falco seems to notice that some dark agency
is bringing death to the city streets...
Lindsey Davis has written over twenty historical novels, beginning
with The Course of Honour. 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.
After an English degree at Oxford University, Lindsey joined the
Civil Service but became a professional author in 1989. Her books are
translated into many languages and have been dramatized on BBC Radio
4. Her many prizes include the Premio Colosseo, awarded by the mayor
of Rome 'for enhancing the image of Rome', the Sherlock award for
Falco as Best Comic Detective and the Crimewriters' Association
Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement. She was born in
Birmingham but now lives in Greenwich, London.
Her most recent books are Master and God followed by The
Ides of April.
