Book description
'To find a drowned man head-first down a well was slightly unusual,
exciting maybe.'
For Falco, a relaxed visit to Helena's relatives in Britain turns
serious at the scene of a downtown murder. The renegade henchman of
Rome's vital ally King Togidubnus has been stuffed head-first down a
barroom well - leading to a tricky diplomatic situation which Falco
must defuse. One murder leads to others. Londinium now has a forum and
an amphitheatre; the town is a magnet for legitimate traders - and for
criminals from Rome.
With his vigiles pal Petronius, Falco leads the hunt for gangsters
who are intent on taking over. This will bring unwelcome encounters
with faces from the past and grave threats to their present
relationships. Danger and death lurk throughout their pursuit, all the
way from the brand new wharves beside the River Thames to the familiar
old haunts of organised crime back home in Italy.
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.
