A Sunday Times (London) Bestseller
Marcus Didius Falco is about to get involved in a nasty noir crime, involving gangsters, gladiators, and romance.
For Falco, a relaxed visit to his wife Helena’s relatives in Britain suddenly turns serious. He and his family are staying in London when Falco is summoned to the scene of a murder. The victim, Verovolcus, was a renegade with ties to Roman crime magnates operating in London, but he was also close to King Togidubnus. So when he is discovered dead, stuffed headfirst down a well, a tricky diplomatic situation develops that Falco must defuse.
His investigation leads him into the seedy underbelly of London. There is a newly built amphitheater in town, one with female gladiators, but Falco soon realizes that the initially troublesome gladiators—including one from his own bachelor past—may just give him the edge he needs to solve Verovolcus’ murder as the gangsters are pursued back to the Italian town of Ostia for a final showdown.
Editorial Reviews
“Against this richly textured backdrop is played out a story of low-down greed and grubby deals, of backhanders and protection rackets, that pulls the trick of feeling modern, exciting, and plausible.” —Sunday Times (London)
“Lindsey Davis combines an engrossing plot with pithy dialogue and a comic (though not cartoonish) depiction of the past in all its gory splendor.” —Guardian (London)
“The Jupiter Myth continues this highly popular series that expertly blends Roman history with modern black comedy and even a taste of 1920s Chicago-style gangsters. This is a finely crafted mystery and a fun read.” —RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
“Davis’ witty, wonderful, award-winning series provides a richly detailed glimpse of the ancient world. It also showcases truly first-rate mystery stories.” —Barnes & Noble, editorial review
“[A] clever, witty adventure starring the suave Marcus Didius Falco…Davis skillfully braids references to Britain’s future into her story of its past without ever diminishing the thrust of Falco’s adventures. And what adventures!…This thoroughly entertaining addition can only burnish the luster of this fine series.” —Publishers Weekly
“Roman auditor Marcus Didius Falco…must sort out a politically sensitive murder when he’d rather be planning his family’s return to Rome…Primitive Londinium’s mean streets provide a salutatory new venue for Davis.” —Kirkus Reviews