A very light read, but extremely enjoyable number 9 in the Falco series, which seems to be almost all I am reading this year. I will have to choose something a bit more substantial so I feel like my brain is actually working a bit towards the end of the year! ( )

When a deteriorated hand shows up in a fountain in Falco's neighborhood, a hunt is on for why the water supply has body parts in it. The search reveals the work of a serial murderer of women who dumps his work into the local and rural aqueducts leading to Rome at the time of the Games. A true detective story this time.

It’s 73 A.D. and a serial killer is loose in Rome. Since he deposits parts of his victims in the Roman aqueduct system, he garners more than a little interest from the citizens. Our hero, Falco, and his friend Petronius are hired to find the killer, leading to a manhunt not only in Rome but in the nearby countryside. As usual, Ms. Davis’s research is deep and exposition informative. If you want to learn some intricate details about the Roman water system, this is the place. And as in the eight previous Falco novels, Davis maintains a light tone with Falco’s domestic woes to balance the darkness of the murder mystery. It’s been a while since I read the previous installments, but I have to think that this is one of the better books in the series. ( )

no 9 of Falcos investigation cases in ancient Rome (1996) ( )

Distaff dismemberment.

In a figurative and literal sense. Petronius discovers a hand when he and Falco go out for a drink to escape from the newborn baby atmosphere, and especially has his wife has recently given him the boot, severing the relationship and his accomodation.

Non-approved of relationships are a major theme here, as it is back to brutality for Falco and Anacrites after his previous looking after.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2007/11... ( )