I know I have read a lot of these this year, but my local library has them all and I am, ever-so-slightly, addicted. Number 7 in the Falco series returns to Rome's criminal underbelly which, in my view, is where Davis's best work occurs. I think this is because I am so much more familiar with Rome, its geography and its customs than when the stories move out into the empire. When Balibinus Pius, who is a bit like The Godfather, is sentenced to death, he takes advantage of the time honoured Roman tradition in capital cases, 'time to depart', and hops on a boat into exile. The usual Falco disasters strike from precisely that point onwards. ( )

A mafia type criminal is put on a boat to depart Rome, rather than be executed, but there are nefarious goings-on in Rome related to him that raises suspicion. Marcus must also find a new apartment for his pregnant Helena, and is to give the vows for a wedding as part of the deal.

no 7 of Falco (1995) ( )

Underworld upheaval.

Good old Petronius busts a Roman gang leader, leading to a fight for control and his former position among the Roman criminal element.

Or, in other words, people Falco is somewhat familiar with, so the Emperor taps him to look into what is going on, and things get a little hair for both he and Helena.

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

The adventures of the Emperor's favorite informer Marcus Didius Falco continue.

In the seventh Falco novel, Falco and Helena have just returned to Rome to see Falco's friend Petro banish one of the most notorious criminals in Rome. However, the it seems someone is trying to take over the criminal network and kidnappings, thefts and murders happen all over the city. In addition to solving these problems, Falco must face a family crisis and recover a missing glass treasure.

All in all, this is a very typical Falco novel - good writing, lots happening all the time and interesting characters. However, at this point it all seems a bit familiar and thus the love and wonder I felt for some of the early Falco books does not continue as strong for the later sequels. ( )