An interesting insight into the ways in which the Romans may have impacted on the people of Britain.It's fiction but the Fishbourne site exists only some 30 miles from where I live and I have visited the site twice. The existing site is only a part of what the actual palace consisted.

no 12 of Falco (2001) ( )

It wasn't until this book that I really took Anacrites seriously as maybe deserving Falco's low opinion of him. I'd always dismissed it as exaggeration and paranoia, but certainly at the beginning of this one I did start to think Falco was paranoid because Anacrites was out to get him, or at least Maia. But now the ending has got me wondering again. ( )

Like other Falco cases, a small investigation turns up larger implications. Just after finding a corpse under his brand new bathhouse, Vespasian himself orders Falco to Brittanica to investigate shenanigans on a grander building site; the local Chieftain, Togidubnus’s to be exact. For being a good boy during the recent wars, Vespasian is rewarding him with a palace.

Of course things are even worse than expected and soon Falco’s questions make everyone uncomfortable and violence ensues. He tries to keep one step ahead, but suffers the consequences and things come off the rails. It is full of the usual great stuff that I love about a Falco novel; his domestic strife (his sister providing most of the strife this time out), his use of underlings to take on the dirty end of the business (oh how we’ve come up in the world now that you’re and Equestrian, Falco), his relationship with Helena (she leaves him out of a scheme with Petronius for his own good), his logical mind and semi-underhanded investigative techniques – like coming back to good friends after a long absence.
( )

Builder bumping off means off to Britain.

Falco has an unpleasant discovery in a new structural addition, and the disappearance of those involved leads him to yet another trip to Britain, not his favorite place by any stretch. It is a whole family affair, with kids, and even some in-laws.

Falco sticks his Informer nose in to see if he can solve what is going on with corruption in the building industry and a large Roman project.

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