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Loading... The Iron Hand of Mars (1992)by Lindsey Davis
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. An enjoyable romp through the ancient Roman world as usual, though this time mostly on the very edges of it. Lindsey Davis continues her great immersion and realism for the time period and the relevant cultures, but the plot for this one was definitely weaker and sort of petered out without any really satisfying resolutions. Some of the minor characters also didn’t really seem have much purpose, and were more there for flavour and humour than contributing much to the story. Nevertheless, a decently fun read. ( ) When the Emperor's son Titus makes a move on Helena, Falco goes off in a tiff and finds she's left Rome. Needing money and hoping to search for her, he accepts the Emperor's mission to Germany. There are mystery elements, but this is and reads like a somewhat sarcastically viewed adventure story. The history of Roman military (mis)adventures along the Rhine in the early Imperial era is where the data load is thickest in this episode. Marcus Didius Falco is an imperial agent on a mission to Germany in AD 71 to find a legion commander whose loyalty to the emperor may be suspect. His only support is a ragtag bunch of Roman recruits and they embittered centurion. Ahead lie the hordes of Celtic barbarians. This is an excellent addition to the Falco series of murder mysteries set against the backdrop of imperial Rome. Here, Falco is despatched to the ends of the empire to save the emperor from possible rebellion. As always, Falco has that cynical, world-weary approach to life that makes him the most perceptive of detectives. Davis writes extremely well - great plotting, strong characters and a narrative drive that makes reading a joy. Highly recommended. I’ve read a few books in the series here and there, but now I’m reading them in order. Here I am on number four, which is a reread for me, but I’m still having trouble following the action because the characters all seem to have multiple, interchangeable names. Many of the places also have multiple names. I don’t speak Latin 🤔, so one name per character is already a little tricky. I realize that my review is just a complaint. I like the series well enough to come back for more. That should show that I’m only upset with that one thing. The complicated history of Roman military campaigns in the German tribal territories doesn't make for an easy frame for a mystery plot. To my untutored eye it is great extrapolation from the written accounts and known facts. I liked it even though it's uneven and I had a hard time keeping Civilis and Cerialis straight in my mind.
"Accompanied in part by his lover, the high-born Helena Justina (who has caught the eye of Vespasian's son Titus), and aided by her brother Camillus Justinus, an untried but courageous young officer, Falco stays alive, accomplishes the Emperor's mission and holds on to his girl--feats as accomplished as Davis's seamless blending of humor, history and adventure." "More adventure than mystery this time, with an unmemorable supporting cast and the local color from Falco's latest travelogue overshadowing his ripe backchat—though some readers may like Falco best when he's most subdued." Is contained inHas the adaptation
'I've always wanted to see something of the Empire outside Rome.'AD 71. Germania Libera: dark dripping forests inhabited by bloodthirsty barbarians and legendary wild beasts, a furious prophetess who terrorises Rome, and the ghostly spirits of slaughtered Roman legionaries.Enter Falco, an Imperial agent on a special mission: to find the absconding commander of a legion whose loyalty is suspect. Easier said than done, thinks Falco, as he makes his uneasy way down the Rhenus, trying to forget that back in sunny Rome his girlfriend Helena Justina is being hotly pursued by Titus Caesar. His mood is not improved when he discovers his only allies are a woefully inadequate bunch of recruits, their embittered centurion, a rogue dog, and its innocent young master - just the right kind of support for an agent unwillingly trying to tame the Celtic hordes. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.914Literature English English fiction Modern Period 1901-1999 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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