What do you think?
Rate this book
Marcus Didius Falco #2
Shadows in Bronze
He's Rome's favorite son, and of late, Emperor Vespasian's favorite palace spy, charged with finding the culprits who are plotting his imperial demise. In the meanwhile, Marcus Didius Falco has unfinished business with one citizen, Helen Justina, a high-born beauty he has given his heart to. And at these wages, his heart is all he can afford to render unto her--which causes its own problems.
354 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
216 people are currently reading
1532 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Davis
100 books1,486 followersLindsey Davis, historical novelist, was born in Birmingham, England in 1949. Having taken a degree in English literature at Oxford University (Lady Margaret Hall), she became a civil servant. She left the civil service after 13 years, and when a romantic novel she had written was runner up for the 1985 Georgette Heyer Historical Novel Prize, she decided to become a writer, writing at first romantic serials for the UK women's magazine Woman's Realm.
Her interest in history and archaeology led to her writing a historical novel about Vespasian and his lover Antonia Caenis (The Course of Honour), for which she couldn't find a publisher. She tried again, and her first novel featuring the Roman "detective", Marcus Didius Falco, The Silver Pigs, set in the same time period and published in 1989, was the start of her runaway success as a writer of historical whodunnits. A further nineteen Falco novels and Falco: The Official Companion have followed, as well as The Course of Honour, which was finally published in 1998. Rebels and Traitors, set in the period of the English Civil War, was published in September 2009. Davis has won many literary awards, and was honorary president of the Classical Association from 1997 to 1998.
Her interest in history and archaeology led to her writing a historical novel about Vespasian and his lover Antonia Caenis (The Course of Honour), for which she couldn't find a publisher. She tried again, and her first novel featuring the Roman "detective", Marcus Didius Falco, The Silver Pigs, set in the same time period and published in 1989, was the start of her runaway success as a writer of historical whodunnits. A further nineteen Falco novels and Falco: The Official Companion have followed, as well as The Course of Honour, which was finally published in 1998. Rebels and Traitors, set in the period of the English Civil War, was published in September 2009. Davis has won many literary awards, and was honorary president of the Classical Association from 1997 to 1998.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 347 reviews
October 10, 2022
2.5★
Finally finished!
& after a page turning start this book really dragged for me, except when the wonderful Helena Justina was on the page.
The book did rescue itself with an ending that had both excitement & a bit of humour, but the story really needed a ruthless pruning to make a much tighter story.
I have more of Davis's books but I haven't decided if I will continue with the series.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
Finally finished!
& after a page turning start this book really dragged for me, except when the wonderful Helena Justina was on the page.
The book did rescue itself with an ending that had both excitement & a bit of humour, but the story really needed a ruthless pruning to make a much tighter story.
I have more of Davis's books but I haven't decided if I will continue with the series.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
August 4, 2024
Whew!! 2.5 stars. I am finally finished with this story which was as meandering in the first half as Falco's journeys as he seeks conspirators against the Emperor and a possible murderer as well. The first half was so slow that I was as frustrated as Falco in his efforts to complete his job. Fortunately, the 2nd half was more interesting with better pacing even though some of the scenes I felt were thrown in just to keep the reader going, but unnecessary to the story arc. I did enjoy the large section that was spent in the Naples area, Oplontis, Heracleum & Pompeii (before the Vesuvius eruption) probably because I have spent so much time there myself! The other pluses were the descriptions of ancient culture of the Roman Empire and Falco's scenes with the fabulous Helena Justina.
I have quite a few books at home in this series, but probably won't be dipping in anytime soon. Maybe for next year's Historical Fiction summer TBR challenge.
I have quite a few books at home in this series, but probably won't be dipping in anytime soon. Maybe for next year's Historical Fiction summer TBR challenge.
July 26, 2025
' Shadows in Bronze' is both number two in the Marcus Didius Falco Roman detective series as well as part two in the story begun in
. I think the writing is better in this novel than in the first, but half of the jokes are still Greek to me. I don't get them, although the characters do. A lot of the dialogue tone is off to me. Falco, and the author, are on a different plane of thought, somehow, from me and there is a peculiar lack of conversational class barriers between lower class Falco and the elite of Ancient Rome aristocracy. It is hard to put my finger on it. Nonetheless, these are interesting mysteries. The writing is poetically dense, and it attains literary quality often. But the reader had better be of the sort who truly enjoys academically researched historical fiction! Lindsey Davis has studied Ancient Roman society in depth, and her story is full of cultural and architectural details, including furniture and foods.
Falco is a friendly person, involved with the families of his adult sisters and brothers-in-law, even as much as he is constantly hustling to satisfy his new employer, Emperor Vespasian. His time in the Roman army has given him a hard veneer, but his mother's frequent visits tends to encourage him to do nothing too much over the lines of respectability.
In 'Silver Pigs', Falco accidentally uncovered an intricate plan to overthrow Vespasian, which has led him into meeting a lot of high-born people, including the beautiful divorced Helena, who promises to be love of his life. Falco exposed the plotters, who scattered to the far ends of the Empire, with the exception of those who died in a final confrontation. In this novel, Vespasian engages him to find those who ran away to offer them amnesty and jobs in his administration. They are all high born with money, property and connections, after all, and it would be difficult to deal with them in any other way. Of course, Falco learns a few of them are now involved in another plot to blackmail Vespasian to resign his office. This shocking discovery, naturally, makes Falco and his friends, who accompanied him, dangerous to their plan. Plus, Helena shows up!
'Shadows in Bronze' is a slower read than the previous book in the series, but it is a richer one in characterization and detail.
. I think the writing is better in this novel than in the first, but half of the jokes are still Greek to me. I don't get them, although the characters do. A lot of the dialogue tone is off to me. Falco, and the author, are on a different plane of thought, somehow, from me and there is a peculiar lack of conversational class barriers between lower class Falco and the elite of Ancient Rome aristocracy. It is hard to put my finger on it. Nonetheless, these are interesting mysteries. The writing is poetically dense, and it attains literary quality often. But the reader had better be of the sort who truly enjoys academically researched historical fiction! Lindsey Davis has studied Ancient Roman society in depth, and her story is full of cultural and architectural details, including furniture and foods.Falco is a friendly person, involved with the families of his adult sisters and brothers-in-law, even as much as he is constantly hustling to satisfy his new employer, Emperor Vespasian. His time in the Roman army has given him a hard veneer, but his mother's frequent visits tends to encourage him to do nothing too much over the lines of respectability.
In 'Silver Pigs', Falco accidentally uncovered an intricate plan to overthrow Vespasian, which has led him into meeting a lot of high-born people, including the beautiful divorced Helena, who promises to be love of his life. Falco exposed the plotters, who scattered to the far ends of the Empire, with the exception of those who died in a final confrontation. In this novel, Vespasian engages him to find those who ran away to offer them amnesty and jobs in his administration. They are all high born with money, property and connections, after all, and it would be difficult to deal with them in any other way. Of course, Falco learns a few of them are now involved in another plot to blackmail Vespasian to resign his office. This shocking discovery, naturally, makes Falco and his friends, who accompanied him, dangerous to their plan. Plus, Helena shows up!
'Shadows in Bronze' is a slower read than the previous book in the series, but it is a richer one in characterization and detail.
May 22, 2024
Shadows in Bronze is one in a series of novels about Marcus Didius Falco, a private detective during the golden age of the Roman Empire. Falco is a confidant to and trusted by Emperor Vespasian. The novel opens as Falco undertakes a most unpleasant task at the behest of the Emperor; he must dispose of the putrid body of one of the six conspirators against the Emperor. He is then charged with finding the remaining co-conspirators and offering them amnesty if they agree to exile. One of the co-conspirators, Pertinax, ex-husband of the woman Falco loves, is assassinated in jail.
Although Falco loves Helena, he knows they can never be united. She is the daughter of a Senator and grew up in a wealthy family, while Falco’s status was that of plebeian (only one step above freedman). Falco is assigned the task of inventorying the estate of Helena’s ex-husband, which gives him much insight into her character. In pursuing the villains, he encounters Helena in an unexpected place. She eventually shares a dark secret.
Falco’s search takes him, along with his best friend Petronius and several family members, on an oxcart to Baiae (now known as the Bay of Naples) and the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum a few years before the devastating eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
Falco’s search for the co-conspirators brings him face to face with mortal danger and his friend Petronius is nearly killed in the quest. Unable to swim, Falco survives a watery death through the intervention of an unexpected savior.
As with all books in this series, I give this one five stars and recommend it to all my Goodreads friends who enjoy historical fiction and mystery novels.
Although Falco loves Helena, he knows they can never be united. She is the daughter of a Senator and grew up in a wealthy family, while Falco’s status was that of plebeian (only one step above freedman). Falco is assigned the task of inventorying the estate of Helena’s ex-husband, which gives him much insight into her character. In pursuing the villains, he encounters Helena in an unexpected place. She eventually shares a dark secret.
Falco’s search takes him, along with his best friend Petronius and several family members, on an oxcart to Baiae (now known as the Bay of Naples) and the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum a few years before the devastating eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
Falco’s search for the co-conspirators brings him face to face with mortal danger and his friend Petronius is nearly killed in the quest. Unable to swim, Falco survives a watery death through the intervention of an unexpected savior.
As with all books in this series, I give this one five stars and recommend it to all my Goodreads friends who enjoy historical fiction and mystery novels.
April 27, 2020
La nota estaría entre las 3.5 y las 4 estrellas.
Segunda entrega de las aventuras del detective romano Marco Didio Falco. Después de los acontecimientos del primer libro, Falco será enviado al sur de Italia tras investigar lo que parece el asesinato de un sacerdote de un templo. Haciéndose pasar por un turista acompañado de su sobrino Lario y de su fiel amigo Longo y su familia, también aprovechará a disfrazarse de vendedor de plomo, por los lingotes que encontró anteriormente, mientras investiga a un extraño individuo llamado Barnabás. Parece que el complot contra el emperador Vespasiano aún sigue en curso y debe actuar antes de que se lleve a cabo.
Me encanta Didio Falco. Ese personaje tan cínico y sarcástico que nos enseña la vida cotidiana de la Antigua Roma en el siglo I d. C. En esta novela viajaremos, como ya hicimos en la anterior a Britania, pero en esta ocasión al sur de Italia. Además habrá acontecimientos importantes que cambiaron la vida de sus gentes, como la ciudad de Pompeya.
Veremos también cómo usaban su poder los senadores y políticos del mundo rural, pero también su vida.
En esta segunda parte el misterio me ha gustado más. Tiene más acción, más intriga, también contamos con que ya conocemos a los personajes principales y podemos centrarnos en los secundarios y en el propio misterio.
Novela de misterio en la Antigua Roma con altas dosis de acción, diversión y un protagonista que cada vez me gusta más. Ansiosa estoy por leer su tercera parte.
Segunda entrega de las aventuras del detective romano Marco Didio Falco. Después de los acontecimientos del primer libro, Falco será enviado al sur de Italia tras investigar lo que parece el asesinato de un sacerdote de un templo. Haciéndose pasar por un turista acompañado de su sobrino Lario y de su fiel amigo Longo y su familia, también aprovechará a disfrazarse de vendedor de plomo, por los lingotes que encontró anteriormente, mientras investiga a un extraño individuo llamado Barnabás. Parece que el complot contra el emperador Vespasiano aún sigue en curso y debe actuar antes de que se lleve a cabo.
Me encanta Didio Falco. Ese personaje tan cínico y sarcástico que nos enseña la vida cotidiana de la Antigua Roma en el siglo I d. C. En esta novela viajaremos, como ya hicimos en la anterior a Britania, pero en esta ocasión al sur de Italia. Además habrá acontecimientos importantes que cambiaron la vida de sus gentes, como la ciudad de Pompeya.
Veremos también cómo usaban su poder los senadores y políticos del mundo rural, pero también su vida.
En esta segunda parte el misterio me ha gustado más. Tiene más acción, más intriga, también contamos con que ya conocemos a los personajes principales y podemos centrarnos en los secundarios y en el propio misterio.
Novela de misterio en la Antigua Roma con altas dosis de acción, diversión y un protagonista que cada vez me gusta más. Ansiosa estoy por leer su tercera parte.
October 8, 2021
Read this book in 2011, and its the 2nd part of the wonderful Marcus Didius Falco series.
Set in the year AD 70, Falco is summoned by Emperor Vespasian to investigate a case of treason, he's more than happy to do so in effort to forget the beautiful and bright, Helene Justina.
Accompanied by his best friend, Petronius, they set off by way of the Isle of Capreae to Neapolis, and finally they will arrive in the famous city of Pompeii to investigate this case of treason.
In Pompeii they will uncover a conspiracy within a conspiracy and besides that Falco will meet Helena Justina during his investigations over there as well.
What is to come is an exciting and gripping mystery, where the partnership of Falco and Petronius will pay off in a most tremendous fashion, a secure partnership for the future, in so far that they will be able to solve these conspiracies and bring the perpetrators to justice in the end.
Very much recommended, for this is a sublime second episode of the great series, and that's why I like to call this book: "A Tremendous Falco Sequel"!
Set in the year AD 70, Falco is summoned by Emperor Vespasian to investigate a case of treason, he's more than happy to do so in effort to forget the beautiful and bright, Helene Justina.
Accompanied by his best friend, Petronius, they set off by way of the Isle of Capreae to Neapolis, and finally they will arrive in the famous city of Pompeii to investigate this case of treason.
In Pompeii they will uncover a conspiracy within a conspiracy and besides that Falco will meet Helena Justina during his investigations over there as well.
What is to come is an exciting and gripping mystery, where the partnership of Falco and Petronius will pay off in a most tremendous fashion, a secure partnership for the future, in so far that they will be able to solve these conspiracies and bring the perpetrators to justice in the end.
Very much recommended, for this is a sublime second episode of the great series, and that's why I like to call this book: "A Tremendous Falco Sequel"!
December 10, 2017
Shadows in Bronze picks up where The Silver Pigs left off. This is one thing I like about this series - the continuity of life.
In this second novel, Falco continues his investigations in the aftermath of the stolen silver ingots. Expect more noir detective story-style, with an increasing romantic angle.
Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps. Davis' love for the period and the personas (or dislike of some) shines through the writing, even if one sometimes wonders how a lowly nobody gets to meet the reigning emperor.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
In this second novel, Falco continues his investigations in the aftermath of the stolen silver ingots. Expect more noir detective story-style, with an increasing romantic angle.
Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps. Davis' love for the period and the personas (or dislike of some) shines through the writing, even if one sometimes wonders how a lowly nobody gets to meet the reigning emperor.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
May 14, 2025
Falko sērijas otrajai daļai ir divi mīnusi - tā šķiet drusku par garu un kādu laiku īpaši nekas nenotiek, Markus un Helēna varētu izvairīties no dažas labas drāmas, ja sarunātos. Tomēr to kompensē intriģējoša noziedznieka meklēšana, brīnišķīgi Pompeju un apkārtnes apraksti, humors un kopējā atmosfēra.
December 7, 2010
Have you ever been to a movie that had one or two twists too many? Have you ever thought, “This chase scene was placed here either to extend the running length of the film or to provide something recognizable for the video game?” That’s the way I feel about Shadows in Bronze. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t intend to stop reading Lindsey Davis’ delightful stories about Marcus Didius Falco, “informer” for the Emperor Vespasian. Most of them that I’ve read have been delightfully paced while juggling together the very things I like about historical fiction, detective work, and humor with more than a little romantic dash thrown in to take it up a notch. Yet, Shadows in Bronze felt more like a trilogy of magazine novellas than a comprehensive whole.
This adventure deals with a conspiracy against the emperor. I’ve been anticipating this type of adventure for a while and it started off perfectly for me. Falco has to attend to some unwelcome details of a conspiracy gone awry and yet, gains no appreciable recognition from the emperor. But, of course, the emperor still has work for Falco to do in cleaning up the last details of the conspiracy and that work involves finding those conspirators who have scattered to various places in Italy. Sometimes, resolution seems almost too easy, but at other times Falco is looped into lasso after lasso of interlocking conspiracies.
The human element is delightful. In so many mystery novels (and movies), the supporting characters have an unnatural trust of the protagonist, no matter how hard-bitten, cranky, or seedy the detective may be. In this one, even spouses and would-be mothers-in-law are suspicious of Falco. Even Falco’s nephew and friends call his motives into question on occasion, much less those who are being interrogated or investigated by Vespasian’s informer. And, of course, some of the best humor in the book is when Falco, as narrator, tells the reader how much the person being interrogated doesn’t like Falco.
Falco is not as resourceful, in my opinion, as the average detective protagonist. The Falco mysteries are “ensemble productions,” meaning that our hero wouldn’t be nearly as successful as he is without his supporting cast. That the remarkably fortuitous interventions of four-legged allies in this adventure are somewhat incredible yet don’t jerk one out of one’s willing disbelief is a testimony to how accustomed we readers have become to having Falco’s friends and acquaintances bail him out of difficult situation after difficult situation.
It would not be a spoiler to say that there are some unnecessary deaths in this novel. As in real life, evil has a tendency to overplay its hand. So, there is death at the hand of an unwitting do-gooder and there are deaths of mistaken identity to add to those of deaths from those who had already resolved their situation without putting the murderer at risk. But murder creates paranoia and that is true in this story as well.
My problem with Shadows in Bronze is not the conclusion. It is apt and it is just, in spite of much of it being out of the hero’s hands. My problem is not the final resolution. That was as predictable as the “conflict,” the rationale for the “conflict,” and the well-telegraphed solution to the “conflict.” Still, it was what I wanted and what I’m sure many readers want for Falco. My problem was simply the existence of too many convenient escapes by suspect or suspects. I had the feeling of being in an episode of The Rockford Files inexplicably set in Ancient Rome and extended to the length of a “Made for TV” movie instead of the nice little episode that it was.
This adventure deals with a conspiracy against the emperor. I’ve been anticipating this type of adventure for a while and it started off perfectly for me. Falco has to attend to some unwelcome details of a conspiracy gone awry and yet, gains no appreciable recognition from the emperor. But, of course, the emperor still has work for Falco to do in cleaning up the last details of the conspiracy and that work involves finding those conspirators who have scattered to various places in Italy. Sometimes, resolution seems almost too easy, but at other times Falco is looped into lasso after lasso of interlocking conspiracies.
The human element is delightful. In so many mystery novels (and movies), the supporting characters have an unnatural trust of the protagonist, no matter how hard-bitten, cranky, or seedy the detective may be. In this one, even spouses and would-be mothers-in-law are suspicious of Falco. Even Falco’s nephew and friends call his motives into question on occasion, much less those who are being interrogated or investigated by Vespasian’s informer. And, of course, some of the best humor in the book is when Falco, as narrator, tells the reader how much the person being interrogated doesn’t like Falco.
Falco is not as resourceful, in my opinion, as the average detective protagonist. The Falco mysteries are “ensemble productions,” meaning that our hero wouldn’t be nearly as successful as he is without his supporting cast. That the remarkably fortuitous interventions of four-legged allies in this adventure are somewhat incredible yet don’t jerk one out of one’s willing disbelief is a testimony to how accustomed we readers have become to having Falco’s friends and acquaintances bail him out of difficult situation after difficult situation.
It would not be a spoiler to say that there are some unnecessary deaths in this novel. As in real life, evil has a tendency to overplay its hand. So, there is death at the hand of an unwitting do-gooder and there are deaths of mistaken identity to add to those of deaths from those who had already resolved their situation without putting the murderer at risk. But murder creates paranoia and that is true in this story as well.
My problem with Shadows in Bronze is not the conclusion. It is apt and it is just, in spite of much of it being out of the hero’s hands. My problem is not the final resolution. That was as predictable as the “conflict,” the rationale for the “conflict,” and the well-telegraphed solution to the “conflict.” Still, it was what I wanted and what I’m sure many readers want for Falco. My problem was simply the existence of too many convenient escapes by suspect or suspects. I had the feeling of being in an episode of The Rockford Files inexplicably set in Ancient Rome and extended to the length of a “Made for TV” movie instead of the nice little episode that it was.
Read
March 10, 2024I was so impressed when I re-read the first Falco book, 'The Silver Pigs', that I decided to re-read the next book in the series, 'Shadows In Bronze' immediately.
I'd read the book before, thirtyish years ago, but, unlike 'The Silver Pigs' I couldn't remember any of the details. In retrospect, I should have taken that as a warning.
I dived in with enthusiasm and enjoyed the opening scenes, which were vivid and crisp and full of action. My only frustration was that Gordon Griffin had been chosen as the narrator. He's a good narrator but, to me, he seemed too old and too officer-class to voice Falco. I much preferred Christian Rodska who gave Falco a finely judged working-class swagger tinged with humour.
The book started to flag pretty much as soon as Falco left Rome. It's hard to describe someone spending nine days hanging around a temple with only a goat for company and still keep things interesting. Falco briefly returned to Rome, although nothing much happened there and then headed out, slowly, to Naples, using his friend Petro and his family as cover. Again, nothing much happened. By now I was four and a half hours into a fifteen-hour audiobook and I realised that I was bored and disappointed
The plot and the people were meandering. There was a large cast of characters but I didn't get to know much about any of them. There was no tension at all, even though Falco is being hunted by a killer and has placed Petro's family in the firing line. Helena Justina barely appears in the first third of the book and her absence left a hole that Falco and his goat couldn't fill. Falco's humour runs thin when he spends so much time alone. It didn't help that Gordon Griffith didn't seem to be able to make the humour work very well.
At 466 pages, 'Shadows In Bronze' is over 30% longer than 'The Silver Pigs' and the story seems to have spread out to fill the available space. I think it would have benefitted from being edited down by a hundred pages or so.
I decided to set the book aside. I'll give it a few weeks and then try again with 'Venus In Copper', it's set in Rome and is only 366 pages, so I have hopes of a return to form.
I'd read the book before, thirtyish years ago, but, unlike 'The Silver Pigs' I couldn't remember any of the details. In retrospect, I should have taken that as a warning.
I dived in with enthusiasm and enjoyed the opening scenes, which were vivid and crisp and full of action. My only frustration was that Gordon Griffin had been chosen as the narrator. He's a good narrator but, to me, he seemed too old and too officer-class to voice Falco. I much preferred Christian Rodska who gave Falco a finely judged working-class swagger tinged with humour.
The book started to flag pretty much as soon as Falco left Rome. It's hard to describe someone spending nine days hanging around a temple with only a goat for company and still keep things interesting. Falco briefly returned to Rome, although nothing much happened there and then headed out, slowly, to Naples, using his friend Petro and his family as cover. Again, nothing much happened. By now I was four and a half hours into a fifteen-hour audiobook and I realised that I was bored and disappointed
The plot and the people were meandering. There was a large cast of characters but I didn't get to know much about any of them. There was no tension at all, even though Falco is being hunted by a killer and has placed Petro's family in the firing line. Helena Justina barely appears in the first third of the book and her absence left a hole that Falco and his goat couldn't fill. Falco's humour runs thin when he spends so much time alone. It didn't help that Gordon Griffith didn't seem to be able to make the humour work very well.
At 466 pages, 'Shadows In Bronze' is over 30% longer than 'The Silver Pigs' and the story seems to have spread out to fill the available space. I think it would have benefitted from being edited down by a hundred pages or so.
I decided to set the book aside. I'll give it a few weeks and then try again with 'Venus In Copper', it's set in Rome and is only 366 pages, so I have hopes of a return to form.
March 10, 2017
This is one of those mysteries where for most of the book no one's getting any closer to Why Dunnit until all of a sudden it all falls into place. Falco, like any well brought up boy, obligingly gets there a few pages after the average reader (if the average reader is moi) and crucially, does so in entertaining fashion. This book is all about the characters and Falco's enjoyably jaded narrations of them, and on that score it delivers.
I wish the plot had been stronger; arguably, the romance subplot is in fact the main plot, which could be a make or break for some would-be readers. It is one of the best romance plots I've seen though, give it that.
In any case - fun read, the rest of the series only gets better.
I wish the plot had been stronger; arguably, the romance subplot is in fact the main plot, which could be a make or break for some would-be readers. It is one of the best romance plots I've seen though, give it that.
In any case - fun read, the rest of the series only gets better.
August 3, 2021
Enjoyed this one.
November 15, 2018
DNF página 180.
Sinceramente tengo muy poco tiempo para leer entre clases, trabajos y exámenes, no quiero malgastar el poco tiempo que tengo en un libro de este tipo, me aburre. No me gusta el estilo de la autora, nunca sé qué hacen los personajes ni dónde están, es como si todo fuese resultado de la improvisación.
Sinceramente tengo muy poco tiempo para leer entre clases, trabajos y exámenes, no quiero malgastar el poco tiempo que tengo en un libro de este tipo, me aburre. No me gusta el estilo de la autora, nunca sé qué hacen los personajes ni dónde están, es como si todo fuese resultado de la improvisación.
August 25, 2017
Try, try, try as I might, I just could not get into this book. I already have read the first book of this series and so I was anxious to dive into this book.
Unfortunately, I appear to be one of the few who found this book hard to read, disjointed and totally uninteresting. I started and restarted the book 3 different times in the hope that I had missed something or would glean something that I had missed previously. Nope.
Sorry Marcus Didius Falco fans this one just was of no interest to me. And I had hoped for a better result since I really had wanted to dig my teeth into this series. Maybe I will go back in a few months to Book 3, but for now I have to put this series on the shelf.
Unfortunately, I appear to be one of the few who found this book hard to read, disjointed and totally uninteresting. I started and restarted the book 3 different times in the hope that I had missed something or would glean something that I had missed previously. Nope.
Sorry Marcus Didius Falco fans this one just was of no interest to me. And I had hoped for a better result since I really had wanted to dig my teeth into this series. Maybe I will go back in a few months to Book 3, but for now I have to put this series on the shelf.
August 8, 2021
Ay Falco! Que capullo tan divertido eres truhán... creo que voy a pasar grandes momentos. Tiene de todo, lo que más me gusta es la ambientación y como se maneja todo, lo cotidiano o cómo debió haber sido.
Falco es un crack, tiene de todo, bueno, malo y regular y también un gentío muy interesante a su alrededor que lo enriquece aún más.
En este vamos de viaje y recorremos un poco más Italia, con sus intrigas y correrías. Muy entretenido.
Sólo por las risas ya merrce la pena, pero tiene mucho más.
Falco es un crack, tiene de todo, bueno, malo y regular y también un gentío muy interesante a su alrededor que lo enriquece aún más.
En este vamos de viaje y recorremos un poco más Italia, con sus intrigas y correrías. Muy entretenido.
Sólo por las risas ya merrce la pena, pero tiene mucho más.
August 22, 2022
Love this second instalment. Again, the mention of corn in Rome and imported from Egypt. I did some research (online only) and found this from someone with at BS in Biology: "In British English, 'corn' is just a synonym for 'grain'." Mmm... My beef is that she mentions cornbread. I'd imagine if she meant "corn" as in "wheat," why call it cornbread?
September 10, 2012
The second book in Davis's series about Marcus Didius Falco, an informer in the Rome of the Flavian emperors, picks up immediately after the events of the first novel, The Silver Pigs. Falco is helping to track down the remnants of the conspiracy he uncovered and confounded and finds himself tracked by and tracking Barnabas - the freedman of Atius Pertinax, now deceased conspirator and ex-husband of Helena, Falco's socially unobtainable lover.
There are a few plot twists - nothing is quite what it seems in the cut-throat world of Roman politics and society - but nothing too taxing for the brain.
The charm for me in Davis's stories are her characters and her writing style. As I mentioned in my Silver Pigs review, I'm strongly reminded of "The Rockford Files" when reading: A sardonic wit with just enough seriousness to make the reader care.
Confidently recommended. I look forward to picking up book #3, Venus in Copper.
There are a few plot twists - nothing is quite what it seems in the cut-throat world of Roman politics and society - but nothing too taxing for the brain.
The charm for me in Davis's stories are her characters and her writing style. As I mentioned in my Silver Pigs review, I'm strongly reminded of "The Rockford Files" when reading: A sardonic wit with just enough seriousness to make the reader care.
Confidently recommended. I look forward to picking up book #3, Venus in Copper.
January 23, 2018
Falco calls himself an informer, but actually works as an investigator for the Emperor Vespasian. Plots against the Emperor are thick on the ground. Falco is a bit of a bumbler, and misses one obvious clue after another. People often try to tell him things, but he interrupts them. Nowhere is this more true than in his relationship with Helena Justina, who clearly cares for him (although the reader is hard pressed to know why). Something is revealed in their relationship after about a hundred obvious clues; Falco handles it so badly I almost gave up on this book. Anyway, somehow Falco solves everything in the end. I’m really not sure I will continue this series - the romantic aspect of this story was just too groan-worthy.
August 21, 2015
This series is rapidly becoming one of my favorites. I liked this better than The Silver Pigs because it was funnier and more intricately plotted. Falco is an amazing, if not always competent, informer who generally manages to muddle through his cases. Highly recommended.
May 11, 2020
Rereading ... and I remember a lot more (like the solution) than I did when I previously read this - see below. Very enjoyable still watching Falco go on a working vacation in the ancient Roman world to solve the mystery.
====
I read a lot of this series when they were coming out, to the point that I'd order new volumes from England rather than wait for them to be published in America (ah, the old rich days before paying for kids' college educations...).
Some of the books I have reread numerous times (Silver Pigs, Three Hands in the Fountain, the one about Germany whose name I can't recall right now). Anyway, I don't recall rereading this one and it's been a long time since I've picked up a Falco book in general. I'm enjoying reading it more slowly than I usually do, soaking up the atmosphere and getting reacquainted with familiar characters while a mystery I don't really remember takes up everyone's attention. Also, Falco meets Geminus, the father who abandoned his family when he was a baby. Aha! Family drama. Love it!
UPDATE
Ok, I must have read this more times than I recalled because the story is coming back to me as I go. Still enjoying it though.
====
I read a lot of this series when they were coming out, to the point that I'd order new volumes from England rather than wait for them to be published in America (ah, the old rich days before paying for kids' college educations...).
Some of the books I have reread numerous times (Silver Pigs, Three Hands in the Fountain, the one about Germany whose name I can't recall right now). Anyway, I don't recall rereading this one and it's been a long time since I've picked up a Falco book in general. I'm enjoying reading it more slowly than I usually do, soaking up the atmosphere and getting reacquainted with familiar characters while a mystery I don't really remember takes up everyone's attention. Also, Falco meets Geminus, the father who abandoned his family when he was a baby. Aha! Family drama. Love it!
UPDATE
Ok, I must have read this more times than I recalled because the story is coming back to me as I go. Still enjoying it though.
July 10, 2012
This sequel to The Silver Pigs picks up only days after the first ended; I like the continuity, though I think if you go a long time between reading them, it might be harder to pick up the thread of the story. You can look at this volume as sort of wrapping up the first, as the conspirators who were exiled start getting bumped off by a mysterious man who's always a couple of steps ahead of Falco. His task (a thankless one, so of course Vespasian picked him for the job) to find and warn the remaining conspirators gets tangled up in his relationship with senator's daughter Helena Justina; she's socially off-limits, but both of them have trouble remembering that. There's some retconning of events in the first book, but Davis justifies her revised plot well enough that I didn't mind. Again, I like Davis's descriptions of ancient Rome, and while this book is no substitute for actual history, it helps put historical events into perspective.
January 2, 2023
I really did struggle with this book. I think it is obvious that the author had written romance, and I'm afraid this book reaffirmed my why I prefer not to read it. I could see why Sayer's liked her writing as she had a long running of will she/won't she in her books. I did like the overall story, but not only, not understanding the politics of the time (my fault entirely), I had trouble with the huge cast list. Maybe if the names had been ones I was familiar with, I could have identified them better. ( I put that down to me as well) I did find that the story so often went off at a tangent, as if the author had just thought of something, so added it to the book.
However, having said all this, I have to say I did like the first book, so am willing to read on , with my attitude being "must try harder"
However, having said all this, I have to say I did like the first book, so am willing to read on , with my attitude being "must try harder"
May 7, 2009
Very enjoyable, if not quite as good as the first one. I'm looking forward to the next book. I liked Petro's family, and overall the characterizations are very good.
I like the short chapters, but the paragraph breaks are still a little odd. They tend to disrupt the flow of Falco and Helena's conversations.
I like the short chapters, but the paragraph breaks are still a little odd. They tend to disrupt the flow of Falco and Helena's conversations.
September 18, 2022
Enjoying my second read of this series just as much as the first ... maybe more as I know these characters and their future.
July 4, 2022
4 stars - English Ebook
Quote: -My name is Didius Falco, Marcus to special friends. At the time I was thirty years old, a free citizen of Rome. All that meant was that I had been born in a slum, I still lived in one, and except in irrational moments I expected to die in one too.
I was a private informer the Palace occasionally used. Shedding a putrid body from the Censor’s list of citizens was up to standard for my work. It was unhygienic, irreligious, and put me off my food.-
It's the first century A.D. and Marcus Didius Falco, Ancient Rome's favorite son and sometime palace spy, has just been dealt a lousy blow from the gods: The beautiful, high-born Helena Justina has left him in the dust. So when the Emperor Vespasian calls upon him to investigate an act of treason, Falco is more than ready for a distraction.
Disguised as an idle vacationer in the company of his best friend Petronius, Falco travels from the Isle of Capreae to Neapolis and all the way to the great city of Pompeii…where a whole new series of Herculean events, involving yet another conspiracy, and a fateful meeting with his beloved Helena, are about to erupt.
Lyndsey Davis does it again, and better, by bringing back her gumshoe (sandal!?) hero, Didius Falco.
Having forestalled an attempt to overthrow the empire, Falco continues working for the emperor on projects here and there.
This book picks up as Falco is in the process of some (cough, cough) "cleaning up" for the emperor. As he does so, he uncovers some shady goings-on that once again threaten the throne.
Sent to discover what's going on, Falco and friends travel across the Italian countryside to the oceanside resorts in the south. There he searches for a mysterious ex-slave who holds the key to the mystery of murder and mayhem that sent him on his way.
Falco fans I think, will love this one and first time readers will marvel at the intricate story.
The historical detail, and the likable, or in some cases, not-so-likable, characters who seem to leap of the page.
Davis is in my opinion a master of character and dialog who easily propels her cast, and her readers, through an exciting story of murder, intrique, betrayal, and love.
My historicsl detective hero.
Quote: -My name is Didius Falco, Marcus to special friends. At the time I was thirty years old, a free citizen of Rome. All that meant was that I had been born in a slum, I still lived in one, and except in irrational moments I expected to die in one too.
I was a private informer the Palace occasionally used. Shedding a putrid body from the Censor’s list of citizens was up to standard for my work. It was unhygienic, irreligious, and put me off my food.-
It's the first century A.D. and Marcus Didius Falco, Ancient Rome's favorite son and sometime palace spy, has just been dealt a lousy blow from the gods: The beautiful, high-born Helena Justina has left him in the dust. So when the Emperor Vespasian calls upon him to investigate an act of treason, Falco is more than ready for a distraction.
Disguised as an idle vacationer in the company of his best friend Petronius, Falco travels from the Isle of Capreae to Neapolis and all the way to the great city of Pompeii…where a whole new series of Herculean events, involving yet another conspiracy, and a fateful meeting with his beloved Helena, are about to erupt.
Lyndsey Davis does it again, and better, by bringing back her gumshoe (sandal!?) hero, Didius Falco.
Having forestalled an attempt to overthrow the empire, Falco continues working for the emperor on projects here and there.
This book picks up as Falco is in the process of some (cough, cough) "cleaning up" for the emperor. As he does so, he uncovers some shady goings-on that once again threaten the throne.
Sent to discover what's going on, Falco and friends travel across the Italian countryside to the oceanside resorts in the south. There he searches for a mysterious ex-slave who holds the key to the mystery of murder and mayhem that sent him on his way.
Falco fans I think, will love this one and first time readers will marvel at the intricate story.
The historical detail, and the likable, or in some cases, not-so-likable, characters who seem to leap of the page.
Davis is in my opinion a master of character and dialog who easily propels her cast, and her readers, through an exciting story of murder, intrique, betrayal, and love.
My historicsl detective hero.
April 20, 2017
The second book in the series. Continue to follow the exploits of Marcus Didius Falco, an informer for the emperor, through the complications of first century Roman love and murder. Interesting and humorous modern day similarities are to be found. Enjoyed the occasional humorous banter between the characters amongst the intrigue of Roman politics.
Listened to the dramatization of the book on BBC's iPlayer Radio app.
Listened to the dramatization of the book on BBC's iPlayer Radio app.
March 8, 2011
In Shadows in Bronze, the second book of the Marcus Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis, Marcus goes undercover to find out more about the conspirators whom he thwarted in the previous novel. As they explore the towns of the Italian countryside, Marcus and his nephew Larius become door-to-door salesmen, offering lead pipes at a cheap deal and tax free.
"Every householder knows the hazard; a man and a boy at the door selling something you don’t want. Unless you feel strong, these whey-faced inadequates land you with anything from fake horoscopes or wobbly iron saucepans to a second-hand chariot with mock-silver wheel finials and a very small Medusa stencilled on the side, which you subsequently discover used to be painted crimson and had to have its bodywork remodelled after being battered to all Hades in a crash…"
The plot to overthrow Vespasian using silver from his own mines has ended, but some of the pardoned conspirators are a little too interested in the annual shipment of corn to Rome’s granaries. To complicate matters further, a sinister, green-cloaked man named Barnabas seems to have a vendetta against the surviving conspirators, and Marcus must risk his own neck to put a stop to Barnabas’ killing spree.
Marcus continues his relationship with Helena Justina despite the obstacles posed by their disparate social standings and their determination to willfully misunderstand each other. His friend Petronius and nephew Larius add interesting subplots to the story as Petronius tries to keep his shrewish wife happy and Larius learns about the facts of life from his uncle.
The opening quote illustrates many of the things I’m loving about these books: the cheeky narrative tone, the wide range of historical detail, the lovely way it parallels with life in modern day America. Lindsey Davis has quite a gift for words. I found myself stopping two or three times to read especially humorous descriptive passages aloud to my husband:
"The town of Herculaneum was very small, very sleepy, and if any interesting women lived there, they were hidden behind locked doors…. Unlike Pompeii, where we had to bawl to make ourselves heard, in Herculaneum you could stand in the Forum at the top of the town and still hear the sea gulls at the port. If a child cried in Herculaneum its nursemaid dashed to gag it before it was sued for a breach of the peace. At Herculaneum the gladiators in the amphitheatre probably said ‘I beg your pardon!’ each time their swords did anything so impolite as landing a nick. Frankly, Herculaneum made me want to jump on a public fountain and shout a very rude word."
One of the things that makes Lindsy Davis’ descriptions so colorful are the memorable similes. When describing a small boat that he has stolen, Marcus says: “It bobbed in the wavelets like an intoxicated fruitfly dancing at a rotten peach.”
It’s official. I’m a Marcus Didius Falco fan. It’s going to be hard to make myself read anything else until I’m done with the whole series.
"Every householder knows the hazard; a man and a boy at the door selling something you don’t want. Unless you feel strong, these whey-faced inadequates land you with anything from fake horoscopes or wobbly iron saucepans to a second-hand chariot with mock-silver wheel finials and a very small Medusa stencilled on the side, which you subsequently discover used to be painted crimson and had to have its bodywork remodelled after being battered to all Hades in a crash…"
The plot to overthrow Vespasian using silver from his own mines has ended, but some of the pardoned conspirators are a little too interested in the annual shipment of corn to Rome’s granaries. To complicate matters further, a sinister, green-cloaked man named Barnabas seems to have a vendetta against the surviving conspirators, and Marcus must risk his own neck to put a stop to Barnabas’ killing spree.
Marcus continues his relationship with Helena Justina despite the obstacles posed by their disparate social standings and their determination to willfully misunderstand each other. His friend Petronius and nephew Larius add interesting subplots to the story as Petronius tries to keep his shrewish wife happy and Larius learns about the facts of life from his uncle.
The opening quote illustrates many of the things I’m loving about these books: the cheeky narrative tone, the wide range of historical detail, the lovely way it parallels with life in modern day America. Lindsey Davis has quite a gift for words. I found myself stopping two or three times to read especially humorous descriptive passages aloud to my husband:
"The town of Herculaneum was very small, very sleepy, and if any interesting women lived there, they were hidden behind locked doors…. Unlike Pompeii, where we had to bawl to make ourselves heard, in Herculaneum you could stand in the Forum at the top of the town and still hear the sea gulls at the port. If a child cried in Herculaneum its nursemaid dashed to gag it before it was sued for a breach of the peace. At Herculaneum the gladiators in the amphitheatre probably said ‘I beg your pardon!’ each time their swords did anything so impolite as landing a nick. Frankly, Herculaneum made me want to jump on a public fountain and shout a very rude word."
One of the things that makes Lindsy Davis’ descriptions so colorful are the memorable similes. When describing a small boat that he has stolen, Marcus says: “It bobbed in the wavelets like an intoxicated fruitfly dancing at a rotten peach.”
It’s official. I’m a Marcus Didius Falco fan. It’s going to be hard to make myself read anything else until I’m done with the whole series.
June 27, 2020
Depressing. Very different from the first book. The first book had a definite plot and followed a chain of events like a mystery. This book started with, let us keep Falco in the dark and give him all the dirty work then send him on a fool's errand that goes nowhere and oh, also talk about him in his presence like he is not there. What happened to the ending of the last book where he did honorably and was recognized?
I get that he is treated badly—comes with the territory the era etc., but even the reunion with Helena didn't pick up right! That was played out in way too much drama like starting over for the sake of drama, filler!
Falco is sent away on the fool's errand which is most of the book going nowhere, we lose track of the purpose in social dramas, I had to scan ahead to find the plot moving again. Filler again. I feel a lot of the middle part was to show how society was then inserting tidbits that we really didn't need to know and weren't interesting.
I like the character concept of Falco as a detective/informer/bodyguard and a family man in the Roman era but I wish his character had a stronger presence and not be overshadowed by filler characters that seem to waste time. He is a smart character, brave, and has the heart to do good but gets bogged down with fluff characters dragging the plot.
I'm sorry to say, the overall feel of this book was depressing and a waste of storyline not exciting like the last one. At least the language is clean but there are references to how immoral to era was in several places, okay we get the picture do we have to go through that scene?
I get that he is treated badly—comes with the territory the era etc., but even the reunion with Helena didn't pick up right! That was played out in way too much drama like starting over for the sake of drama, filler!
Falco is sent away on the fool's errand which is most of the book going nowhere, we lose track of the purpose in social dramas, I had to scan ahead to find the plot moving again. Filler again. I feel a lot of the middle part was to show how society was then inserting tidbits that we really didn't need to know and weren't interesting.
I like the character concept of Falco as a detective/informer/bodyguard and a family man in the Roman era but I wish his character had a stronger presence and not be overshadowed by filler characters that seem to waste time. He is a smart character, brave, and has the heart to do good but gets bogged down with fluff characters dragging the plot.
I'm sorry to say, the overall feel of this book was depressing and a waste of storyline not exciting like the last one. At least the language is clean but there are references to how immoral to era was in several places, okay we get the picture do we have to go through that scene?
May 29, 2015
See Naples and die they say. M. Didius Falco almost managed it before actually seeing Neapolis. This book follows the Silver Pigs in that the plotters have to be swept up and settled or disposed of. It seems that the plot is still alive but relocating to the Bay of Naples where the ships bringing grain from Egypt to Rome will appear and where the Roman fleet is based.
So why not go on holiday to the beach? Marcus and Petronius gather up Marcus' 14 year old nephew and Petronius' wife and daughters plus an unspecific number of kittens and heads to a small town near Naples in a cart pulled by Nero, an ox in which Petronius has a 1/5th interest.
There are a number of violent attacks, some beautiful homes, some very twisted relationships and at least one love affair, very natural when on a beach holiday.
Even at the end we're still dealing with plotting - oh and Helena Justina is there off and on.
I borrowed a booklet from the library to straighten up my knowledge of Roman military practices. Very helpful, especially since it had several passages about the Teutoberg Forest and events surrounding that disaster.
So why not go on holiday to the beach? Marcus and Petronius gather up Marcus' 14 year old nephew and Petronius' wife and daughters plus an unspecific number of kittens and heads to a small town near Naples in a cart pulled by Nero, an ox in which Petronius has a 1/5th interest.
There are a number of violent attacks, some beautiful homes, some very twisted relationships and at least one love affair, very natural when on a beach holiday.
Even at the end we're still dealing with plotting - oh and Helena Justina is there off and on.
I borrowed a booklet from the library to straighten up my knowledge of Roman military practices. Very helpful, especially since it had several passages about the Teutoberg Forest and events surrounding that disaster.
November 18, 2018
The second of Lindsey Davis's Falco novels picks up where The Silver Pigs left off and sees Falco engaged in trying to tie up the loose ends of the previous case, an undertaking which is complicated when one of the three surviving conspirators is murdered. His quest to warn the other two and find the murderer takes him away from Rome, first to Calabria and then to the Bay of Naples where he takes a working holiday in the shadow of Vesuvius in the company of his friend Petronius Longus and family.
I felt like I should have been enjoying this more than I actually did; somehow Falco's wisecracks mainly left me cold, and while Helena Justina is far and away my favourite character I think I would have preferred more detecting and less of the romance subplot. Possibly because I have been so tired lately what should have been a quick light read ended up dragging out over a fortnight, which felt like much too long for such an insubstantial book.
I felt like I should have been enjoying this more than I actually did; somehow Falco's wisecracks mainly left me cold, and while Helena Justina is far and away my favourite character I think I would have preferred more detecting and less of the romance subplot. Possibly because I have been so tired lately what should have been a quick light read ended up dragging out over a fortnight, which felt like much too long for such an insubstantial book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 347 reviews