Three Hands in the Fountain

Falco is back in his beloved Rome with Helena and a new baby girl, tactfully named after both grandmothers, Julia Junilla Laeitana. Falco is out enjoying himself with old friend from his army days, Petro, who is now a member of the Vigiles, when they comes across a gruesome discovery in the fountain they are standing by. A severed human hand. With the possibility of bits of Rome's population floating around the Roman water system it is time for our hero to get involved. This time he has the help of Petro, who has been suspended from the vigiles for having a rather unfortunate liaison. But of course nothing is easy for Falco. What with more than my jobs worth water board officials, who seem to have a vested interest in keeping things quiet, Falco and Petro seem to be running up a dead end. That is until Julius Frontius an ex-consul who Vespasian has assigned to look into the matter becomes involved. He is certainly able to use his influence and the investigation begins to make progress. When another girl goes missing Falco begins to realise who the serial killer is, but will he be able to catch them before they strike again . . .

Lindsey Davis' Marcus Didius Falco series of murder mysteries set in ancient Rome (AD 70-73) is spot-on. Besides being riveting mystery novels, Davis' historical knowledge is both extensive and up-to-date. (I should know. I have recently received a doctorate in Roman history and am whiling away the long wait for an academic post.) "Fountain" offers an almost painless introduction to the supposedly tedious subject of Roman aqueducts and water management. In the novels, obscure facts of Roman history (such as the organization of the vigiles, Rome's firemen and police, or the Maiuma, a religious carnival involving nude bathing - in "Palmyra") come alive. What's more, Davis does this with humor and a light touch. She completely undercuts the supposedly stuffy image of the ancient Romans with Falco's irreverent perspective. Davis is 1000 times better than Colleen McCullough's bloated "First Man in Rome" series.

Lindsay Davis instantly grabs our attention and takes us on a thrilling hunt for a serial killer. Once again we learn about live in early Rome as it was lived by the average citizen. Once again, we painstakingly follow Marcos as he sniffs out an unforgettable killer of young women. This book is one of Davis' best, and it keeps your attention from the first page to the climactic ending where you cannot put the book down. I am thrilled that Davis continues to add to the ongoing saga of M. Didius Falco and look forward to enjoying another twenty years of his adventures.

I love this Falco dude! He's funny, in a world weary, black humor sort of way. After reading all the Didius Falco novels, I really feel I know the guy. He's the sort of wise-cracking schlub I'd be willing to share a pizza and six-pack with. I like reading about his family, his wife, her family, the stinking, crowded cesspool of ancient Rome, the weasely bureaucrats, the whores, the mindless thugs, the assorted incompetent, grifting plebs and the corrupt, self-serving, arrogant patricians. It all reminds me of home, except for the plumbing.

In 73 AD Rome, private investigator Marcus Falco shares some wine with his partner, Petronius Longus, when a worker finds the decayed hand of a human female in a nearby fountain. The sleuths see an opportunity to make a name for themselves by investigating what happened. However, the Roman bureaucratic government refuses to even acknowledge the incident for fear of rioting. Soon, a second hand suffering from less decay than the first discovery is found in another part of the aqueduct system. As the government slowly begins to look into the matter, Marcus and Petronius begin to search for an apparent serial killer, who seems ready to murder again on the date of the next festival. However, Rome's Chief Spy Anacrites plans to add to his own glory rather than allow two intruders like his enemy Marcus and his former employee Petronius solve the case. THREE HANDS IN THE FOUNTAINS, the latest Ancient Rome historical mystery starring Falco, is a superb tale that makes the city-state seem as if it exists today. The mystery is entertaining and fun. Married life seems to have calmed Falco down a bit, but he still remains a fresh sleuth. Lindsey Davis may be the top writer of ancient historical who-done-its.Harriet Klausner