Author:Lindsey Davis
Fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom will love this captivating, colourful and unputdownable historical mystery from multi-million copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis.Guaranteed to have you turning the pages, this will easily transport you back in time to Ancient Rome...
'Several cheers for Lindsey Davis... Great fun' -- The Times
'Fast-moving, funny and full of atmosphere' -- Mail on Sunday
'Highly readable, funny and colourful' - TLS
'An intriguing Roman mystery, with quite a few twists and turns' -- ***** Reader review
'Another excellent Falco book that is difficult to put down' -- ***** Reader review
'Well written, humorous, interesting and a good read' -- ***** Reader review
'Brilliant. Very funny too' -- ***** Reader review
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A MURDERED LEGIONARY - AND THERE'S ONE PRIME SUSPECT
AD 72: Marcus Didius Falco returns home from a six-month mission to the German legions. But trouble is in store for him: his apartment has been wrecked by squatters and an ex-legionary friend of his colourfully heroic brother Festus is demanding money, allegedly owed him as the result of one of Festus's wild schemes. Worse still, the only client Falco can get is his mother - who wants him to clear the family name.
Then just as Falco thinks things can only get better, fate takes a turn for the worse... The legionary is found viciously stabbed to death with Falco the prime suspect.
Now he has only three days to prove he is not a murderer, to trace the real suspect, amass evidence and win a fortune...
Several cheers for Lindsey Davis... Great fun
—— The TimesFast-moving, funny and full of atmosphere; if you haven't met Marcus Didius Falco before, start here
—— Mail on SundayThe setting enchants. Prescribed reading for any student bored by Latin
—— Mail on SundayA taut tale exploring the themes of child abduction, abuse and bereavement... [the] understated narrative is elegant and effortlessly gripping
—— Press Association (syndicated article)The architecture of Harvey's storytelling begs to be admired, with its multiple narratives, shifting time lines and elaborate plot details. But it's his handling of difficult characters and provocative themes that gives the book weight. All the adults in this story love children, some selflessly and others in ways that make your skin crawl, and they all react differently when the children they love are taken away from them. Harvey's touch is so subtle, his style so seductive, the he distracts us from the fact that Ruth isn't the only person whose choices are determined, or tragically derailed, by love for a child - even if it's someone else's child
—— New York TimesHarvey is a master craftsman
—— The GuardianImpassioned, at times heartbreaking story … confirms Harvey as one of our most accomplished writers in any genre
—— Sunday TelegraphA writer of towering gifts . . . le Carré is one of the great analysts of the contemporary scene, who has a talent to provoke as well as unsettle
—— IndependentJohn le Carré takes us back to his favourite scenarios: Whitehall, the secret services, the gentleman's clubs, dodgy bankers, corrupt public schoolboys and gruesome American neo-cons . . . revelling once more in that imaginary world of secrets and lies that is le Carré's gift to us
—— Evening StandardThrilling, suspenseful . . . Fans will not be disappointed
—— Sunday ExpressUtterly convincing characters, a tight plot . . . Wonderful
—— Sunday MirrorThrilling
—— ExpressChoreographed with unsettling precision
—— MetroWhen I was under house arrest I was helped by the books of John le Carré ... they were a journey into the wider world ... These were the journeys that made me feel that I was not really cut off from the rest of humankind
—— Aung San Suu KyiPlunges the reader into a modern-day thriller...Dad won't be able to put it down
—— Metro[It] has all the essential ingredients of his masterpieces: the dilemmas of duty, patriotism and decency
—— Simon Sebag Montefiore , Metro 'Books of the Year'John Le Carré at his masterful best . . . nobody does it better
—— Ben Macintyre , The Times 'Books of the Year'Widely hailed as a return to the good old Smiley days . . . le Carré writes with laconic elegance
—— Kate Saunders , The Times 'Books of the Year'[It] has all the essential ingredients of his masterpieces: the dilemmas of duty, patriotism and decency
—— Simon Sebag Montefiore , Metro 'Books of the Year'John Le Carré at his masterful best . . . nobody does it better
—— Ben Macintyre , The Times 'Books of the Year'Widely hailed as a return to the good old Smiley days . . . le Carré writes with laconic elegance
—— Kate Saunders , The Times 'Books of the Year'