Three Hands In The Fountain

Jul 27, 2025 6:08 AM

Author:Lindsey Davis

Another engrossing historical mystery bringing Ancient Rome to life in all its gruesome glory from the pen of multimillion-copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis. Fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom will not be disappointed...

'Uniquely entertaining' -- Time Out

'Bizarre, funny and satisfying' -- Irish Times

'As always, Davis wears her research lightly, bringing Ancient Rome to vivid life in a series of delicious vignettes' -- Val McDermid

'Exciting and gripping' -- ***** Reader review

'I love this book. what an amazing author and what an amazing series!' -- ***** Reader review

'Another excellent Falco book that is difficult to put down' -- ***** Reader review

'Well written, humourous, interesting and a good read' -- ***** Reader review

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A SERIAL KILLER STALKS THE GAMES

'The fountain was not working. Nothing unusual in that...'

Marcus Didius Falco and his laddish friend Petronius find their local fountain has been blocked - by a gruesomely severed human hand.

Soon other body parts are being found in the aqueducts and sewers.

Public panic overcomes official indifference, and the Aventine partners are commissioned to investigate. Women are being abducted during festivals, with the next Games only days away.

As the heat rises in the Circus Maximus, they face a race against time and a strong test of their friendship. They know the sadistic killer lurks somewhere on the festive streets of Rome- preparing to strike again.

Reviews

Uniquely entertaining

—— Time Out

Bizarre, funny and satisfying

—— Irish Times

One of the best of the current writers in this field

—— Sunday Times

As always, Davis wears her research lightly, bringing Ancient Rome to vivid life in a series of delicious vignettes

—— Manchester Evening News

Lindsey Davis's excellent and funny series [is] a cross between I, Claudius and Mystery!

—— Rocky Mountain News

The Golden Egg is Donna Leon on top form.

—— Good Book Guide

Donna Leon is better than ever…Superb.

—— WI Life

[T]his is a much darker version of Brunetti-land than the earlier novels…The character of the deaf mutes seems to serve as an allegory of the political landscape of Italy – the public silenced and ignored, whilst those in power continue the ancient Italian tradition of fiddle-playing.

—— The Lady

The descriptions of Venice and Venetian life are beautifully written and acutely observed … The author clearly has an excellent understanding of the Italian psyche and a profound knowledge of Venice and Venetian life. This is the 22nd book in Donna Leon’s Commissario Brunetti series and I can’t wait for the 23rd.

—— Crimereview

The familiar characters and Venetian location are described with remarkable freshness and, as always, the edifying result is both amusing and thought-provoking.

—— Mark Sanderson , Sunday Telegraph

Tense, twisty, and driven by a melancholy insight into human motivation . . . deeply compelling

—— The Week

John le Carré is as recognisable a writer as Dickens or Austen, with an often-imitated but never rivalled cast of seedy spies, false lovers, public schoolboys struggling with guilt, and charming but immoral leaders of the brutal establishment . . . This is vintage le Carré and highly enjoyable

—— Financial Times

Thrilling, suspenseful . . . Fans will not be disappointed

—— Sunday Express

Utterly convincing characters, a tight plot . . . Wonderful

—— Sunday Mirror

Thrilling

—— Express

Choreographed with unsettling precision

—— Metro

When 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 Kyi

Plunges 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'

This is a class act which unveils its secrets as tantalisingly as a courtesan

—— John Koski , Daily Mail Ireland

Wonderfully evocative of Oxford, this is a love story and a mystery that will keep you guessing

—— Good Book Guide

Part love story, part murder mystery… Dymott’s novel is ample proof of the literary flair that lurks within some lawyers

—— Alex Wade , The Times

One of the best books I’ve read this year

—— Edinburgh Evening News

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