There is a huge amount of historical fiction set in Ancient Rome, much of it, for me, very ordinary and very repetitive. There are umpteen variations on the story of an ordinary lad from humble origins (or disgraced nobleman) who joins the army, achieves miracles and rises to power and glory. It’s even got a nickname – ‘swords and sandals’. Don’t get me wrong, there are some really good authors who make imaginative use of this basic theme, but there are many who are best avoided.
Personally, I love fiction set in the period, but I look for more than a ‘boys own’ story. I want some intelligence and some tension, and some believable characters. For example, Steven Saylor, SJA Turney and Robert Fabbri all meet my criteria, even though their themes and leading characters are very different As does Lindsey Davis.
This is the fourteenth book in her Falco series, so you can guess that I’m already a fan! It’s probably appropriate to compare Marcus Didius Falco to Saylor’s main character, Gordianus. They are both effectively what we might call private eyes; Gordianus calls himself a ‘finder’, Falco an ‘informer’, but they do essentially the same job.
But that’s where the comparison ends. Gordianus, although he can be rough and tough when he needs to be, is the cerebral detective, and most of his cases involve him in real historical events.
Falco, by contrast, is a bit of a ducker and diver. The books still strive for historical accuracy in their settings and relationship to major events, but they are written using modern language and style, and can be very funny.
He’s a likeable character, with a large extended family who feature prominently throughout the series. He’s attached to a woman far above his own social status, who, along with a close friend – sometime partner – are crucial to the success of the series.
In this volume, Falco, his wife Helena Justina, their children and various others members of his family, as well as Petronius, his old friend and member of the vigiles in Rome, all end up in Londinium after the events of the previous book.
They are visiting Hilaris, the Financial Procurator of Britannia, who happens to be Helena’s uncle. They are all expecting to return home, but a seemingly mundane bar-room murder takes on political overtones, and Falco is forced to investigate.
The setting is well handled; Britain is still an unstable outpost of the Empire, its less than fifty years since Claudius’ invasion. There are no grand forums, few comforts for the Romans. Everything is rough and ready, and the Governor – an old acquaintance of Falco’s – has to use all his skills to keep the province under control.
As Falco tries to solve the murder, it becomes clear that many people are arriving from all over the empire to try and make their fortunes in this new land. Some are traders and merchants, others have less honest methods in mind, and his investigation takes him into the world of organised crime, protection rackets and prostitution.
He comes across one or two characters from his past; some he’s pleased to see (although they cause him some trouble), others are less welcome. And Petronius’ presence and actions become something of a mystery.
As usual, Helena gives him moral, as well as real, support, and their relationship continues to be at the centre of the books. We are also introduced to someone who will become increasingly important in the rest of the series, and beyond.
All the main characters are now fully formed; we know their history, their personalities, their strengths and weaknesses. But there are still secrets and surprises to be revealed, and relationships to develop. Although I still prefer Falco to be operating in his home environment back in Rome, this episode is as entertaining as ever, and moves several slow-burning storylines forward.
If you’re already acquainted with Falco, I certainly recommend this book. If not, then it can be read on its own, but I strongly suggest that you start at the beginning of the series with ‘The Silver Pigs’. You’ll get so much more out of the slowly developing characters and relationships, and understand their backgrounds and motivations.
The next book in the series sees Falco back in Rome, and its already on my ‘to read’ list.
This is a review of the Arrow Books 2003 Kindle edition.
