#Saturnalia holiday trial

And to know how far it is across the forum and up Aventine Hill. It is fun to try to visualize the forum including the various temples mentioned in the book as it must have been in AD76. This is set in Rome and was particularly fun for me to read, as I am just back from Rome. I really enjoy how Lindsey Davis includes information on the Saturnalia celebrations, slavery, homelessness, the various practices of medicine, and other aspects 1st century Rome as part of the st Another fun Falco mystery. Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In A Falco goes back to revisit a character from book 4 (the Iron Hand of Mars) and solve an historical puzzleĮxpect a tale of murder, foreign prophetess, annoying arch-nemesis, and general holiday mayhem as Davis offers her own ideas about what happened to Veleda.īe aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps Falco's family life has evolved throughout the series, and play a big part in describing daily lives and plot points.Īssaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.Īnother fun Falco mystery. Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps Falco's family life has evolved throughout the series, and play a big part in describing daily lives and plot points. moreįalco goes back to revisit a character from book 4 (the Iron Hand of Mars) and solve an historical puzzle Expect a tale of murder, foreign prophetess, annoying arch-nemesis, and general holiday mayhem as Davis offers her own ideas about what happened to Veleda. Very much recommended, for this is another very satisfying addition to this immensely great series, and that's why I like to call this episode: 'Saturnalia At Its Very best'!. What is to follow is an exciting mystery where anything can go wrong but where Falco in the end will come up with the right solution to this immense problem by solving this case in a world where love and death goes hand in hand. In a race against time Falco is competing against this Anacrites to find the couple first, and be able to help them against the authorities in this time of public festival, while a dark agency is bringing death to the city streets of Rome.

#Saturnalia holiday trial

Its Saturnalia, the end of the year, when days are short and nights are long, and misrule is allowed to take place during this festival.īut what will take place for Falco is anything but a public holiday of unrule, but domestic problems when his brother-in-law Justinus has left his wife, Claudia, when hearing of the capture of his first love, Veleda, a tribal leader and prophetess from Germania, who later will be shown in a Triumph in Rome.Īfter given house arrest and awaiting trial this same Veleda escapes right at the same time when Justinus disappears, and a young man gets horrendously murdered.Īt the same time Falco also has problems with his arch enemy, the Imperial Chief Spy, Anacrites. Read this book in 2014, and its the 18th volume of the magnificent Marcus Didius Falco series. But what will take place for Falco is anything but a public holiday of unrule, but domestic problems when his brother-in-law Justinus has left his wife, Claudia, when hearing of the capture of his first love, Veleda, a tribal leader and prop **Should Read as 4.5 Stars!** Its Saturnalia, the end of the year, when days are short and nights are long, and misrule is allowed to take place during this festival. **Should Read as 4.5 Stars!** Read this book in 2014, and its the 18th volume of the magnificent Marcus Didius Falco series. Justinus disappears too and it is up to Falco and the Chief Spy Anacrites to try to find the missing couple all against the backdrop of the orgiastic holiday period when literally anything goes. Then Veleda escapes leaving behind a corpse. Justinus is love-struck once more and his wife, the temperamental Claudia, is enraged.

Justinus’s first love, Veleda, a tribal leader and prophetess from Germania, has been brought to Rome and put under house arrest pending a ritual sacrifice at her capturer’s Triumph. Marcus Didius Falco and Helena have returned from Greece only to find that Helena’s brother Justinus’s marital problems have exploded.

Justinus is love-s It is the Roman holiday of Saturnalia.