Book Review: Two For the Lions

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Two For the Lions     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Lindsey Davis
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical   Private Investigator
Series: Falco # 10
Mysterious, Dec 1999, $23.95, 390 pp.

In 73 AD Rome, though he prefers otherwise, private investigator Marcus Didius Falco accepts a government job with the census crowd. Marcus and his assigned partner, archenemy Anacrites, Rome's chief spy, collect tax revenue.

As Marcus vows he never again will join the inane bureaucracy, someone murders Rome's chief executioner, Leonidas the Lion. He had lunched on all those convicted of a capital punishment offense. Unable to resist a juicy murder investigation, Falco begins to make inquiries. As he digs deeper, Falco finds no one seems to have a motive to stab the lion to death. As Falco follows leads across the Mediterranean, an unknown assailant watches his every move in case he gets close to uncovering the truth.

TWO FOR THE LIONS is the latest historical mystery starring the Don Rickles of Ancient Rome, Falco. As in the previous novels in this award winning series, the historical details make the city-state seem vividly alive. The characters feel genuine and add to the feeling that the reader has traveled back in time. Though Falco's humorous but ugly soliloquies on just about everyone occasionally slows down the intriguing story line, sub-genre fans will fully relish this winning tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner