One Virgin Too Many by
Lindsey Davis
hbk out June 99
Published by Century
at £16.99
Marcus Didius Falco returns to Rome and takes up a new post as Procurator of the Sacred Poultry of the Senate and People of Rome. His duties involve him
in the religious life of the city; not an aspect he relishes. A young girl comes to Falco for help. She is hoping to become a Vestal Virgin but fears that a member of her family wants to kill her. Falco at first dismisses the girl and her claims but later, when she goes missing, he feels duty bound to try and find her.
To complicate matters Falco's brother-in-law Aelianus stumbles upon a corpse at the Arval Brotherhood's Sacred Grove. He too enlists Falco's help but
the corpse is removed very swiftly and a cover-up follows.
Set in Ancient Rome, the Falco stories are a witty and engaging series. Davis brings all the detail of domesticity and the social scene to life in an extremely entertaining way (builders with all their imperfections provide plenty of ammunition in this book). Falco is a great character, humourous
and humane, who shares his adventures and his wry reflections upon the way of the world with us. If you haven't tried history crime mysteries yet, start here.
(MEN 12.5.2000)
(
Cath Staincliffe
- Author of the highly acclaimed Sal Kilkenny Mysteries set on the Mean Streets of Manchester)
One Virgin Too Many by
Lindsey Davis