Time To Depart - Hardcover

Davis, Lindsey

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0712659315 ISBN 13: 9780712659314

Publisher: Random House UK, 1995

Synopsis

If Travis McGee traveled in time back to the treacherous, civilized Rome in A.D. 72, he might be something like Marcus Didius Falco. Publishers WeeklyPetro, Marcus Didius Falcos oldest friend, has finally nailed one of Romes top criminals, Balbinus. But under Roman law, a citizen cant be imprisoned. Rather, they are allowed time to depart from the Empire to go into permanent exile. So when Petro and Falco put Balbinus on a ship, they thought it was the last theyd ever hear of him. But when the corpses of the people who helped put Balbinus away begin to pile up, it becomes obvious that he has returned. Once again, Petro and Falco must descend into the underworld of Vespasians Rome to get their man.

About this title

About the Author:

LINDSEY DAVIS has written nineteen novels, beginning with The Course of Honour, the love story of the Emperor Vespasian and Antonia Caenis. Her bestselling mystery series features laid-back First Century detective Marcus Didius Falco and his partner Helena Justina, plus friends, relations, pets and bitter enemy the Chief Spy. Her books are translated into many languages and serialised on BBC Radio 4. Past Chair of the Crimewriters' Association and a Vice President of the Classical Association, she has won the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, the Dagger in the Library, and a Sherlock award for Falco as Best Comic Detective. She was born in Birmingham but now lives in London.

From Publishers Weekly:

Fresh from Last Act in Palmyra, Marcus Didius Falco, that most modern of ancient Romans, takes on organized crime in this latest installment of Davis's impeccably executed series. Falco has a job everyone loves to hate: he's the Emperor Vespasian's informer, or private detective?and he does his work well. This time, he's up against Balbinus Pius, perhaps the original John Gotti. Balbinus has finally been convicted of a capital crime, but, in traditional Roman style, he's been given a chance to flee before his scheduled execution. The power vacuum created by his departure seems to have sucked up every miscreant in Rome: markets are plundered, children are kidnapped, centurions are murdered. While Falco sets out to determine whether the crime wave is the work of a new kingpin or a herd of small-time operators, his private life is also in a bit of a spin. Companion Helena, a senator's daughter whom Falco is forbidden by law to marry because of their differing rank, is pregnant. And he's also pitted against his old army buddy and best friend, Petronius, captain of the fourth cohort of the Aventine Watch, in a corruption investigation. The tale gets a bit bumpy, as Davis, compensating for a slightly subpar mystery plot, tosses in lots of action scenes and personal turmoil. But Falco remains as delightfully irreverent and insightful as ever; and Davis, as usual, brings the time to life while handling the eternals?worry, danger, love and in-laws?just as deftly.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House UK
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0712659315
• ISBN 13: 9780712659314
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 400