reviews
Mar 14, 2011
Rosanne
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In The Iron Hand of Mars, Marcus is once again in Vespasian’s employ. At the instigation of Titus, who is a little too interested in Marcus’ senatorial girlfriend Helena Justina, Marcus is sent on a far off mission to the wilds of Germany. He must discover the fate of a missing legate, stop a priestess from inciting the tribes to war, and put the tribal chieftain under house arrest. Helena’s honorable (and lovable) brother Justinus joins Marcus on his mission and saves Marcus’ bacon when the nat
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May 25, 2009
Scot
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Fourth in this enjoyable series you can rely on for adventure, interesting and memorable characters, wit, and cultural history of Rome in the period around 71 A.D. I particularly liked this volume because our hero, Falco the informer, undertakes a mission for the Emperor that necessitates spending a lot of time on the northern frontier in Moguntiacum, which is today the city of Mainz in Germany. From there he travels down the Rhine and into the wilds lands of Germania Libera to the north, head
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Aug 28, 2011
Marcus
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"The Iron Hand of Mars" is probably the best of initial four books in the series about Marcus Didius Falco. Our protagonist is once again sent out of Rome on a very delicate mission, this time at the border between Gaul and Germany. The mission quickly becomes multi-faceted and dangerous in more ways than one for Falco and his somewhat odd companions. As usual, the characters and enviroments are flawless and there is a lot of humor. But at the same time "The Iron Hand of Mars"
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Apr 02, 2010
Deb
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Falco has reluctantly accepted an imperial mission which takes him deep into the wilds of the Germania Libera. Helena has disappeared, apparently in a fit of pique when Falco misses her birthday. At the same time, Vespasian's son Titus is romantically pursuing her. Helena' s brother Camillus Justinius is introduced in this installment, teaming up to support Falco. I really enjoyed this installment of Falco's adventures even though it was less of a puzzle than usual, and much more of an adve
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Apr 01, 2011
Penny
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Lindsay Davis has created one of the most likeable detectives ever in Marcus Didius Falco. She also recreates ancient Rome in a deliciously accessible way - Falco is a humourous detective who careers round the known Roman world collecting strange characters - and dogs - as well as of course solving various gruesome murders. The Iron Hand of Mars takes Falco to the outer reaches of the Empire on the river Rhine. It is a hostile environment inhabited by vicious Germanic tribes as well as as a be
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Feb 22, 2012
procrastin8or
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The fourth in the “Falco” series sees the titular character being sent to the barbarian frontier to deliver a new standard to Legio XIV Germania and to write a report on the state of them and their battle-readiness. The memory of the cataclysmic defeat in Teutoberg Forest is still fresh in the memory and Vespasian does not want a repeat of those events. Falco must also investigate claims of corruption by the legate and attempt to discover what happened to the previous legate who disappeared.
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Nov 12, 2010
Mari
rated it:
The dynamic relationship between Helena Justina and one M. Didius Falco never seems to fail me everytime, and after reading through each book, I always turn to mush whenever these two show some vulnerability. You'd think after four books, the whole romantic side of the novels would lose all novelty. But somehow Davis always adds something new to the table. Of course, the book itself is not heavily a romantic story (though Falco certainly does things out of a romantic interest), so I'll stop gush
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Aug 31, 2009
Mandy
rated it:
I really enjoyed this story. It moves really quickly and I found myself needing the map at the beginning of the book to keep track of just where the action was taking place.
The plot is an interesting one. Marcus Didius Falco finds himself setting off with a bulky object to hand over to a legion in the wilds of Germany. Helena has taken herself off, and no-one knows where she has gone.
Lindsey Davis ties the final strings of the plot up very neatly on the last line of the last page.
The plot is an interesting one. Marcus Didius Falco finds himself setting off with a bulky object to hand over to a legion in the wilds of Germany. Helena has taken herself off, and no-one knows where she has gone.
Lindsey Davis ties the final strings of the plot up very neatly on the last line of the last page.
Apr 05, 2011
sabisteb
rated it:
Genau wie die drei Teile davor perfect umgesetzt. Sehr gute Geräuschkulisse und tolle, lebhafte Sprecher. Ich bin immer wieder erstaunt wie groß der Unterschied zwischen gesprochenem British English und amerikanischem Englisch sein kann, so wunderbare Dialekte...
Eine tolle Auffrischung der Bücher, die ich vor vielen Jahren gelesen habe, da Veleda in "Saturnalia" wieder auftaucht.
Ich freue mich schon auf Poseidons Gold, das nächstes Jahr vertont werden soll, das Hörspiel werde More...
Eine tolle Auffrischung der Bücher, die ich vor vielen Jahren gelesen habe, da Veleda in "Saturnalia" wieder auftaucht.
Ich freue mich schon auf Poseidons Gold, das nächstes Jahr vertont werden soll, das Hörspiel werde More...
May 25, 2009
Jamie
rated it: 
Not my favorite of the series, but still a decent read. Falco's journey through Gaul and Germania and his mission to find a missing legate seemed a bit dull to me. I continue to enjoy the characters, particularly Helena's brother, who was introduced in this book. Falco is still dead broke and he and Helena Justina are still squabbling like teenagers; after four books I'm ready for them to advance to the next stage.
Feb 19, 2012
Nancy
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In this installment, the fourth in the series, Falco travels again on an assignment for the Emperor Vespasian to the furthest reaches of the Roman Empire, this time to Germany, where he is to find and report back on the fate of a high-ranking Roman official taken captive during a bloody uprising and given as a prize to a Germanic priestess-prophetess. The problem is that way too much happens in this book - way too much. Marcus Didius Falco himself sums it up towards the end when he says, "O
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Sep 09, 2011
Talietha
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Money problems. Girl problems. Work problems.
And working for the Establishment is aways difficult when you don't see to eye to eye
A proper gumshoe before there were gumshoes, actual gumshoes.
And working for the Establishment is aways difficult when you don't see to eye to eye
A proper gumshoe before there were gumshoes, actual gumshoes.
Mar 02, 2010
Bettie
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jul 12, 2010
Joan
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Another chapter in the life of Marcus Didius Falco. Everyday is a life and death adventure. We long to have him united with Helena.
Nov 11, 2009
Maura
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A little more of a history lesson than I was really in the mood for, but still a fun satisfying read.
Sep 07, 2010
Ryan Patrick
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Falco struck me as pretty legitimately 'Roman' in this one - he talks a good game, but underneath it all, he has the heart of a real Roman.
Jan 04, 2009
TheIron
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Good plot set in the frontier of Rome (Germany)-one of the best so far.
Aug 05, 2011
Travis
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Another great addition by Davis in the Marcus Didius Falco mystery series.
Oct 28, 2011
Sandy
rated it:
entertaining read, good background history, but somehow failed to get me too excited...
Sep 03, 2011
Pithee
rated it:
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Jan 02, 2010
Writerlibrarian
rated it:
Almost 4 stars. This is a reread and it's as good as it was the first time. It shows the strength of the characters that even when you know how things turn up you still care and enjoy the way the characters grow. Especially Helena's younger brother, Q. Camillus Justinus which is charming, strong and the perfect side kick to Marcus Falco.
This adventurous trip into the wild of Germany is an entertaining romp and the web of intrigues is well done. No surprises but a good time is guaran
This adventurous trip into the wild of Germany is an entertaining romp and the web of intrigues is well done. No surprises but a good time is guaran
Oct 09, 2009
Rachel
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The one with the German Tribes, the brother, the little dog and the Prophetess in the Tower.
Feb 09, 2011
Laura
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Marco Didio Falco che è stato piantato dalla fidanzata Elena Giustina si ritrova di nuovo a lavorare per l'imperatore Vespasiano, con il pretesto di consegnare un dono imperiale, dovrà recarsi in germania per accertarsi della fedeltà della quattordicesima legione e scoprire che fine ha fatto il legato Munio Luperco.
Sempre condito da una massiccia dose di ironia, finora lo considero il più bel libro di tutta la saga.
Sempre condito da una massiccia dose di ironia, finora lo considero il più bel libro di tutta la saga.
May 04, 2011
Yari
rated it: 
This one was too slow for me, plus it takes place mostly outside of Rome (which I'm not crazy about). Not enough Helena and Marcus interaction for me, but I got through it in hopes that the next one will keep up with the flow of the prior books in the series. This was definitely my least favorite of the series.
Dec 04, 2007
Enjoyed this but less than other Falco books - there's not much of a detective style unravelling a problem, just the question of whether or not Falco and co would survive. Since this book was the second in a single-volume trilogy, however, the answer to this was rather obvious from the start...
May 25, 2008
Jessica
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The secondary characters are the delight here - it's a fine trick to weave them into the action such that they don't distract but still leave you wanting to know more about them.
Feb 19, 2011
Laura
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