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Marcus Didius Falco #11
One Virgin Too Many
Marcus Didius Falco, the cynical, hard-boiled investigator from the rough end of Rome, is back from a difficult mission in North Africa. As a result of his hard work, Emperor Vespasian awards Falco with the title of Procurator of Poultry for the Senate & People of Rome, or keeper of the city's sacred geese. Not much of a salary, of course, but the title does give him a better standing with his in-laws. Now, all Falco wants is to spend time relaxing at home with his family. But there is no rest for Falco as he finds himself drawn into the world of the Roman religious cults...& the murder of a member of the Sacred Brotherhoods. And then there's the disappearance of the most likely new candidate for the Order of Vestal Virgins. Falco soon uncovers a sinister cover-up & is too deeply involved to back away from the truth.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
117 people are currently reading
952 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Davis
77 books1,493 followersLindsey Davis, historical novelist, was born in Birmingham, England in 1949. Having taken a degree in English literature at Oxford University (Lady Margaret Hall), she became a civil servant. She left the civil service after 13 years, and when a romantic novel she had written was runner up for the 1985 Georgette Heyer Historical Novel Prize, she decided to become a writer, writing at first romantic serials for the UK women's magazine Woman's Realm.
Her interest in history and archaeology led to her writing a historical novel about Vespasian and his lover Antonia Caenis (The Course of Honour), for which she couldn't find a publisher. She tried again, and her first novel featuring the Roman "detective", Marcus Didius Falco, The Silver Pigs, set in the same time period and published in 1989, was the start of her runaway success as a writer of historical whodunnits. A further nineteen Falco novels and Falco: The Official Companion have followed, as well as The Course of Honour, which was finally published in 1998. Rebels and Traitors, set in the period of the English Civil War, was published in September 2009. Davis has won many literary awards, and was honorary president of the Classical Association from 1997 to 1998.
Her interest in history and archaeology led to her writing a historical novel about Vespasian and his lover Antonia Caenis (The Course of Honour), for which she couldn't find a publisher. She tried again, and her first novel featuring the Roman "detective", Marcus Didius Falco, The Silver Pigs, set in the same time period and published in 1989, was the start of her runaway success as a writer of historical whodunnits. A further nineteen Falco novels and Falco: The Official Companion have followed, as well as The Course of Honour, which was finally published in 1998. Rebels and Traitors, set in the period of the English Civil War, was published in September 2009. Davis has won many literary awards, and was honorary president of the Classical Association from 1997 to 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
August 12, 2019
Rome: A.D. 74
A young girl, the granddaughter of a chief priest of Jupiter, believes her family wants to kill her. Marcus Falco informer/detective wonders why. When she disappears Falco must find her.
An ideal client?
My ideal client, assuming Helena Justina permitted me to assist such a person nowadays, would be a pert widow aged somewhere between seventeen and twenty. I placed this little gem in a far less dangerous bracket. She was only five or six.
I leaned on the balcony newel post, a rotting timber the landlord should have replaced years ago. When I spoke my voice sounded weary even to me. “Hello, princess. Can’t you find the door porter to let you in?”
“I was told an informer lives here.” Her accent said she was upper class. I had worked that out. I tried not to let it prejudice me. Well, not too much. “If you are Falco, I want to consult you.”
. . .
“So what wonderful job from this Gaia have I just cruelly turned down?”
“Didn’t she tell you? She thinks her family want to kill her,” said Helena.
“Oh, that’s all right then. I was worried it might have been a real emergency.”
Helena raised an eyebrow. “You don’t believe it?”
“Granddaughter of a chief priest of Jupiter? That would be a high-profile scandal, and no mistake.” I sighed. The litter had already vanished, and there was nothing I could do now. “She’ll get used to it. My family feel like that about me most of the time.”
The anticipated fears of parenting in public
Planning her moment. Little Julia knew how to disrupt mealtimes. She had learned new skills since the estimable Camilli last had a chance to dote on her.
“Isn’t she good!”
Helena and I smiled the shameless public smiles of experienced parents. We had had a year to learn never to confess that our cute-looking dimpled baby could be a screaming troublemaker. We had dressed her nicely in white, combed her soft dark hair into a sweet curl, and now we were waiting with our nerves on edge for the inevitable moment when she decided to roar and rampage.
. . .
Decimus bent down and led out my baby daughter from behind his couch, holding her by her chubby little arms as she proudly demonstrated how she could now be walked along.
What a sight. I had known she could stand. It was a new trick. I had completely forgotten that it put her within reach of new attractions and dangers. I winced. Julia had somehow laid hands on the senator’s inkstand—a two-tone job, apparently; her face, arms, legs, and her smart little white tunic were now covered with great stains in black and red. There was ink around her mouth. She even had ink in her hair.
She grabbed at her noble grandfather so he had to pick her up, immediately covering himself in red and black as well. Then, sensing trouble, her eyes filled with tears, she began to wail, at first just mournfully but with a steadily increasing volume that would soon bring all the women of the household rushing to see what tragedy had befallen her.
How the Sacred Chickens can determine the fate of the Empire
The Sacred Chickens’ main function was to confirm good omens for military purposes. Army commanders needed their blessing before leaving Rome. In fact, they usually took Roman chickens to consult before maneuvers, rather than relying on local birds who might not understand what was required of them.
“I always like the story of the consul Clodius Pulcher, who received a bad augury when he was at sea, chafing to sail against the Carthaginians; the irascible old bastard threw the chickens overboard.”
“If they won’t eat, let them drink!” quoted the chicken-keeper.
“So he lost the battle, and his whole fleet. It shows you should respect the Sacred Birds.”
“You’re just saying that because of your new job, Falco.”
“No, I’m famous for being kind to hens.”
Maia, who has suffered the unexpected death of her husband, has recovered enough to have a public statement
Maia, who thought Petro an even worse scoundrel than me, took it well, at least for her: “Petronius and Falco: always the boys who had to be different. Now listen carefully, you two. The official set speech runs like this: My husband was a ne’er-do-well whose death may turn out to be the best thing that happened to me; if I want anything I have only to ask—though of course it means don’t ask for anything that requires money or time, or causes embarrassment; most important, you have to tell me that I am still young and attractive—all right, you can say ‘fairly attractive’—and that somebody else will soon turn up to take Famia’s place.”
Falco and his brother in law Aelianus discover a dead man who had been killed in the style of a priestly sacrifice complete with a bowl of his blood. The victim was a relative of the missing girl. The plot thickens. Being set in ancient Rome there are no car chases, but we can observe a deadly knife fight made even more dangerous as it is between relatives armed with the sacrifical (and very sharp) knife.
Apart from the victims there is a satisfactory end for all.
Enjoy
A young girl, the granddaughter of a chief priest of Jupiter, believes her family wants to kill her. Marcus Falco informer/detective wonders why. When she disappears Falco must find her.
An ideal client?
My ideal client, assuming Helena Justina permitted me to assist such a person nowadays, would be a pert widow aged somewhere between seventeen and twenty. I placed this little gem in a far less dangerous bracket. She was only five or six.
I leaned on the balcony newel post, a rotting timber the landlord should have replaced years ago. When I spoke my voice sounded weary even to me. “Hello, princess. Can’t you find the door porter to let you in?”
“I was told an informer lives here.” Her accent said she was upper class. I had worked that out. I tried not to let it prejudice me. Well, not too much. “If you are Falco, I want to consult you.”
. . .
“So what wonderful job from this Gaia have I just cruelly turned down?”
“Didn’t she tell you? She thinks her family want to kill her,” said Helena.
“Oh, that’s all right then. I was worried it might have been a real emergency.”
Helena raised an eyebrow. “You don’t believe it?”
“Granddaughter of a chief priest of Jupiter? That would be a high-profile scandal, and no mistake.” I sighed. The litter had already vanished, and there was nothing I could do now. “She’ll get used to it. My family feel like that about me most of the time.”
The anticipated fears of parenting in public
Planning her moment. Little Julia knew how to disrupt mealtimes. She had learned new skills since the estimable Camilli last had a chance to dote on her.
“Isn’t she good!”
Helena and I smiled the shameless public smiles of experienced parents. We had had a year to learn never to confess that our cute-looking dimpled baby could be a screaming troublemaker. We had dressed her nicely in white, combed her soft dark hair into a sweet curl, and now we were waiting with our nerves on edge for the inevitable moment when she decided to roar and rampage.
. . .
Decimus bent down and led out my baby daughter from behind his couch, holding her by her chubby little arms as she proudly demonstrated how she could now be walked along.
What a sight. I had known she could stand. It was a new trick. I had completely forgotten that it put her within reach of new attractions and dangers. I winced. Julia had somehow laid hands on the senator’s inkstand—a two-tone job, apparently; her face, arms, legs, and her smart little white tunic were now covered with great stains in black and red. There was ink around her mouth. She even had ink in her hair.
She grabbed at her noble grandfather so he had to pick her up, immediately covering himself in red and black as well. Then, sensing trouble, her eyes filled with tears, she began to wail, at first just mournfully but with a steadily increasing volume that would soon bring all the women of the household rushing to see what tragedy had befallen her.
How the Sacred Chickens can determine the fate of the Empire
The Sacred Chickens’ main function was to confirm good omens for military purposes. Army commanders needed their blessing before leaving Rome. In fact, they usually took Roman chickens to consult before maneuvers, rather than relying on local birds who might not understand what was required of them.
“I always like the story of the consul Clodius Pulcher, who received a bad augury when he was at sea, chafing to sail against the Carthaginians; the irascible old bastard threw the chickens overboard.”
“If they won’t eat, let them drink!” quoted the chicken-keeper.
“So he lost the battle, and his whole fleet. It shows you should respect the Sacred Birds.”
“You’re just saying that because of your new job, Falco.”
“No, I’m famous for being kind to hens.”
Maia, who has suffered the unexpected death of her husband, has recovered enough to have a public statement
Maia, who thought Petro an even worse scoundrel than me, took it well, at least for her: “Petronius and Falco: always the boys who had to be different. Now listen carefully, you two. The official set speech runs like this: My husband was a ne’er-do-well whose death may turn out to be the best thing that happened to me; if I want anything I have only to ask—though of course it means don’t ask for anything that requires money or time, or causes embarrassment; most important, you have to tell me that I am still young and attractive—all right, you can say ‘fairly attractive’—and that somebody else will soon turn up to take Famia’s place.”
Falco and his brother in law Aelianus discover a dead man who had been killed in the style of a priestly sacrifice complete with a bowl of his blood. The victim was a relative of the missing girl. The plot thickens. Being set in ancient Rome there are no car chases, but we can observe a deadly knife fight made even more dangerous as it is between relatives armed with the sacrifical (and very sharp) knife.
Apart from the victims there is a satisfactory end for all.
Enjoy
October 10, 2021
Read this book in 2013, and its the 11th volume of the sublime Marcus Didius Falco series.
This mystery is set in Rome once more, and Falco now a respected citizen, especially within the religious hierarchy, by being appointed by Emperor Vespasian as Rome's keeper of the sacred geese.
Caught up between the murder of a member of one of the sacred brotherhoods and the disappearance of the most likely new candidate of the order of the Vestal Virgins.
This case will take Falco into difficult situations between different factions within the aristocratic society of Rome, so he has to move precariously in his attempts to unravel the threads of this web of deceit and self-interest, where family and Roman society are a close-knit lot with a lot of secrets, but in the end Falco will be able to reveal the culprit of this crime against Rome's beliefs and religion.
What is to follow is a glorious Roman mystery with a lot of wit and cunning in which Falco will meet a Rome that is filled with tragedy, danger and death, especially in his dealings with all kinds of people and finally by unraveling the truth.
Highly recommended, for this is another superb Roman mystery in which Falco is unique in his dealings with people, whether they are high- or lowborn, and what this episode is concerned I like to call this book: "A Marvellous Virgin Mystery"!
This mystery is set in Rome once more, and Falco now a respected citizen, especially within the religious hierarchy, by being appointed by Emperor Vespasian as Rome's keeper of the sacred geese.
Caught up between the murder of a member of one of the sacred brotherhoods and the disappearance of the most likely new candidate of the order of the Vestal Virgins.
This case will take Falco into difficult situations between different factions within the aristocratic society of Rome, so he has to move precariously in his attempts to unravel the threads of this web of deceit and self-interest, where family and Roman society are a close-knit lot with a lot of secrets, but in the end Falco will be able to reveal the culprit of this crime against Rome's beliefs and religion.
What is to follow is a glorious Roman mystery with a lot of wit and cunning in which Falco will meet a Rome that is filled with tragedy, danger and death, especially in his dealings with all kinds of people and finally by unraveling the truth.
Highly recommended, for this is another superb Roman mystery in which Falco is unique in his dealings with people, whether they are high- or lowborn, and what this episode is concerned I like to call this book: "A Marvellous Virgin Mystery"!
March 24, 2010
Eleventh in the series, and a very entertaining and informative installment. In this one Vespasian has made Falco, newly promoted to equestrian status, Procurator of the Sacred Poultry, overseer of the select fowls associated with certain first century Roman state rituals. This connects to a larger theme of this particular Falco book, a look at the rules, rites, and regulations associated with several of the "old religion" cults still maintained in Rome in 70 AD, and I find this topic fascinating. Helena's brother Aelianus is trying to get the nod as Falco's new partner, but he's also trying to get accepted into the elite and arcane Arval Brotherhood--too bad he stumbles upon a corpse at the sacred grove. In a separate chain of events, a precocious six year old, born into an elite priestly family and selected to compete for the coveted position of the next Vestal Virgin, turns to Falco for advice and then mysteriously disappears. A subplot about a scandal involving the Emperor's son Titus and Queen Berenice of Judea brings in characters we will no doubt spend more time with in later volumes. This satisfying blend of comedy, religious history, and witty Falco commentary, enveloping the discussion and evaluation of grisly murder needing to be solved, builds to a long, exciting finish that will keep you flipping the pages with satisfaction. If you have any friends who enjoy Roman culture and history, have a sense of humor but never read these books, I would recommend giving the first volume as a present, because an introduction to this series is a gift that keeps on giving.
February 20, 2024
This is the 11th book of the 20-book series by Lindsey Davis featuring Marcus Didius Falco, a private detective in the days of the Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. Falco has successfully completed several jobs for the Emperor so he is called upon for the most complex cases.
In One Virgin Too Many, Falco, having just returned from a major case in Africa, is immediately thrust into two seemingly unrelated cases: the brutal murder of a prominent citizen and the disappearance of a six-year-old girl who appears slated to be chosen as the next Vestal Virgin.
Lindsey Davis, as with her other books I have read, weaves a tapestry of action involving many characters with hard-to-pronounce names (fortunately, Davis includes a list of characters that you will find yourself referring to often).
I recommend this novel for those who enjoy historical fiction.
In One Virgin Too Many, Falco, having just returned from a major case in Africa, is immediately thrust into two seemingly unrelated cases: the brutal murder of a prominent citizen and the disappearance of a six-year-old girl who appears slated to be chosen as the next Vestal Virgin.
Lindsey Davis, as with her other books I have read, weaves a tapestry of action involving many characters with hard-to-pronounce names (fortunately, Davis includes a list of characters that you will find yourself referring to often).
I recommend this novel for those who enjoy historical fiction.
December 13, 2017
Falco explores one of the most ancient of mysteries in Roman society, the Vestal Virgins.
Expect a review of Rome's religious institutions circa the time of Vespasian. The Vestal Virgins were still prominent, respected, and iconic figures in Roman life. They sit in the front row at the circus with the emperor, and take care of sacred duties.
The serious, twisting mystery is a race against time to find a lost little girl that is destined to join the Vestals. This is tempered by Falco's rather humorous role as the Procurator of the Sacred Geese. Add in his evovling family life and the Roman scenery, and this is another classic Davis novel.
Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps - certainly so far into the series.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
Expect a review of Rome's religious institutions circa the time of Vespasian. The Vestal Virgins were still prominent, respected, and iconic figures in Roman life. They sit in the front row at the circus with the emperor, and take care of sacred duties.
The serious, twisting mystery is a race against time to find a lost little girl that is destined to join the Vestals. This is tempered by Falco's rather humorous role as the Procurator of the Sacred Geese. Add in his evovling family life and the Roman scenery, and this is another classic Davis novel.
Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps - certainly so far into the series.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
July 2, 2023
I found that the plot and characters muddied a bit in my mind around the middle third, but the climax (as always) wrapped everything up in a nice, neat, thrilling, bloody red bow! The best and most joyously satisfying aspect of this series, for me, is the depth of humanity of the characters. They live as vividly in my mind as anyone I've ever met.
September 7, 2024
A missing child worries Falco
Falco returns home after a hard day's work to find.a small girl around six years old waiting for him, she wants to hire him, she claims.somebody wants her dead and she's afrad. The child is very well dressed with good speech and manners in a rich man's carriage Falco.sees nothing.to suggest this is anything more than childish dramatics so.sends.her.off home. Helena meanwhile had felt some sympathy for the.girl and.felt.she may have been telling the truth so.Falco resolved to investigate next day. But before Falco can do.much Falco.discovers that the child has gone.missing from an enclosed space. Now Falco is.on the.hunt.despite others alternately aiding or impeding him he does his best to find the child before something disastrous happens............... This series is an absolute delight.
Falco returns home after a hard day's work to find.a small girl around six years old waiting for him, she wants to hire him, she claims.somebody wants her dead and she's afrad. The child is very well dressed with good speech and manners in a rich man's carriage Falco.sees nothing.to suggest this is anything more than childish dramatics so.sends.her.off home. Helena meanwhile had felt some sympathy for the.girl and.felt.she may have been telling the truth so.Falco resolved to investigate next day. But before Falco can do.much Falco.discovers that the child has gone.missing from an enclosed space. Now Falco is.on the.hunt.despite others alternately aiding or impeding him he does his best to find the child before something disastrous happens............... This series is an absolute delight.
October 26, 2021
Mary Beard recommended these books in a recent interview, so I jumped on one. A fun romp around the roman empire. Falco is part detective, part ceremonial functionary, and in the mold of lots of classic 20th century investigators. As a liminal figure, traveling both in the squalid neighborhoods and in senators' homes, we get a wide view of Roman society through Falco's eyes. What makes this so enjoyable is the richness of Roman life that comes from Davis's details.
July 24, 2018
I thought the title was weird, but I liked how it was tied in so well with the story. It made complete sense when reading this. This author seems to give the historical fiction boundaries a modern and/or contemporary flair. Sometimes I find that refreshing, sometimes not so much. With this one, I think it worked. I liked the way this one unfolded. The story line had a pull for me....so 3 stars.
December 31, 2018
Another good entry in the Marcus Didius Falco series. Falco gets involved in looking for a missing candidate to the Vestal Virgins. It appears that the lottery picking the new virgins might be fixed. I really like these Roman mysteries. Davis is delightful in setting them up. Recommended.
March 2, 2013
Falco and Helena are back in Rome after their adventures in North Africa, but there's little chance for them to settle down before trouble arrives in the form of a five year old girl who claims a member of her family is trying to kill her, and then promptly disappears.
I enjoyed this book much more than the previous one in the series. Falco was his usual snarky self and Helena a more than capable partner. I was a little disappointed not to see more of Maia's reaction to the death of her husband at the end of the previous book, and I felt the resolution of the 'mystery' of the little girl's disapppearance was a bit disappointing given all the intrigue surrounding her family.
A decent, competent, enjoyable entry in the series.
I enjoyed this book much more than the previous one in the series. Falco was his usual snarky self and Helena a more than capable partner. I was a little disappointed not to see more of Maia's reaction to the death of her husband at the end of the previous book, and I felt the resolution of the 'mystery' of the little girl's disapppearance was a bit disappointing given all the intrigue surrounding her family.
A decent, competent, enjoyable entry in the series.
January 31, 2012
May just as well admit it, story-wise "One Virgin Too Many" is second slight disappointment in a row. Just as in the preceding book, the plot is so elaborate and convoluted, but leads to an anti-climactic finale.
However, if the "whodunnit" in this book is a bit of a letdown, Davies writing is always entertaining and makes me chuckle. In this respect "One Virgin Too Many" was as strong as any other of previous books in this cycle. Also, I have only now realized how much history one learns from the books about Falco. Despite its playfulness, Davis' narrative is choke-full of information about different aspects of Roman culture that somehow just stick with you.
However, if the "whodunnit" in this book is a bit of a letdown, Davies writing is always entertaining and makes me chuckle. In this respect "One Virgin Too Many" was as strong as any other of previous books in this cycle. Also, I have only now realized how much history one learns from the books about Falco. Despite its playfulness, Davis' narrative is choke-full of information about different aspects of Roman culture that somehow just stick with you.
January 5, 2020
A very complex tale; Roman names and places no longer are alien to me. When a 6-yr old girl comes to Falco with a tale that someone is trying to kill her, he dismisses her claim. He is busy with his one yr. old daughter, wife, new house plans, new job. Then his nephew, Aelianus, comes to him shaken. He has just found a dead body at a special dinner he attended as a candidate for an ancient religious sect. The following morning when they return to the site, no body. Falco's recently widowed sister takes her daughter to a "tea" where the potential candidates, ages 6-10, are interviewed to fill a vacancy in the Vestal Virgins. She meets the girl who went to Falco for help. That plea for help bothers Helena who urges Falco to investigate. "I'm no longer an informer. I can't interfere" so he alerts to Vigiles. A day later, the girl has gone missing and Falco is officially called in to find her. They are sure she will be selected as a Vestal Virgin, a high honor for her family, descendants of an old Republican and religious family. While Falco is sure she just went hiding and is now afraid to come out, he learns a different tale from everyone. And we learn a lot about the religious privileges and requirements of some of the religious sects in Ancient Rome.
I am sure there will be more from Falco in the future as both Aelianus and Anacrites want to be his partner while Falco wants to leave the informer life behind him.
I am sure there will be more from Falco in the future as both Aelianus and Anacrites want to be his partner while Falco wants to leave the informer life behind him.
April 20, 2025
Aggiornamento al 19 aprile 2025 (rilettura)
Rispetto alla prima lettura il mio giudizio è migliorato di mezza stella, ma solo perché l'ho iniziato in un periodo di forte stress emotivo e avevo bisogno di leggere nella mia super-comfort zone. Concordo che Falco sia stato un po' ingenuo nel caso dell'omicidio scoperto da suo cognato Camillo Eliano dopo il banchetto degli arvali, e non abbia posto le giuste domande, rimandando a dopo (o preferendo credere alla versione ufficiale perché si è reso conto che si tratta di persone importanti), perdendosi così dei dettagli fondamentali.
Comunque tutto il caso verte attorno alla classe sacerdotale e ai riti religiosi dei vari culti romani, tutti molto selettivi e intransigenti. In particolare scopriamo alcuni dei riti praticati dalle vestali, delle sacerdotesse vergini e misteriose;
E mi mancano solo tre casi di quelli tradotti in italiano, che peccato! Chissà che una casa editrice non si prenda la briga di ripubblicare la serie e completare le traduzioni, perché Lindsey Davis è troppo brava.
21 Marzo 2011
Mi sa che questa volta Falco ha preso un colpo in testa!
Sveglia!!! La trama era troppo scontata e invece il nostro investigatore ce ne ha messo di tempo per fare le domande giuste alle persone giuste! Che l'essere stato ammesso alla classe sociale superiore l'abbia un po' rammollito?
Però Falco è sempre Falco, e non posso dargli meno di 4 stelle!
Rispetto alla prima lettura il mio giudizio è migliorato di mezza stella, ma solo perché l'ho iniziato in un periodo di forte stress emotivo e avevo bisogno di leggere nella mia super-comfort zone. Concordo che Falco sia stato un po' ingenuo nel caso dell'omicidio scoperto da suo cognato Camillo Eliano dopo il banchetto degli arvali, e non abbia posto le giuste domande, rimandando a dopo (o preferendo credere alla versione ufficiale perché si è reso conto che si tratta di persone importanti), perdendosi così dei dettagli fondamentali.
Comunque tutto il caso verte attorno alla classe sacerdotale e ai riti religiosi dei vari culti romani, tutti molto selettivi e intransigenti. In particolare scopriamo alcuni dei riti praticati dalle vestali, delle sacerdotesse vergini e misteriose;
E mi mancano solo tre casi di quelli tradotti in italiano, che peccato! Chissà che una casa editrice non si prenda la briga di ripubblicare la serie e completare le traduzioni, perché Lindsey Davis è troppo brava.
21 Marzo 2011
Mi sa che questa volta Falco ha preso un colpo in testa!
Sveglia!!! La trama era troppo scontata e invece il nostro investigatore ce ne ha messo di tempo per fare le domande giuste alle persone giuste! Che l'essere stato ammesso alla classe sociale superiore l'abbia un po' rammollito?
Però Falco è sempre Falco, e non posso dargli meno di 4 stelle!
May 23, 2011
In One Virgin Too Many, Vespasian rewards Marcus with middle class status at long last! Along with the new rank comes a new position, Procurator of the Sacred Poultry. The Didius family finds a source of endless laughter and derision as Marcus presides over every sacred festival as nanny to the honorable birds.
In this book, Lindsey Davis examines the mysterious cults at the heart of the old Roman religion. When Helena’s brother Aelianus tries to join the Arval Brethren–an exclusive society of corn-husk wearing revelers–he stumbles over the corpse of one of their members, throat slashed and blood drained into a bowl. At the same time Gaia Laelia, a six-year-old girl about to be chosen in the rigged lottery for a new Vestal Virgin, gives Marcus the disturbing information that her family is trying to kill her. Are the events connected? And can Marcus stop the second murder before it is too late?
In this book, Lindsey Davis examines the mysterious cults at the heart of the old Roman religion. When Helena’s brother Aelianus tries to join the Arval Brethren–an exclusive society of corn-husk wearing revelers–he stumbles over the corpse of one of their members, throat slashed and blood drained into a bowl. At the same time Gaia Laelia, a six-year-old girl about to be chosen in the rigged lottery for a new Vestal Virgin, gives Marcus the disturbing information that her family is trying to kill her. Are the events connected? And can Marcus stop the second murder before it is too late?
June 25, 2017
Falco has come up in the world, yes he is now the proud owner of the title of Procurator of the Sacred Poultry. Who would have thought going from Informer to caretaker of geese would give you status in the Roman World. He still keeps his hand in as Informer thus when a frightened child approaches him pleading for help he turns her away, but immediately regrets it. Thus the story begins which involves the Vestal Virgins.
June 15, 2018
Davis has always been as careful with the relationships among her characters as the intricacies of the mystery that her protagonist unravels. Another of her specialities is wrapping up the end of a book in a carefully choreographed scene of wild action. In this book there are two such climactic scenes, because there are two mysteries to be solved, with a tenuous connection between the two.
This was a complex and satisfying book.
This was a complex and satisfying book.
May 30, 2019
This may be my favorite in the series so far. Marcus Didius is settling down a bit, much to his own surprise, but he can still put his life at risk, twice, to try to rescue a six-year-old girl. His family and professional relationships are intertwining in ways that promise future complications. Plus, we get insights into three different Roman religious orders. There’s something here for all fans of the series.
October 16, 2018
Falco finally has a state job! Of course he has worked for Vespasian before but now he's been a more permanent job than being the emperor's favorite informer - he is now the Procurer of the Sacred Poultry! It's a boring job being in charge of the temple geese and so of course when a child disappears it's easy for Falco to leave the geese to their regular keepers and put his skills to work.
March 22, 2017
My 5 star rating is based on the series. I liked this book more than some of the others. This mystery was really a mystery until the very end and it really could have gone a few different ways. I love this series as a whole!
March 13, 2018
The story offered a lot of what I love about reading mysteries set in ancient rome and I very much enjoyed spending time with Falco and his family and friends. Elements like the Vestal Virgines or the Flamen Dialis with all their religious rules were particularly interesting.
March 1, 2011
First Century Roman history made easy. Love the characters. A Didius Falco mystery.
November 12, 2025
Audiobook narrated by Gordon Griffin.
Marcus Didius Falco, informer extraordinary in ancient Rome, returns home from Africa, and is raised by the Emperor to the rank of Equestrian in the middle rank – something he’s wanted for some time. Unfortunately, he’s also made Procurator of the Sacred Poultry, which includes taking responsibility for sacred geese. Oh joy! Falco’s brother-in-law stumbles across a body with its throat cut at a cult gathering, while Falco is visited by a small child, Gaia, who thinks someone in her family is trying to kill her. He turns her away, but later regrets it. Marcus’s sister, newly widowed is also causing family problems. Add to this the complications of several young girls being entered in the lottery to be the next Vestal Virgin, including Gaia Gaia, who promptly goes missing. The dead body and Gaia’s family are two problems which eventually coincide. Nicely, if sedately, read by Gordon Griffin.
Marcus Didius Falco, informer extraordinary in ancient Rome, returns home from Africa, and is raised by the Emperor to the rank of Equestrian in the middle rank – something he’s wanted for some time. Unfortunately, he’s also made Procurator of the Sacred Poultry, which includes taking responsibility for sacred geese. Oh joy! Falco’s brother-in-law stumbles across a body with its throat cut at a cult gathering, while Falco is visited by a small child, Gaia, who thinks someone in her family is trying to kill her. He turns her away, but later regrets it. Marcus’s sister, newly widowed is also causing family problems. Add to this the complications of several young girls being entered in the lottery to be the next Vestal Virgin, including Gaia Gaia, who promptly goes missing. The dead body and Gaia’s family are two problems which eventually coincide. Nicely, if sedately, read by Gordon Griffin.
April 10, 2022
I really enjoyed learning the history and rituals and more about the Vestal Virgins in Ancient Rome in the first century. A suspenseful plot had me listening all night long! Twists in the plot I did not expect kept the temperature rising! Another excellent Falco book. Everyone who loves both crime and history should read these books and also her other series after Falco featuring his daughter.
February 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this one - partly for the insights into the Vestal Virgins, and the whole strange religious practices of the Roman times, but also for the characterisations which are very well drawn. Quite a Christie plot twist at the end too, which was very pleasing
November 16, 2021
Great ending.
November 2, 2024
Excellent ending
August 18, 2014
It has been almost two years since I read the previous book in the series so I am certainly overdue! One Virgin Too Many is the eleventh book in Davis' celebrated Falco series about a retired legionary setting himself up as a private detective in Vespasian's Rome. The series is funny, educational and clever as far as crime fiction goes and this is and always has been an enormous selling point for Davis, arguably a giant in the historical fiction world.
Following on immediately from Two For the Lions, Falco returns home to inform his sister of hrt husband's death at the hands of a lion. He has no time to rest; a young patrician girl is waiting for him and needs Falco's help. Despite being no older than six, she seems very confident that a family member will soon try to kill her and she asks Falco to protect her. What's more, she is the granddaughter of a chief priest and is about to be entered into a lottery to choose a Vestal Virgin. As these things are usually rarely random, it is expected that she will be the new initiate.
Naturally with these things, there is a murder prior to the ceremony which Falco must investigate. Soon afterwards, Gaia goes missing. Falco's job once again is to find the killer and locate the girl before she suffers what some suspect to be a grisly fate.
You know what to expect by the time you get to book 11. The author clearly settled into her style and characters long ago. Now is the time to push the story forward and that's just what she is doing now. The brief ceasefire between Falco and Anacrites is over, much to Falco's relief and his mother's disappointment. Anacrites is not fully healed though and his memory is still returning; therefore he is still around and not able to start scuppering Falco again or try to have him bumped off. So it's largely back to the status quo and that's not to say that there are no surprises.
Falco has finally been granted social promotion to the Equestrian Class but it doesn't come with the prestige we might have hoped - it is both amusing and a little tragic. As part of his *honour*, Falco is made Procurator of Poultry, a role that puts him in charge of administering ritual chickens and geese and adds extra comic relief to the story.
The story moves along quite nicely. It feels a rather cosy family affair, rather in the tradition of Miss Marple. A lot of the previous books have had an international flavour but this gets back to basics and puts the mystery back at the heart of Rome. Overall, this is a great contribution to the series and I'm looking forward to the next one already.
See more book reviews at my blog
Following on immediately from Two For the Lions, Falco returns home to inform his sister of hrt husband's death at the hands of a lion. He has no time to rest; a young patrician girl is waiting for him and needs Falco's help. Despite being no older than six, she seems very confident that a family member will soon try to kill her and she asks Falco to protect her. What's more, she is the granddaughter of a chief priest and is about to be entered into a lottery to choose a Vestal Virgin. As these things are usually rarely random, it is expected that she will be the new initiate.
Naturally with these things, there is a murder prior to the ceremony which Falco must investigate. Soon afterwards, Gaia goes missing. Falco's job once again is to find the killer and locate the girl before she suffers what some suspect to be a grisly fate.
You know what to expect by the time you get to book 11. The author clearly settled into her style and characters long ago. Now is the time to push the story forward and that's just what she is doing now. The brief ceasefire between Falco and Anacrites is over, much to Falco's relief and his mother's disappointment. Anacrites is not fully healed though and his memory is still returning; therefore he is still around and not able to start scuppering Falco again or try to have him bumped off. So it's largely back to the status quo and that's not to say that there are no surprises.
Falco has finally been granted social promotion to the Equestrian Class but it doesn't come with the prestige we might have hoped - it is both amusing and a little tragic. As part of his *honour*, Falco is made Procurator of Poultry, a role that puts him in charge of administering ritual chickens and geese and adds extra comic relief to the story.
The story moves along quite nicely. It feels a rather cosy family affair, rather in the tradition of Miss Marple. A lot of the previous books have had an international flavour but this gets back to basics and puts the mystery back at the heart of Rome. Overall, this is a great contribution to the series and I'm looking forward to the next one already.
See more book reviews at my blog
September 10, 2018
Falco staggers onto the most amazingly random cases in Ancient Rome during the reign of the Vespacians!
This time, he returns home after witnessing the death of one of his brothers-in-law - execution by lion. Alright the man was a drunken waste of space to Falco, but his sister, Maia, has 4 children she needs to be able to look after, including one son desperate to receive an education. Falco has been home less than a day, and arrives home after breaking the awful news to his sister, when he is confronted by a small child of 6. Gaia, said child, is terribly precocious, and tells Falco she wants to hire him as one of her family want to kill her. Exhausted physically and emotionally, Falco packs her off home in the litter she arrived in, and tries to collapse quietly into his new post - Procurator of Poultry, a new post given to him by a grateful, if ironically minded, Vespasian.
Maia's daughter, Falco's niece, has been chosen to be part of the group of young girls in the lottery to be picked by the Gods (and some fairly nifty government admin work) to be the next Vestal Virgin, and at the pre-lottery bash given by the palace, she met Gaia. Maia didn't think much to the upstart child, but Falco needs all the help he can get because the next thing he knows Gaia has gone missing.
Falco tries to interview her family, but to say they are dysfunctional would be a severe understatement. With a grandfather forcibly retired as Head Priest of Jupiter (his wife died, its an automatic retirement apparently), estranged parents, a browbeaten uncle and nervous controlled wreck of an aunt, all living in a house more like a mausoleum than a home, Falco is up against it.
And then his brother in law, the one whose fiance ran off with his younger brother, pitches up to say he has discovered a murdered man during a Cult initiation ceremony.
For Falco, troubles never come in single spies - and Anacrites is on the scene too!
From the works library so returning this week.
This time, he returns home after witnessing the death of one of his brothers-in-law - execution by lion. Alright the man was a drunken waste of space to Falco, but his sister, Maia, has 4 children she needs to be able to look after, including one son desperate to receive an education. Falco has been home less than a day, and arrives home after breaking the awful news to his sister, when he is confronted by a small child of 6. Gaia, said child, is terribly precocious, and tells Falco she wants to hire him as one of her family want to kill her. Exhausted physically and emotionally, Falco packs her off home in the litter she arrived in, and tries to collapse quietly into his new post - Procurator of Poultry, a new post given to him by a grateful, if ironically minded, Vespasian.
Maia's daughter, Falco's niece, has been chosen to be part of the group of young girls in the lottery to be picked by the Gods (and some fairly nifty government admin work) to be the next Vestal Virgin, and at the pre-lottery bash given by the palace, she met Gaia. Maia didn't think much to the upstart child, but Falco needs all the help he can get because the next thing he knows Gaia has gone missing.
Falco tries to interview her family, but to say they are dysfunctional would be a severe understatement. With a grandfather forcibly retired as Head Priest of Jupiter (his wife died, its an automatic retirement apparently), estranged parents, a browbeaten uncle and nervous controlled wreck of an aunt, all living in a house more like a mausoleum than a home, Falco is up against it.
And then his brother in law, the one whose fiance ran off with his younger brother, pitches up to say he has discovered a murdered man during a Cult initiation ceremony.
For Falco, troubles never come in single spies - and Anacrites is on the scene too!
From the works library so returning this week.
August 28, 2016
One of the better books of the series, every one of which I've read, I have enjoyed.
Marcus Didius Falco is a wise-cracking informer (private detective), a kind of 1st century Spenser. In this story he has been moved up in class and is now the Procurator of the Sacred Poultry, a thankless position related to religious rituals. He's also lost his partner and has just returned from Africa where he was on a very distasteful assignment.
A young six year old girl, Gaia, shows up at his apartment and asks for his help because she says someone in her family wants to kill her. Falco doesn't believe her sends her back home. He later finds out she is slotted to be the newest Vestal Virgin. When she disappears, Falco, is asked to find her. The search has many aspects and is a political football.
There are a number of sub-plots, such as the execution of his sister, Maia's husband in Africa, a ritual murder of a man at a religious festival, his rival, chief spy, Anacrites, staying at his mother's house, his live in lover Helena Justina's brother, Aulus, in the dumps because his brother and Falco's partner ran off to Spain with his fiancee, etc. Some of these end up being related to the disappearance of Gaia, some don't. If this is your first try at the series, you might want to get your hands on the first book,"The Silver Pigs", which would at least give you an introduction to the many characters in Falco's life.
I enjoy the interactions between Falco and his lover, friends, enemies and even the Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus. I also appreciate the way Davis weaves the sub-plots and dialogue through the story without boring the reader or spoiling the eventual conclusion. I also love stories that take place in Roman times and this was a good one.
Marcus Didius Falco is a wise-cracking informer (private detective), a kind of 1st century Spenser. In this story he has been moved up in class and is now the Procurator of the Sacred Poultry, a thankless position related to religious rituals. He's also lost his partner and has just returned from Africa where he was on a very distasteful assignment.
A young six year old girl, Gaia, shows up at his apartment and asks for his help because she says someone in her family wants to kill her. Falco doesn't believe her sends her back home. He later finds out she is slotted to be the newest Vestal Virgin. When she disappears, Falco, is asked to find her. The search has many aspects and is a political football.
There are a number of sub-plots, such as the execution of his sister, Maia's husband in Africa, a ritual murder of a man at a religious festival, his rival, chief spy, Anacrites, staying at his mother's house, his live in lover Helena Justina's brother, Aulus, in the dumps because his brother and Falco's partner ran off to Spain with his fiancee, etc. Some of these end up being related to the disappearance of Gaia, some don't. If this is your first try at the series, you might want to get your hands on the first book,"The Silver Pigs", which would at least give you an introduction to the many characters in Falco's life.
I enjoy the interactions between Falco and his lover, friends, enemies and even the Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus. I also appreciate the way Davis weaves the sub-plots and dialogue through the story without boring the reader or spoiling the eventual conclusion. I also love stories that take place in Roman times and this was a good one.
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