The Accusers

Starred review from February 16, 2004
Fans of "informer" Marcus Didius Falco will be glad to find the classical world's answer to the modern-day gumshoe back in Rome in Davis's stellar historical, the 15th entry in this witty and learned series, after two adventures set in Britain (A Body in the Bathhouse
; The Jupiter Myth
). In an effort to resume his career as an informer on his home turf, Falco ends up playing advocate in a messy dispute that pits him against two highly successful "legals," Paccius Africanus and Silius Italicus. The convoluted case, which involves a wealthy, fractious family and tricky questions of inheritance, gives Davis the opportunity to explore the vagaries of Roman law, which she approaches with her usual mix of respect and sarcasm. The corruption conviction of senator Rubirius Metellus followed by his mysterious demise threaten the Metelli family's fortunes. Hired to prove the senator's death was not a suicide, Falco finds himself immersed in scandal, blackmail, corruption and intrigue—common ingredients of legal practice. In one particularly fine scene, Falco delivers a speech in the Basilica that relies on amusing and effective rhetorical tricks. Wry, cynical and principled, Falco makes the perfect guide to Davis's vividly realized ancient Rome.

April 1, 2004
Marcus Didius Falco (The Jupiter Myth) is back, cheeky as ever, this time matching his wits against two sleek lawyers intimately involved with the evident suicide of a Roman senator accused of corruption. Did he or didn't he? Of course, Falco uncovers the truth, though just barely; the ending is a surprise and surprisingly affecting. Meanwhile, the brothers of Falco's beloved Helen continue learning how hard the life of an informer can be and grow up just a little. Topnotch work in a topnotch series.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2004
Rome, 75 A.D. Marcus Didius Falco, professional informer (that is, private investigator), returns to Italy after an extended trip to Britain and finds that his clients have forgotten him. Falco needs a new case to put some money in the coffers, so he signs on to investigate the supposed suicide of a senator who was recently exposed as corrupt. But, after he's talked to a few interested parties and made a few discoveries, Falco begins to wish he had passed on the case. This is the fifteenth Falco mystery, and the series shows no signs of slowing down. Falco (who narrates the novel in a noirish but never anachronistic tone) is a personable hero, and the stories are always suspenseful and surprising. Also, Davis knows how to stage a mystery against a historical backdrop without overwhelming us with information. Many historical series go flat once the milieu becomes familiar, but this one continues to mix its history and its mystery in a pleasing blend.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)