An enjoyable romp through the ancient Roman world as usual, though this time mostly on the very edges of it. Lindsey Davis continues her great immersion and realism for the time period and the relevant cultures, but the plot for this one was definitely weaker and sort of petered out without any really satisfying resolutions. Some of the minor characters also didn’t really seem have much purpose, and were more there for flavour and humour than contributing much to the story. Nevertheless, a decently fun read. ( )

When the Emperor's son Titus makes a move on Helena, Falco goes off in a tiff and finds she's left Rome. Needing money and hoping to search for her, he accepts the Emperor's mission to Germany. There are mystery elements, but this is and reads like a somewhat sarcastically viewed adventure story. The history of Roman military (mis)adventures along the Rhine in the early Imperial era is where the data load is thickest in this episode. ( )

Marcus Didius Falco is an imperial agent on a mission to Germany in AD 71 to find a legion commander whose loyalty to the emperor may be suspect. His only support is a ragtag bunch of Roman recruits and they embittered centurion. Ahead lie the hordes of Celtic barbarians.

This is an excellent addition to the Falco series of murder mysteries set against the backdrop of imperial Rome. Here, Falco is despatched to the ends of the empire to save the emperor from possible rebellion. As always, Falco has that cynical, world-weary approach to life that makes him the most perceptive of detectives.

Davis writes extremely well - great plotting, strong characters and a narrative drive that makes reading a joy. Highly recommended. ( )

Didio es enviado por el emperador Vespasiano para ver que pasa en Germania. Y mientras tanto varias tramas secundarias, desde su noviazgo, donde además el hijo del emperador pretende disputarle la novia. además en Germania hay tramas secundarias con corrupción en las compras de las legiones. Bueno, pero se apura a resolver todo en las ultimas páginas. ( )

Esta entrega de la serie sobre el investigador privado de la Roma imperial Marco Didio Falco, se mueve entre la trama detectivesca y los enredos amorosos. Mientras Marco Didio viaja a los confines del imperio para aclarar la actuación de la élite del ejército en la insurrección surgida en Germania, Helena Justina, la novia de Marco, es cortejada por Tito César, el hijo del emperador Vespasiano. La embarazosa situación de Helena Justina sirve de humorístico contrapunto a las intrigantes aventuras de Marco entre los peligrosos ejércitos romanos. Una fiel reconstrucción histórica, una apasionante investigación y unas situaciones francamente jocosas son los tres elementos que convierten La mano de hierro de Marte en una de las entregas más celebradas de la serie.