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annajaexx's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I think this one has been my favourite Falco book thus far
jonathanpalfrey's review
2.0
I heard about the Falco series in 1993, when I was living in Stockholm, and this was the only novel in the series that I could find in Stockholm at the time, so I read it first. I must have liked it well enough, because I went on to read others, when I could get hold of them.
Rereading it now, I can get through it, but I find that I'm quite glad when it ends, because I don't actively enjoy most of it. The story includes a variety of bad experiences for the hero and his high-class girlfriend, although they do at least get a bit closer to each other in the process. Most of it is taken up with a series of deaths and the question of who was responsible for them, there being various plausible candidates, all of whom clearly had malice on their minds. I'm afraid I don't really care very much exactly who did what to whom; maybe I'm not enough of an armchair detective to appreciate the book properly.
It's slightly memorable for me as the book with the cooking of the huge turbot, the book in which Thalia first appears (briefly), and the book in which Helena Justina takes the plunge and actually moves in with Falco (without agreeing to marry him). Everything else that happens is fairly forgettable from my point of view.
The author has a bit of fun explaining that no Roman in his or her senses would hire a Gallic cook: French cooking had no reputation in those days. OK, it quite amused me, too.
We're still not seeing a great deal of Falco's family here, although they all turn up for the turbot. The author must have realized later that people seem to enjoy getting involved with the family. And we haven't met Helena Justina's brothers yet.
Again we find Falco interviewing and interrogating people who have no need to put up with him. Sometimes they do indeed throw him out and even beat him up, but too often they display implausible tolerance and reply patiently to his questions. Presumably the author has some way of justifying this in her own mind, but I have difficulty in suspending disbelief. Falco also gets rather chummy with the Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus, which is not impossible but seems somewhat implausible. At the time of this story, Falco is entirely lacking in status, wealth, and power.
Rereading it now, I can get through it, but I find that I'm quite glad when it ends, because I don't actively enjoy most of it. The story includes a variety of bad experiences for the hero and his high-class girlfriend, although they do at least get a bit closer to each other in the process. Most of it is taken up with a series of deaths and the question of who was responsible for them, there being various plausible candidates, all of whom clearly had malice on their minds. I'm afraid I don't really care very much exactly who did what to whom; maybe I'm not enough of an armchair detective to appreciate the book properly.
It's slightly memorable for me as the book with the cooking of the huge turbot, the book in which Thalia first appears (briefly), and the book in which Helena Justina takes the plunge and actually moves in with Falco (without agreeing to marry him). Everything else that happens is fairly forgettable from my point of view.
The author has a bit of fun explaining that no Roman in his or her senses would hire a Gallic cook: French cooking had no reputation in those days. OK, it quite amused me, too.
We're still not seeing a great deal of Falco's family here, although they all turn up for the turbot. The author must have realized later that people seem to enjoy getting involved with the family. And we haven't met Helena Justina's brothers yet.
Again we find Falco interviewing and interrogating people who have no need to put up with him. Sometimes they do indeed throw him out and even beat him up, but too often they display implausible tolerance and reply patiently to his questions. Presumably the author has some way of justifying this in her own mind, but I have difficulty in suspending disbelief. Falco also gets rather chummy with the Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus, which is not impossible but seems somewhat implausible. At the time of this story, Falco is entirely lacking in status, wealth, and power.
cyrce's review
3.0
Third in the Marcus Didius Falco series, Venus in Copper once against starts out with Falco dealing with the fall out from his previous job for Vespasian. This time, rather than being on clean up duty, Falco is in prison due to succeeding where a certain Chief Spy had failed. The move surprised me since I thought that the two men would actually become allies when they first introduced the Chief Spy in the previous book. Although this rivalry between the two might make for a more interesting situation.
The only problem is that it doesn’t stay as a simple job of scaring of the scary black widow. In the middle of working the case, the poor sod he’d been hired to scare the black widow away from dies of poisoning and Falco sets off investigating the death he had been hired to prevent. The tale has, interwoven, the ever complex relationship Falco is struggling to maintain with Helena.
It’s a little disappointing that Falco isn’t working for Vespasian anymore. There is a scene that gives some hope that there might be more jobs from the emperor in the future, though, as Vespasian’s son seems to intercede on Falco’s behalf when the informer is tossed back in jail mid-way through the book. So perhaps there is hope for more work from the emperor? Or his son?
I have been enjoying the Marcus Didius Falco series. Although this one was good, I find myself wishing that Falco was a little more witty and a little more caustic. That might not be his character but his brand of humour in the first book seems to not be as prevalent this time.
Spoiler
Rather than go back to his Imperial employer, Falco decides to begin working for himself and see where that might lead him. It doesn’t take long for him to find new work either! Though it’s thanks to the work he’s done at the palace, Falco is more than willing to take the job of scaring off an unwanted gold-digger for a family of noveau-riches freed slaves.The only problem is that it doesn’t stay as a simple job of scaring of the scary black widow. In the middle of working the case, the poor sod he’d been hired to scare the black widow away from dies of poisoning and Falco sets off investigating the death he had been hired to prevent. The tale has, interwoven, the ever complex relationship Falco is struggling to maintain with Helena.
It’s a little disappointing that Falco isn’t working for Vespasian anymore. There is a scene that gives some hope that there might be more jobs from the emperor in the future, though, as Vespasian’s son seems to intercede on Falco’s behalf when the informer is tossed back in jail mid-way through the book. So perhaps there is hope for more work from the emperor? Or his son?
I have been enjoying the Marcus Didius Falco series. Although this one was good, I find myself wishing that Falco was a little more witty and a little more caustic. That might not be his character but his brand of humour in the first book seems to not be as prevalent this time.
rosannelortz's review
4.0
In Venus in Copper, Marcus branches out on his own as a private investigator, taking a hiatus from his palace work for Vespasian. He is hired by two wealthy Roman matrons, former slaves who, along with their husbands, are now extremely wealthy property owners. The ladies are concerned for the safety of their husbands’ colleague, Novus, who is about to enter into marriage with Severina Zotica, a professional bride. Severina has had three husbands before, all of whom died suspiciously leaving her with a great deal of money on her hands. Will Novus meet the same fate?
This book showcases a very interesting segment of Roman society that I had never thought about before, “freedmen” who after being released from slavery go on to become fabulously wealthy. It also reveals the slummy side of Rome, showing landlords out for gain at the expense of their tenants.
This book showcases a very interesting segment of Roman society that I had never thought about before, “freedmen” who after being released from slavery go on to become fabulously wealthy. It also reveals the slummy side of Rome, showing landlords out for gain at the expense of their tenants.
anita_mv's review against another edition
3.0
Tercera entrega de la extensa saga Marco Didio Falco. Después de los servicios que prestó al emperador ha sido encarcelado por un pequeño problema de contabilidad. Su madre será la que le saque de la cárcel pagando la fianza y, sin el trabajo del emperador, debe buscar nuevos clientes para mantener su alquiler pagado y ahorrar para subir de categoría. En este caso será contratado por dos mujeres porque piensan que uno de sus socios va a ser asesinado. Así se verá envuelto en un misterio donde las inmobiliarias y su corrupción van a ir saliendo a flote, al mismo tiempo que conoce a una peculiar señorita que se verá envuelta en toda esta historia.
Como siempre es un gusto volver a leer a Marco. Me encanta este personaje y sobre todo Helena. Este caso quizá no me gustó tanto como el anterior, pero he disfrutado mucho de la lectura por las escenas familiares con la extensa y excéntrica familia de Marco y los tiras y afloja entre protagonistas. La ambientación y la recreación de la vida cotidiana de la época me siguen fascinando y estoy segura que antes de que termine el año leeré el siguiente de la saga.
Como siempre es un gusto volver a leer a Marco. Me encanta este personaje y sobre todo Helena. Este caso quizá no me gustó tanto como el anterior, pero he disfrutado mucho de la lectura por las escenas familiares con la extensa y excéntrica familia de Marco y los tiras y afloja entre protagonistas. La ambientación y la recreación de la vida cotidiana de la época me siguen fascinando y estoy segura que antes de que termine el año leeré el siguiente de la saga.
ana_mv's review against another edition
3.0
Tercera entrega de la extensa saga Marco Didio Falco. Después de los servicios que prestó al emperador ha sido encarcelado por un pequeño problema de contabilidad. Su madre será la que le saque de la cárcel pagando la fianza y, sin el trabajo del emperador, debe buscar nuevos clientes para mantener su alquiler pagado y ahorrar para subir de categoría. En este caso será contratado por dos mujeres porque piensan que uno de sus socios va a ser asesinado. Así se verá envuelto en un misterio donde las inmobiliarias y su corrupción van a ir saliendo a flote, al mismo tiempo que conoce a una peculiar señorita que se verá envuelta en toda esta historia.
Como siempre es un gusto volver a leer a Marco. Me encanta este personaje y sobre todo Helena. Este caso quizá no me gustó tanto como el anterior, pero he disfrutado mucho de la lectura por las escenas familiares con la extensa y excéntrica familia de Marco y los tiras y afloja entre protagonistas. La ambientación y la recreación de la vida cotidiana de la época me siguen fascinando y estoy segura que antes de que termine el año leeré el siguiente de la saga.
Como siempre es un gusto volver a leer a Marco. Me encanta este personaje y sobre todo Helena. Este caso quizá no me gustó tanto como el anterior, pero he disfrutado mucho de la lectura por las escenas familiares con la extensa y excéntrica familia de Marco y los tiras y afloja entre protagonistas. La ambientación y la recreación de la vida cotidiana de la época me siguen fascinando y estoy segura que antes de que termine el año leeré el siguiente de la saga.