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grahamjohnson's review
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
rosannelortz's review
4.0
In Time to Depart, Marcus must assist his longtime friend Petronius in ridding the city of Rome of some of its organized crime. Balbinus Pius, the Al Capone of the A. D. 70′s has just been sentenced to death, and in accordance with the old Roman custom, given time to depart the empire if he wishes to avoid his execution (since living outside the empire was, in the opinion of the old Roman statesmen, an even worse fate than death). With Balbinus Pius gone, a new wave of crime riddles the city, and it is up to Marcus and the vigiles (Roman policemen) to discover the name of the new crime boss in town. On the home front, Helena discovers that she is expecting a child, and Marcus must deal with the unpleasant task of breaking the news to her senatorial family. Time to Depart is mobster noir at its finest; it just happens to be set in ancient Rome , not 1920s Chicago.
romanvs91's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty typical for this series, which doesn't make it bad at all.
marimoose's review
4.0
I keep telling myself I should probably sleep now, but I figure this needed a review beforehand (plus, I blame the second cup of coffee I had this evening for my lack of sleepiness).
Time to Depart is Number Seven of the Marcus Didius Falco series, so by this point, you're either a dedicated reader and love the series in general or you're starting in media res and don't care about previous volumes (to be honest, even if you don't read the previous volumes, there's enough information in each book that you can consider it a standalone...kind of).
Anyway, in this adventure, Falco has just returned from his eventful trip with a band of actors in Syria, only to be thrown in immediately to help with an organized crime case. Balbinus Pius, the godfather, as it were, has been apprehended and given a "time to depart", where he is exiled out of the Roman Empire. Only, once the leader of organized crime disappears, what's to stop the next man from taking his place? When a string of premeditated thefts and murders surface immediately after Balbinus' exile, it is clear organized crime has found its new leader. Alongside his longtime pal, Petronius Longus, Falco must unravel the mystery behind the murders and stolen goods, the kidnapping and ransoming of children, as well as deal with domestic concerns, such as involuntary babysitting, planning for fatherhood, and divining for the wedding of the decade. Needless to say, Falco is out of the desert and back into the gladiatorial pit that is Ancient Rome.
I've yet to tire over the characters, especially Falco's dysfunctional immediate family, and his family friends. I've also been looking forward to finally seeing Falco and Petro work together (or at least, attempt to), and this book certainly has a lot of that going on. And, of course, I was severely wishing that Falco and Helena would get past the trauma that occurred in Shadows in Bronze, which they did. So all that said, this book delivered in those aspects, and much more.
It was great seeing the interaction between Falco and Petro, and I have to admit I loved the ending of the book because of their camaraderie. Of course, I could be biased, because Petro is probably my second favorite character in the novels. Second to Helena, that is.
Time to Depart is Number Seven of the Marcus Didius Falco series, so by this point, you're either a dedicated reader and love the series in general or you're starting in media res and don't care about previous volumes (to be honest, even if you don't read the previous volumes, there's enough information in each book that you can consider it a standalone...kind of).
Anyway, in this adventure, Falco has just returned from his eventful trip with a band of actors in Syria, only to be thrown in immediately to help with an organized crime case. Balbinus Pius, the godfather, as it were, has been apprehended and given a "time to depart", where he is exiled out of the Roman Empire. Only, once the leader of organized crime disappears, what's to stop the next man from taking his place? When a string of premeditated thefts and murders surface immediately after Balbinus' exile, it is clear organized crime has found its new leader. Alongside his longtime pal, Petronius Longus, Falco must unravel the mystery behind the murders and stolen goods, the kidnapping and ransoming of children, as well as deal with domestic concerns, such as involuntary babysitting, planning for fatherhood, and divining for the wedding of the decade. Needless to say, Falco is out of the desert and back into the gladiatorial pit that is Ancient Rome.
I've yet to tire over the characters, especially Falco's dysfunctional immediate family, and his family friends. I've also been looking forward to finally seeing Falco and Petro work together (or at least, attempt to), and this book certainly has a lot of that going on. And, of course, I was severely wishing that Falco and Helena would get past the trauma that occurred in Shadows in Bronze, which they did. So all that said, this book delivered in those aspects, and much more.
It was great seeing the interaction between Falco and Petro, and I have to admit I loved the ending of the book because of their camaraderie. Of course, I could be biased, because Petro is probably my second favorite character in the novels. Second to Helena, that is.
didactylos's review against another edition
5.0
I found this beautifully polished and nicely plotted. The characters and situations are timeless but rooted in Roman period.
cmbohn's review
5.0
Solid mystery, but the wedding at the end was the funniest thing I've read all year.
eclipse777's review
5.0
I much prefer this stories set in Rome with his family and friends helping and hindering the hero
vesper1931's review
5.0
Once you receive a death sentence you are given 'Time to Depart' the Roman Empire. So Balbinus Pius a notorious gangster is escorted from Rome. Then the crime wave starts. More adventures with Marcus Didius Falco.
I am in the process of re-reading the whole series and as I am still enjoying them I have given them 5 stars so far.
I am in the process of re-reading the whole series and as I am still enjoying them I have given them 5 stars so far.