See Delphi and Die

March 13, 2006
In Davis's engaging 17th ancient Roman historical to feature "informer" Marcus Didius Falco (after 2004's Scandal Takes a Holiday
), Falco takes his deductive powers to Greece, where two young women tourists have died under mysterious circumstances. Accompanied by a large entourage, including his independent and sharp-witted wife, Helena, Falco soon finds that one tour, promoted by the shady Seven Sights Travel outfit, has a suspiciously high mortality rate. The long trail of corpses Falco uncovers puts the sleuth in danger of running out of suspects. While the way Falco unmasks the killer may be less than ingenious, the author's vivid picture of life in A.D. 76 and the sparkling characterizations, particularly the amusing byplay between Falco and Helena, will satisfy most readers. For those new to this popular series, which has a new publisher, Davis provides a short introduction to Falco and his world.

As Roman "informer" Marcus Didius Falco travels to Greece to investigate the murder of a young woman, Golden Voice Christian Rodska delivers a wonderful account of Falco's journey with his entourage of wife, nephews, household staff, adopted daughter, and dog. Rodska slurps and drools as a sleazy travel agent trying to sell Falco a pricey tour; in sum, he turns in a performance liberally sprinkled with humor, rapid-fire exchanges, stunning surprises, and genuine tenderness. As the travelogue unfolds, including visits to the Acropolis, the Delphic Oracle, and the temple of Olympian Zeus, the mystery deepens and the body count rises. Rodska's accomplished acting makes this seventeenth Marcus Didius Falco mystery one of the best. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine