Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Poseidon's Gold

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
8.2
/
10
1
Votes
Alchetron
8.2
1 Ratings
100
90
81
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Rate This

Rate This

Language
  
English

Publisher
  
Century

Pages
  
336 pp

Author
  
Lindsey Davis

Followed by
  
Last Act in Palmyra

4.1/5
Goodreads

Series
  
Marcus Didius Falco

Publication date
  
1993

Originally published
  
1993

Preceded by
  
The Iron Hand of Mars

Country
  
United Kingdom

Poseidon's Gold t2gstaticcomimagesqtbnANd9GcRmB28FcO2hwXSFxK

Media type
  
Print (Hardback & Paperback)

Genres
  
Crime Fiction, Historical mystery

Similar
  
Lindsey Davis books, Other books

Poseidon's Gold is a 1993 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the fifth installment of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome during AD 72, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The gold in the title refers to the treasure, taken by Falco's brother Festus for one of Festus' wild schemes and which now appears to have gone down with the ship, returning to Poseidon.

Contents

Plot summary

In Poseidon's Gold, Falco returns from a six-month mission to Germania Liberia, only to become embroiled in the after-effects of a scam by his now-deceased, older brother Festus. The story recounts shipping scams, crooked antiques auctions, and hired thugs, all while Falco is trying to clear his family's name and sort out Festus' business dealings.

Main characters

  • Decimus Camillus Verus - Senatorial father of Helena Justina.
  • Helena Justina - Daughter of the Senator Decimus Camillus Verus
  • Julia Justa - Wife of Decimus Camillus Verus and mother of Helena
  • Junilla Tacita - Mother of Falco
  • Lucius Petronius Longus - Investigator for the vigiles and friend of Falco
  • Marcus Didius Favonius (aka Geminus) - Auctioneer and Father of Falco
  • Marcus Didius Falco - Informer and Imperial Agent from the Aventine.

    • Other characters

  • Anacrites - Imperial spy
  • Apollonius - An ex-geometry teacher
  • Cocceius - Auctioneer
  • Domitian Caesar - Youngest son of the Emperor
  • Epimandos - A waiter
  • Lenia - A Laundress
  • Manilus - A painter
  • Marponius - A trial judge and encyclopedia salesman
  • Orontes Mediolanus - A sculptor
  • Rubina - An artist's model
  • Varga - A painter

    • Major themes

  • Investigation into the murky business dealings of Marcus Didius Festus and the fight to clear the family name.
  • Developing relationship of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina.

    • Publication details

  • 1993, UK, Century Hardback (out of print)
  • 1994, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-09-983190-2
  • 1995, US, Crown/Ballantine ISBN 0-345-38025-8
  • 1999, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-7126-8018-7 (as part of single-volume omnibus edition, Falco on his Metal, with Venus in Copper and The Iron Hand of Mars)

    • Adaptations in other media

  • BBC Radio 4 starring Anton Lesser and Anna Madeley, in May 2009. Unlike previous Radio 4 dramatisations of novels from the Falco series (in four or six half-hour episodes), this adaptation was broadcast as ten 15-minute episodes as the Woman's Hour Drama. This installment added Trevor Peacock to the recurring cast, as Geminus.

    • References

    Poseidon's Gold Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA