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.
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 VerusJulia Justa - Wife of Decimus Camillus Verus and mother of HelenaJunilla Tacita - Mother of FalcoLucius Petronius Longus - Investigator for the vigiles and friend of FalcoMarcus Didius Favonius (aka Geminus) - Auctioneer and Father of FalcoMarcus Didius Falco - Informer and Imperial Agent from the Aventine.Anacrites - Imperial spyApollonius - An ex-geometry teacherCocceius - AuctioneerDomitian Caesar - Youngest son of the EmperorEpimandos - A waiterLenia - A LaundressManilus - A painterMarponius - A trial judge and encyclopedia salesmanOrontes Mediolanus - A sculptorRubina - An artist's modelVarga - A painterInvestigation 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.1993, UK, Century Hardback (out of print)1994, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-09-983190-21995, US, Crown/Ballantine ISBN 0-345-38025-81999, 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)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.
