8 /10 1 Votes
Country United Kingdom Series Marcus Didius Falco Publication date 1998 | 4/5 Goodreads Language English Publisher Century Originally published 1998 Followed by One Virgin Too Many | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback) Preceded by Three Hands in the Fountain Genres Crime Fiction, Historical mystery, Historical Fiction Awards CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award Similar Lindsey Davis books, Other books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Two for the Lions is a 1998 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the 10th book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome and Tripolitania between December AD 73 and May AD 74, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the execution of criminals in the arena, by trained lions.
Contents
Plot summary
As part of his attempts to earn enough money to buy himself into the upper middle ranks, and thus make his relationship with Helena Justina respectable, Marcus Didius Falco has offered his services to Vespasian as a tax collector during the 'great Census' of AD 73. Unfortunately, his plan has several flaws, one major one being his need to take on Anacrites as a partner.
Whilst conducting the audit of two gladitorial training schools, Falco stumbles upon the apparent murder of a star man-eating lion and an apparent rivalry between the schools. When a gladiator also ends up dead, Falco takes on the investigation, one which leads him to Tripolitania.
To add to the confusion, Helena's younger brother, Camillus Justinus, has eloped with the betrothed of his older brother, Aelianus. They too have made their way to North Africa, drawn by Justinus' quest to find Silphium, an expensive herb already deemed extinct.