The Accusers
Marcus Didius Falco Series, No. 15
By Lindsey Davis

      Marcus Didius Falco returns to Italy. The amusing, verbose informer discovers his clients don't remember him and the advertisements chalked on the walls of the Forum have faded. When asked to handle a minor documents job, he accepts. Falco doesn't fetch for others, but he needs to show that Falco and Associates is open for business.

      On trial is a senator named Rubirius Metellus. The charge is abuse of office. The document Falco brings is part of the trial. Metellus is convicted and a large financial judgment is made against him. Two weeks later Metellus is dead, supposed suicide and the Metellus' family doesn't have to pay the judgment. The prosecutor, Silius Italicus, who had no words for Falco during the trial, now wants to see him.

      When Falco finds Silius, he's chatting with the opposition counsel from Metellus' trial. Falco finds the friendly conversation a bit odd. And odder still is Silius hiring Falco instead of using his own investigators to find out what really happened to Metellus. The prosecutor resents losing his portion of the financial judgment. Does he really suspect foul-play? Or is he hoping to give the appearance of foul play? Is Falco working an actual case and putting himself in danger? Or is the prosecutor taking him for an old Roman ride?

      Davis' humor is consistent, not to mention entertaining. The mystery is told in first person, giving the reader Falco's impression of Rome and its citizens. The largest part of the time, the conversation and description through Falco's eyes are worth a chuckle or two (A wife with "a scowl that could fuse brass locks.") Other times, it seems the lead character goes on and on, giving the impression the author is either filling space or rambling about a subject she favors. As for the mystery, there are plenty of clues and false leads to keep the armchair sleuth busy. Included with the mystery is a family tree of the Metelli, a list of other principal characters, a map of the Imperial Rome, and a map of the Forum. Fans, new and old, will feel like they got their monies worth with this one.