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The Iron Hand of Mars: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery Hardcover – August 24, 1993

by Lindsey Davis (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 937 ratings
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In a novel set in ancient Rome, Marcus Didius Falco goes on an undercover mission into Roman Germany to deal with an uncivil Batavian rebel chieftain
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    305 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Crown
  4. Publication date
    August 24, 1993
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0517592401
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0517592403
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In A.D. 71, the Emperor Vespasian sends his reluctant agent Marcus Didius Falco to Germany to bring a rebel chieftain into line and to find a missing legate whose battle-worn legion had surrendered him to a druidic sorceress. In his fourth appearance, after Venus in Copper , the worldly-wise, ever - entertaining Falco journeys up the river Rhenus, encountering hardships and danger, including murder, and resolving puzzles of politics and commerce. In Roman Germany, Falco's military experience in Gaul and his knowledge of historic Gallic battles will help him deal with fort intrigues and the mysterious ways of the forest tribes. His travails in Upper Germany are as much physical as cerebral; indeed, he saves his company from a wild aurochs in a last-ditch leap that recalls ancient Greek bull-dancing practices. Accompanied in part by his lover, the high-born Helena Justina (who has caught the eye of Vespasian's son Titus), and aided by her brother Camillus Justinus, an untried but courageous young officer, Falco stays alive, accomplishes the Emperor's mission and holds on to his girl--feats as accomplished as Davis's seamless blending of humor, history and adventure.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-The adventures of Marcus Didius Falco, a Roman detective, continue in this fourth tale of sleuthing in A.D. 71. Still in love with the patrician Helen, Marcus is sent to the German wilderness to determine the loyalty of the Fourteenth legion to Rome by Titus Caesar, a would-be suitor of Helen's. Carrying a giant iron hand, a gift of the god Mars to the Fourteenth legion, Marcus must contend with barbarians, incompetent army recruits, and a potential scandal over a pottery contract. Falco's never-ending wise cracks, humorous self-abasement, and genuine niceness are more than enough to captivate readers; the rich historical details add a caloric layer of frosting.
Pam Spencer, Thomas Jefferson Sci-Tech, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crown (August 24, 1993)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 305 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0517592401
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0517592403
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.33 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 937 ratings

About the author

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Lindsey Davis

Lindsey Davis

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Lindsey Davis' Roman novels begin chronologically with The Course of Honour, the love story of the Emperor Vespasian and Antonia Caenis. Her bestselling mystery series features laid-back First Century detective Marcus Didius Falco and his partner Helena Justina, plus friends, relations, pets and bitter enemy the Chief Spy; there is a reader handboook, 'Falco: the Official Companion'. 'Master and God' set in the time of the Emperor Domitian, was published in 2012. A new series, featuring Flavia Albia, began in 2013 and is rivalling Falco in popularity. Her two Roman series have associated download-only novellas, 'The Spook Who Spoke Again' and 'Vesuvius By Night. She has also written an epic novel of the English Civil War and Commonwealth, 'Rebels and Traitors' and a short book set in that period in the Quickreads series, 'A Cruel Fate.. Her books are translated into many languages and serialised on BBC Radio 4. Past Chair of the Crimewriters' Association and a Vice President of the Classical Association, she was Chair of the UK SOciety of Authors (2012) She has won the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, the Dagger in the Library, and a Sherlock award for Falco as Best Comic Detective. She has also been awarded the Premio Colosseo for enhancing the image of Rome, and the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement as a mystery writer.

She was born in Birmingham and now lives there.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
937 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Aristotle
5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to the work of Lindsey Davis!
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2011
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This book is a great introduction to the Falco detective series by Lindsey Davis. I liked this novel so much that I also purchased the audio version from Audible (an Amazon company).

This story is set in 71 AD in Germania Libera. Falco acts as an agent sent with the authority of emperor Vespasian to find a missing commander whose loyalties are suspect. His legionary service with Legio II Augusta, around 59 AD in Britain until his discharge on medical reasons by 69 AD from an unknown location, make him an ideal candidate for the job.

Falco is a typical soldier. His is tough, rough and comes from the lower classes of Rome. His girlfriend, Helena Justina, is a senator's daughter who is educated, refined and politically savvy. The juxtaposition of these two characters adds tremendous entertainment to this novel.

Once you have read this novel I am sure you will want to read others by this author.
3 people found this helpful
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Ezra Josef
4.0 out of 5 stars Another great adventure - comedic at times yet dangerous
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2020
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-In this 4th novel of the Marcus Didius Falco series, which takes place during the reign of Vespasian in Ancient Rome, Falco is being summoned by the emperor, but he’s avoiding the call, as he knows that the emperor wants to send him into Germany, which is extremely hostile territory. Titus, the emperor’s son, is making eyes at Falco’s girlfriend, Helena, the daughter of a prominent Roman Senator, and it’s bothering Falco tremendously. Titus invites the Senator as well as Helena to a dinner party to which Falco is excluded and Falco is stricken with jealousy. He leaves that day to take on a case in order to raise some money, even though Helena had asked him not to go. When he returns to his apartment, Helena is gone and he finds that Helena never attended the dinner party and has left Rome to travel abroad. Even her family has no idea where she’s gone. Falco feels that she finally decided to leave him, and, so, he meets up with Vespasian who gives him an almost impossible assignment and one from which he most likely will not be returning from.
-We are given a history of the wars between Rome and the northern tribes of Gaul and Germany. It’s complicated, but the author does a very good job of explaining the events. As to Falco’s mission, it has to do with men who were fighting under the Roman banner from those northern areas, who now were part of a rebellion. Also, a head of a legion, a legate, was said to have been captured by the northern tribes and taken as a sacrifice to a legendary priestess of that northern area. Falco was to bring back a report of what happened to the legate, and also bring back news of the man heading the rebellion. There was also a matter of some bribery being conducted by certain Romans which was enriching them at the expense of the emperor.
-Falco, forever making comments which reveal the comic side of whatever he’s going through, no matter how dire, now finds himself with a companion, Xanthus, who is a barber ex-slave and is willing to pay Falco to show him adventures in the north. As a warning as to the dangers they will be facing, in the beginning of their travel, they come across two travelers who they realize have been murdered.
-Falco comes across Helena’s brother, who is stationed in the north, and, luckily for Falco, is where Helena had also gone. But Falco must continue further north into enemy territory to complete his mission. Fortunately, he is accompanied by Helena’s brother, the young but capable Justinus. Falco and Justinus embark with about 20 inept troops, beyond the areas where Roman garrisons can afford them protection.
-Danger is constantly facing them, as they encounter one force against them after another. After experiencing multiple perils, they end up being captured, and face either slavery or death by the hands of none other than the feared priestess. None of Falco’s attempts to make her fear the wrath of the Roman army seems to affect her and Falco’s group is herded into a pen, where they await their deaths.
-The author does an amazing job of taking events that occurred in the past, and preparing a story around those events involving Falco and his group. She manages to keep up his sarcasm, while he faces real danger, and ties those events to his relationship with Helena. Though the story is complicated in the beginning, because of the many names and events that we are given as background, once Falco comes across Helena’s brother, we are treated to what turns out to be a very dangerous adventure, where Falco also ties up all the loose ends of his mission.
5 people found this helpful
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Tal Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars 72 A.D. detective is a fun read
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2014
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Read this several years ago. Loaned it and didn't get it back. Bought it to complete the series on my shelf. I've read all the Marcus Didus Falco books and love the idea of setting private eye stories in the Roman Empire during Vespasian's rule. Was never a good history student but these books bring so much of that era to life with fact and a lot of humor that I enjoy them a great deal.
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Victoria
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Story
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2018
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Another great adventure for Marcus! As usual, there are all the "add on" characters & some familiar faces...his trip to Germany is very eventful, especially when Helena turns up! The history keeps you on your toes as well as all the mysteries involved with this mission....I love this series!
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Jim W
4.0 out of 5 stars Not quite up to the previous novels, but still good
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2011
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I came to the Marcus Didius Falco mysteries much later in the series (A Body in the Bath House) via Audible; the story was lively and the narrator distinct. I'm more familiar with the period of the late Roman Republic, but Davis' cheeky humor and fun characterizations have helped breathe life into the early Vespasian rule (68ish BCE) after the chaotic "year of the four emperors." Falco, a former soldier with the disgraced Second Augusta legion in Brittania, is a thirty year-old "informer" - roughly, private investigator - who in the first novel (The Silver Pigs) finds himself elevated from his usual sordid cases to one that brings him to the attention of the emperor and the senatorial Camillus family. A diamond in the rough however he may protest otherwise, that adventure launches him on a very different trajectory (several of which threads I spoiled for myself by starting with a later novel, but won't repeat here). Suffice to say, there is romance, thorough characterization, a solid mix of new adventures and people you will find as inescapable as Falco himself does, and a slow-building ambition. Davis appears to let very little time pass in the Falco time frame between novels (weeks, usually), so it's a slow but exciting ride-along in the characters' lives.

The Iron Hand of Mars follows the almost exclusively Rome-based predecessor, Venus in Copper, and returns to a road-trip adventure: this time, to the German frontier on Vespasian's errand to check on the legendary/notorious XIV legion and a German prophetess/rebel. The devil - and the delight - is in the details. As usual, Davis manages to work in children and and animals, both of which complicate Falco's life (and, occasionally, provide a surprise assist) as he strives to fulfill his mission.

At times Falco seems far too capable for his years and his station, a bit of Tarzan on the Tiber. Quick-witted, sharp tongued, ostensibly a ladies' man with a promiscuous past who gets tamed by the right woman (there are romance novel elements in this series, but of a more monogomous bent), able (and likely) to take a severe beating but otherwise apparently unkillable, smart enough to outwit senators and other unsavory types, a bit of a roguish loner who is also a devoted shepherd over his large rabble of a family, a Republican who nevertheless gets on better than he likes with the new (if rustic) royal family...it all adds up to rich stew of Rome in all its flawed glory and the people who aren't that different from ourselves.
14 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Mary Heron
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant series.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2022
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Falco is just an ordinary man trying to earn a living in a very difficult time. Vespasian has just taken on the role of Emperor after the years of the four Emperors so Rome is finally enjoying a period of stability. Falco comes to.Vespasian 's attention as a man who can get difficult jobs done discreetly and for a low price. Meaning Vespasian often forgets to pay him. The love of his life is a Senator's daughter Helena but their romance (so far) seems doomed as their places in Roman society are so far apart. Falco lives in a one room hovel six floors up on one of the most dangerous streets in Rome, Helena lives in her father's mansion. Falco's hope is that one day he may provide a service for the Emperor which will see him rewarded in such a way that he can be worthy of Helena. Each book stands alone as an individual mystery the on going story is the relationships between the characters. The books are historically accurate and written with a strong vein of humour throughout. Extremely enjoyable.

,
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BB
2.0 out of 5 stars It's ok
Reviewed in Italy on August 19, 2014
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But Davis' books follow a format I am not enthusiastic about - they are too long on what the author considers interesting 'color' (sort of gossipy, perforce all the author's imagination and invention) and short on historic facts and context.
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Sharkey
5.0 out of 5 stars I Like...
Reviewed in Germany on June 16, 2013
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I ordered this book so I like it....
I like the Style and contents of this Author and this series...
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Clemens Schoonderwoert
4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Exciting Iron Hand!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2021
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**Should Read as 4.5 Stars!**

Read this book in 2012, and its the 4th part of the amazing Marcus Didius Falco series.

In this mystery a Roman General disappears in Germania, Emperor Vespasian turns to the one man he can trust and can afford to pay, the lowly informer Marcus Didius Falco.

During this undercover investigation Falco will meet many obstacles in the way of disarray, torture and murder.

The only helpful person who could be helpful to Falco is a Germanic powerful Druid priestess, if only she can be persuaded to be willing to cease her hostilities towards Rome, and help him in this case of murder.

Eventually he will be able, after some twists and turns, and after an eventful plot to reveal the culprit(s) of these murderous activities, and when he comes home after having solved this case he will find another troublesome high and mighty person who goes by the name of, Titus Caesar, who's after his girlfriend, Helena Justina, but that are problems that will solve Falco in his own unique way.

Very much recommended, although this one is not as great as the first three books, its still a superb addition to this marvellous series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Very Exciting Iron Hand"!
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Damaskcat
5.0 out of 5 stars Falco goes to Germany
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 26, 2011
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The Emperor Vespasian sends Falco into enemy territory to try and find out what has happened to a missing legionary and to talk to the barbarian priestess, Veleda. In the process Falco gets to know Helena Justina's brother Quintus Justinus and finds qualities in him of which he was previously unaware. Helena does not feature very much in this book though there are some amusing scenes with her and one of Falco's many nieces.

This is a dangerous mission for Falco and several times he really thinks his last hour has come but he manages to overcome obstacles with the help of his friends, a fair amount of luck and some inspired bluffing.

I particularly liked the barber Xanthus with his outlandish clothes and his skilfully hidden intelligence. I also liked Justinus and the way he deals with all the problems thrown at him.

Reading this series I almost feel as though I could go back to the first century AD and recognise the people and places. Life at that time is skilfully described as are the people and I love the humorous touches and the way the series characters are developing. The reader feels as though they are stepping into Falco's world and his life. I recommend this series to anyone who likes their historical novels with a touch of humour.
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