- Paperback: 358 pages
- Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd; New edition edition (1 Jun 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099298201
- ISBN-13: 978-0099298205
- Product Dimensions: 17.7 x 11.1 x 2.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 205,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Lindsey Davis's novels about the Roman informer Falco have always been ingenious in the way she sets up impeccably researched Imperial Roman equivalents of modern worlds and modern crimes. Ode to a Banker is one of the closest of her books to a classic traditional crime novel, in that it deals with a murder in a small enclosed world, with likely suspects whose motives have to be gone through by interrogation and legwork--the first of the bodies is even found in a library. Chrysippus was a banker and a publisher, owner of a minor scriptorium where not especially accurate copies of manuscripts are made by dictation; he is found with the centre rod from a scroll stuffed up his nose. Falco himself is momentarily a suspect--he had a row with Chrysippus who offered to vanity publish Falco's poems--but soon finds himself the official investigator, sub-contracting the job for his friends in the Watch. This is as elegantly picturesque in its portrait of the Emperor Vespasian's crowded metropolis as Davis has ever been; the soap opera of Falco's extended and disreputable family continues apace and amid all the snazzy puzzles, we get a real sense of a lively mind busy at work. --Roz Kaveney
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Mail on Sunday
‘Fast moving, funny and full of atmosphere’
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Falco The Poet,
By
This review is from: Ode to a Banker (Paperback)
This is the twelfth novel in the mystery series featuring Marcus Didius Falco, an informer and sleuth in Rome at the time of Vespasian. A series of books that have become hugely popular, so much so that the author is now at the forefront of historical mystery writers. It was probably a stroke of genius on her part to have novels that are extremely well researched and contain all the elements that would be and should be found in the Roman world of circa AD70, but to have a lead character who has the vocabulary of a present day New York cop.
This book sees Falco delving into the world of literary jealousies and everything that goes with them. Writers block, jealousy and fraud is just scratching the surface. He discovers that there are a series of puzzling links to the Aurelian Bank and finds out the business is owned by Chrysippus. Chrysippus is a man that Falco knows only too well, because a little private recital of Falco's poetry had recently been gate crashed by Aurelius Chrysippus, a scriptorium owner and some of his literary friends and the following day Chrysippus offers to publish Falco's poems. When the body of the scriptorium owner is found Petro, long time friend of Falco and the Vigil's enquiry officer, commissions Falco to investigate the murder, while at the same time trying not to pull his leg too hard regarding his poetic prowess.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Falco enters the murky worlds of publishing & finance,
By A Customer
This review is from: Ode to a Banker (Paperback)
Lindsey Davis continues her Falco series in 'Ode to a banker'; this time he's asked to solve the murder of a publisher.The story is textured and atmospheric and is one of the better books in the series with authors, publishers & bankers, all the butt of many jokes. The mystery is well set-up but Davis does the old Agatha Christie trick of with-holding information from the reader to pad out the story. Even though it's still possible to work out the killer. Part of the pleasure of these books is following the soap opera of Falco's private life, and it is here where this book delivers big time. The probable relationships, which have been signalled in previous books, come to fruition here. These mean major changes for Falco and his family. An very satisfying read - if you've enjoyed & followed the series, then you must read this.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Falco slows down,
This review is from: Ode to a Banker (Paperback)
I liked the idea of the storyline, dodgy bank props up dodgy publisher, and Falco's relationship with Helena continues to develop and work very well. But overall this tale lacked punch and pace, and Falco was coasting in between real assigments. The prose lapsed at times into Humphrey Bogart/Philip Marlowe style, quite entertaining but a little out of character for Falco. Enjoyable but not top form.
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