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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
This one has a definitely different flavor than the other books in the Falco series. Rather than political or familial intrigues, it has actual motiveless murder in it! I like this one slightly more than the others, but only because I enjoy a good serial killer mystery.
Dragged a little bit, maybe, trying to get all the details right on the water supply of Rome. A better map would have helped. But the story was solid right up til the end.
It would seem that the Rome water supply holds many body parts. This would be Falco, and Petro's, formerly of the Vigiles, first case. The duo begin to suspect a serial killer has been operating for many years. Killings linked to the public festivals, of which one is upcoming.
This is Davis' try at a serial killer plot in 70 AD Rome. The plot is predictable but everything that surrounds the action such as it is is wonderful. The depth of research and how Davis was able to show how the water was transported in Rome, how the police forces worked is wonderful.
This one also sets up a new arc in the series as who works with Marcus Didius.
Entertaining, light but not in a bad way.
This one also sets up a new arc in the series as who works with Marcus Didius.
Entertaining, light but not in a bad way.
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Originally published on my blog here in October 1998.
Three Hands in the Fountain is a slightly disappointing addition to the generally excellent series of Falco novels by Davis. Returning to Rome following an investigation in Spain and the birth there of his daughter ([b:A Dying Light in Corduba|358889|A Dying Light in Corduba (Marcus Didius Falco, #8)|Lindsey Davis|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1217303853s/358889.jpg|349014]), Falco soon becomes involved in one of the most gruesome mysteries of his career when decomposing severed limbs begin to be found in Rome's drinking water supplies.
The mystery is to the same standard as in the other Falco novels, but to me the humour that was so enjoyable is missing here. This is partly because Falco's girlfriend, Helena, takes a far less prominent role in proceedings, being rather more taken up with the duties of motherhood in Roman society. It also perhaps indicates something of a "series fatigue" in Davis; maybe it is time for her to move on. (The problem is not, of course, unique to this series; it is a commonplace of genre fiction, where the financial incentives to continue recycling a proven formula often mean that it is used until after the author has anything new to say within it. [a:Ngaio Marsh|68144|Ngaio Marsh|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1237946649p2/68144.jpg], for example, seemed to suffer from this problem every seven or eight books, though she solved it not by abandoning her well-worn characters but by introducing a new element.)
Three Hands in the Fountain is a slightly disappointing addition to the generally excellent series of Falco novels by Davis. Returning to Rome following an investigation in Spain and the birth there of his daughter ([b:A Dying Light in Corduba|358889|A Dying Light in Corduba (Marcus Didius Falco, #8)|Lindsey Davis|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1217303853s/358889.jpg|349014]), Falco soon becomes involved in one of the most gruesome mysteries of his career when decomposing severed limbs begin to be found in Rome's drinking water supplies.
The mystery is to the same standard as in the other Falco novels, but to me the humour that was so enjoyable is missing here. This is partly because Falco's girlfriend, Helena, takes a far less prominent role in proceedings, being rather more taken up with the duties of motherhood in Roman society. It also perhaps indicates something of a "series fatigue" in Davis; maybe it is time for her to move on. (The problem is not, of course, unique to this series; it is a commonplace of genre fiction, where the financial incentives to continue recycling a proven formula often mean that it is used until after the author has anything new to say within it. [a:Ngaio Marsh|68144|Ngaio Marsh|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1237946649p2/68144.jpg], for example, seemed to suffer from this problem every seven or eight books, though she solved it not by abandoning her well-worn characters but by introducing a new element.)