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‘Always the same shock: you come face
to face with a murderous master criminal, and he looks like a
ribbon-seller.’
Chosen by readers, Rosina and George Harter
Plot Summary
Determined to write a Police Procedural, our author belatedly discovered
that the vigiles were the Fire Brigade. So this is a groundbreaking Fire Brigade
Procedural: still scope to dwell on the squaddies in the station house complaining about
the poor pay, the dangerous work, the abuse from the public, the disinterest of their
superiors. Falco joins his best mate Petro in a desperate attempt to stop gangsters taking
over Rome, forcing the intrepid pair into brothels and horrible eating houses, as they
encounter waterside fleecers, Forum degenerates, bad men who want to cut out their innards
and women who want worse things than that. Helena is pregnant and Falco finds a baby for
her to practice on. He adopts a dog (well, Nux adopts him). His family is in trouble of
various kinds, and even Lenia at the laundry has terrible plans which will end in a hot
wedding; the sacrificial sheep won't be the only one who gets barbecued …
This is the one with the one-word chapter.
Research Notes: See photo album for Author inspecting the lichen in Nero's Golden House,
thanks to Will Bowden. And see Nux.
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Reviews
Non-stop action, excitements and astonishments - a real cracker -
The Good Book Guide
Falco remains as delightfully irreverent and insightful as ever; and
Davis, as usual, brings the time to life while handling the eternals - worry, danger, love
and in-laws - just as deftly - Publishers Weekly
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