Rating: 
Summary: Marcus and Helena vist Germany
Review: All Lindsey Davis's books tend to be wordy, with lots of detail, but me, I like the detail. I thoroughly enjoyed this look at army life in the great Roman army stationed in Germany, corruption, graft and incompetence included; I liked the view of what civilian life was like in both Germanies (Romanized and free), with all that implied to how the every day person lived. The subplots were amusing. The relationship between Marcus and Helena continues to develop. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Rating: 
Summary: A Native Speaks out!
Review: As a native of Germany and Mainz (Mogontiacum) where parts of this book take place I have to say: Great work, Mrs Davis! This book is, like all the Falco books, highly readable and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in daily life in Roman times as well as those who love a good story. It's more fun than a history book and you still learn a few things. If you like Mogontiacum (which Falco describes as a glum frontier fort whose only attraction is a ridiculous column erected for Nero), you can still visit some of its "sights" today...like the "ridiculous column"
Rating:
Summary: Falco battles the frontier, native/Roman leaders, and Helena
Review: Falco hits the road again in this fourth novel, this time for Germania. Unlike the first two novels, where the action split between Rome and rural locales, almost all of "The Iron Hand of Mars" is set in Gaul and Germany. The grit of the frontier backdrops matches Falco's sour attitude toward the journey and his Imperial mission. His girlfriend Helena Justina fortunately joins the more urban portions of the trip, as their character interactions in Davis's subtle prose are the highlight of these novels. The plot consists of a long list of Imperial requests relating to recent and past Roman military troubles on the frontier. Davis skillfully explains the history of first century Roman clashes with the Germanic tribes and relates it to the plot without bogging down in dry exposition. Falco's interaction with various members of the frontier legions shows Davis's thorough command of Roman military details. Falco's trek through feral Germania has the same wild adventure tainted with ghosts of legionary history feel as the journey beyond Hadrian's Wall in Sutcliffe's "Eagle of the Ninth." However, random encounters with several of the final people on Falco's task list leave the ending feeling coincidental. Regardless, Davis skillfully develops several new characters, including a gruff centurion and Helena's tribune brother, and continues to build the relationship between Falco and Helena.
Rating:
Summary: Falco battles the frontier, native/Roman leaders, and Helena
Review: Falco hits the road again in this fourth novel, this time for Germania. Unlike the first two novels, where the action split between Rome and rural locales, almost all of "The Iron Hand of Mars" is set in Gaul and Germany. The grit of the frontier backdrops matches Falco's sour attitude toward the journey and his Imperial mission. His girlfriend Helena Justina fortunately joins the more urban portions of the trip, as their character interactions in Davis's subtle prose are the highlight of these novels. The plot consists of a long list of Imperial requests relating to recent and past Roman military troubles on the frontier. Davis skillfully explains the history of first century Roman clashes with the Germanic tribes and relates it to the plot without bogging down in dry exposition. Falco's interaction with various members of the frontier legions shows Davis's thorough command of Roman military details. Falco's trek through feral Germania has the same wild adventure tainted with ghosts of legionary history feel as the journey beyond Hadrian's Wall in Sutcliffe's "Eagle of the Ninth." However, random encounters with several of the final people on Falco's task list leave the ending feeling coincidental. Regardless, Davis skillfully develops several new characters, including a gruff centurion and Helena's tribune brother, and continues to build the relationship between Falco and Helena.
Rating:
Summary: Falco battles the frontier, native/Roman leaders, and Helena
Review: Falco hits the road again in this fourth novel, this time for Germania. Unlike the first two novels, where the action split between Rome and rural locales, almost all of "The Iron Hand of Mars" is set in Gaul and Germany. The grit of the frontier backdrops matches Falco's sour attitude toward the journey and his Imperial mission. His girlfriend Helena Justina fortunately joins the more urban portions of the trip, as their character interactions in Davis's subtle prose are the highlight of these novels. The plot consists of a long list of Imperial requests relating to recent and past Roman military troubles on the frontier. Davis skillfully explains the history of first century Roman clashes with the Germanic tribes and relates it to the plot without bogging down in dry exposition. Falco's interaction with various members of the frontier legions shows Davis's thorough command of Roman military details. Falco's trek through feral Germania has the same wild adventure tainted with ghosts of legionary history feel as the journey beyond Hadrian's Wall in Sutcliffe's "Eagle of the Ninth." However, random encounters with several of the final people on Falco's task list leave the ending feeling coincidental. Regardless, Davis skillfully develops several new characters, including a gruff centurion and Helena's tribune brother, and continues to build the relationship between Falco and Helena.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanting Finale
Review: I am an avid fan of Lindsey Davis's books. The premise is film noir in Rome, but instead of a Sam Spade, Marcus Didius Falco is a lovable, overconfident, not-altogether-that-tough detective whose adventures are great fun. Although the background on wars may seem dense, it's wonderful to get a feel for the history and the second half of the book in spellbinding.
Rating:
Summary: The best book in the series
Review: I read this book in less than one week. Normally I spend and average time of a month in finishing a book, but this was one of the "rare" cases that the reading last until 2 am. Marcus travels to a wild land, Germania Libera in order to send a gift of the emperor and ends with his life in hands of a German sorceress. The full novel is filled with action and historical references, it's worth the money!.
Rating:
Summary: Great to get a feeling of early European cultures
Review: I've recommended this book to many friends who like to read unusual history/mystery. I've enjoyed this series as much as the Brother Cadfael series.
Rating:
Summary: Great to get a feeling of early European cultures
Review: I've recommended this book to many friends who like to read unusual history/mystery. I've enjoyed this series as much as the Brother Cadfael series.
Rating: 
Summary: A cure for Insomnia
Review: Never ever believe the blurbs. "Marcus Didius Falco, Imperial Rome's answer to Columbo." Falco, other than being Italian, doesn't even come close. I must admit I was drawn in by the promise of a witty, self-effacing, brilliant detective who methodically wears down the high-profile perpetrator until all the evidence has been revealed. None of that is present in this novel. "(A) seamless blending of humor, history, and adventure." This quote from Publishers Weekly is closer to the truth. There is no crime to be solved. Instead we find ourselves traipsing around ancient Gaul (Germania) falling into the answers the Emperor Vespasian commanded him to gather. It is indeed a history and adventure novel. If this is what you are after in a novel than go for it. I was not. I thought I would be reading a mystery novel with a little history thrown in. I was very disappointed. As to humor, it was English humor and I just didn't get it. A footnote to this novel is one chapter from the novel that follows, Poseidon's Gold added at the conclusion of this one. I read one paragraph and couldn't go any further because I fell asleep.
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