I am a fan of many genres and had no idea what this book was about until I read the first couple of pages. 24 hours later and I finished the last page with avengence. Davis writes with a plan and gives you bits of information as he builds towards the climax: excellently placed. Do not underestimate the beginning as twists and turns shock you throughout your read. This book is one of the new titles out of the POD (Print On Demand) technology that is evolving. This books proves that quality can come from the vast content being produced. By the way, those of you who like X-Files will love this book. Have fun reading!!

Hi, This is actually the first review I've ever written, but The Christopher Factor by Lindsey S. (Bear) Davis was so enjoyable I felt it my obligation to say so. (I even sent him an email through his website, which was actually how I stumbled onto TheChristopherFactor.com in the first place. There are about one hundred pages of the novel online, as well as some real cool art and music). Dave Jeffries and Vic Donato are the most real cop characters to come along in a long, long time. They talk like real people talk. The relationship between the two is rich, these guys have been partners for seven years and you can tell. I also dug how the story began in 1975. The reader gets a look at what some of the characters looked and acted like when they were in their late teens and early twenties. Then the story picks up 25 years later with all this intrigue taking place in and around Los Angeles. It kept me turning pages from the very beginning. This is this guy's first novel. I guarantee you hear about him in the near future. I 'll even bet The Christopher Factor ends up as a movie!! If you like to read King and Clancy, you'll definitely dig The Christopher Factor. Happy reading, one and all.

I had this in my bookshelf a long time. When I finally got around to reading it I was glad I did. Davis explains the mores and concerns of Ancient Romans very naturally. (Great maps, plust a nice genealogy and character list at the beginning of the book.) Falco is as cynical about his society's sacred cows (or in his case sacred geese) as we would be. Davis gets into a lot of detail about the Vestal Virgins and the cult of Jupiter in a way that never drags you down. As you might expect the family of the priests of Jupiter is a bit wacky, especially since the youngest member, Gaia Laelia, has gone to see Falco saying one of them is trying to kill her. Meanwhile Falco has his own family problems to deal with, what with a sister with four kids whose husband has just been eaten by lions, a girlfriend/wife whose father is a Senator, a brother-in-law who just discovered a dead body at "The Sacred Grove," divorced parents, a crazy great-uncle and his 'Ma' nursing his worst enemy, the Chief Spy Anacrites, back to health, and, unfortunately for Falco, doting on him. Meanwhile Falco's best friend, Petronius, a cop, has just been left by his wife for a gardener after an 'indiscretion' he committed with a gangster's daughter. Have I mentioned that Falco also has a baby daughter, Julia, who enjoys contemplating eating her own foot and gets into everything, which can be a lot when you've got a bunch of sacred poultry and a rambunctious and attractive dog named Nux around. Not to mention the Vestals. (Both Gaia Laelia, and Falco's eight year old niece, Cloelia are trying to become one. And wouldn't you know it? The lottery's fixed.) Some of the most entertaining moments in this story have nothing to do with the mysteries themselves, they're more about the domestic chaos that Falco and his family are constantly negotiating. And that interacts nicely with the dysfunction of the sacred family he's investigating and the topsy turvy world of the Imperial family headed by Falco's sometime boss, the Emperor Vespasian himself. Or as one slave says to Falco "you've got a lot of nerve!" And Falco grins "That's what HE says." You can't help but like this character, and you can't help but enjoy this historical detective story even as you learn a bit about Imperial Rome. Abrupt ending, but the whole story was leading up to it. This is an entertaining historical mystery with heart.

If you have not read any of the Falco series, I strongly recommend that you do so, but start at the beginning. Lindsey Davis gets better with each outing. Her characterization is wonderful, and she peoples her books with lots of eccentric and wonderful people. If you read the series in order, you will get to know them all, plus be able to understand the undercurrants that run between Falco and the many people that are close to him. In this book we see Falco on the search for a missing child. His search exposes him to a very disfunctional family. No wonder the little girl was missing! Her grandfather and all her relations are the worst lot you'll ever meet. The search for the child becomes a race against time, and the last few chapters are "edge-of-your seat". All the while the quips and jokes just seem to flow from the pages. Falco finds himself in a very dangerous and embarrassing position where the lack of wearing a loin cloth under his tunic becomes of paramount importance. This is a wonderful, fast-moving book. Through all the turmoil and danger, Falco finds out that he has a number of people that are very loyal to him and this comes as a pleasant surprise to him, since two of his partners were people he didn't like or didn't trust, and the other - his friend Petronious - had been distant of late. Wonderful Book!

I love historical mysteries. I esp love historical mysteries set in ancient Rome. And this Lindsey Davis mystery featuring the intrepid Falco is a winner -- a brilliantly intriguing plot and written with the wit , charm and humour that Ms Davis is famous for.

This latest Falco mystery has religion as its central theme. As a reward for services rendered to the empire, Falco has been rewarded with a new official position: Procurator to the Sacred Poultry. And since could mean social advancement which he is most anxious to achieve, Falco is anxious to perform his duties to the best of his abilities. Therefore he has little time for the precocious Gaia Laelia when she comes to him with the story that one of her relatives is out to kill her. Falco thinks that he has Gaia pegged: a spoilt, young child who is bored and has too much time on her hands. Falco has too much going on in his life right then: not only does he have new responsibilities but he must also keep an eye on his sister, Maia, and her newly fatherless brood. Especially when it looks as if Falco's mother has decided to promote a match between Maia and Anacrites, someone Falco dislikes beyond reason. So, he dimisses Gaia's concerns and sends her away. Unfortunately Gaia has been slated to become a vestal virgin, and when she disappears a few days later, Falco is called in by Vespasian himself to investigate the matter, much to Gaia's family's chagrin. Filled with guilt, Falco is determined to find Gaia alive in spite of her family's interference and lack of concern.

In the meantime, Falco has also gotten involved in another investigation involving Helena's brother, Aelianus. Aelianus is hoping to be invited to join the priesthood of the Arval Brothers. While at a celebration however, Aelianus stumbles over a corpse. But when Aelianus and Falco go back to the villa to investigate, the body is gone. Later, the priests try to pass off the death as an accidental one. But Aelianus and Falco have their doubts.

What exactly is the connection between both mysteries? Very little except that Gaia's family seem to be at the centre of both. In this latest adventure Falco finds himself delving into the various aspects of religious life. There are too many taboos and too many people in positions of power with toucy sensibilities. Will Falco be able to solve the mysteries with his life and new job in one piece? Only Lindsey Davis can weave together a story with plots that seeminly have little to do with each other and yet come together in such a way that will keep you marvelling at the feat.

A brilliant mystery, written with great elan. Definitely a 'must read'.

This is an excellent book. It's sharp and witty like all Didius Falco books, but in this one we see a more vulnerable Falco as he tries to get rid of a lot of preconceived notions about his father. Geminus Falco is a wonderful character, and I certainly hope we see more of him in upcoming books. In this book Falco and his father are working together to try to clear his late brother's name and some very outstanding debts. Falco gets in a lot of scrapes as usual, but this is more of a caper book than the others I've read so far. It's great fun, and hard to put down.

I've been a fan of Lindsey Davis for some time. I am an amateur historian who is especially interested in ancient Rome, so I've read dozens of books on the subject. I am amazed at the wealth of detail contained in this book (and in all of Davis' Falco mysteries, all of which I've read). Such minute attention to detail not only provides an absorbing background to Davis' stories, but also testifies to her admirable efforts at presenting a plausible snapshot of ancient Rome, its geography, its history, and its populace. Davis' novels are both literature and history. This would not be exceptional were it not for the fact that Davis is a hell of a story-teller. Her tantalizing mysteries are spiced with the day-to-day details of life in ancient Rome, and the result is a fascinating read. Highly recommended!!

This was, in my opinion, one of the best Marcus Didius adventures. Marcus's relationship with his father adds great humor to an already wonderful story.

Marcus Didius Falco's mystery series takes place in Ancient Rome. Lindsey Davis is a highly intelligent writer, so when you pick up TWO FOR THE LIONS expect to be entertained to the fullest. I found the mystery remarkable and matchless. The characters are distinctive, their personalities are well formed, and their appearances are successfully painted by the author's pen. I found the written atmosphere of Rome dramatic and complete. As usual, I found Falco's good nature and wit amusing, and Helena to be an impressive mate and saint. Falco is assigned to investigate tax fraud (hmmm, the world's first IRS man?). This leads him to a man who provides lions for executions and entertainment. When an unusual death occurs, Falco becomes sidetracked and finds assistance in his dearest, Helena, who helps him resolve the mystery. Helena finds her brother in trouble and takes care of Falco when he comes down sick (Does he take it like a man?). As usual, people, situations, and the political subterfuge of Rome will be Falco's obstacles in solving this one.

I found it to be a substantial read that took a lot of concentration. Ms. Lindsey's knowledge of Rome and its citizens is so comprehensive that at points I felt overwhelmed and needed a break. To her fans, I'm sure, the greater size and more detailed the book, the better. They soak up the atmosphere and dialect with no complaints, and I have none either, but it may be a while before I'm ready to pick up another. It's series I recommend for historical mystery lovers.

There's no place like Rome, where all roads lead to, and Marcus Didius Falco, ace Roman Sleuth, finds himself in another dilemma in author Lindsey Davis' "Two for the Lions." And Davis has no trouble maintaining her momentum in this latest of the Falco series.

This time Falco is working as a tax investigator, appointed by the Emperor Vaspacian himself--but it's no ordinary tax investigation! He's on the trail of fraud committed by the "bestiarii" (the slaugherers) and the "lanistae" (the suppliers for the gladiator games). This "game" is deadly and the affable (but quite competent) Falco finds that dinner for the lions may include himself! His pursuits lead him and his friend Helena to Tripoli--seems simple enough but first Falco has to render aid to Helena's youngest brother, who seems caught in the middle!

Riddled with bits of humor as well as first-form suspense, "Two for the Lions" also offers history-with-an-exciting-twist. In addition, Davis doesn't hesitate to take pot shots at the local bureaucracy, and politics, society (a real "Roman a clef"!). And she is sure not to disappoint her "legions" of fans! (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

There's no place like Rome, where all roads lead to, and Marcus Didius Falco, ace Roman Sleuth, finds himself in another dilemma in author Lindsey Davis' "Two for the Lions." And Davis has no trouble maintaining her momentum in this latest of the Falco series. This time Falco is working as a tax investigator, appointed by the Emperor Vaspacian himself--but it's no ordinary tax investigation! He's on the trail of fraud committed by the "bestiarii" (the slaugherers) and the "lanistae" (the suppliers for the gladiator games). This "game" is deadly and the affable (but quite competent) Falco finds that dinner for the lions may include himself!

His pursuits lead him and his friend Helena to Tripoli--seems simple enough but first Falco has to render aid to Helena's youngers brother, who seems caught in the middle! Riddled with bits of humor as well as first-form suspense, "Two for the Lions" also offers history-with-an-exciting-twist. In addition, Davis doesn't hesitate to take pot shots at the local bureaucracy, and politics, society (a real "Roman a clef"!). And she is sure not to disappoint her "legions" of fans!(Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

I'm a huge fan of Lindsay Davis and Falco is definitely one of my favourite characters, along with Helena Justina and Petronius Longus. As an amateur historian as well as avid mystery-reader, I truly enjoy the anecdotal information about life in 1st-century Rome. However, I found this book to be much slower, more superficial and certainly lacking in the cracking repartee one usually enjoys between the main characters. Helena hardly said a word! I hope this is a temporary glitch and the next instalment is back to normal.

As usual, this is a wonderful story. In this outing Falco is commissioned by the vigiles and his friend Petronius to find a killer. The victim is an owner of a scriptorium and a bank. He also has an ex-wife and a current very young wife. It is a particularly gruesome murder, and as Falco investigates he finds that there is no shortage of suspects. The murder victim had many enemies and people who might have wanted him out of the picture. This is more of a classic mystery story than some of the others in the series, although we do learn a lot about ancient Roman banking practices as well as their publishing businesses. The denouement is set up by Falco in a room where he brings in all the principal players. Rest assired. he does find the killer, and he gets a confession.

In his Marcus Didius Falco's 13th outing (One Virgin Too Many, 2000, etc.), something untoward happens to his toga again-not to mention what happens to Greek banker and literary patron Aurelius Chrysippus when someone jams a scroll rod up his nose and batters him to death in his library. As Mercury would have it, Chrysippus had summoned several low-interest authors and high-interest rate customers on the fatal day. Urbanus, a British playwright whose wife has inky fingers, insists he missed his appointment. Pacuvius, a hack satirist, refused Chrysippus' request to entertain the Pisarchus household. Pisarchus, who already owed Chrysippus money, wanted another favor: publish his son Philomelus' novel. Chrysippus abruptly refused, but unaccountably loaned money to dawdling historian Avienus and also supported Turius, a poet with tunics fancier than his metaphors. Avienus soon turns up dead-an unconvincing suicide, or perhaps an example of primitive overdraft protection. Vibia, Chrysippus's trophy wife, massages Falco's togaless shoulder and does Juno-knows-what with Chrysippus' grown son, Diomedes, who sports a pious alibi. Ever the family man, Falco squeezes his investigation around his domestic crises: his father's lover dies, his archenemy cozies up to his mother and his widowed sister, and his dog whelps on his toga. Falco invokes Juno in a Virgilian moment, but, in spite of Trojan horseplay with a tray of snacks, the fuss never reaches epic, or even georgic, proportions. From the body in the library to the final gathering of suspects, Davis pays tribute to Agatha Christie, who did it first and better two thousand years later.

Ok. I cheated. My loving spouse brought this back for me from Australia where it's already in paperback. In this one, Didius Falco deals with domestic strife (his, his in-laws', and buddy Petro's) and a serial killer whose victims' body parts keep ending up in Rome's water system. Highly entertaining, but I wish that Davis would have introduced the killer earlier in the book and developed the character a little more fully. A red herring or two and a couple of alternate suspects would have been nice, too. In some ways, it was almost as if the killer and his motives were an "oh, yeah" after the soap suds. Will I go back to Davis' Rome? You bet. Looking forward to "Two for the Lions".

"Three Hands in the Fountain" is another excellent book from Lindsey Davis. The spate of body parts appearing in Rome's water systems is of course a job for Falco, and we are taken on a fascinating journey through the sewers and aqueducts of Rome, as well as to the countrysdie in the quest for the killers. As usual, Davis is entertaining and informative, and this book is recommended to historians as well as mystery lovers. Steven Saylor is another excellent author who deals with Rome in an earlier period, although his books have less of a popular mystery appeal.

The subtle shift in Anacrites' role through this series is worth noting - and those who haven't yet read "Two for the Lions" have a further treat in store !

This is another great entry in the Marcus Didio Falco series. We learn all about the ancient Roman acqueduct and sewer system as we watch Falco go after a serial killer. (Yes they must have had them even then). Falco is back in Rome with his wife and baby daughter and in urgent need of employment as usual. But he sort of falls into this particular case. He and his friend Petronius are sitting by a non-working fountain taking some much-needed R and R when they discover a severed human hand. This sets them both on a quest to catch a serial killer that it appears has been abducting and killing women for a long time. Like all of Ms. Davis' books this book is great fun. We get to renew our acquaintance with old friends and meet some new ones as well. I can hardly wait for the next episode.

This book is definitely more of a history book than a mystery book, but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. The wild ride through old Germany and the adventures that befall Falco's ragtag bunch of recruits is fun. The more I read of Falco, the more likeable he becomes. And the characters we are introduced to in each book make quite an impresion. In this case an effeminate barber called Xanthus, and the lovely Helena's younger brother. Her characters seem alive, and it makes for a fun quick read. If you are interested in getting an idea of what Germany was like in 71AD, you could do worse than read this book. Looking forward to the next installment.

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"

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.

Fans of Lindsey Davis' rollicking Falco novels will find here a more restrained style, as she polishes up a small lost history into a life's love. The care used to tell the tale befits the main players on the stage. We meet Caenis, an intelligent, resolute woman who happens to be a slave in Rome's Imperial household; hand in hand with that, we meet a steady, decent young soldier named Vespasian. (That name's familiar for a reason, Latin students.) The skein of attraction, duty, forsaking, and fulfillment that will drive these two apart and together over their lifetimes plays out with even pace against the nasty backdrop provided by Rome in the time of the Claudians. Vespasian's fate won't surprise the reader, but as for Caenis: will she or won't she? Loyal readers of Davis may be taken by surprise at the almost Victorian gravitas of her style in this work. I found it soothing, but I could note that she does tend to overuse a few favorite phrases. Still, I don't hesitate to recommend it; it's refreshing to read a love story in which restraint is an almost tangible third partner.

Many stories written about Ancient Rome are from the man'spoint of view with little or no attention paid to the strong womenbehind the men. Lindsey Davis has done excellent work in incorporating women in the Marcus Didius Falco books with Helena, but this book is riviting and a wonderful story. Vespatians mistress, Caenis is the main character and Davis does an excellent job portraying a strong woman in the man's world of Ancient Rome. A must read for anyone interested in the female voice in Ancient Rome!

Being a fan of Lindsey Davis' series of historic mysteries of Marcus Didius Falco, and also having recently read "Vespasian" by Barbara Levick, I found this novel to be an acurate and entertaining portrayal of the long time relationship of Vespasian and Caenis. It is neither the rollicking, irreverant narrative of Falco, or the dry statement of historical footnotes in a textbook; "Course of Honor" combines the best of both in a tale that gives a wonderful perspective on the life of one of Rome's better emperors through the eyes of the woman who truly stood by his side.