The Iron Hand of Mars: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery

The Iron Hand of Mars: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery
Average customer rating:

Still very fine after all these years

They Just Get Better

Falco battles the frontier, native/Roman leaders, and Helena

More History than Mystery

My Idea of a Great Historical Novel

The Iron Hand of Mars: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery
Lindsey Davis
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Davis, Lindsey | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 034538024X
Release Date: 1994-07-02

Book Description

"A seamless blending of humor, history, and adventure." Publishers Weekly
A detective novel of ancient Rome.
When wild Germanic troops rebel and a Roman general disappears, Emperor Vespasian turns to the one man he can trust: Marcus Didius Falco, Imperial Rome's answer to Columbo. Slipping undercover into Germania, Falco meets with disarray, torture, and murder in his quest to find a Druid priestess who alone can persuade the barbarians to embrace peace.

Customer Reviews:

Still very fine after all these years.......2006-12-22

I just reread this earlier Lindsey Davis/Marcus Didious Falco mystery and it was still completely enjoyable the second time around. Interesting plot, wonderful historic detail and terrific character development and interaction. What's not to like. Lindsey Davis is my girl! I look forward to her annual Falco offering and happily recommend this series to anyone who hasn't heard of it (how would that be possible?)

They Just Get Better.......2006-09-25

This is the fourth 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 Rome in AD70, but to have a lead character who has the vocabulary of a present day New York cop. In this the fourth novel Falco and Helena Justina seem like old friends.

In this novel Falco has to leave his beloved Rome and travel to Germania, a land that is haunted by the ghosts of past massacres. Dark and dismal, cold and wet and huge parts of it covered by virtually impenetrable forests, where the bloodthirsty tribesmen feel at home and are more than ready to inflict another defeat on the Roman army, such as they did not many decades past.

Falco has the enter the most dangerous country known to Roman world, with a few trainee recruits, their Centurion and their Commander. Not just any old Roman officer but Camillus Justinus, the brother of Helena, who will cut Falco into little pieces and feed him to the fishes in the Tiber if he even thinks about returning without her favourite sibling.

Falco battles the frontier, native/Roman leaders, and Helena.......2003-07-31

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.

More History than Mystery.......2002-10-08

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.

My Idea of a Great Historical Novel.......2002-08-17

THE IRON HAND OF MARS is less of a genre mystery than most of the others, but this wild romp through Germania is, I think, Davis' best Falco book so far, with the possible exception of the first one, SILVER PIGS. Her amazing knowledge of the period, as if she'd time-traveled, is skilfully interwoven with the personal relationships among Falco, Helena, and Helena's extremely likeable brother. She presents the Roman army's military ambitions (and snafus) with enough zest to awaken a love of history in all but the most jaded, and her portraits of Cerialis and the other high-rankers, both offstage and on, had me laughing out loud.

If you haven't studied Roman history, you can do it "fictionally"--starting out around 100 BC with Colleen McCullough's Marius-Sulla-Caesar novels (so superior to McCullough's THE "CORN" BIRDS), then going to Robert Graves' three Claudius books, which take you up to Nero (brrrr!), and finishing up with Lindsey Davis. I can scarcely wait for Vesuvius to blow in 79 AD!

The Iron Hand of Mars: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery
Average customer rating:

Thriller in Germania nicely Roman

Disappointing entry in the Falco series.

The Iron Hand of Mars: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery
Lindsey Davis
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | Classics | Contemporary | General | Historical | Humor | Letters & Correspondence | Middle | Old | Poetry | Renaissance | Shakespeare | Short Stories
General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Davis, Lindsey | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Venus in Copper

Shadows in Bronze: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery (Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries)

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Two for the Lions (Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries)

ASIN: 0517592401
Release Date: 1993-08-24

Customer Reviews:

Thriller in Germania nicely Roman.......1998-01-11

Lindsey Davis has the uncanny ability to capture the Roman attitude and prejudices toward the lands across the Alps. The Romans considered those tall, blonde, celtic warriors to be the most foreign of foreigners, with their hideous rites of human sacrifice and odd Druidic worship. Falco and company tread where most Romans feared to tread, both in foreign, barbarian territory and through the battle grounds of lost legions, slaughtered by the enemy. Yet Davis also understands that people are people, and that some aspects of nature never change, such as trade and prosperity being reliant on local army installations, as the Gauls and Celtic tribes within the Roman province are. The somber tone of this novel is broken up with the humorous and familiar universal traveler with his traveler's woe. As Americans, it is sometimes difficult for us to appreciate what it is like for Europeans who live among Roman relics, whose history is intricately tied to that of Rome. It is easy to overlook the place of Germania in the Roman world, and the fact that it was the tribal north who finally conquered Rome. The Iron Hand of Mars should not be overlooked, nor underestimated. It is a thrilling adventure into unknown territory combined with the humor of travel and the problems of having too many relations.

Disappointing entry in the Falco series........1997-11-10

Falco is off his home turf and it shows in this book. Barely a mystery at all, the ongoing Falco /Helena relationship has never been more tedious. Helena's brother is nicely sketched but his emotional crisis is forced and not believable. The murder is easily forgotten for chapters at a time. The ending is a disappointment.

The Iron Hand of Mars: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery

Average customer rating:

The Iron Hand of Mars: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery
Lindsey Davis
Manufacturer: Not Avail
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0091753333

Amazon.com

A novel that offers a possible solution to the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, Hidden Latitudes finds her as an elderly castaway, stranded for more than 40 years on an unknown island. When a damaged sailboat approaches the island, Earhart considers lighting a signal fire as she has done each time a ship was near, but then she has second thoughts, wondering whether a rescue would still be worth it. As she secretly watches Robin and Lucy repair their boat, she struggles with whether to leave the island that's become her home or re-enter the world from which she came, a place that now seems unknown and dangerous.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting premise, mediocre novel........2006-01-04

Alison Anderson's "Hidden Latitudes" does have a interesting premise, that Amelia Earhart survived and lived on a small island in the Kiribati islands, and she has been marooned for so long that she no longer wishes to leave. A unhappy married couple stops at the island to repair their boat, and they soon discover that they are not alone, but they are afraid and annoyed by their "visitor". They argue and we find ourselves uninterested in them. Ending is kind of muddled

First Lady of the Air - (c/o Iain Matthews).......2004-01-18

Read this book and enjoy the 'story' that unfolds.

If you are interested further, research the CBS data on what she was really doing, or had beeen persuaded to do.
And finally - switch to audio format - and enjoy the beautiful harmonies of Iain Matthews' eponymous album which sings of her bravery, and casts doubts as to who/what lay behind her mission.

As for the book, well although it is not quite in the 'Madame Bovary' league, it reads well enough, and those who criticise the author for portraying the marooned couple as just a pair of typical yanks with many greenbacks and little ambition; well, just who are we all, anyway??

What if Amelia Earhart didn't really die?.......2003-09-17

Imagine Amelia Earhart stranded on a tropical island, and imagine that 40 yrs later a young couple beaches their sailboat on that same island. That's the premise of Hidden Latitudes. Anderson writes convincingly, alternating between Earhart's voice (and now 70yo doesn't immediately reveal herself to these newcomers) and a 3rd-person narrative of the two sailors, whose marriage was shaky to begin with, and now they've got shipwreck to contend with.
Sounds iffy, right? But set aside your doubts, pick this book up, and read it. Besides being a superb first novel, it's a superb story. You won't be disappointed.

A beguiling tale of What If.......2002-03-18

In 1937, aviatrix Amelia Earhart disappeared with her navigator, Fred Noonan, somewhere in the South Pacific while attempting a circumnavigation of the globe. The mystery of Earhart's fate has captured the public's imagination for decades. Did she perish when her plane hit the water? Was she captured by the Japanese and executed as a spy? Was she abducted by space aliens? Is she living in Idaho with Elvis?

The premise of Alison Anderson's novel HIDDEN LATITUDES, which is set in1979, is that Amelia has survived 42 years as a castaway on a tiny Pacific atoll, the last 40 alone. Then one day, a 35-foot sailboat, the "Stowaway", with husband Robin and wife Lucy aboard, anchors in the island's lagoon, her engine kaput and her hull reef damaged. Might this be Earhart's ride home?

In chapters that alternate between the "voice" of Amelia and those of her might-be rescuers, the author explores the loneliness that derives from complete isolation from the world as compared with that despairing aloneness which grips the partners in a failing marriage. Earhart has become so accustomed to solitary life on her little island that she hesitates to reveal her presence to Robin and Lucy, whose marital difficulties are only exacerbated by their present crisis. At 82, Amelia wonders what would be gained by returning to a world that would regard her as an historical curiosity, soon to become nothing but an aged crony. Being young and not realizing the value of what they have together, Robin and Lucy internally contemplate the possibility of separation once they get back to "civilization".

I liked HIDDEN LATITUDES insofar as the poignancy of Anderson's plot resides almost solely in the Earhart character as she "remembers" for the reader the significant events of her life since she and Fred lost their way, including two near-rescues snatched away early on by cruel Fate. To this extent, Anderson has crafted an imaginatively satisfying "what if" scenario. On the other hand, the Robin and Lucy characters become so caught up in their dysfunctional behavior while struggling to make their boat seaworthy that they approach dangerously close to becoming tiresome. They're so self-absorbed in their own bickering that they fail for too long to follow up on clues that another human is present on this "deserted" island. You want to yell at them, "Snap out of it. Look around you!"

At one point, Amelia sneaks a book from the "Stowaway":

"In my shelter there is a new treasure, a novel. ...I have taken it from them ... but I think if they could ever know the pleasure it will give me they would not mind. Dare I read it over and over, for the pleasure? As it happens I cannot read quickly. I am not used to letters on a page anymore. ... I read aloud, quietly; words and voice struggle together against neglect. Yet I can savor the words and pictures they convey. ... I am like a child, learning to read, learning the world I have forgotten."

Perhaps more than anything else, Earhart yearns for the small things of life like jam, a scissors to cut her hair, a new pair of shorts, needle and thread. And, God bless her, books.

Readable, but confusing and sometimes depressing.......2001-11-15

Throughout the book, I can see what I think that author is getting at. She wants us to look beyond our materialistic world, to look beyond the people we are in the world we know. All a very valid message.

I find her message in the acknowledgement section somewhat confusing, that perhaps this is not Amelia Earhart afterall, that the reader should make up their own minds. If not Amelia Earhart, then why the companion named Fred, the talk of the fame that this woman knew would surround her when she arrived home and the references to the lost Electra.

Lucy and Robin were not terribly heartwarming characters in my opinion. They both seemed quite immature, self centered and shallow and I doubt that in the long term they would be able to hold a relationship together. They probably matured from their experience, but I think they might find being full time parents rather boring and I see each of them drifting into their old lives and habits, leaving the child to almost raising itself.

As to the woman that the author suggests to be Earhart, she has no choice as to the life she has led on this island, though I find it somewhat unlikely that after 40 years rumors from the Japanese and some natives might not have caused someone to come and take another look.

Inspite of the above criticisms, it was a fast read with a rather predictable ending.

Book Description

Cook and eat your way to a healthier heart!

Now you really can eat to your heart's content with this easy cookbook and guide. From breakfasts to dinners, from super starters to "legal" desserts, you'll find a mouthwatering assortment of tasty and satisfying low-cholesterol recipes you — and your family and friends — will love. With advice on choosing the right foods, low-cholesterol cooking techniques, and more, this book helps make heart-healthy eating a snap.

Discover how to

Shop for the best food and ingredients for low-cholesterol cooking
Adapt your favorite recipes to fit your needs
Make heart-smart choices from restaurant and takeout menus
Tell the difference between "good" foods and "bad" foods

Customer Reviews:

Low-Cholesterol Cookbook for Dummies.......2007-08-02

When I found out I had high cholesterol in my mid-40's I went RUNNING to find cookbooks so I could lower it. I have bought 5 so far, this one is by far the best as far as information goes. It gives lists of foods you should keep around the house to snack on, lists of foods that should be kept handy for cooking and a no-nonsense approach to the health needs of those with high-cholesterol. There aren't as many recipes as some of the cookbooks I have; but the recipes they do have rate above the others in terms of the ease of procuring the ingredients, the taste of the food, and the simplicity of the recipes. I would not waste my time with the American Heart Assoc. cookbook if you are unsure of which to buy. As far as the 4 star rating, I can't see any low-cholesterol cookbook getting a 5 star rating - we who are doomed to a life without sugar, baked goods, white breads, mayo, luncheon meats, etc. are not prone to give any cookbook a 5 star rating!

Healthy Meals.......2007-01-10

This is a good starter cookbook for those of us blessed with the extra cholesterol gene. The chapters make the health problem easy to understand. The reicpes are easy to make and I was able to use the principles of healthful cooking to modify some of my old favorites. My sweetie even commented that my cooking was improving and that the meals I have made are satisfying! This is a guy who, when left to his own devices, makes everything into a sandwich.

Alot to read.......2005-12-05

I purchased this book about a month ago. Only half way thru it, but everything I have read so far has made me no longer a dummy when it comes to lowering Cholesterol. Healty eating and Happy Holidays. Great gift to get someone you love.

Cooking Can Be Healthful and Easy!.......2005-01-25

I have bought very few cookbooks over the past 40 years, but this one is a must have. The writing style is warm and friendly. I felt like a friend was in my kitchen guiding me into the world of healthful eating. Molly Siple makes nutrition understandable for the lay person and she gives great attention to the asthetic presentation of food. The author has actually made preparing low-cholesterol meals fun rather than labor intensive. It is now my first-choice book for meal planning. We are eating better and enjoying it.

Great Way to Begin the New Year!.......2005-01-15

Many of us make resolutions for the New Year. Some we keep and others are hard to stick to. I did not have a choice about lowering my cholesterol. I just didn't know how to go about it. I found myself in the Dummies section of the bookstore, and reached for Molly Siple's book - Low Cholesterol Cookbook for Dummies. I started skimming through it and the recipes sounded delicious and easy. I purchased the book and am eager to share the news that I have lost 4 lbs in two weeks. Not only are the recipes easy to follow, but the ingredients are all available in my local market. No mystery foods. It is astonishing how quick some of the meals are to prepare, and I just love Molly's little tips on what type dish to serve it in and even how to cut up a mango. I am having my cholesterol levels checked in February and will report my success then.

Average customer rating:

I bought this for my Mom

The Healthy Heart Cookbook for Dummies
James M., M.D. Rippe
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

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Accessories:

philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0764552228

Book Description

A heart healthy regimen needn’t be torture. Two hours on a stationary bike, followed by a dish of low-fat cottage cheese topped with a lonely sprig of parsley may be your idea of what it takes to maintain heart health—but it’s actually a lot more enjoyable and fun! Cardiac fitness, like any new lifestyle plan, can be achieved with only a few basic modifications to your diet and activity level.

With The Healthy Heart Cookbook For Dummies, you’ll follow an exciting and delicious food regimen, destined to give you and your heart a boost. Written by James Rippe, a leading cardiologist and chef, and with over 100 recipes from a cadre of expert dietitians and fifty top chefs, you’ll discover some of the secrets to heart health, some common fallacies, and get the lowdown on a few life-saving basics:

The risk factors for heart disease—and how to control them
The eight key eating habits affecting heart health—includ ing the number of calories, cholesterol and fat, and antioxidant-rich foods you consume
“Bad” versus “good” cholesterol—the world of saturated, monosaturated, and polyunsaturated fats
Nature’s gift to health—phytochemicals and what foods contain them
Smart shopping tips—including common supermarket traps, and how to select produce, meats, seafood, dairy, grains, and from the deli counter

You’ll discover what a snap it is to prepare your own menu, assemble meals that are nutritious and balanced and also meet every sort of dietary need (including high blood pressure, diabetes, and food allergies). The book’s rich cornucopia of recipes will help you explore the delicious possibilities of every meal and dish, including:

Breakfast and brunch—including Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins, Peach Scones, and Eggs Benedict with Asparagus and Low-Fat Hollandaise Sauce
Appetizers and snacks—including Homemade Dill and Celery Seed Hummus and Chilled Hapa Shrimp Rolls and Thai Citrus Dipping Sauce
Seafood—including Red Snapper with Braised Fennel and Spinach and Seared Scallops in Grilled Eggplant with Mango Salad
Poultry and Meat—including Lemon-Grilled Cornish Hens, Healthy Heart Beef Stroganoff, and Herb-Crusted Lamb Loin with Braised Fennel and Fresh Mint
Vegetarian Entrees—including Curried Tofu and Vegetable-Stuffed Pitas with Cashews and Raisins

With sixteen pages of full-color photos, black-and-white how-to illustrations, a summary cheat sheet of need-to-know info, and humorous cartoons, The Healthy Heart For Dummies Cookbook helps you build a sensible foundation for overall fitness—beginning with your heart.

Customer Reviews:

I bought this for my Mom.......2007-07-24

I bought this for my Mom to help her with her high cholesterol. She said she really liked the book and the recipes so far have been really good.

Book Description

Your hors d'oeuvres are the stuff of cocktail party legend.

You're a superb chef and a whiz with people.

Do you have what it takes to run a profitable catering business?

If you're thinking about starting up your own home catering venture, this is the book for you-with everything you need to know about selling your services, hiring help, planning events, and delivering successful parties. Combining Christopher Egerton-Thomas's detailed, step-by-step advice with instructive anecdotes of both triumphs and failures, this practical guide supplies you with all of the key ingredients you need to transform your catering ambitions into reality.

Explains how to get business, plus how to identify and serve client needs effectively

Covers caterers' qualifications and skills, staffing levels, hiring and management of employees
Provides solid guidelines on equipment and supplies, food and beverage preparation, pricing, locations, room and bar setup, and more
Prepares you to handle a wide range of events, from simple cocktail parties to large, complex affairs — with a special section on weddings
Includes vital information on food safety, hygiene, and health
Contains troubleshooting checklists to help you ensure success — and avoid party disasters

Customer Reviews:

Excellent resource!.......2002-12-20

I found this book to be exceedingly helpful in starting up my catering business. It provides a complete overview of the busiiness, how it should operate, what you should know, and how to make it successful. It's a terrific choice for a new business owner, or one considering the business of catering.

too vague and general.......2002-01-29

this book is more about general catering, rather than how to start your own business. after reading this book, i did not feel i knew what my next steps were. a much better book is "how to start your own home-based catering businees" by denise vivaldo. she writes about legal ramifications, insurance, budgets (with worksheets and what % normally is spent on food, service, etc), business plans (with excerpts from her own), menu examples, and resources! i found that book very, very, very imformative on how to start a legitimate business

This book isn't even vaguely worth the price........1998-02-10

I'm sorry I wasted my money on this book; I'd seen it mentioned in various catalogs but hadn't been able to find it in my bookstores, so I didn't know what I was getting. It offers only a glib tone with mostly unhelpful anecdotes and an absolute dearth of useful details. You'll probably know even less about starting a home-based catering business after reading it than before.

How to Run a Catering Business from Home and the Entrepreneur Magazine Small Business Answer

Average customer rating:

How to Run a Catering Business from Home and the Entrepreneur Magazine Small Business Answer
Christopher Egerton-Thomas
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Hospitality, Travel & Tourism | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Hospitality Businesses | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0471181366

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