Three Hands in the Fountain
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| Author | Lindsey Davis |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Marcus Didius Falco |
| Genre(s) | Crime |
| Publisher | Century, Mysterious Press |
| Released | 1997 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 340 pp (Paperback edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-7126-7791-7 |
| Preceded by | A Dying Light in Corduba |
| Followed by | Two for the Lions |
Three Hands in the Fountain is a crime novel by Lindsey Davis.
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
Set in Rome between August and October, AD 73, Three Hands in the Fountain stars Marcus Didius Falco, Informer and Imperial Agent. It is the ninth in her Falco series.
[edit] Explanation of the novel's title
The title is an allusion to the song Three Coins in the Fountain, as well as a reference to the macabre discovery which triggers Falco's investigation.
[edit] Plot summary
Marcus Didius Falco arrives home with Helena, and their new baby, Julia Junilla Laeitana. Escaping the welcome home party, he and Petronius Longus discover a hand in the local fountain. Soon, they discover that dismembered bodies found in the aqueducts supplying Rome, and in the Tiber are not as uncommon as one would hope, but the water commission is remarkably unconcerned. Falco has friends in the highest high places, and he at least wants to THINK the water he drinks is safe. Soon, Emperor Vespasian orders Falco and Petro to investigate, under the watchful eye of former consul Sextus Julius Frontinus. Falco leads a chase though the water system, while trying to keep the killer from striking again, a panic about the water supply and his best friend from destroying his life.
[edit] Characters in "Three Hands in the Fountain"
[edit] Friends and Family
- Anacrites - Imperial spy
- Arria Silvia - Wife of L. Petronius Longus
- Camillus Aelianus - Eldest son of Decimus Camillus Verus
- Camillus Justinus - Youngest son of Decimus Camillus Verus
- Claudia Rufina - Betrothed to Aelianus
- Decimus Camillus Verus - Senator and father of Helena Justina
- Fusculus - Member of Petronius' enquiry team
- Gaius - Falco's Nephew
- Helena Justina - Wife of Falco, and daughter of the Senator Decimus Camillus Verus
- Julia Junilla Laeitana - Infant daughter of Falco and Helena.
- Julia Justa - Wife of Camillus Verus and mother of Helena
- Junilla Tacita - Mother of Falco
- Lollius - Father of Gaius
- Lucius Petronius Longus - Enquiry chief in the XIII region and friend of Falco
- Marcus Didius Falco - Informer and Imperial Agent.
- Marcus Rubella - Tribune of the Fourth Cohort of vigiles
- Marina - Ex-lover of Falco's brother, Festus
- Martinus - Deputy
- Scythax - Doctor
- Sergius - Punishment officer
[edit] Suspects, Victims and Others
- Asinia - Wife of Caius Cicurrus
- Aurelia Maesia - Daughter of Rosius Mundus
- Balbina Milvia - Daughter of Balbinus, former Crime Boss
- Bolanus - Assistant to Statius
- Caius Cicurrus - Corn Chandler
- Cordus - Slave
- Cornella Flaccida - Wife of Balbinus
- Damon - Driver
- Florius - Husband of Milvia
- Mundus - Pia's lover
- Pia - Friend of Asinia
- Rosius Gratus - Old man
- S. Julius Frontinus - Former Consul
- Statius - Engineer
- Thurius - Servant
[edit] Major themes
- Investigation into the murder and mutilation of Roman women during the Games,
- Developing relationship of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina.
[edit] Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
- Set in Rome in AD 73, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian.
- Sextus Julius Frontinus was a Roman soldier, politician, engineer and author, who was appointed superintendent of the aqueducts (curator aquarum) at Rome in AD 95.
[edit] Release details
- 1997, UK, Century Hardback ISBN 0-7126-7791-7
- 1998, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-09-979951-0
- 1999, UK, Chivers Press, Large Print, ISBN 0-7540-1288-3
- 1999, US, Mysterious Press, Hardback ISBN 0-89296-691-2
- 2000, US, Warner Books, Paperback ISBN 0-446-60774-6
[edit] Sources, references, external links, quotations
| Lindsey Davis The Falco Novels |
|---|
| The Silver Pigs | Shadows in Bronze | Venus in Copper | The Iron Hand of Mars | Poseidon's Gold | Last Act in Palmyra | Time to Depart | A Dying Light in Corduba | Three Hands in the Fountain | Two for the Lions | One Virgin Too Many | Ode to a Banker | A Body in the Bath House | The Jupiter Myth | The Accusers | Scandal Takes a Holiday | See Delphi and Die|Saturnalia |
