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bemoregarnet's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
becki_c's review
3.0
It’s at times like this, I wish there was an option for half a star. These books are worth reading & incredibly detailed. You can almost see the Roman cities & its peoples activities.
This one was a bit slow at the start & took some warming up, but the humour & plot was spot on. 3 & 1/2 stars
This one was a bit slow at the start & took some warming up, but the humour & plot was spot on. 3 & 1/2 stars
webjoram's review against another edition
4.0
Una de las aventuras más divertidas de Falco, quizás porque la autora no duda en reirse de la "industria editorial". En esta ocasión Falco tiene que lidiar con escritores, asesinos a sueldo, banqueros y como no con su familia que no sabe como ponerle las cosas más dificiles.
Una novela muy recomendable.
Una novela muy recomendable.
rosannelortz's review
4.0
In Ode to a Banker, Lindsey Davis tackles both the publishing and the banking industries in ancient Rome. Aurelius Chrysippus, a tasteless Greek who owns a Scriptorium, approaches Marcus to see if he would like to self-publish his poetic scribblings. Outraged that he would be expected to pay the costs of the “printing” himself (ah, vanity publishing!), Marcus storms away, only to find out that the odious Greek must have outraged someone else that day too. Aurelius Chrysippus’ corpse is discovered beaten to a pulp with the finial of a scroll shoved up his nose, and Petronius Longus (chief of the vigiles) subcontracts Marcus to investigate. As he interviews disgruntled authors, an old first wife, a young second wife, and a spoiled son, Marcus discovers that Chrysippus had fingers in more than one pie. He also owns a bank, entitled the Golden Horse, and his shady business deals there may have run him into more trouble than his lack of literary taste at the publishing house.
cmbohn's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Neat little critique of the publishing world. Some things haven't changed in 2000 years. Loved the sly humor. Falco took his time solving this case though, which I found a little unbelievable. But the ending was solid.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Slavery, Violence, and Police brutality
lazylys's review against another edition
4.0
La Davis ama intrecciare problematiche moderne (o senza tempo) con il solido background della sua Antica Roma e anche questo romanzo nella serie di Marco Didio Falco non fa eccezione.
Editoria, editori a pagamento, speculazioni finanziarie, banche senza la minima etica e tanto altro fanno da contorno a questo delitto tanto complicato quanto dalla soluzione semplice e lineare.
L'ironia e il sarcasmo della Davis sono sempre perfetti e accompagnano piacevolmente tutto il romanzo, imperdibile per ogni appassionato delle sorti di Marco Didio, investigatore. (Sarebbe un romanzo imperdibile anche per tutti gli altri, ma magari allora è meglio che inizino dal primo volume della serie, giusto per non perdersi le altre perle della saga).
Editoria, editori a pagamento, speculazioni finanziarie, banche senza la minima etica e tanto altro fanno da contorno a questo delitto tanto complicato quanto dalla soluzione semplice e lineare.
L'ironia e il sarcasmo della Davis sono sempre perfetti e accompagnano piacevolmente tutto il romanzo, imperdibile per ogni appassionato delle sorti di Marco Didio, investigatore. (Sarebbe un romanzo imperdibile anche per tutti gli altri, ma magari allora è meglio che inizino dal primo volume della serie, giusto per non perdersi le altre perle della saga).
lswan321's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
didactylos's review against another edition
4.0
Davis finds a whole new area of modern life to transplant into Ancient Rome…
baxlotyl's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
assaphmehr's review
4.0
In another mystery relating to the art world, Falco explores the trade in scrolls and plays.
Expect less plot twists that usual, though Felix get emotional as it's his poetry on the line. We get a behind-the-scenes look at the sweatshops of scribes copying scrolls, gruesome murders (naturally), and a ground-level but critical look at the stratified Roman society. Since the publisher was also a financier, we get a look at Rome's banking industry.
Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps - certainly so far into the series.
--
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1445823325p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457914061s/29500700.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
Expect less plot twists that usual, though Felix get emotional as it's his poetry on the line. We get a behind-the-scenes look at the sweatshops of scribes copying scrolls, gruesome murders (naturally), and a ground-level but critical look at the stratified Roman society. Since the publisher was also a financier, we get a look at Rome's banking industry.
Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps - certainly so far into the series.
--
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1445823325p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457914061s/29500700.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.