An excellent and I think slightly easier addition to this great series of historical mystery set in the ancient Roman empire. This one takes place in Londinium, but features most of Falco's family with him on vacation, which is rather fun.

The Jupiter Myth, book 14 of the Marcus Didius Falco series, picks up right where A Body in the Bathhouse leaves off. Marcus and family leave the palace building site from the last case and head off to Londinium. When the exiled murdered from the last book winds up dead in one of Londinium’s taverns, Marcus discovers that the backwater banks of the Thamesis are capable of hiding as much villainy as the lurid streets of Rome. He unearths a protection racket that has been plaguing the town for some time, cleverly marking its “protected” businesses with lightning bolts and names associated with myths about the god Jupiter.

Petronius Longus joins the Didius family in Londinium, bringing Maia’s gaggle of children. He seems to have some special knowledge of his own about the protection racket and goes undercover to track down the mobsters. When the sad news arrives that two of Petro’s daughters have been carried off by the chicken pox, Maia’s scorn for Petro melts into pity–but Falco has grave doubts whether a romance between his favorite sister and his best friend would be to anyone’s benefit.

Lindsey Davis displays impressive information about the Roman footprint in Britain, culled from archaeological evidence. The Jupiter Myth paints an intriguing picture of what the ancient town of London might have looked like–as seen through the scornful eyes of a snobby city boy, born and bred in Rome.

2.5 stars

One of my favorites from the Falco series.

Great book. The ancient Roman theme makes a nice addition. The complex plot and likeable characters make this book well worth the read

At times I thought this is a bit familiar in the plotting but the the twist comes.

Felix is back to dealing with the criminal element, although this time set in Roman Britain.

Expect murder, plot twists, criminals, female gladiators, femme fatales, and Falco and friends' family life, as Falco's British holiday turn to another of his usual investigator jobs.

Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps - certainly so far into the series.
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[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.

Marcus Didius is still in Britannia with his family and entourage. He hates Britannia, that damp, fogbound outpost of Empire, and is looking forward to going home when a body is found stuffed in a well behind a sleazy tavern. Our hero is back on the job, in pursuit of a sophisticated protection racket and bringing him face to face with familiar faces from his past in unfamiliar roles. And what's Petronius Longus up to?

I may have forgotten something but I believe this is the first in the Falco series with no action at all in Rome. I have to confess that I prefer the Roman settings and I did wonder at first if Lindsey Davis was coming under pressure to have more British settings, especially Londinium. Especially as this is am much more sombre episode than most in the series. But no; just as the previous story drew inspiration from the excavations of Fishbourne Palace, this one is based on recent revelations about Roman London. This brought me an especial delight because when I worked in the City in the 1980s the excavation of the amphitheatre in Guildhall Yard was going own across the road from my place of work in Basinghall Street and I followed it with great interest. The actual scene in the amphitheatre is a bit silly and out of keeping with the general tone of the book but it's great fun.

Needless to say, the overarching family saga progresses, and it's good to see Petro get his moment in the spotlight; it's almost his book more than Marcus's.