Shadows in Bronze

Circa AD71, Falco is disposing of the decomposing body of a traitor down the great sewer of Rome. An unknown assailant attacks Falco after he completes his task.

During his report to the Emporer Vespasian, we find that there has been a conspiracy by absent senators to topple Vespasian and place his youngest son Domitain on the Imperial Throne. One senator is accounted for by Vespasian and "excused". Another of the absent senators, Curtius Longinus, is burnt to death in a temple during the interview between Falco and Vespasian. Falco is despatched to warn the senator's brother, Curtius Gordianus. Upon his return to Rome, he is despatched to find and warn the other Senator, Aufidius Crispus.

As the narrative unfolds, we discover that Helena Justina has been divorced from her husband, Gn. Atius Pertinax, who was also a member of the conspiracy, and allegedly hung in a prison. Ipso facto, Pertinax swapped bodies with his half-brother, who was hung; Pertinax assumes his half-brother Barnabus's life and identity, and goes on a mission to eradicate all persons with knowledge of the conspiracy. His involvement in further conspiracy with Crispus is kept close to his heart.

Falco's life is threated several times by "Barnabus" and his horde; Barnabus kills three and attempts to kill several more including Falco's friend Petro, and Gordianus's Deputy Priest at Crotone.

Power, Ambition

Anacrites, the Chief Spy of Rome, says during an audience with Vespasian and Falco, that "Since Nero, Emporers have been as common as bar-room dice". Perhaps this is the signal which alerts the reader that Vespasian is still attempting to consolidate and regularise his position and relationships with many powerful figures in Roman society. Vespasian himself says to Falco, "I'm reconciling the Senate as my priority - and you're no diplomat". Hence, Falco the messenger, as he sulks, silently. Treason, would be seekers of the Palatial Purple, conspiracies that last until lunchtime the next day, are all the talk of those who would seek to see things differently. Turnover of Emporers, snobs with fancy ancestors and touches of madness in Emporers all fertilise the minds of ambitious men.

Among those with ambition are the four suspect senators, Longinus, Gordianus, Pertinax, and Crispus. Ambition flourises in other hearts also, namely the magistrate Rufus Clemens, and Caprenius Marcellus, the father in law of Pertinax (who has seven, count them all, seven consuls in his lineage). He adopts Pertinax in order to further his line and ambition. Of these ambitious men, Pertinax and Crispus are the most dangerous; Pertinax for his violence, and Crispus for his influence; he owns half of wine growing farms of Naples.

Virtue and Love

Falco travels with Petro and his wife Arria Silvia, their three children and nursemaid Ollia, along with Falco's nephew Larius, who reads love poetry to Ollia. (The lad is going through what his mother labels 'a difficult time'.) Much of the action takes place in the Bay of Neapolis (Naples); Petro, family, along with Falco and his nephew Larius, settle in Oplontis. The town of Pompeii along with city of Herculaneum (where Rufus is the magistrate) are nearby. It is at the property of Caprenius Marcellus that Falco encounters his lady-love Helena Justina, whom he is missing and pining for somewhat baldly.

Larius observes and delivers little-professor type of wisecracks about Falco's developing and somewhat torturous relationship with the (apparently estranged) Helena Justina, yet the narrative has Larius walking similar steps, albeit with adolescent moping and jealousy. We are treated to the calm and relaxed Petro who deals with his wife Arria Siliva's tantrums with complete peace, and who manages, upon reflection, to calmly inseminate a drunken Amelia Ruffia, one evening and supply the elderly, (and finally bedridden) Caprenius Marcellus with an heir. On the other hand, a large part of the romancing is Falco's runinations and regrets of his missed opportunities and virtuous nature, while he delicately explains the facts of life to the adolescent Larius.