The Iron Hand of Mars sees Falco being dispatched to one of the most hostile parts of the Empire to deliver a new standard, an iron hand, to one of the legions. Germania is cold, wet, dismal, and full of dark forests inhabited by bloodthirsty barbarians, but Falco has an even bigger problem to worry about: he has forgotten Helena Justina's birthday, and she is being pursued by the Emperor's son Titus Caesar. As Falco makes his way through dangerous territory, he encounters the aftermath of a grisly crime, investigates the case of a missing legate, gets into trouble with a centurion, and has a fateful encounter with a Celtic priestess and a giant bull.
©1992 Lindsey Davis; (P)2007 BBC Audiobooks Ltd
"Love this series!"
I have read and re-read the books, and now am having fun listening to them on audio. Great narration! These novels have a little bit of something for everyone- they're good mysteries, they're an interesting look at the Roman Empire, and the main character is funny. Smart, but also light and entertaining. So far there has only been one book in the series I haven't absolutely loved.
"The Iron Hand of Mars"
Really exciting and gripping. The actors are wonderful, though I prefer the Lindsay Davis novels read by Christian Rodska.