''A Body in the Bath House'' is a 2001

historical mystery The historical mystery or historical whodunit is a subgenre of two literary genres, historical fiction and mystery fiction. These works are set in a time period considered historical from the author's perspective, and the central plot involves th ...

crime novel by

Lindsey Davis Lindsey Davis (born 1949) is an English historical novelist, best known as the author of the Falco series of historical crime stories set in ancient Rome and its empire. She is a recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger award. Life and career ...

and the 13th book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

and

Britannia Britannia () is the national personification of Britain as a helmeted female warrior holding a trident and shield. An image first used in classical antiquity, the Latin ''Britannia'' was the name variously applied to the British Isles, Great ...

in AD 75, the novel stars

Marcus Didius Falco Lindsey Davis (born 1949) is an English historical novelist, best known as the author of the Falco series of historical crime stories set in ancient Rome and its empire. She is a recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger award. Life and caree ...

, informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the discovery of a corpse hidden beneath the floor of one

bath house Public baths originated when most people in population centers did not have access to private bathing facilities. Though termed "public", they have often been restricted according to gender, religious affiliation, personal membership, and other cr ...

and a murder which takes place in another. American editions spell "bathhouse" in the title as one word.

Plot summary

When

discovers a corpse hidden under the floor of his new

, he starts to track down the men responsible - Glaucus and Cotta. He also receives a commission from the Emperor Vespasian. A building project for the British Chieftain

Togidubnus Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus (or Togidubnus, Togidumnus or similar; see naming difficulties) was a 1st-century king of the Regni or Regnenses tribe in early Roman Britain. Chichester and the nearby Roman villa at Fishbourne, believed by some ...

is running late and over-budget. The first phase of construction had gone smoothly - the first buildings on site were granaries, providing a supply base for the Roman army, constructed in the early part of the conquest. But progress had stalled on the stone-walled house and bath suite that would be Togidubnus's residence. Suspecting that the men he seeks have fled to Britain, Falco accepts the mission and travels there with his wife, two baby daughters, their nurse, and his two brothers-in-law Aelianus and Justinus. Falco arrives at Fishbourne and starts by investigating corrupt practices. However events quickly take a turn for the worse when the Chief Architect is found murdered in the bath-house of the British King. Falco takes over the project and investigates the killings.

Characters

In Rome

* ''Aulus Camillus Aelianus'' - Younger brother of Helena * ''Anacrites'' - Chief Spy * ''Camilla Hyspale'' - Nursemaid to Julia and Favonia * ''Marcus Didius Geminus'' - Father of Falco, Auctioneer * ''Glaucus and Cotta'' - Bath House Contractors * ''Sosia Favonia'' - Daughter of Falco and Helena * ''Helena Justina'' - Wife of Falco, and daughter of the Senator Decimus Camillus Verus * ''Julia Junilla Laeitana'' - Daughter of Falco and Helena * ''Lucius Petronius Longus'' - Friend of Falco and Vigiles Officer * ''Maia Favonia'' - Falco's widowed sister * ''Marcus Didius Falco'' - Informer and Imperial Agent. * ''Perella'' - Dancer and Spy * ''Quintus Camillus Justinus'' - Younger brother of Aelianus * ''Vespasian'' - Emperor of Rome

In Britain

* ''Alexas'' - Doctor * ''Blandus'' - Painter * ''Cyprianus'' - Clerk of Works * ''Gaius'' - Clerk * ''Lupus'' - Overseas labour force supervisor * ''Magnus'' - Surveyor * ''Mandumerus'' - Local labour force supervisor * ''Marcellinus'' - Retired Architect * ''Milchato'' - Marble Mason * ''Philocles'' - Mosaicist * ''Plancus'' - Assistant Architect * ''Pomponius'' - Project Manager * ''Rectus'' - Draining Engineer * ''Sextius'' - Mechanical statue-seller * ''Strephon'' - Assistant Architect * ''T. Claudius Togidubnus'' - Great King of the Britons * ''Timagenes'' - Gardener * ''Verovolcus'' - Briton working for Togidubnus * ''Virginia'' - Barmaid

Major themes

* Investigation into corruption at the building of a palace of an influential Roman ally. * The obsessive pursuit of Maia by Anacrites. * Falco's induction of his brothers-in-law as his investigative associates

Allusions/references to history

* Set in

and

, in AD 75, during the reign of Emperor

Vespasian Vespasian (; la, Vespasianus ; 17 November AD 9 – 23/24 June 79) was a Roman emperor who reigned from AD 69 to 79. The fourth and last emperor who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors, he founded the Flavian dynasty that ruled the Empi ...

. *

Fishbourne Roman Palace Fishbourne Roman Palace (or Fishbourne Villa) is located in the village of Fishbourne, Chichester in West Sussex. The palace is the largest Roman residence north of the Alps. and has an unusually early date of 75 CE, around thirty years afte ...

, in the village of Fishbourne in

West Sussex West Sussex is a county in South East England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the shire districts of Adur, Arun, Chichester, Horsham, and Mid Sussex, and the boroughs of Crawley and Worthing. Covering an ...

, is one of the most important archaeological sites in England. * Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus (or

) was a 1st-century king of the

Regni The Regni, Regini, or Regnenses were a Tribe which occupied modern West Sussex, East Sussex, south-west Kent, eastern Surrey, and the eastern edges of Hampshire. Their Tribal centre was at Noviomagus_Reginorum (Chichester in West_Sussex), close ...

in early

Roman Britain Roman Britain was the period in classical antiquity when large parts of the island of Great Britain were under occupation by the Roman Empire. The occupation lasted from AD 43 to AD 410. During that time, the territory conquered wa ...

Release details

* 2001, UK, Century Hardback * 2002, UK, Arrow, Paperback * UK, Chivers/BBC AudioBooks, read by Christian Rodska, Cassettes CD audios * UK, Isis, Large Print * 2002, US, Mysterious Press, Hardback (''A Body in the Bathhouse'') * US, Mysterious Press, Paperback (''A Body in the Bathhouse'')

References

External links

lindseydavis.co.uk
Author's Official Website {{DEFAULTSORT:Body in the Bath House, A 2001 British novels Marcus Didius Falco novels Novels set in Roman Britain 75 Century (imprint) books