''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 Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a professional detective, of a crime, ...

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, Gr ...

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 career ...

, informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the discovery of a corpse hidden beneath the floor of one bath house 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 bath house, 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 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 Fishbourne may refer to: Places * Fishbourne, Isle of Wight, a village * Fishbourne, West Sussex, a village ** Fishbourne (UK electoral ward) * Fishbourne Roman Palace, an archaeological site in West Sussex People * William Fishbourn (1677–17 ...

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 A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the e ...

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 Em ...

. * Fishbourne Roman Palace, in the village of

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 a ...

, is one of the most important

archaeological Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscape ...

sites in England. * Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus (or Togidubnus) was a 1st-century king of the Regni 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