A review by outsmartyourshelf
Two for the Lions by Lindsey Davis

dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Falco comes up with a plan to earn money by working on Vespasian's 'Great Census' of AD73. It seems a perfect job for him, checking up on those who seem to be trying to put one over on the Emperor by not declaring all their taxable assets, but the fly in the ointment is his partner in the venture is Anacrites - Chief Spy & general pain in the proverbial. Their first case sees them investigating a lanista (someone who owned a group of gladiators & imported wild animals for the arena) named Calliopus. His trained man-eating lion, Leonidas, used for criminal executions is found dead in his cage, & Falco is interested to see that Calliopus is more interested in hushing things up than finding out who killed the lion.

It's been a while since I read the first 9 books, so it was good to return to the series. Falco & Helena still make a wonderful couple, & now they have baby Julia Junilla. I have rated this 3 stars as although it was an interesting read with the sly humour I have come to expect, the gladiatorial games are not one of the things I like about Roman history, especially involving animals. I therefore can't say I enjoyed it exactly. 
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