Three Hands in the Fountain

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**Three Hands in the Fountain**
Author	Lindsey Davis
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Series	Marcus Didius Falco
Genre(s)	Crime
Publisher	Century, Mysterious Press
Released	1997
Media Type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	340 pp (Paperback edition)
ISBN	ISBN 0-7126-7791-7
Preceded by	A Dying Light in Corduba
Followed by	Two for the Lions

Three Hands in the Fountain is a crime novel by Lindsey Davis.

1 Plot introduction
- 1.1 Explanation of the novel's title
2 Plot summary
3 Characters in "Three Hands in the Fountain"
- 3.1 Friends and Family
- 3.2 Suspects, Victims and Others
4 Major themes
5 Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
6 Release details
7 Sources, references, external links, quotations

[edit] Plot introduction

Set in Rome between August and October, AD 73, Three Hands in the Fountain stars Marcus Didius Falco, Informer and Imperial Agent. It is the ninth in her Falco series.

[edit] Explanation of the novel's title

The title is an allusion to the song Three Coins in the Fountain, as well as a reference to the macabre discovery which triggers Falco's investigation.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Marcus Didius Falco arrives home with Helena, and their new baby, Julia Junilla Laeitana. Escaping the welcome home party, he and Petronius Longus discover a hand in the local fountain. Soon, they discover that dismembered bodies found in the aqueducts supplying Rome, and in the Tiber are not as uncommon as one would hope, but the water commission is remarkably unconcerned. Falco has friends in the highest high places, and he at least wants to THINK the water he drinks is safe. Soon, Emperor Vespasian orders Falco and Petro to investigate, under the watchful eye of former consul Sextus Julius Frontinus. Falco leads a chase though the water system, while trying to keep the killer from striking again, a panic about the water supply and his best friend from destroying his life.

[edit] Characters in "Three Hands in the Fountain"

[edit] Friends and Family

Anacrites - Imperial spy
Arria Silvia - Wife of L. Petronius Longus
Camillus Aelianus - Eldest son of Decimus Camillus Verus
Camillus Justinus - Youngest son of Decimus Camillus Verus
Claudia Rufina - Betrothed to Aelianus
Decimus Camillus Verus - Senator and father of Helena Justina
Fusculus - Member of Petronius' enquiry team
Gaius - Falco's Nephew
Helena Justina - Wife of Falco, and daughter of the Senator Decimus Camillus Verus
Julia Junilla Laeitana - Infant daughter of Falco and Helena.
Julia Justa - Wife of Camillus Verus and mother of Helena
Junilla Tacita - Mother of Falco
Lollius - Father of Gaius
Lucius Petronius Longus - Enquiry chief in the XIII region and friend of Falco
Marcus Didius Falco - Informer and Imperial Agent.
Marcus Rubella - Tribune of the Fourth Cohort of vigiles
Marina - Ex-lover of Falco's brother, Festus
Martinus - Deputy
Scythax - Doctor
Sergius - Punishment officer

[edit] Suspects, Victims and Others

Asinia - Wife of Caius Cicurrus
Aurelia Maesia - Daughter of Rosius Mundus
Balbina Milvia - Daughter of Balbinus, former Crime Boss
Bolanus - Assistant to Statius
Caius Cicurrus - Corn Chandler
Cordus - Slave
Cornella Flaccida - Wife of Balbinus
Damon - Driver
Florius - Husband of Milvia
Mundus - Pia's lover
Pia - Friend of Asinia
Rosius Gratus - Old man
S. Julius Frontinus - Former Consul
Statius - Engineer
Thurius - Servant

[edit] Major themes

Investigation into the murder and mutilation of Roman women during the Games,
Developing relationship of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science

Set in Rome in AD 73, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian.
Sextus Julius Frontinus was a Roman soldier, politician, engineer and author, who was appointed superintendent of the aqueducts (curator aquarum) at Rome in AD 95.