Last Act in Palmyra

infobox Book |
name = Last Act in Palmyra
orig title =
translator =


author = Lindsey Davis
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = Marcus Didius Falco
genre = Crime
publisher = Century, Mysterious Press
release_date = 1994
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 400 pp (Paperback edition)
isbn = ISBN 0-09-983180-5
preceded_by = Poseidon's Gold
followed_by = Time to Depart

"Last Act in Palmyra" is a crime novel by Lindsey Davis.

Plot introduction

Set in Rome, Nabatea and Palmyra during AD 72, "Last Act in Palmyra" stars Marcus Didius Falco, Informer and Imperial Agent. It is the sixth in her Falco series.

Explanation of the novel's title

The title refers to the hunt undertaken by Falco for a murderer, the last act of which takes place in Palmyra, as well as playing upon his temporary employment as a playwright with a travelling theatre group.

Plot summary

In "Last Act in Palmyra", Falco takes on a new spying mission for Vespasian to the east of the Empire. He also plans to investigate the disappearance of a young musician, Sophrona. With Helena Justina, he travels to Petra, where they encounter a theatre group who have just lost their playwright due to drowning. Joining them, Falco attempts to fulfil his various investigations, whilst at the same time write his new play, "The Spook Who Spoke".

Characters in "Last Act in Palmyra"

Main Characters

* "Anacrites" - Imperial spy
* "Helena Justina" - Daughter of the Senator Decimus Camillus Verus
* "Marcus Didius Falco" - Informer and Imperial Agent from the Aventine.
* "Musa" - Priest from Dushara
* "Sophrona" - Musician
* "Thalia" - Snake dancer

The Theatre Company

* "Byrria" - Actress
* "Chremes" - Actor-manager
* "Congrio" - Billposter
* "Davos" - Actor
* "Grumio" - Clown
* "Philocrates" - Actor
* "Phrygia" - Actress, wife of Chremes
* "Tranio" - Clown

The Orchestra

* "Afrania" - Tibia-player
* "Ione" - Tambourinist
* "Plancina" - Panpipe girl
* "Ribes" - Lyre-player

Major themes

* Several investigations, including a spying mission for the Emperor, a disappearing musician and the murder of a travelling playwright.
* Developing relationship of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina.

Allusions/references to other works

* Members of the company make several references to New Comedy.
* As noted in the footnotes (p. 401 UK paperback edition), Falco's play, "The Spook Who Spoke", bears more than a little resemblance to "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare.
* During the course of their journey, the travelling theatre company perform or refer to various plays, poems and playwrights. These include:
** "Medea", "The Trojan Women" and "The Bacchae" by Euripides
** "The Birds" by Aristophanes
** "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles
** "The Girl from Andros" and "The Mother-in-Law" by Terence
** "The Rope", "The Pot of Gold" and "Amphitryon" by Plautus
** "The Arbitration" by Menander
** "The Garland" by Meleager
** Aeschylus

Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science

* Begins in Rome in AD 72, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian.
* Journey takes them through Nabatea to Petra, then to the Decapolis and Palmyra.

Release details

* 1994, UK, Century Hardback (out of print)
* 1995, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-09-983180-5
* 1995, UK, Magna, Large Print, ISBN 0-7505-0839-6
* 1996, US, Mysterious Press, Hardback (out of print)
* 1997, US, Mysterious Press, Paperback ISBN 0-446-40474-8
* 2003, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-09-945199-9 (as part of single-volume omnibus edition, "Falco on the Loose", with Time to Depart and A Dying Light in Corduba)

ources, references, external links, quotations

[http://www.lindseydavis.co.uk/ Author's Official Website]