Time to Depart
Time to Depart is a 1995 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the seventh book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome during AD 72, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, an informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the law which stated that no Roman citizen who had been sentenced to death might be arrested, even after the verdict, until he has been given time to depart, the idea being that for a Roman citizen to choose exile outside the boundaries of the Empire would have been a fate worse than death itself.
Plot summary
Falco's closest friend, Petronius Longus, has finally caught one of the leading criminals in Rome, Balbinus Pius. But a quirk in Roman law allows a convicted felon, even a murderer, time to depart before the sentence is carried out. Balbinus' departure has left a vacuum in the underworld of Rome, and there is a crowd of criminals trying desperately to fill the void. Their first step is to engineer a robbery that reverberates throughout the city.Falco is again called upon by the Emperor Vespasian to supply answers, as quietly and quickly as possible. A couple of murders, a kidnapping or two, and more suspects than Falco cares to count takes him, and his patrician girlfriend Helena Justina, to places a family shouldn't have to go.
Characters
High Society
Anacrites – Imperial spyCamillus Aelianus – Eldest son of Decimus Camillus VerusCamillus Justinus – Youngest son of Decimus Camillus VerusDecimus Camillus Verus – Senator and father of Helena JustinaHelena Justina – Daughter of the Senator Decimus Camillus VerusJulia Justa – Wife of Camillus Verus and mother of HelenaT. Claudius Laeta – Imperial clerkTitus Caesar – Eldest son of the EmperorVespasian – EmperorLow Society (Fountain Court)
Cassius – BakerCastus – Junk-dealerEnnianus – Basket-weaverLenia – LaundressMarcus Didius Falco – Informer and Imperial Agent from the Aventine.Smaractus – LandlordLaw and Order
Arica – Member of the Sixth CohortArria Silvia – Wife of L. Petronius LongusFusculus – Member of Petronius' enquiry teamL. Petronius Longus – Enquiry chief in the XIII region and friend of FalcoMarcus Rubella – Tribune of the Fourth Cohort of vigilesMartinus – DeputyPorcius – RecruitScythax – DoctorSergius – Punishment officerTibullinus – Centurion of the Sixth CohortOther Citizens
Alexander – DoctorBalbinus Pius – Crime bossFlaccida – Wife of BalbinusFlorius – Husband of MilviaLalage – Proprietress of the Bower of VenusLittle Icarus – Member of Balbinus' GangMacra – Employed at the Bower of VenusMilvia – Daughter of BalbinusNonnius Albius – Court witnessThe Miller – Member of Balbinus' GangMajor themes
- Investigation into the underworld of Roman life,
- Developing relationship of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina.
Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
Release details
- 1995, UK, Century Hardback
- 1996, UK, Arrow, Paperback
- 1997, UK, Chivers Press, Large Print,
- 1997, US, Mysterious Press, Hardback
- 1998, US, Mysterious Press, Paperback
- 2003, UK, Arrow, Paperback