| Two for the Lions | |
| Author: | Lindsey Davis |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
| Series: | Marcus Didius Falco |
| Genre: | Historical mystery crime novel |
| Publisher: | Century |
| Release Date: | 1998 |
| Media Type: | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Pages: | 400 pp (Hardback edition) |
| Isbn: | 0-7126-7796-8 |
| Oclc: | 267166212 |
| Preceded By: | Three Hands in the Fountain |
| Followed By: | One Virgin Too Many |
Two for the Lions is a 1998 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the 10th book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series.[1] [2] Set in Rome and Tripolitania between December AD 73 and May AD 74, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the execution of criminals in the arena, by trained lions.
As part of his attempts to earn enough money to buy himself into the upper middle ranks, and thus make his relationship with Helena Justina respectable, Marcus Didius Falco has offered his services to Vespasian as a tax collector during the 'great Census' of AD 73. Unfortunately, his plan has several flaws, one major one being his need to take on Anacrites as a partner.
Whilst conducting the audit of two gladiatorial training schools, Falco stumbles upon the apparent murder of a star man-eating lion and an apparent rivalry between the schools. When a gladiator also ends up dead, Falco takes on the investigation, one which leads him to Tripolitania.
To add to the confusion, Helena's younger brother, Camillus Justinus, has eloped with the betrothed of his older brother, Aelianus. They too have made their way to North Africa, drawn by Justinus' quest to find Silphium, an expensive herb already deemed extinct.