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 spy Camillus Aelianus – Eldest son of Decimus Camillus Verus Camillus Justinus – Youngest son of Decimus Camillus Verus Decimus Camillus Verus – Senator and father of Helena Justina Helena Justina – Daughter of the Senator Decimus Camillus Verus Julia Justa – Wife of Camillus Verus and mother of Helena T. Claudius Laeta – Imperial clerk Titus Caesar – Eldest son of the Emperor Vespasian – Emperor
Low Society (Fountain Court) Cassius – Baker Castus – Junk-dealer Ennianus – Basket-weaver Lenia – Laundress Marcus Didius Falco – Informer and Imperial Agent from the Aventine. Smaractus – Landlord
Law and Order Arica – Member of the Sixth Cohort Arria Silvia – Wife of L. Petronius Longus Fusculus – Member of Petronius' enquiry team L. Petronius Longus – Enquiry chief in the XIII region and friend of Falco Marcus Rubella – Tribune of the Fourth Cohort of vigiles Martinus – Deputy Porcius – Recruit Scythax – Doctor Sergius – Punishment officer Tibullinus – Centurion of the Sixth Cohort
Other Citizens Alexander – Doctor Balbinus Pius – Crime boss Flaccida – Wife of Balbinus Florius – Husband of Milvia Lalage – Proprietress of the Bower of Venus Little Icarus – Member of Balbinus' Gang Macra – Employed at the Bower of Venus Milvia – Daughter of Balbinus Nonnius Albius – Court witness The Miller – Member of Balbinus' Gang
Major 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 Set in Rome in AD 72, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian.
Release details 1995, UK, Century Hardback (out of print) 1996, UK, Arrow, Paperback 1997, UK, Chivers Press, Large Print, 1997, US, Mysterious Press, Hardback 1998, US, Mysterious Press, Paperback 2003, UK, Arrow, Paperback (as part of single-volume omnibus edition, Falco on the Loose, with Last Act in Palmyra and A Dying Light in Corduba)
Reception Kirkus Reviews described it as "A treat, perhaps, for fans of the period. Heavy going for others."
References
External links lindseydavis.co.uk Author's Official Website