1 From what you have read so far, do you believe Lindsey Davis really is a pawn in the hands of an editor - or anyone?

2 Find the topics for discussion in the Q and A section, and discuss them

3 Discuss anything else there that you find controversial. Or even interesting.

4 What do you imagine the hypothetical author Mimsy Bloggins to be like? Do you think you would enjoy her books?

5 Falco was derived initially as a classic genre 'private eye'. What are the criteria for this, and in what ways - in his character and situation - does he meet or depart from them?

6 He is now attempting to work with a partner, Petronius Longus. How does this relate to his existing partnership with Helena, and what does the failure of the two old cromies to work together tell us about friendship? There will be different partners in succeeding books. Who do you think the author will choose? (NB the third one in fact turned out not to be the person she had intended!)

7 The squad of vigiles, first introduced in detail in 'Time to Depart' are used like the ensemble characters in a 'police procedural' crime novel. Our lack of knowledge of Roman police procedure creates obvious difficulties, but which elements of modern policier crime novels do translate here?

8 Although it is not necessary to know this, the character Julius Frontinus was a historical figure. What do you think it adds if you are told that he was a governor of Roman Britain (does it add more for British readers than for Americans?) and that he wrote a famous Latin treatise on aqueducts? How do you feel about the use of 'real' people in historical novels?

9 When the series began, Falco was a rather disreputable character, in his own mind at least a fabulous seducer of women, whereas Petronius occupied the standard position of hard-working official policeman, a good family man too. How has this now developed, and where do you feel it will end for them both?

10 People sometimes say 'A Roman girl of good family would not behave as Helena has done'. The author replies that there is an example in Juvenal of a senator's wife who ran off with a gladiator - and an elderly beaten-up gladiator at that. She believes that there have always been spirited girls who did as they liked. True? Likely? Is it acceptable to say that what never changes in history is human nature?

11 By accident the first book was written in the first person because it seemed traditional. What are the advantages and disadvantages? Are there any particular problems in developing the story in a crime novel? What about the pros and cons of perpetual direct speech in a narrative?

11a Given that most ordinary Romans probably did not speak like Cicero, and that even Cicero probably did not speak like his speeches in private, consider how an author can satisfy those who want their historical characters to sound Really Classical, while also achieving pace, liveliness, conviction, and wit for those who are less pedantic?

12 How can a woman write as a man? Why can't most men write about women at all, let alone in the first person? Whatever happened to simple observation?

13 Discuss the recurrent theme of organisational politics.

14 (If question 13 is answered fully, there will be no time for any others!)