Venus in Copper

Venus in Copper
First edition cover
AuthorLindsey Davis
LanguageEnglish
SeriesMarcus Didius Falco
GenreCrime, Historical novel
PublisherHutchinson
Publication date
1991
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardback and paperback)
Pages318 pp (Paperback)
ISBN0-09-983170-8 (Paperback)
OCLC24793560
Preceded byShadows in Bronze 
Followed byThe Iron Hand of Mars 

Venus in Copper is a 1991 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the third book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome during AD 71, just after the year of the four emperors, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The copper of the title refers to a simple copper signet ring featuring a portrait of Venus, worn by the suspect Severina Zotica. That Venus was the goddess of love hints at the motives for some of the murders perpetrated by the suspect: revenge out of unrequited love.