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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
This was a fun story with lots of surprises for Falco and friends (and family), but less believable than usual.
Falco travels to the Rome's port Ostia with all his family to find the gossip scribe Infamia also known as Diocles. It doesn't take long before he discovers a ring of pirates preying on the wealthy merchants and corrupt builders.
I have been enjoying the Marcus Didius Falco series set in ancient Rome, and Scandal Takes a Holiday is another fun romp with historical underpinnings. Marcus is a private of sorts and has been hired to find a missing newspaper gossip columnist. Think Hedda Hopper but with a toga. Marcus takes his family with him to the sea side resort/bustling port, and spends a lot of time coping with his extended family while trying to track down the reporter. As always, he gets into several pickles and meets up with unsavory sorts, but solves the mystery in his own comical style.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one... Falco on a vacation? Think again...he is after a disappeared scandal column writer and manages to see most of his family (especially his father) involved in his adventures. A must read once again!
Marcus is off on another adventure - this time is Ostia, Rome's seaport. After stumbling around for a while - meeting all sort of interesting Roman characters and vigiles' Marcus finds his man. Good read if you like the flavor of the ancient Rome (with a British accent).
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Not the best of the Falco books to date, but still a fun read.
I've powered through 16 of these Falco books, because they are great binge reading: lots of them, well-written enough, page-turnery.Personally I find the Roman setting much more interesting than the crime/detective aspect of them.
Gossip columnists and pirates make an interesting combination for Falco.
Ostia is Rome's seaport, and like all seaports is a hotbed of shady dealings.
Expect a review of Rome's literary scene (read, published gossip), a trip to the seaside (with family meals in taverna courtyards, and some light piracy (with an over-the-top rescue).
Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps; Falco's family life has evolved throughout the series, and play a big part in describing daily lives and plot points.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of [[ASIN:B015TXPPG6 Murder In Absentia: Togas, Daggers, and Magic]] - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
Ostia is Rome's seaport, and like all seaports is a hotbed of shady dealings.
Expect a review of Rome's literary scene (read, published gossip), a trip to the seaside (with family meals in taverna courtyards, and some light piracy (with an over-the-top rescue).
Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps; Falco's family life has evolved throughout the series, and play a big part in describing daily lives and plot points.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of [[ASIN:B015TXPPG6 Murder In Absentia: Togas, Daggers, and Magic]] - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.