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moonblink39's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
grahamjohnson's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sandylc's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Maybe not quite as amusing as the first five but still a fun read with a visit to Petra thrown in. The snake dancer adds an exotic element.
rosannelortz's review
4.0
In Last Act in Palmyra, Marcus undertakes an Imperial assignment to the wilds of Syria with orders to reports back on the political climate there. While touring the desert towns with Helena, Marcus discovers the murdered body of a member of an acting troupe. Determined to bring the killer to justice, Marcus takes the dead man’s job of adapting and updating old Greek plays for modern day (A.D. 72) performances), and takes the opportunity of sizing up all the actors’ motives for murder along the way. The book highlights the geography of the Middle East as the group travels through the ten towns of Decapolis. Lindsey Davis also subtly educates her audience on the difference between the old Greek plays and the “New” Comedy. Marcus and the readers share an inside joke as he pens his own theatrical contribution, The Spook Who Spoke, the plot of which seems eerily similar to Shakespeare’s immortal work Hamlet.
dogearedandfurry's review against another edition
2.0
Somewhere between 2 and 3 stars. It just dragged on and on, each of the towns sounding alike... I was a little bored, so rounded down to 2 stars. This series does have a tendency to alternate good and average books, so hopefully the next one is better.
rosienotjen's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mmingie's review
Anacrites is awful.
Vespasian and his sons are pretty wack too. Falco and Helena are clearly getting themselves into trouble, again, with that scene at the end.
I liked the story here even though I figured out how the end would tie together pretty early.
I don't understand why the Brother was included except to give us Musa and reiterate how terrible Anacrites is. If he's so powerful, he should've had a bigger part to play, I kept expecting him to pop back up.
The villain was appropriately villainous.
Vespasian and his sons are pretty wack too. Falco and Helena are clearly getting themselves into trouble, again, with that scene at the end.
I liked the story here even though I figured out how the end would tie together pretty early.
I don't understand why the Brother was included except to give us Musa and reiterate how terrible Anacrites is. If he's so powerful, he should've had a bigger part to play, I kept expecting him to pop back up.
The villain was appropriately villainous.
roseh's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
marimoose's review
4.0
"The play's the thing" indeed. The entire last act more than made up for the tedious traveling across the Decapolis. Not that I minded too much over the traveling, it was definitely more entertaining with an acting troupe roaming the countryside. Plus, the scenery was refreshing and completely away from Rome (or Italy for that matter). And Falco a playwright!
As usual, I loved these books mostly because of the charming point of view that the narrator has. The fact that Falco also has a stalwart girlfriend says something at the very least. Not to mention all the juggling he's had to do the entire book!
But the best part has got to be the acting troupe and the random plays they'd performed along the way. Falco's very idea of The Spook Who Spoke already killed me somewhat, because it's supposed to be the fictional "prototype" of Hamlet. The fact that Lindsey Davis totally played around with the Shakespearean tragedy and turned it into a comedy only further added to the amusement. Gawds, it was definitely a fantastic end.
As usual, I loved these books mostly because of the charming point of view that the narrator has. The fact that Falco also has a stalwart girlfriend says something at the very least. Not to mention all the juggling he's had to do the entire book!
But the best part has got to be the acting troupe and the random plays they'd performed along the way. Falco's very idea of The Spook Who Spoke already killed me somewhat, because it's supposed to be the fictional "prototype" of Hamlet. The fact that Lindsey Davis totally played around with the Shakespearean tragedy and turned it into a comedy only further added to the amusement. Gawds, it was definitely a fantastic end.
silverlotus's review
3.0
I'm a big fan of the Falco mysteries, but I think this is perhaps the weakest book of the series so far. The journey from town to town felt quite forced, as did at least part of the conclusion. Overall, though, I do really enjoy the interaction between Falco and Helena, and that makes this book worth reading.