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galueth28's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
amluchetti's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
snazel's review against another edition
The good: the attention paid to the details of a life in imperial Rome was really cool. Felt like a place you could visit, that I can picture a life in. I also really liked the characters and would like to read more of this series.
Spoiler
The bad: the repeated insistence that the main character who lived on the street but has always been free had a better life than the man who was born a slave and was freed (but is still legally beholden to his masters) in his late twenties made me raise my eyebrows. A of all — comparing suffering is not a good look, main character, especially if you do it only to tell yourself that you had it worse. If the narrative also does it, I'm also looking at you with your bad look, writer. B of all — psychological effects of slavery have been documented, and are bad. C of all — it really wasn't necessary to make me realize that this character was acting entitled, the fact that he attacked someone else's wife because he thought the fact that she looked at him was flirting did that, book.tltorrez's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable read but not as good as the early books in the first series.
narusae's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
baronessekat's review against another edition
3.0
I neither liked nor disliked this book. It was just OK for me. The writing was good and the reader talented, but it just didn't pull me in. Perhaps if I had read the previous works of this author, I might have liked it more, but as it was, I had no knowledge of the author or the fact that she had written an entire other series of books set just before this one.
As far as the mystery goes, I pretty much figure out who the killer was within a chapter or two of them being introduced. That doesn't mean it was a bad story, just that if you have read murder mysteries, there were flags early on.
I can't say that I will continue in this series, but if the next one crosses my path, I won't turn away from it.
As far as the mystery goes, I pretty much figure out who the killer was within a chapter or two of them being introduced. That doesn't mean it was a bad story, just that if you have read murder mysteries, there were flags early on.
I can't say that I will continue in this series, but if the next one crosses my path, I won't turn away from it.
alex_ellermann's review against another edition
3.0
This is a standard mystery, written according to template and notable only for its setting, Imperial Rome.
otherwyrld's review against another edition
3.0
The Ides of April is advertised as Falco: the New Generation (F:TNG), which was a bit of a shock as I hadn't realised the Falco: the Original series (F:TOS) had concluded. Looking back at previous novel Nemesis though, it is easy to see that this might be regarded as a logical end to the story, though I heartily wish it wasn't so. I still need my fix of Falco and I hope that Lindsey Davis will consider writing more.
This book is set some 10 years after Nemesis, and we are now into the reign of the tyrant Domitian. Flavia Albia, the adopted daughter of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina, is now an informer like her father. In this case she comes across a series of unexplained deaths that may actually be murder, but which seems to be being covered up by the authorities. In the course of her investigation, she is helped and hindered by a variety of people, falls in love, is threatened, and becomes the first anti fox-hunt protester.
While this was an entertaining book I only gave it 3 stars because it had several flaws which considerably weakened the story. Firstly, Flavia comes across far too much like a wisecracking female clone of her father. She needs to find her own voice and this doesn't happen here. This may come in time of course, but looking back to the first Falco story, The Silver Pigs, his voice was established from pretty much the first line of the book.
Secondly, the author uses the terrible cliche of. Even I spotted fairly early on how this was going to go down, and it spoiled at least some of the story as Flavia blunders to the same conclusion at least a hundred pages later. At least she works this out long before the final page, but we are then subjected to at least 50 pages of the heroes chasing and failing to catch the antagonist. One character even says "This is getting ridiculous!" after the villain escapes for about the fifth time, a sentiment I heartily concur with. The final denouement is also a bit of a cliche, with Flavia in mortal danger in her own home whilst the Keystone Cops/Vigiles look on helplessly.
One thing that did surprise me was that I did not realise the true identity of one of the main characters, which is a nice set up for possible future stories. Perhaps I was being a bit slow there, though, and maybe it was obvious to others.
There is a bit about animals being used in religious rituals that I could really have done without reading. It was a plot point but not that important, and it was a bit distressing to read.
Falco and Helena do appear in this book, but only in a cameo non-speaking way. This was a shame as I felt that their voices might have added to the story but I can see why the author chose to not have them speak. It might have been different if this was Flavia's first case, but she is well-established informer here and having dad advise her on the case might have been seen as weakening the story. Given what I have already said here though, I would have appreciated some fatherly advice to steer Flavia in the right direction.
So, all in all a good book but not a great one. I will be looking out for more Flavia stories, but I also hope that the author will write more Falco stories as well. Ms Davis, you will just have to write faster!
This book is set some 10 years after Nemesis, and we are now into the reign of the tyrant Domitian. Flavia Albia, the adopted daughter of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina, is now an informer like her father. In this case she comes across a series of unexplained deaths that may actually be murder, but which seems to be being covered up by the authorities. In the course of her investigation, she is helped and hindered by a variety of people, falls in love, is threatened, and becomes the first anti fox-hunt protester.
While this was an entertaining book I only gave it 3 stars because it had several flaws which considerably weakened the story. Firstly, Flavia comes across far too much like a wisecracking female clone of her father. She needs to find her own voice and this doesn't happen here. This may come in time of course, but looking back to the first Falco story, The Silver Pigs, his voice was established from pretty much the first line of the book.
Secondly, the author uses the terrible cliche of
Spoiler
the protagonist falling in love with the villain of the storyOne thing that did surprise me was that I did not realise the true identity of one of the main characters, which is a nice set up for possible future stories. Perhaps I was being a bit slow there, though, and maybe it was obvious to others.
There is a bit about animals being used in religious rituals that I could really have done without reading. It was a plot point but not that important, and it was a bit distressing to read.
Falco and Helena do appear in this book, but only in a cameo non-speaking way. This was a shame as I felt that their voices might have added to the story but I can see why the author chose to not have them speak. It might have been different if this was Flavia's first case, but she is well-established informer here and having dad advise her on the case might have been seen as weakening the story. Given what I have already said here though, I would have appreciated some fatherly advice to steer Flavia in the right direction.
So, all in all a good book but not a great one. I will be looking out for more Flavia stories, but I also hope that the author will write more Falco stories as well. Ms Davis, you will just have to write faster!
hannahhena's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-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? No
3.0
caityree's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful! Revived my love of the Falco setting, I must go back and read them again.., but Flavia Albia is a treasure of her own.