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silvernfire's review against another edition
4.0
At first, I was worried that this book would be a letdown. The Ides of April takes place twelve years after Davis' latest Falco novel, and the author is in the difficult position of needing to bring readers up to speed on the changes in Albia's life and in Rome itself while at the same time getting the plot going. The story was enjoyable enough, but kept pausing for an expository lump. (But then, I shouldn't be too critical of those lumps, because I did appreciate the help in getting oriented to this slightly different Rome.) Plus, Albia's narration sounded exactly like Falco's for the first third of the book or so.
As the book went on, things improved. The explanations were abandoned when they were no longer needed. Albia's voice became her own as she had the opportunity to express more opinions. I was pleased to see she also came across as more mature and experienced than she was in the Falco books, which fits with being twelve years older. And although it was a bit frustrating to hear about Falco and Helena only in passing, I think Davis made the right decision to leave them out of this book. It's not the next book in the Falco series, no matter how easy it is to think of it that way.
And no, the mystery isn't all that difficult to puzzle out. But then, I don't read the Falco books—or now the Albia books—for the mystery!
As the book went on, things improved. The explanations were abandoned when they were no longer needed. Albia's voice became her own as she had the opportunity to express more opinions. I was pleased to see she also came across as more mature and experienced than she was in the Falco books, which fits with being twelve years older. And although it was a bit frustrating to hear about Falco and Helena only in passing, I think Davis made the right decision to leave them out of this book. It's not the next book in the Falco series, no matter how easy it is to think of it that way.
And no, the mystery isn't all that difficult to puzzle out. But then, I don't read the Falco books—or now the Albia books—for the mystery!
reginaexmachina's review against another edition
2.0
I've been on an ancient history kick recently and a mystery series featuring Flavia Albia sounded up my alley. The beginning was promising but I found myself kind of bored around midway through. The characters were interesting but didn't have much growth and the plot felt slow and plodding. I also guessed who was the killer almost from the beginning and I'm usually not good at guessing. I technically finished it but only by skimming most of the second half.
lisaebetz's review against another edition
5.0
At last I meet Falco's successor, his gutsy, no-nonsense daughter Albia. The same snarky humor and cynical slant on Roman life, but with a new, feminine edge. Great fun. And I learned a thing or two about foxes and plebian aediles, too.
plantbirdwoman's review against another edition
3.0
I am a big fan of Lindsey Davis' Marcus Didius Falco series. I've read all twenty books in that series and was waiting for the next entry, but, as it happens, Marcus has retired from the investigations game since the death of his father. As chief heir to the family fortune, he's taken over the family auction business and is prospering in that role.
But the miscreants of Rome should not rest easy. The Didius Falcos' adopted daughter, Flavia Albia, is now on the case, having been trained by the master himself.
Those readers who have followed the series will remember Flavia Albia as the British-born orphan waif rescued from a life on the streets by Marcus and Helena. She was adopted and raised as their daughter. Now she is all grown up at 28 and is herself a widow, her much-loved young husband, Lentullus, having died a few years before. She is determined to make her own way in the world and to maintain her independence. Following in her adoptive father's footsteps is her way of achieving that goal.
This novel, first in a new series for Davis, is actually based on real historical events. A series of mysterious deaths of people thought to be perfectly healthy is revealed to be the result of an unknown poison. The poison is delivered by a needle that has been loaded with the deadly substance. It is delivered in public places, on the streets of Rome, and usually the victims do not even realize they have been attacked until it is too late and they are breathing their last.
The scene of the action is the Aventine Hill, which is Flavia's haunt. She knows its monumental temples, grubby snack bars, and muddy back lanes like the back of her hand. Moreover, she has taken over her father's ratty old office there as her own headquarters.
She becomes involved in the case when a nephew is suspicious about the death of his perfectly healthy elderly aunt. Flavia agrees to investigate and soon learns of other unexpected deaths in the same area. She enlists the aid of friends in the vigiles, the local fire brigade/police, in her investigation and finds that she has come to the attention of the plebeian aedile, Manlius Faustus. His "runner," Tiberius, is often on the streets looking for perpetrators of crime and he offers advice and support to Flavia, although at first she is very hostile to him and unwilling to take it.
She is much more taken by another member of Faustus' household, a charming man named Andronicus and feels herself becoming romantically involved with him. But will she allow her head to be turned to the extent that she loses sight of her investigation into the murders?
Flavia Albia is a tough and witty investigator/narrator in the tradition of Marcus Didius Falco. She gives us a new slant on life in ancient Rome, as we see the city and its people and political systems from the viewpoint of a woman.
She is living and working in the time of the emperor Domitian, a much less benevolent ruler than the Vespasian and Titus that Marcus Didius Falco had to deal with and occasionally worked for. It is a time of paranoia in Rome, when people do well to keep their heads down for fear they might be chopped off.
Flavia Albia has a soft spot for animals and the appalling cruelty to foxes of the cult of Ceres is one of the features of this story - a feature which I, frankly, found very hard to read, having myself a soft spot for animals. But it is a part of the inhumanity to both animals and humans that was endemic to the era, and Lindsey Davis, as usual, has done her research well. She brings the streets of ancient Rome to life in an unflinching way.
It will be interesting to see where she goes with this new female detective of hers. I'll be waiting for the next installment.
But the miscreants of Rome should not rest easy. The Didius Falcos' adopted daughter, Flavia Albia, is now on the case, having been trained by the master himself.
Those readers who have followed the series will remember Flavia Albia as the British-born orphan waif rescued from a life on the streets by Marcus and Helena. She was adopted and raised as their daughter. Now she is all grown up at 28 and is herself a widow, her much-loved young husband, Lentullus, having died a few years before. She is determined to make her own way in the world and to maintain her independence. Following in her adoptive father's footsteps is her way of achieving that goal.
This novel, first in a new series for Davis, is actually based on real historical events. A series of mysterious deaths of people thought to be perfectly healthy is revealed to be the result of an unknown poison. The poison is delivered by a needle that has been loaded with the deadly substance. It is delivered in public places, on the streets of Rome, and usually the victims do not even realize they have been attacked until it is too late and they are breathing their last.
The scene of the action is the Aventine Hill, which is Flavia's haunt. She knows its monumental temples, grubby snack bars, and muddy back lanes like the back of her hand. Moreover, she has taken over her father's ratty old office there as her own headquarters.
She becomes involved in the case when a nephew is suspicious about the death of his perfectly healthy elderly aunt. Flavia agrees to investigate and soon learns of other unexpected deaths in the same area. She enlists the aid of friends in the vigiles, the local fire brigade/police, in her investigation and finds that she has come to the attention of the plebeian aedile, Manlius Faustus. His "runner," Tiberius, is often on the streets looking for perpetrators of crime and he offers advice and support to Flavia, although at first she is very hostile to him and unwilling to take it.
She is much more taken by another member of Faustus' household, a charming man named Andronicus and feels herself becoming romantically involved with him. But will she allow her head to be turned to the extent that she loses sight of her investigation into the murders?
Flavia Albia is a tough and witty investigator/narrator in the tradition of Marcus Didius Falco. She gives us a new slant on life in ancient Rome, as we see the city and its people and political systems from the viewpoint of a woman.
She is living and working in the time of the emperor Domitian, a much less benevolent ruler than the Vespasian and Titus that Marcus Didius Falco had to deal with and occasionally worked for. It is a time of paranoia in Rome, when people do well to keep their heads down for fear they might be chopped off.
Flavia Albia has a soft spot for animals and the appalling cruelty to foxes of the cult of Ceres is one of the features of this story - a feature which I, frankly, found very hard to read, having myself a soft spot for animals. But it is a part of the inhumanity to both animals and humans that was endemic to the era, and Lindsey Davis, as usual, has done her research well. She brings the streets of ancient Rome to life in an unflinching way.
It will be interesting to see where she goes with this new female detective of hers. I'll be waiting for the next installment.
cupiscent's review against another edition
4.0
When I finished reading through Davis's Falco books, I was very intrigued by the idea of getting a new view of Rome - from Flavia Albia, a woman and also an outsider, as opposed to Falco's sometimes blinkered masculine Roman approach. This did not disappoint, steeped in the differences in how Albia has to live (in almost exactly the same situation Falco started out) while still offering a rowdy and intriguing mystery around the streets of the Aventine. While the romantic bait and switch had an unpleasant side-effect (why must the lady-sleuth always make that mistake?) I really appreciated the natural and canny way Davis shows the development of the two relationships side by side. I like Tiberius a lot and could stand to see more of him. (But as this took four years to bubble to the top of my to-read pile, it might be a while before I do!)
greenbeem's review against another edition
3.0
This is not Albia's first case, but the first we share with her. The story takes place 11 years after the last Marcus Didius Falco book (Nemesis), and Falco's foster daughter Albia is an experienced private informer. This entertaining mystery has all the things I liked about the Falco series - everyday life in ancient Rome, hijinks, wry observations, good banter, and a decent mystery. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
redheadreading's review against another edition
3.0
A fun read but it left me wanting slightly. I guessed the murderer after their first appearance, which probably wouldn't have bothered me so much if the pacing had been a little quicker, but it was quite frustrating waiting for Flavia to catch up with you, the reader. However, I enjoyed the humour and have been leant some more of the series, so it's a promising enough start that I am going to continue.
ilse0778's review against another edition
3.0
I do rather enjoy a good murder mystery now and then, and one set in ancient Rome immediately intrigued me enough to buy the book. Unfortunately, it wasn’t too hard to figure out the killer, and after enjoying Flavia’s character for the first few chapters, she stopped resonating with me. That didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story too much, though, as it’s really different from what I’ve been reading so far.
Lindsey Davis’ descriptions of the city and atmosphere really brought the story to life, and although not resonating with me I think Flavia’s spunky character will definitely be some people’s taste. All in all, it was a fun and enjoyable enough read that I might recommend those liking this genre to check out.
Lindsey Davis’ descriptions of the city and atmosphere really brought the story to life, and although not resonating with me I think Flavia’s spunky character will definitely be some people’s taste. All in all, it was a fun and enjoyable enough read that I might recommend those liking this genre to check out.
judenoseinabook's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure I like it as much as it's predecessors - ie Marcus Didius Falco books. But, still a good read and I will read more