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otherwyrld's review against another edition
3.0
This is the second in the Flavia Albia stories and while it was better than the first book, I found myself still missing her father Falco in these stories.
Flavia is hired to investigate the murder of a couple a few days after their wedding, and the theft of some valuable silverware. Suspicion naturally falls on the household slaves, but it is a far more complicated story than that, and she has to pick her way through a tangled web of lies and omissions to get to the truth.
In some respect these stories are darker and more angry than the Falco books as we, through the eyes of Flavia, are forced to confront the harsh realities of Roman life. As a woman, she struggles much more than her father did, but this pales by comparison with the lives of the slaves that we get to meet here. Most of them, it has to be said, will not come to a good end in this story, though to a certain extent they brought their doom upon themselves by not protecting their master in the first place, and then by lying about what really happened to the authorities.
While I enjoyed this book, I still felt that it lacks a certain spark for the most part, and certainly is not in the same league as even the lesser Falco novels. There are a couple of occasions when promise is shown - one where a group of women sit around getting drunk together in defiance of all Roman convention, for example. The epilogue, in which the case has been solved, shows a lot more promise, so if the author can build on this then the series will be worth reading. I would also like to see a bit more about the politics of the time featured - Vespasian and Titus played a major part in the Falco stories, and I would like to read more about how Domitian affects the world in which this series is set.
So, possibly 3 1/2 stars for this book.
Flavia is hired to investigate the murder of a couple a few days after their wedding, and the theft of some valuable silverware. Suspicion naturally falls on the household slaves, but it is a far more complicated story than that, and she has to pick her way through a tangled web of lies and omissions to get to the truth.
In some respect these stories are darker and more angry than the Falco books as we, through the eyes of Flavia, are forced to confront the harsh realities of Roman life. As a woman, she struggles much more than her father did, but this pales by comparison with the lives of the slaves that we get to meet here. Most of them, it has to be said, will not come to a good end in this story, though to a certain extent they brought their doom upon themselves by not protecting their master in the first place, and then by lying about what really happened to the authorities.
While I enjoyed this book, I still felt that it lacks a certain spark for the most part, and certainly is not in the same league as even the lesser Falco novels. There are a couple of occasions when promise is shown - one where a group of women sit around getting drunk together in defiance of all Roman convention, for example. The epilogue, in which the case has been solved
Spoiler
only for Flavia to fall deathly ill and has to be nursed by her employerSo, possibly 3 1/2 stars for this book.
rgreatreader's review against another edition
4.0
Spoiler
Can't believe she got dysentery from the damn well!silvernfire's review against another edition
5.0
[4½ stars] Okay, as I said in my review of [b:The Ides of April|16045096|The Ides of April (Flavia Albia Mystery, #1)|Lindsey Davis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354985862s/16045096.jpg|21823313], this series felt a little awkward getting going. Davis had to spend time bringing us up to speed on Albia's Rome and there was this question hanging over the whole book: how would it compare to the Falco series? But with that hump gotten over—yep, this is Albia's series, and her parents aren't major players in it—it was easier to relax and enjoy this book for what it is. And maybe it was easier for Davis as well, because generally this is a better book.
With both Albia books set in Rome instead of far-flung parts of the empire, we're seeing more of everyday Roman life. (Fine with me, since this is the sort of thing I'm interested in.) Like in the first book, there are a few expository lumps to catch you up on Roman culture. They were a bit jarring because Albia was explaining what she clearly already knew (to whom? is she supposed to know she has a non-Roman audience?), but it beat either being lost about what was going on or having to pause and do some research.
I was curious as to how Davis would handle a story in which slavery is front and center. With so many Falco books set outside of Rome, it's been easy enough to gloss over some of the more uncomfortable parts of Roman culture. Falco and Helena own slaves, but they weren't mentioned often in that series. Here, slaves are characters. I was satisfied with the approach Davis chose: Albia sees slaves as human and sympathizes with their problems, but she's got a certain detachment about their lives and she's no abolitionist, which would have been more anachronistic than I could believe.
The mystery? I'm not the best judge of that. I tend to read Davis' books as historical fiction in which a lot of people get killed, rather than as murder mysteries. I guessed fairly soon who did it, but I had to wait until Albia figured out their motive, and that was good enough for me.
Basically, a good page-turner of a novel. It stands well on its own, but if you're going to read The Ides of April, you may as well start with that one.
With both Albia books set in Rome instead of far-flung parts of the empire, we're seeing more of everyday Roman life. (Fine with me, since this is the sort of thing I'm interested in.) Like in the first book, there are a few expository lumps to catch you up on Roman culture. They were a bit jarring because Albia was explaining what she clearly already knew (to whom? is she supposed to know she has a non-Roman audience?), but it beat either being lost about what was going on or having to pause and do some research.
I was curious as to how Davis would handle a story in which slavery is front and center. With so many Falco books set outside of Rome, it's been easy enough to gloss over some of the more uncomfortable parts of Roman culture. Falco and Helena own slaves, but they weren't mentioned often in that series. Here, slaves are characters. I was satisfied with the approach Davis chose: Albia sees slaves as human and sympathizes with their problems, but she's got a certain detachment about their lives and she's no abolitionist, which would have been more anachronistic than I could believe.
The mystery? I'm not the best judge of that. I tend to read Davis' books as historical fiction in which a lot of people get killed, rather than as murder mysteries. I guessed fairly soon who did it, but I had to wait until Albia figured out their motive, and that was good enough for me.
Basically, a good page-turner of a novel. It stands well on its own, but if you're going to read The Ides of April, you may as well start with that one.
grayduck's review
This is the second Flavia Albia book I've read. I've enjoyed both - I think Flavia is a fun, relatable character and I enjoy the world-building. This one had the potential to be pretty bleak, what with its focus on the lives of household slaves. At first I was a bit put off by the straightforwardness with which Flavia described the Rome as it was for the slaves, but I grew to like and then appreciate that perspective. For the most part, she demonstrated the level of thoughtfulness and empathy that most non-enslaved Romans would have shown at that time (which is, nearly none). She did give some glimpses of her unique life experience had how that altered her perspective when it came to slavery, but just glimpses. I think that has to do more with her being the kind of person that keeps her past private (both with other characters and with the reader).
Anyway, good book. I like Flavia's investigation techniques and I think she's overall a fun character. I'll read more in the future.
Anyway, good book. I like Flavia's investigation techniques and I think she's overall a fun character. I'll read more in the future.
lisaebetz's review against another edition
5.0
Once again, Davis serves up a clever mystery wrapped in her snarky, vivid, entertaining prose. I've been a fan for years, and this installment does not disappoint. Looking forward to reading more Flavia Albia novels.
knightwood's review against another edition
4.0
Truly a better-written book compared to The third Nero! My only problem was with how it ended... I found it to be quite random considering the rest of the story. Loved the short chapters. As well as the mystery as to who murdered the newly wedded couple! All in all a lovely read.
redheadreading's review
3.0
I enjoyed this more than the first one! Although I guessed the solution, it was much less obvious than the first book (which, frankly, was not hard) and there was an interesting moral debate at the centre in regards to slaves in Rome. The humour doesn't entirely work for me and I'm not invested in the potential romance being set up, but I enjoyed it enough to give the next book a go sometime.
judenoseinabook's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this more than the first Flavia Alba. Not sure why.
mothwing's review
3.0
I liked the last Flavia Albia mystery and this one was no exception. Even though the solution to the crime is not entirely unexpected the characters really grow on me. The outlook that slaves in Rome could expect is expectedly bleak and the characters react as unsympathetically as one might expect, though this is hard to bear especially from the main characters (especially coming from Flavia I'd have hoped more, though that, in turn, would not have been realistic, I suppose).
bjerz's review
4.0
Flavia Albia is a new character for me, and I like her a lot.
Enemies at Home follows Flavia as she investigates the brutal murder of two wealthy newlyweds. Why were they killed? Was it a robbery gone bad? Did the slaves kill them? If so, why?
Flavia, a former slave herself, is appalled by the institution of slavery on which Rome is built, and struggles with those who use it to destroy the lives of others.
I will enjoy reading about Flavia's adventures!
Enemies at Home follows Flavia as she investigates the brutal murder of two wealthy newlyweds. Why were they killed? Was it a robbery gone bad? Did the slaves kill them? If so, why?
Flavia, a former slave herself, is appalled by the institution of slavery on which Rome is built, and struggles with those who use it to destroy the lives of others.
I will enjoy reading about Flavia's adventures!