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A review by otherwyrld
The Ides of April by Lindsey Davis
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!