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Jon Kear-Colwell

... Lindsey Davis's Falco and Flavia Albia stories and I love them. They have humour despite the often "unpleasant" ...

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2017

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I have read all of Lindsey Davis's Falco and Flavia Albia stories and I love them. They have humour despite the often "unpleasant" content that is inevitable in the context of the stories being set in ancient Rome. One of the great features of both of these series is the characters, that are wonderfully drawn. By the end of a book you know the people, but I am sad that Falco has almost completely disappeared. However in the present story there are references to how Flvia Albia respects and feels for her adoptive parents. The way Falco might have dealt with the sort of nasty issues that appear in "The Third Nero" are referred to and give some guidance to our heroine, but she remains her own woman and makes her own decisions.
The multiple story lines in this book are all relevant and are well drawn, with the characters being clearly defined in all their richness and idiosyncrasies. The political minefield of the imperial palace is so well described, so the whole story works very well. Flavia Albia's anxieties as a day old bride with a seriously injured husband are clearly presented, but do not interfere too much with the main story line. This is a book to be enjoyed at many levels and I recommended it to anyone who enjoys human issues, political intrigue and the "who done it".

Galla

Intriguing plot

Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2017

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I have enjoyed the Flavia Albia series and was looking forward to reading this one. However, I found this book rather plodding. The premise is interesting; Albia is asked by palace officials to look into the mystery of a man impersonating the supposedly dead Nero. She finds herself, more or less, a spy for Domitian's security council. Her remit becomes complicated, involving trying to find a long time spy who has gone AWOL and to discover who among the security council is plotting against Domitian. Along the way, she meets some intriguing people, including very sinister Parthians, the Roman commander of the state prison, and a baby faced torturer. Since this is Domitian's Rome, no one can be fully trusted and there are "loyalty" spies everywhere. Albia also has her hands full trying to set up her household and look after her new husband who is recovering from being struck by lightning at their wedding. The plot and the characters are interesting but the action was slower than usual.

JS

The spy game calls her

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2017

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In the first Flavia Alba books, Alba took on private investigations, met a yummy aedile, and married him. Then he gets hit by lightening on their wedding day, and she has to take on some well-paying but dangerous work for Domitian's spies. But is she reporting to the spy who is protecting the emperor or to the one who hopes to dethrone him? And suddenly there are Parthians on elephants, a suspicious flute player, mules, dogs, and a soldier named Titus. It's a wild tale, with many characters and scary moments. The war elephant charmed by the sweets seller is a great scene to enjoy. Alba and Tiberius must deal with his recovery from the lightening strike, and I hope for a full recovery. Tiberius is a fantastic character, able to keep up with Alba mentally and a perfect match for her emotionally. My only minor issue was that Helena, good mother that she is, doesn't swoop in and take over her daughter's household in time of emergency. Surely a good extended family would have done more than send a few servants for a day, when their new son-in-law is near death? And Helena would be a good one for Alba to confer with from time to time. I hope that she will be more visible in future books. And please, more stories!

Albia Plays the Palace - 3+

Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2017

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I've read all of Lindsey Davis books and loved most of them. "The Third Nero" is entertaining enough historic crime fiction, but I have to say that this one left me looking for a closing twist that never came. Author Davis has thrust private detective Flavia Albia to the acme of spy doom--connecting her to the Roman equivalent of the National Security Council. This happens as a foreign enemy (Parthia/Persia) is scheming to unseat the reigning Emperor, Domitian, by promoting the return of his long-dead predecessor Nero. While this probably did happen back in the day, Davis' rendition of the hoax isn't wholly credible (a bit like an Elvis sighting).

Still, there's enough good writing about the period and everyday Roman life to make the novel very enjoyable. Fans of the Falco series will appreciate the off-stage presence of the old boy and sainted wife Helena, as Flavia Alba goes about setting up a marital household with a semi-completed renovated house and a husband who is still playing with half a deck after being struck by lightning during a post-wedding stroll.

While the running plot is pretty good, the dense population of characters gets difficult to juggle as the story reaches its ending. This reader was expecting a surprise villain to emerge. A violent mashup occurs instead, which felt a bit lazy on the author's part. Nevertheless, fans of Lindsey Davis will mostly take well to this installment that firmly glues Falco's daughter to the position of Rome's best (and readiest with a quip) spy/detective.

ARGTop Contributor: Pets

Great mystery and fun cameos for Falco readers

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2017

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Flavia is a new bride too a crispy groom. She is approached by a palace security spy when the family needs money and so against her better judgment works for Domitian! Sort of. Her first task seems simple, interview the widows of two governors that were executed earlier this year. Oh and oops there is a Psuedo Nero running around. Then she gets drug in even further. Flavia makes use of some old friends and visits some old haunts. Not a lot of family cameos. I love how this series balances it being the Flavia show and long time readers from Falco days. Was really surprised by the big twist.

Top reviews from other countries

Clemens A. Schoonderwoert

Another Thrilling Flavia Albia Mystery!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 14, 2017

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This exciting Roman mystery is the 5th volume of the fascinating Flavia Albia series.
This series is getting better and better all the time concerning suspense and excitement, and every now and then there are some comparisons towards her famous (fictional) foster-father Falco, which makes me glad.
Story-telling is of a top-notch quality because this book is easy to read and to follow, and because all the characters come vividly to life within this thrilling story, and the background details are superbly described in this great book.
The book contains a wonderful map of the Palatine Hill and it's surroundings in Rome, while you'll also find a great list of delightful characters, real and fictional, who are featuring within this superb story.
The tale is once more set in Rome itself and in the year AD 89 during the Reign of the tyrannical and paranoid Emperor Domitian.
This tale is about Flavia Albia, who after her husband's accident and having no funds, is asked by Palace officials to help to expose a plotter within the Secretariat, but when she starts to investigate the plot could not be bigger, because in Rome there's someone who presents himself as the long dead Emperor Nero with the help of the Parthians and the Roman plotter.
What will follow is a thrilling and captivating mystery in which Flavia Albia is plunged headlong into a conspiracy, whereby she has to infiltrate the house of the Parthians, formerly Anacrites's house, where the imposter is living, and also she has to negotiate with spies, but most dangerous of all she has to deal with assassins sent by the Palace traitor, and so in a race against time, for Emperor Domitian is to be expected home soon in Rome, she has to do her utmost and remain cunning in all situations to be able to expose the imposter in the end.
Very much recommended, for this book is in my opinion; "Another Thrilling Flavia Albia Mystery"!

CYMRO

Excellent Entry in the "Cursus Honorarium"

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2017

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Excellent!! Back to Ancient Rome,with Flavia Albia and her Aedile Husband Tiberius getting back into the way of working for the Palace without getting "Embedded" in the machinations of the Imperial political system , with its scheming bureacrats all seeking to do their work and avoid the Imperial gaze. Full of sardonic asides and as ever the depth of research shines out,showing a world Far,FAR different to ours! Highly Recommended,BUT-reading the earlier Volumes in this series would be a good idea before dropping straight into Rome and onto the Aventine!

Kindle Customer

Intrigue and Treason!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2017

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Having previously devoted herself to domestic investigations, Flavia Albia, in need of funds whilst her lightning-struck new husband recovers, is drawn into palace intrigues as, in the absence of the Master & God Domitian, someone is plotting. Cronies old and new turn up and possible future allies and enemies (or sometimes both) are found. This series, spun off the Falco books, have really come into their own now, I enjoyed this Lindsey Davis-flavoured taste of Roman life as much as any of Albia's adopted father's capers.

S F Canfield

So easy to read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 4, 2017

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I pre-ordered this item as am a big fan and have read all so far. So easy to read, so well scripted. The storyline was well researched and easy to follow. You get to learn something about ancient Rome too. The new characters are looking good for future books, and it was lovely to be reminded of other Didii members. I wonder if there would be merit in the script of The Spook Who Spoke being made available to local AmDram societies? The only downside is having to wait 12m for the next one.

Kath Gower

Ancient Rome is alive again!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2019

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The scene is set superbly as always, and Flavia Albia is a great central character amongst some ‘interesting’ family, friends and suspects. She’s very quickly up to her eyes in dodgy dealings and you’d need to keep a good memory for names and status!
I really liked that this tale looked back to her parents and family more than the previous books - the Falco books were my faves but Albia is a very likeable, feisty lady!

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