Scandal Takes a Holiday

A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery

By: Lindsey Davis

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Ancient Rome's organized crime syndicates have never been more dangerous or more cunning than in this latest adventure featuring first-century sleuth Marcus Didius Falco.

In the Italian town of Ostia outside Rome, Falco appears to be enjoying a relaxing holiday. But when Helena arrives carrying a batch of past issues of the Daily Gazette with the intention of catching up on the latest scandal, Falco is forced to admit his real reason for being there. Infamia, the pen name of the gossip columnist for the Daily Gazette, has gone missing, and his fellow scribes have employed Falco to bring him back from his drunken truancy.

Before long, Falco's inquiries lead him into the world of piracy and the discovery of criminal traditions long believed dead. Is this the path toward finding Infamia? Why would pirates have kidnapped him? And if they have, will he be found alive?

©2004 Lindsey Davis (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A bit hard to keep straight

worth the effort to keep the details straight. as we go through several places repeatedly, but worth the effort. Several twists that will surprise you if you know the books. Simon Prebble struggles in a few places to get all the voices sufficiently differentiated, but overall does his usual great job. To me, he is the voice of Falco, and is very believable. As usual Davis educates us, this time the emphasis is on the sea trade, and the pirates who prey on the unwary. yes, those pirates who Officially no longer existed.

Marcus

Terrific as usual though I found this story particularly enjoyable, nOt surprisingly full of action with Marcus is danger.

Falco always takes the tough cases...

I love the humor in these books, and the deep detail of Roman life that they depict. I would like to give this one four and a half stars, because of those elements. Half a star gets taken off because it feels like it ends a bit abruptly, and because I had more difficulty than in previous books in visualizing where the characters were and what the town of ostia was like. Normally the authors'descriptions are more detailed so I feel I'm there. it was still a very good book, and if you enjoy historical fiction or mysteries or sardonic characters observing the contradictions of'civilized buracracy', you should read this book!