The Grove of the Caesars

By: Lindsey Davis

Narrated by: Jane Collingwood

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Julius Caesar left his gardens to the citizens of Rome, a peaceful sanctuary across the Tiber. Now the gardens and their sacred grove are dangerous haunts, especially for women alone.  

'Don't go to the Grove,' people mutter, but when her husband has to leave Rome, it falls to Albia to supervise his building project in an old grotto. Why has someone buried tattered scrolls by obscure philosophers - and does it involve a worse crime than terrible writing?  

Soon that puzzle is overtaken. A woman disappears from her husband's birthday party; she meets a dire fate, then Albia learns that on the same night, two louche slaves given to her family by the brooding Emperor Domitian also vanished in the gardens.

Apparently, it is well known that a killer lurks there. The vigiles have failed to investigate properly for decades and this won't improve when the sinister agent Karus arrives. Albia must co-operate, in order to give the many victims justice and find answers for grieving relatives. But can she herself remain safe? And, after others have failed, can she at last identify the predator who has made the Grove his killing ground?

©2020 Lindsey Davis (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Loved it!

When I read the first two books in this series I missed Flavia Albia’s father Falco but now I love this series not because it is an offshoot of that series but because it is good in its own right. I am enjoying the character development and the stories are always quite gripping. There is a fine line in sarcastic humour and also I am enjoying a portrayal of an independent minded working woman who just happens to be married. Great books. I am looking forward to the next one!

One of the best in this great series

Flavia Albia investigates murders by a serial killer in Ancient Rome. Rome is fascinating, busy and relatable in this series. There is a nice balance in this book between the pathos of the murders and the mystery to be solved, with a bit of affection and romance in the background connected to the family life of the central character. The whodunnit has a plausible, satisfying resolution.

Another Lindsey David triumph!

With Tiberius Manlius away, a dodgy scroll or two and a string of murders, does any Flavia Albia fan actually expect she’ll follow orders to stay home?

Just listen out for the line, “Never trust a man who affects not to own a comb!” Delightful dig at a politician!

scrolls and gardens

good pace, with family life as a rest after thrilling adventures. Plus plenty of humour and background knowledge : excellent .

another great story

love these stories. Brilliantly read. So atmospheric with historical accuracy that has you standing in the streets of Ancient Rome, feeling the heat, smelling the smells!!!

not worth the money

very boring, narration poor, sent me to sleep. no real plot. very predictable storyline.

OK, but not sufficiently distinctive

Lindsey Davis has written, I think, about thirty "whodunnit" crime novels set in first-century Rome. Every one is a pretty decent story, with convincing characterization and a plausible, complex plot. I don't know how accurate the author's portrayal of Roman culture and politics is, but if I cared deeply about such things I'd read a textbook. There's nothing wrong with this book, except that it's not really very different from any of the last half-dozen.

I read it, and enjoyed it. Most likely I'll read further books in the same series, too, if there re any. But I can't help thinking that it's time for a change. I can understand why an author would not want to change a winning formula, but these stories are starting to get a bit samey.

Too many characters

I love this series but lost track of what was going on and had to keep going back to pick it up again.

another cracker

excellent as always highly recommended if you like the Falco / Albia series . looking forward to the next story

overlong

I've followed and enjoyed the whole series, but found this one to be drawn out too far. The characters remain engaging. Jane Collingwood's narration is appropriate, setting the tone. But I kept being surprised at how much more of the book was left. Has the series reached its limit?