Slightly rocky start to "Falco - the daughter"

I was delighted when I saw that Lyndsey Davis had launched a series featuring Falco's adopted daughter as an informer in imperial Rome.

I caught the Falco bug in 2002 when I found "The Silver Pigs" about ten years after everyone else. I snorted down the first four books that year and then settled down to read one or two books a year thereafter. Last year I read "Nemisis", the twentieth, last and the darkest book in the series, where Falco finally has to replace flippancy and stubborn insubordination with grim responsiblity. He had become a Roman of substance, with things to lose and lies to hide. His days as an informer were clearly over. I regretted his passing but thought that Lyndsey Davis had done the right thing by him.

"The Ides of April" is set more than a decade later, The child Thalia was pregnant with in "Nemisis" is now an eleven year old boy. Falvia Albia is a twenty-eight year old widow and has been an informer for a number of years. Falco has "retired" to being an art dealer.

This gives everytihng a fresh start while providing enough continuity that I didn't feel set adrift. It really is "Falco: the next generation".

The plot here is clever and artfully told. Some of the pre-figuring is a little heavy-handed, making certain "reveals" a non-event but on the whole it adds to the light-hearted tone. There is a, perhaps inevitable, "Episode 1 Season 1" feel to the book but it promises well for the future.

I had two problems with the book: mixed feelings about Flavia Albia herself and mixed feelings about the narrator, I'm sure the two are related.

Flavia Albia is a misfit, neither fully Roman nor truly outsider. She is educated, ethical and cares for animals and small childern. She is also violent, well aware of the threats to women in Roman law and Roman manners, and almost insanely determined to put herself in harms way.

This conflicted nature was mirrored by the approach of the narrator. She read skillfully, coping with dialogue and action well, but, in a story told in the first person, the voice of the narrator BECOMES the character and I couldn't reconcile the upper class accent with the foul mouthed cynicism and violent behaviour. But perhaps that was the point.

I ended the book feeling entertained and wanting to read more but still uncertain about whether I liked Flavia Albia.

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26 people found this helpful

Disappointing

Sadly I enjoyed the narrator but found the story too obvious and Albia seemed rather silly.

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Following in the parental footsteps

O.K., she is not Falco but still a good listen. Following in her adoptive father's footsteps as an informer/private investigator is, perhaps, a curious occupation for a Roman matron and not without it's own difficulties. But Flavia Albia has always been a feisty persona!city and manages to get involved in as much trouble as had her now retired dad before her. The story was somewhat predictable but still an exciting romp through the streets of ancient Rome.
The reader is impeccable, becoming the voice of this lively, well brought up young lady as she recounts the whirlwind romance and more protracted murder investigation to perfection. Well worth a listen.
But I do miss Falcon.

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the Ides of April

really enjoyed this story. I read a number the Lindsey Davis's other books and this one matched up well. the author is great at capturing the atmoasphere of ancient Rome and the mystery although a little predictable was very enjoyable. great naration from Lucy Brown.

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Changed my mind on revisiting.

As a fan of the original Falco stories I was not immediately enthralled when the Flavia Albia stories were released. However, once I made the readjustment to new characters my opinion has changed. If you enjoyed Falco you will enjoy these- but it may take some adjustment.

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Interesting but predictable

Nice enough story with enough twists to listen out till the end. But ultimately predictable outcome both of who the protagonist is and the ID of one of the other main characters

Don't think about it too hard otherwise you will reveal glaring holes in the substance of the plot.

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Excellent

I loved this and the paternal Falco series.
Modern, historic, well plotted and well narrated.

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Great Roman whodunnit

Davis confronts that tricky issue of reconciling a good yarn and likeable protagonist with credible Roman thoughts and ethics, as well as anyone could. Totally enjoyable. I have listened to this a few times now and I like the pace at which the truth is revealed. This leads to an exciting, credible denouement. I enjoy the love interest in all her books and she treats the young widowed heroine with real kindness. Nicely read too!

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Ok

Good story but the narrator was too posh and made it all a little unbelievable .Overall though I enjoyed it and will probably get the next one.

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Falco The Next Generation gets off to a good start

Would you consider the audio edition of The Ides of April to be better than the print version?

Sorry but asking if a reader thinks the audiobook is better than the print version is missing the point. As someone said about television 'I prefer radio - the pictures are better'. That said the narration is pretty damn good and captures the complexities of the character perfectly, if not the many and disparate other 'voices'.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Ides of April?

The business with the roast pork skewer. So much for romance!

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The ritual procession that degenerated from a well-laid trap for a killer into near farce. A classic piece of business that stands up beside Falco's big fight scene around the scaffolding of Fishbourne Roman Palace in A Body in the Bathhouse. Classic Lindsey Davis!

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really. Flavia Albia laughs and she cries - or so she claims - but somehow I doubt it. Diploma of Roman citizenship notwithstanding she's British, gods damn it, and we Britons just don't do that sort of thing. (And if we don't, we don't talk about it.)

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