Ancient Africa on a Dime
After The Sunne in Splendour, I needed a lighter, more upbeat read. So it was an easy decision to pick up the next Falco book in Lindsey Davis's hilarious mystery series set in ancient Rome.
Title: Last Act in Palmyra
Author: Lindsey Davis
# Pages: 432
Publisher: Mysterious Press (Reissue edition)
Rating: 7/10
This is the sixth in the Falco series, and therefore the sixth Falco book I've read. The series currently has seventeen titles in it. Overall, I think it was my least favorite Falco book thus far, but it was still very enjoyable. Marcus Didius Falco is an informer (aka detective) living in Rome, ca. 72 A. D. He has a lot of interfering females in his life, including his mother, his various sisters, his dead brother's girlfriend and her daughter, and the immaculate Helena Justina, the love of his life.
This adventure took Falco to Syria. Previous adventures had him in Rome, greater Italy, Britain and Germany.
I seem to be reading a lot of mystery lately for someone who doesn't particularly think of mystery as one of her favorite genres. But I do like historical mystery. And I've determined that the mystery plotline, to me, doesn't matter as much as the character development. So while I didn't think the mystery in Last Act in Palmyra was that exciting, I did love Falco and Helena. In case anyone else actually reads this, I don't want to give anything away about the series! But Falco is a die-hard ROMANtic (haha), and his relationship with Helena is at the centerpoint of the series. And Helena is a fascinating character in her own right. The way she and Falco trade quips and one-liners is really the highlight. Davis has a great knack for humor, and it comes out so well in Falco's wisecracks.
I would recommend Lindsey Davis's series to anyone who likes history. The way Davis litters her world with ancient tourists that get in Falco's way, with references to Roman gods and Greek plays, the Forum, and Roman politics- it's amazing. She clearly immerses herself in the period and it makes it very easy for a reader to imagine Rome the way it must have been, bustling and full of life, rather than just the ruins we see there now. And the people she has populating her story- well, it's hard to imagine that she made them up. I'm sure if ever I'm back in the Roman Forum, I'll be imagining Falco leaning against a Doric column, making sarcastic comments about everyone passing by. And because she's so good at doing things like that, I would recommend Davis's series.
Title: Last Act in Palmyra
Author: Lindsey Davis
# Pages: 432
Publisher: Mysterious Press (Reissue edition)
Rating: 7/10
This is the sixth in the Falco series, and therefore the sixth Falco book I've read. The series currently has seventeen titles in it. Overall, I think it was my least favorite Falco book thus far, but it was still very enjoyable. Marcus Didius Falco is an informer (aka detective) living in Rome, ca. 72 A. D. He has a lot of interfering females in his life, including his mother, his various sisters, his dead brother's girlfriend and her daughter, and the immaculate Helena Justina, the love of his life.
This adventure took Falco to Syria. Previous adventures had him in Rome, greater Italy, Britain and Germany.
I seem to be reading a lot of mystery lately for someone who doesn't particularly think of mystery as one of her favorite genres. But I do like historical mystery. And I've determined that the mystery plotline, to me, doesn't matter as much as the character development. So while I didn't think the mystery in Last Act in Palmyra was that exciting, I did love Falco and Helena. In case anyone else actually reads this, I don't want to give anything away about the series! But Falco is a die-hard ROMANtic (haha), and his relationship with Helena is at the centerpoint of the series. And Helena is a fascinating character in her own right. The way she and Falco trade quips and one-liners is really the highlight. Davis has a great knack for humor, and it comes out so well in Falco's wisecracks.
I would recommend Lindsey Davis's series to anyone who likes history. The way Davis litters her world with ancient tourists that get in Falco's way, with references to Roman gods and Greek plays, the Forum, and Roman politics- it's amazing. She clearly immerses herself in the period and it makes it very easy for a reader to imagine Rome the way it must have been, bustling and full of life, rather than just the ruins we see there now. And the people she has populating her story- well, it's hard to imagine that she made them up. I'm sure if ever I'm back in the Roman Forum, I'll be imagining Falco leaning against a Doric column, making sarcastic comments about everyone passing by. And because she's so good at doing things like that, I would recommend Davis's series.