The Third Nero

Flavia Albia, Book 5 (Falco: The New Generation)

By: Lindsey Davis

Narrated by: Lucy Brown

From the creator of Falco comes Falco: The New Generation, featuring her unforgettable heroine Flavia Albia.

Flavia Albia's day-old marriage is in trouble - her new husband may be permanently disabled, and they have no funds. So when Palace officials ask her to help expose a plotter in their midst, she is obliged to accept their commission.

The plot could not be bigger. Ever since he died in AD 68, apparently by his own hand, Rome has been haunted by reports that Emperor Nero is in fact very much alive and about to return to claim his throne.

Two Nero pretenders have emerged in the east and met grisly fates. But now, as Emperor Domitian, whose tyrannical, paranoid reign grows ever more unpopular, fights a war in faraway Dacia, there emerges a far more sinister contender. What's more the rumour is that this false Nero is already in Rome. Plunged into the conspiracy, Flavia must infiltrate the house of the Parthians who have smuggled in this new impostor, negotiate with spies, dodge the assassins sent by the Palace traitor, and somehow cope with her stricken husband.

Can she succeed before the impostor is revealed? Or will Rome once more be plunged into civil war?

©2017 Lindsey Davis (P)2017 Hodder & Stoughton

This time, palace and political intrigue

Unlike another reviewer, I’m willing to suspend reality and accept the idea of a female informer in Ancient Rome. Women did have some other professions, so why not this? Especially if being a woman was a good cover. I loved the Falco series, so I’m happy to have more, even if in the embodiment of his daughter. I enjoyed that this story, rather than being about another murder in Rome, was more about palace and political intrigue. Not that there weren’t some dead people, but that was not the prime focus. Rather, it was to uncover a plot to replace Domitian with a Nero imposter. The reason I gave this four rather than my usual five stars is that there are a lot of characters and at times I had trouble remembering who is who and who is working for whom. Those long Roman names are a bit tricky for me at times. But perhaps that’s my bad and not the author’s. I needed to pay closer attention. The narration is excellent, and overall this was a lot of fun. I always enjoy learning details about life in Ancient Rome and some Roman history while I’m at it. Do listen to the preceding volumes first, because Davis uses some details from those. She does “review”, so that if you didn’t read the previous ones, you will still follow the story, but I think you’d have a better experience by listening in order.

Female "Falco"

Unfortunately a very good writer/historian has re-written her excellent "Falco" series with Falco's adopted daughter as the protangonist. The unfortunate part is that this is quite nearly literally a female Falco; following the same patterns the Falco series had including an unusual marital relationship, the same smart-aleck comments and swash-buckling action scenes. I'm no historian, but I don't see an ancient Rome that would accommodate Albia's very masculine intrusive personality. And, it's the same rollicking good time...if it wasn't the second time around.

I have given the series a try and I'll let the rest of the books, should there be any, a pass.

I will continue to read Ms. Davis' other novels as she is an excellent writer and I love historical stories.

Try "Master and God" or "A Course of Honour" if you want more of her writing without the boring attempt at a female repeat of the very enjoyable Falco series.