There Will Be Bodies: A Flavia Albia Novel by Lindsey Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book in the series to take place out of Rome. I admit I rather enjoyed that! Falco & Helena Justina used to leave Rome every once in a while, which seemed to give the reader (and I suspect the writer) a much needed change of pace.
This time, Flavia Albia and Manlius Faustus are tasked by his uncle Tullius to clear a property that he just purchased sight unseen. Said property was damaged when Vesuvius erupted 10 years earlier.
Needless to say, bodies were found, mysteries were discovered, and to no one’s surprise, Flavia Albia is caught up in the search for the truth of what happened.
I enjoyed spending more time with Faustus’ workmen. I also enjoyed the folks who journeyed with them to the villa, and who came along later. Most of all, I enjoyed Faustus and Albia together. We get a look at a solid partnership, much like Falco and Helena’s.
I always enjoy the epilogues. Ms. Davis has a wonderful habit of dropping pebbles throughout her books about many things but it is in the epilogues that she provides a glimpse into the future. I admit I am often caught off guard by the realization that these books, as with the Falco series, are memoirs written many years after the fact.
It was heartbreaking to learn of the impact the volcano’s eruption had not only on Falco but the rest of the family. Albia’s recollections filled out what little we had learned about Falco heading to Pompeii to find his nephew and family only to return empty handed and broken hearted. She had accompanied her father, seeing the destruction at the time and now the ravages 10 years after.
I find myself pondering Suza’s recovery from her adventures i the prior book. Dromo might actually be maturing. A bit. Maybe. How many children???
Looking forward to an audiobook I hope will be coming soon. As much as I enjoy reading these books, I prefer to listen to them!
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From The Reading Table: There Will be Bodies
