The Ides of April

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The Ides of April
Ides of April cover.jpg
Front cover of UK hardback
Author Lindsey Davis
CountryUK
Series Flavia Albia (Falco: The New Generation)
Genre historical mystery, crime novel
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Publication date
11 April 2013
Pages356
ISBN 978-1-4447-5581-7
Followed by Enemies at Home  

The Ides of April is a 2013 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the first book in the Flavia Albia Mysteries (Falco: The New Generation). [1] [2] Set in March and April AD 89, in the Aventine Hill area of Ancient Rome, the novel stars Flavia Albia, the British-born adopted daughter of Marcus Didius Falco (the hero of the author's 20-volume Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series, published from 1989 to 2010). [3] Albia, a widow, works as a "delatrix" (detective or private informer) in ancient Rome, like Falco. The book's front cover image depicts a small glass pot and a needle dipped in blood. It carries the strapline, "Falco: The New Generation".

Contents

Connections to the Falco series

Falco and his partner Helena are included in the "Cast list" in the book, and Flavia Albia describes them and their household and visits them during the course of the story, but they do not appear directly in the text. Helena's two brothers are mentioned as being lawyers. Falco's old friend Petro is not mentioned in the cast list, but is referred to as Flavia Albia's "uncle" in the text.

Falco's young brother Postumus, the result of Thalia's pregnancy in Nemesis , is now an awkward 11-year-old, who appears in the book.

Flavia Albia uses Falco's old apartment in Fountain Court as her office, and lives elsewhere in the same building. In Enemies at Home , it is revealed that the Didii bought over the Fountain Court block, possibly from Smaractus, Falco's former landlord.

Reception

The Irish Times reviewer wrote: "Irreverent, resourceful and hard-boiled in her patter, Flavia is a heroine to rival her contemporary counterparts VI Warshawski and Kinsey Milhone." [4] Tom Holland reviewed the book for The Guardian [5] and ended:

"If you want to see the worst manners, filthiest motives and saddest ethics," [Albia] says of her own line of work, "this is the profession." Thankfully, though – and as ever with a Davis novel – the narration of these horrors is done so delightfully that the final impression is curiously warm and uplifting.

— Tom Holland, The Guardian

Debra Craine, writing in The Times , included The Ides of April in her list of ten "best crime novels by women since 2000". [6]

Related Research Articles

Lindsey Davis is an English historical novelist, best known as the author of the Falco series of historical crime stories set in ancient Rome and its empire. She is a recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger award.

<i>Time to Depart</i>

Time to Depart is a 1995 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the seventh book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome during AD 72, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, an informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the law which stated that no Roman citizen who had been sentenced to death might be arrested, even after the verdict, until he has been given time to depart, the idea being that for a Roman citizen to choose exile outside the boundaries of the Empire would have been a fate worse than death itself.

<i>Three Hands in the Fountain</i>

Three Hands in the Fountain is a 1997 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the ninth book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome between August and October, AD 73, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The title alludes to the song "Three Coins in the Fountain" as well as to the macabre discovery which triggers Falco's investigation.

<i>The Silver Pigs</i>

The Silver Pigs is a 1989 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the first book in the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome and Britannia during AD 70, just after the year of the four emperors, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The book's title refers to 200-pound lead ingots "pigs" filled with silver ore and stolen from Roman Britain, which feature prominently in the plot.

<i>Venus in Copper</i>

Venus in Copper is a 1991 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the third book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome during AD 71, just after the year of the four emperors, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The copper of the title refers to a simple copper signet ring featuring a portrait of Venus, worn by the suspect Severina Zotica. That Venus was the goddess of love hints at the motives for some of the murders perpetrated by the suspect: revenge out of unrequited love.

<i>Two for the Lions</i>

Two for the Lions is a 1998 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the 10th book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome and Tripolitania between December AD 73 and May AD 74, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the execution of criminals in the arena, by trained lions.

<i>See Delphi and Die</i>

See Delphi and Die is a 2005 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the 17th book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome and Roman Greece between September and October AD 76, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. As with many of the other Falco novels, See Delphi and Die uses a "modern" idea – in this case, the holiday package tour – as a device around which to build the story. The title refers to the deaths which take place at tourist attractions in Ancient Greece, including the sanctuary at Delphi, while paraphrasing Goethe's "See Naples and die", which refers to the grandeur of the capital of the Two Sicilies under the House of Bourbon; it also refers to a quote by one of the characters in the novel, addressed to Falco, as well as summarizes the fate of another character.

<i>The Jupiter Myth</i>

The Jupiter Myth is a 2002 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the 14th book in the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Londinium, Britannia in August AD 75, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the use of Jupiter-related mythology by the crime syndicate to identify businesses associated with them.

<i>One Virgin Too Many</i>

One Virgin Too Many is a 1999 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the 11th book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome between 27 May and 7 June AD 74, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the Vestal Virgins lottery that is a key plot device.

<i>Ode to a Banker</i>

Ode to a Banker is a 2000 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the 12th book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Rome between July and August AD 74, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The title refers to both the poetry that leads Falco to the Chrysippus scriptorum and to the bank that is the Chrysippus family's other business.

<i>The Accusers</i>

The Accusers is a 2003 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the 15th book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Ancient Rome between Autumn AD 75 and Spring AD 76, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the role of accusers in bringing the various cases to trial during the course of the story.

<i>Saturnalia</i> (Davis novel) 2007 book by Lindsey Davis

Saturnalia is a 2007 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the 18th book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Ancient Rome, the novel's central character and narrator is Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the Saturnalia feast held annually on 17 December, at which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn. Over the years, it expanded to a whole week, up to 23 December.

<i>Alexandria</i> (novel)

Alexandria is a 2009 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the 19th book in her Marcus Didius Falco series. Set in Egypt and Ancient Rome, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. The title refers to the setting where the deaths occur.

<i>Nemesis</i> (Davis novel)

Nemesis is a 2009 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the 20th book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in Latium during AD 77, the novel stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent. In Ancient Greece and Rome, Nemesis was the spirit of divine retribution against those who had succumbed to hubris. In the book, Falco is warned by Anacrites, the Imperial Chief Spy, to be wary of Nemesis following Falco's inheritance of his father's sizeable fortune, while the Claudii, the novel's primary antagonists who meet unpleasant endings, are revealed to have fallen foul of their hubris.

<i>Enemies at Home</i>

Enemies at Home is a 2014 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the second book of the Flavia Alba Mysteries series. Set in Ancient Rome beginning in June AD 89, two months after the events of The Ides of April (2013), the novel stars Flavia Albia, the British-born adopted daughter of Marcus Didius Falco. Albia, a widow, works as a "delatrix" in ancient Rome, like Falco. The book's cover bears an image of two silver cups, one toppled, and a broken rope. It carries the strapline: "A Flavia Albia Novel".

<i>Deadly Election</i>

Deadly Election is a 2015 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the third book in the Flavia Albia Mysteries series. Set in Ancient Rome, the novel stars Flavia Albia, the British-born adopted daughter of Marcus Didius Falco. Albia, a widow, works as a "delatrix" in ancient Rome, like Falco. In the UK, the book's cover carries the strapline: "A Flavia Alba Novel".

<i>The Graveyard of the Hesperides</i>

The Graveyard of the Hesperides is a 2016 historical mystery crime novel by Lindsey Davis and the fourth book in the Flavia Albia Mysteries series. The novel stars Flavia Albia, the British-born adopted daughter of Marcus Didius Falco. Albia, a widow, works as a "delatrix" in ancient Rome, like Falco.

<i>The Third Nero</i>

The Third Nero: or Never Say Nero Again is a historical novel by British writer Lindsey Davis, the fifth in her Flavia Albia series. It was first published in the UK on 6 April 2017 by Hodder & Stoughton (ISBN 978-1-473-61343-0) and in the United States in 2017 by St. Martin's Press.

Domitian was Roman emperor from 81 to 96 AD.

<i>A Comedy of Terrors</i> 2021 historical novel by Lindsey Davis

A Comedy of Terrors is a historical novel by British writer Lindsey Davis, the ninth in her Flavia Albia series. It was published in the UK on 1 April 2021 by Hodder & Stoughton (ISBN 9781529374322) and is scheduled to be published in the United States on 27 July 2021 by Minotaur Books (ISBN 978-1250241542).

References

  1. ↑ Davis, Lindsey (June 11, 2013). The Ides of April (Flavia Albia Mysteries) (Flavia Albia Mystery) (Unabridged ed.). AudioGO. ISBN   978-1482100792.
  2. ↑ Davis, Lindsey (2013). The Ides of April (Paperback ed.). ASIN   B011T71VXC.
  3. ↑ Davies, Lindsey (2013). The Ides of April. Hodder & Stoughton. p.  1. ISBN   978-1444755817.
  4. ↑ Burke, Declan (13 April 2013). "Life and death on the mean streets of ancient Rome". The Irish Times . Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  5. ↑ Holland, Tom (9 May 2013). "The Ides of April by Lindsey Davis – review". The Guardian . Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  6. ↑ Craine, Debra (28 April 2020). "The best crime novels by women since 2000". The Times. Retrieved 9 October 2020.

Further reading

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