I’ve been a big fan of Lindsey Davis’s Falco series and over the years have recommended the books to family and friends. This series sees Falco’s adopted British daughter take up the mantel as a private investigater in a terror ridden Rome ruled over by Domitian. I have been a little more reticent about recommending this series. However, I did enjoy Pandora’s Boy and felt that the author is back on form. Lindsey Davis creates a very plausible scenario that has tragic consequences and the denouement came as a real surprise. The only relationship that jarred for me was the storyline around Tiberius. Falvia’s anxiety and grief at his disappearance was so well conveyed, his reappearance was a bit too convenient. With the return of the Emperor and the criminal gangesters, both of whom have reason to cause the Didii some serious problems; I am looking forward to the next book.

Thanks Hodder & Stoughton and netgalley for this ARC.

Lindsey Davis gives us what we love in this mystery. Flavia at her best/worst, Rome in all its glory decay, and a mystery that keeps on giving. Love this series, and will be a fan of Davis for life.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy of Pandora's Boy, the sixth novel to feature Flavia Albia, the first century Roman informer.

When Laia Gratiana, ex wife of Albia's husband Tiberius, comes to Albia with the offer of a new case she isn't interested until Tiberius goes missing and then she takes it on to stay busy. A 15 year old, Clodia, has been found dead in her bed. Her father accuses her mother and grandmother of giving her a love potion that kills her, they deny all knowledge. The investigation leads Albia into murkier waters than she had anticipated.

This is the first novel in this series that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot is satisfactorily complicated and Albia's sarcastic take on events, just like her father's, makes for an amusing read. The novel is preceded by an intimidatingly long cast list but it is easy to slot all the characters in place and not get lost, always an issue in novels with unfamiliar names. Ms Davis does an excellent job of introducing her characters, situating them in the plot and making them memorable so that the reader knows exactly what's what. Albia's voice and general take on events makes it all possible.

The plot, despite the setting, is suitably modern with gangsters, cons and dissolute youth. I liked seeing these perennial problems and how they're dealt with in another setting. It would seem that nothing much changes over the centuries. I followed Albia's investigation with interest as she interviewed and re-interviewed her suspects and witnesses, sorting the lies and wishful thinking from the truth. The heart of the plot, Clodia's death, is fairly simple but, then, it's not the main point of the novel which is these interviews, human frailty and nature, Roman life and a good dollop of humour. Plus ça change etc..

Pandora's Boy is an entertaining read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Behind the second-generation sleuth lie Davis's typically grumpy socio-political thoughts about the entitled young. Crime-boss families also make appearances with their own next-generation charmers. The plot is complex, but, at least for me, less convincing than Falco (the original sleuth).

unusually for me I did not get on with the new Davis novel - the cantankerous Flavia and vaguely irresponsive Tiberius tracking his ex-wife's criminal dilemma - just seemed almost formulaic this time around. Partially I am not a fan of anachronistic language and atmosphere .. but others may enjoy this sleuthing tale - I just found some of the relationships also inconsistent .. and I was not grabbed as I normally am with David novels. It's perfectly professional etc. just 'tired' (for me).