The Ides of April

By: Lindsey Davis

Narrated by: Lucy Brown

Length: 11 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Flavia Albia is the adopted daughter of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina. From her mother, she learned how to blend in at all levels of society; from her father, she learned the tricks of their mutual professional trade. But her wits and (frequently) sharp tongue are hers alone.

Now, working as a private informer in Rome during the reign of Domitian, Flavia has taken over her father’s old ramshackle digs at Fountain Court in the Surbura district, where she plies her trade with energy, determination, and the usual Falco luck. Recently hired to help investigate a fatal accident, she finds herself stuck with a truly awful person for a client and facing a well-heeled, well-connected opponent.

That is, until her client unexpectedly dies under what might be called “suspicious circumstances.” While this is not a huge loss for society, it is a loss for Flavia Albia’s pocket. Even worse, it’s just one of a series of similar deaths for which she now finds herself under suspicion. Before things go from abysmal to worse, Flavia must sort out what is happening, and who is responsible.

©2013 Lindsey Davis (P)2013 AudioGO

Best narrator

Wish all my audible books were narrated by this woman, very expressive , wonderful. Makes you feel like you're there.

She’s wonderful

I was afraid of Flavia Alba because I loved Falco so much. She’s every bit her own person and every bit as wonderful. I’m glad I finally succumbed

Pretty good

I enjoyed the book quite a bit and the mystery case was intriguing
Narration was also good

Not Falco, but so what…

I don’t find too many authors with voices (written voice, not physically reading) I really enjoy, but Davis could probably write a dictionary and I’d enjoy it. Although it name checked Falco and the others from earlier books a few times this was fresh and new. Well done, keep up the good work.

Domitian and Aedile

The Ides of April was a bit underwhelming coming right off of reading the Falco series. The mystery was pretty basic and Lindsey Davis seems to be a bit too caught up in romantic/sexual encounters for Flavia. Still, if you like Falco, you'll probably like Flavia and I have hopes the future books will be a bit less simplistic and Flavia will show a bit more intelligence.

One trigger warning: The ancient Romans were a cruel and brutal people and their cruelty definitely extended to both wild and domesticated animals. I think Lindsey Davis occasionally went over the top in her detailed descriptions of animal cruelties in some of the Falco books. The Ides of April is another one of those. There were a few sections I had to FF due to graphic description of animal torture.

Lucy Brown is OK as the narrator. I found her over-enunciated, aristocratic British accent sort of pulled me out of a story set in ancient Rome with a main protagonist who is definitely not upper class. I can probably get used to that in future books, but I'm never going to be OK with her mispronunciation of AEDILE and DOMITIAN. Both words used frequently and mispronounced every time. Why do the narrators not check this and why do the audio producers let those glaring errors stand?

I'm not sure, but I suspect that Flavia will be more appreciated by those who have read some of the Falco books first.

Nice start to the new series

I am amazed at some of the reviews slamming this. I thought much of the criticism I justifies. I think the personality was good and not at all whining or just looking for sex as someone intimated. I am sure she will continue to develop as a character. I do also hope to see Marcus Didius make a few quick appearances along the way.

Prefer dead old dad

I purchased this as I love the Falco stories. Sadly, this lacks the humor. Perhaps it's because Falco is such a clearly drawn "character" (in more ways than just one) that a young female just can't compete with him. This isn't a mystery - I knew from the get go who the murderer was, what would be his uh downfall and what the mistaken identity was. I don't recall the Falco stories as being so transparent, but even if they were the stories were just plain fun. In this one, whenever she went to her parents house I'd think "Great, now the story will get more lively" but alas, Falco is not permitted an appearance. The reader was OK....I just miss Falco and the person who reads those books is terrific - just the right amount of dry humor. I think, if you've not read any of Davis' other Roman stories, this would probably work just fine, but for me, I'm just hoping we get to hear from dear old "pa" Falco in the near future.

Lindsay Davis wonderful again

Am a fan of Lindsay Davis' way of weaving in her historical research AND the interesting mysteries she imagines.

THANKFULLY none of the blood and guts we find in the sometimes ghastly War Enactor writers books. Those books do have their place and I have listened to my share but am utterly fed up with them.

That being said, YES - Rome conquered mostly in not 'nice' ways but there was way more to life back in those days than conquering.

While no one really knows the inner thoughts and day to day lives of any of the of folks back in the Days of Rome we can infer - and that is exactly what Lindsey Davis has done. People are people and much of the Western World's present is based on Roman Past & its influence for good or ill so it's not too jarring to have modern interpretation and vocabulary woven in.

NOTE to Latin language & Roman History Purists > You do not have to listen to these books if they will cause gnashing of teeth :) If you do find you are gnashing your teeth - either find a dentist and get good tooth guards or find a shrink and learn to just let it flow. For everyone else - you will understand how interesting and fun this book and others by Lindsey Davis was & hopefully will continue to be.

I enjoyed the narration. Spoken with the right touch of humor we came to know in the FALCO series. ALSO the Audio recording was first class! SOUND was good and even. Hope we can keep this narrator.

Mildly disappointed in this book.

I loved the Falco series. That might be the reason that I am disappointed with Ides of April. I find that I was disappointed in the character of Albia, and didn't really like her. She makes snap judgements about people, often disparaging ones, and justifies them based on her 'training' as an informer. I kept thinking " Falco wouldn't have taught her that..." Half the story she is trying to make it in a man's world, and is frustrated about not being treated as an equal (an opinion I think is totally justified in the world of ancient rome), but then she spends the rest of the time gushing about the love interest (who she has only known for a couple of days) like she is a love-struck teenager. Having gotten to know her character in the Falco series, I found I really didn't care for the adult she had become. Hopefully any future books in this series will feature a less petty heroine.

I think that this book might be best enjoyed by someone who hasn't read the Falco series. The mystery is pretty good, and I enjoyed listening to the twists and turns in the plot. I think, though, that it is probably best enjoyed without any prior knowledge of Marcus Didius Falco.

Narrator is Fine; Storyline Sucks

The narrator has a pleasant, even
-toned voice with good inflection. The storyline and writing, however, drags considerably. The plot is tempting until you get into the book and realize that all of the details are told to you; the immediate love interest, the tiny issue that is nothing but will turn out to be The Solution later, character's attitudes, the surroundings... Nothing is left to mystery except who actually committed the crime. The writing is bland. The author has yet to master the Show-Don't-Tell method to build the story, rather than iterating facts that plod along.
I made it to chapter 6 before I needed something else that provided stimulation.