Looking for a good read? Here is a recommendation. I have an unusual approach to reviewing books. I review books I feel merit a review. Each review is an opportunity to recommend a book. If I do not think a book is worth reading, I find another book to review. You do not have to agree with everything every author has written (I do not), but the fiction I review is entertaining (and often thought-provoking) and the non-fiction contain ideas worth reading.
Book Review
Who’s Killing the Actors of Rome?
Reviewed by Mark Lardas
August 7, 2022
“Desperate Undertaking,” by Lindsey Davis, Minotaur Books, 2022, 352 pages, $27.99 (Hardcover), $14.99 (Ebook)
In 1989 Lindsey Davis first wrote about the adventures of Marcus Didius Falco, a Roman informer (private investigator) in First Century AD Ancient Rome. After 20 novels Falco aged out. Davis continued introduced a new line of mystery novels featuring Falco’s adopted daughter, Flavia Albia as the invrestigator.
“Desperate Undertaking,” by Lindsey Davis is the tenth Flavia Albia novel. It starts at Saturnalia. Domitian is Emperor. Falco is off out of Rome, celebrating the season. Flavia Albia is holding down the fort at Falco’s auction house.
When an old acquaintance of Falco shows up, seeking to hire Falco for an investigation, Albia does what Falco taught her to do and would expect her to do. She poaches his client, convincing the man to hire her for the investigation. Chremes runs a theatrical troupe with his wife Phrygia. He was murdered in a particularly gruesome way, crucified, mimicking the final scene of the play Laureolas. (The play ends with the death by crucifixion of the main character, usually played by a condemned criminal. Theater in Ancient Rome was a full-contact sport.)
Albia agrees to investigate hoping to be paid by the dead man’s spouse. Before Albia can meet her, she ends up dead, too, killed in an equally theatrical manner mimicking the death scene from another play. Soon others are being killed in a similar manner. Their deaths are taken from scenes in different Roman plays. Those dying are associated in some way with the acting troupe run by Chremes and Phrygia.
The murders take preparation and effort. The humiliating and painful ways the victims meet their deaths indicates the killer (or killers – whoever is organizing these deaths needs assistance) have a deep-felt grudge against the victims. Albia believes the motive lies in the mutual past of all the dead. Something happened when they were in the Eastern Mediterranean. If she can find out what she can find out whom. The problem is those that might know are dying before Albia can question them. And whomever is behind this may be going after Albia, too, to stop her investigation.
“Desperate Undertaking” may be the most elaborate mystery yet written by Lindsey Davis. It brings characters from her past novels into the story, adding charm for long-time readers. It delivers a fast-paced and exciting story. If you have read and enjoyed Falco and Flavia Albia’s past adventures, you will like this one.
Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City. His website is marklardas.com.