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A Comedy of Terrors

The Sunday Times Crime Club Star Pick

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A Comedy of Terrors

By: Lindsey Davis
Narrated by: Jane Collingwood
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About this listen

 The next book in the thrilling Flavia Albia series, by acclaimed author Lindsey Davis.

Saturnalia, the Romans' mid-December feast, nominally to celebrate the sun's rebirth but invariably a drunken riot. Flavia Albia needs a case to investigate, but all work is paused.

The Aventine is full of fracturing families. Wives plot to leave their husbands, husbands plot to spend more time with their mistresses. Masters must endure slaves taking obscene liberties, while aggressive slaves are learning to ape dangerous masters. But no one wants to hire an investigator during the holiday.

Albia is lumped with her own domestic stress: overexcited children and bilious guests, too many practical jokes, and her magistrate husband Tiberius preoccupied with local strife. He fears a Nut War. Nuts are both the snack and missile of choice of tipsy celebrants, so there is a fortune to be made. This year a hustling gang from the past is horning in on the action.

As the deadly menace strikes even close to home, and with law and order paused for partying, Albia and Tiberius must go it alone. The Emperor has promised the people a spectacular entertainment - but Domitian himself is a target for the old criminals' new schemes. Can the Undying Sun survive the winter solstice, or will criminal darkness descend upon Rome?

(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd©2021 Lindsey Davis Ancient Historical Historical Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery Marriage Crime Fiction Exciting Rome

Critic reviews

a riotous mystery set in AD89
Lighthearted, witty and effortlessly clever, just like its wonderful heroine, this is a window into ancient Rome, and a tonic and a joy to read
It positively crackles with knowledge of the city and its people, mixed with social comment, ingenious and bloody plots and sharp observational skills leavened by more than a smattering of genuine and sometimes earthy humour
All stars
Most relevant
Oh dear, so many violent deaths, mostly by fire. Decapitated sheep, poisonous nuts, whole families burnt alive, incest. Not the humour I have come to expect from Lindsay Davis.

Violence in ancient Rome

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can't wait to hear more of the adventures of Favia Albia and her aedile

another winner

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This instalment in the Flavia Albia series is Rome-centric. It being Saturnalia much is made of the antics that the season provides both in private households and Rome generally. I found this novel a cross between involving significant domestics and growing criminal threats with Albia’s history being raised in our awareness. I wonder whether part of this is a key stage in the story-arc of the series. There is much fun despite the deaths and with an energetic unravelling of the knots of mystery. Many will find the internal musings of Flavia Albia attractive and the way she deals with a wide range of people which is a key draw in this popular series. She is a very different mistress of the house as compared to her adopting mother, Helena. Albia’s partner appears more him old self. All positives said, I found this novel began to slow after a while before picking up. The audio-book is very well performed and it is understandable that the performer is now the regular choice to breathe life into this series of Lindsey Davis’ novels and Flavia Albia in particular. Io, Saturnalia! I am fully committed to this series and look forward to each and every title.

Domestics and Villains - What a Mix

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I have read or listened to all the Falco and Flavia Alba books and enjoyed all
of them. I love the attention to detail of the history of the times, and that the people in them have the attitudes of the time and not the 21st century, which is a huge mistake too many historical authors make. The narration is excellent as always and brings the whole thing to life.

Love this series

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Absolutely immerses you in a Rome that is Rome but is also modern day, brilliantly read.

Really really clever

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