REVIEW: There Will Be Bodies: A Flavia Albia Novel by Lindsey Davis
A decade after the destructive eruption, Flavia Albia finds herself investigating family secrets and possible crimes buried in the ash of Mount Vesuvius.
In first century Rome, Flavia Albia—daughter and successor to Marcus Didius Falco—is once again faced with uncovering the truth. Quite literally. Only ten year’s previous, Mount Vesuvius erupted and rained ash down about the Roman cities and towns along the Bay of Naples. But while some cities were destroyed, others were merely badly damaged. And the uncle of Flavia Albia’s husband seizes the opportunity to buy a villa…cheap! It just has to be dug out of the ash, and restored. Oh, and any bodies uncovered, including the previous owner, given a proper burial.
And as the Villa is being renovated, there are indeed bodies found. But one is not like the others—instead of buried in the ash, the previous owner’s body is found in a locked storeroom and Albia is immediately suspicious that he didn’t die in the eruption. With suspicious caretakers, a large inheritance, untrustworthy friends and a Sicilian pirate sniffing around, Albia must solve the riddle of a long ago death, maybe murder, to prevent another one.
CW/TW – attempted sexual assault, descriptions of victims of Vesuvian eruption and how they died.
Dear Ms. Davis,
Yes, indeed there are bodies. Some expected, some unfortunate, and some tragic and Albia will not only need to work out who killed whom and why but also dodge a kidnapper in the bargain. A busy private investigator’s job is never done.
Anyone who knows a trade or owns a truck has likely been asked – sometimes demanded – to pitch in and help a relative. Poor Tiberius, his work crew, and Albia find themselves digging out a villa that ten years ago was in the line of fire when Vesuvius erupted. Stabiae wasn’t the worst hit but this villa was blanketed with ash and has been left for ten years. The owner’s body is one they’ve been asked to look out for but the first ones found are the villa watchdog and an old horse. Shockingly, three adult slaves and a small child are found as well in distressing circumstances. Then the owner’s corpse is located and little about it makes sense.
To add to the mix, the owner’s sister appears to have lost her wits and Albia sees two Vigiles she knows who clue her in that something else is going on in town. Who did what to whom, why, and will the goddess Fortuna smile on Albia’s efforts or trip her up?
As with many of Flavia Albia’s investigations, she often has no idea how many bodies and crimes will need to be solved. Many things might initially appear to be unconnected and there are clues and details everywhere. By the end, everything gets tied together and makes sense but along the way, red herrings and diverse possibilities will be entertained. We also get to see the love between Albia and Tiberius deepening.
There’s also a wealth of information about life in the reign of Domitian whom Albia despises. The various strata of society are there from wealthy Roman businessmen, a former aedile and his wife – the adopted daughter of an equestrian rank family, two dodgy siblings, a possible pirate, a sniffy temple priestess, a missing military man, and several slaves who didn’t deserve the end they got.
Albia is often fearless where perhaps she ought to at least exercise caution and tip off Tiberius to where she’s going and when she might return home. She takes no guff from most everyone and can dish it out when needed. Witnesses are often slippery and public ceremonies are prime events to watch families go at each other while snaffling dainties and nuts. There are enough clues to follow along at home while not giving the game away too early and ruining the fun. And from something that is casually slipped into the afterward, I can’t wait for what might happen in the next book. B
~Jayne
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