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A Comedy of Terrors
- The Sunday Times Crime Club Star Pick
- Narrated by: Jane Collingwood
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
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A Comedy of Terrors
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Summary
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?
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What listeners say about A Comedy of Terrors
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Vaan
- 28-04-21
Love this series
I started the Falco series many years ago but lost interest. This series is really well narrated and good fun if sometimes a bit gruesome.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 11-07-21
another winner
can't wait to hear more of the adventures of Favia Albia and her aedile
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- OddTogs
- 25-01-23
Excellent
While there is a real sense of the old Falco magic here, Albia is really coming into her own.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 13-03-24
Domestics and Villains - What a Mix
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.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Tessa Smith
- 17-04-21
Violence in ancient Rome
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rosamund Mutton
- 30-04-21
up to usual standard
another exciting story about Flavia alba and her growing family. as ever, clever plots to keep you guessing
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 09-05-21
Love this series
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dragon
- 31-05-23
Interesting history, good whodunnit
I love the historical research in these books eg the inner workings of a Roman pie shop. I’m a nerd. Also love the romance involving Flavia Albia and her husband. I’ve been re-listening to this book through a tough time and it helps.
Thankyou Lindsay!
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Andrew
- 18-04-21
that's it I'm done...
this series is not getting any better, jolly hickey sticks narration reads like a famous five story and just as annoying, stories are dull and don't carry any thrill or mystery just plod along throwing in the occasional historical reference
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- AMcT
- 07-04-21
Rather Disappointing
I’m a huge Lindsey Davis fan - both of the Falco and Albia novels.
However, I found this one confusing because of the large cast of characters. Also, I usually learn interesting facts about Roman society from the books but felt that there was a lot of repetition in this one and no clear theme.
Albia is beginning to seem smug and annoying rather than confident. I admit that I’m sad to hear Falco and Petro sounding posh: I miss Christian Rodska and Anton Lesser.
I’ll continue to buy the books. Maybe it’s lockdown blues affecting my appreciation.
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4 people found this helpful