The Third Nero

Starred review from May 22, 2017
Davis has never been better at using actual political turmoil in the service of a page-turning plot than in her fifth novel set in first-century Rome featuring freelance investigator Flavia Alba (after 2016’s The Graveyard of the Hesperides). On the day of Flavia’s wedding to Tiberius Manlius Faustus, “a sweet and serious person,” a lightning strike seriously injures Tiberius and kills three other men. As Flavia contemplates adapting to a new and unwelcome reality with a bedridden husband, bureaucrat Claudius Philippus approaches her with an extremely sensitive assignment: Emperor Domitian, who’s notorious for having perceived enemies executed without hesitation, has recently ordered the deaths of two provincial governors. Both men may have supported another governor who attempted to wrest the throne away from Domitian, and Philippus asks Flavia to find proof that the emperor’s suspicions are warranted. Meanwhile, three pretenders passing themselves off as the resurrected Nero threaten Domitian as well. Davis successfully maintains a high level of tension throughout.

June 1, 2017
While tending her injured husband, tireless Roman "informer" Flavia Albia (The Graveyard of the Hesperides, 2016, etc.) comes to the emperor's aid in exposing a pretender to the throne. Or is he?Rome, 89 C.E.: the wedding day of sardonic narrator Flavia Albia is certainly memorable. During the traditional procession from her father's home to that of her betrothed, a bolt of lightning strikes her beloved Tiberius. Throughout the ensuing months, the bride tends the recovering bridegroom and puts off increasingly aggressive creditors. Her agent, Philippus, finds a dicey commission that Flavia's situation makes it impossible to refuse. A year ago, provincial governor Saturninus led a failed revolt. The Emperor Domitian, away defending the borders, is understandably wary and wants a good report. And, oh yes, can Flavia also check into reports of a "third False Nero" who is rallying support for his bid to oust the emperor? Someone pretending to be the beloved (albeit loopy) dead emperor has twice before attempted a coup, and the living emperor waxes impatient. Flavia finds little residual resentment from the rebels Saturninus led but gets an earful about the False Nero and his potent threat. Matters become complicated for Flavia when she's asked to interview the now imprisoned False Nero and even more so when a murder is announced. Maps and a detailed cast of characters again help the reader keep similarly named suspects and secondary personages straight. The Roman sleuth's fifth case rambles in its opening chapters, running mostly on the charm of its heroine, until the plot settles into a murder probe.

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June 1, 2017
It is 90 CE. The tyrannical Emperor Domitian is totally paranoid, seeking out alleged conspirators for execution, and those he believes have insulted him for retribution. One of his men hires Flavia Alba, daughter of Marcus Didius Falco, to help determine which of the perceived threats are legitimate. There is a very real False Nero problem. Men keep turning up, claiming to be the previous emperor. The latest, in from Parthia, is found dead before he can be questioned about who is engineering this plague of impostors. Flavia has agreed to step into the dung-heap of palace politics only because her new husband is still recovering from being hit by lightning at the conclusion of the previous book, The Graveyard of the Hesperides, 2016. Ancient Rome comes alive for the reader as Flavia triumphs once again in a riotous city full of Parthian archers with fiery arrows and a mad elephant on the loose. Much humor here, in Davis' inimitable style, but perhaps a tad too political for the politics-weary reader.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

March 1, 2017

Cartier Diamond Dagger winner Davis of Marcus Didius Falco fame offers her fifth entry on Falco's daughter Flavia Albia. With Emperor Domitian executing suspected traitors, Flavia has been asked to dig up more evidence of treachery. She's not thrilled, but she's got bills to pay.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2017

In her fifth outing (after The Graveyard of the Hespirides), PI Flavia Albia, the adopted daughter of Marcus Falco, is hired by henchmen of paranoid Emperor Domitian to root out those looking to overthrow him. She'd rather not get involved with court intrigue, but her fiance is unable to work after being struck by lightning. Complicating her investigation is another pretender to the throne claiming to be Nero. In a Rome that is full of suspicion, conspiracy, and treachery, Flavia struggles to keep her home life together while navigating a perilous world of political machinations. VERDICT As in her other mysteries, Davis has created a fascinating world, populated it with original characters, and laid out a captivating plot. Appropriate for teen readers and up, with only a few modest moments of a violent or sexual nature. [See Prepub Alert, 1/30/17.]--Matt Schirano, Univ. of Bridgeport Lib., CT

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.