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Flavia Albia #13
There Will Be Bodies
Ten years after the eruption of Vesuvius, the surrounding countryside lies buried and barren. But the destroyed cities and luxury villas on the Bay of Naples are not utterly lost.
Flavia Albia and her husband Tiberius Manlius are tasked with restoring one villa and identifying any surviving remains.
What they unearth is beyond disturbing. When the volcano erupted some people were left to their fate here, unable to escape. They included the previous owner, Publius Primus - laid out carefully and covered by falling ash.
Was Primus murdered? And, if so, why? Can Flavia Albia solve the mystery?
There Will Be Bodies looks beyond the well-known tragic events to what must have happened afterwards. It is the most intriguing crime novel of Lindsey Davis's long and celebrated career.
Flavia Albia and her husband Tiberius Manlius are tasked with restoring one villa and identifying any surviving remains.
What they unearth is beyond disturbing. When the volcano erupted some people were left to their fate here, unable to escape. They included the previous owner, Publius Primus - laid out carefully and covered by falling ash.
Was Primus murdered? And, if so, why? Can Flavia Albia solve the mystery?
There Will Be Bodies looks beyond the well-known tragic events to what must have happened afterwards. It is the most intriguing crime novel of Lindsey Davis's long and celebrated career.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2025
105 people are currently reading
4618 people want to read
About the author
Lindsey Davis
79 books1,497 followersLindsey Davis, historical novelist, was born in Birmingham, England in 1949. Having taken a degree in English literature at Oxford University (Lady Margaret Hall), she became a civil servant. She left the civil service after 13 years, and when a romantic novel she had written was runner up for the 1985 Georgette Heyer Historical Novel Prize, she decided to become a writer, writing at first romantic serials for the UK women's magazine Woman's Realm.
Her interest in history and archaeology led to her writing a historical novel about Vespasian and his lover Antonia Caenis (The Course of Honour), for which she couldn't find a publisher. She tried again, and her first novel featuring the Roman "detective", Marcus Didius Falco, The Silver Pigs, set in the same time period and published in 1989, was the start of her runaway success as a writer of historical whodunnits. A further nineteen Falco novels and Falco: The Official Companion have followed, as well as The Course of Honour, which was finally published in 1998. Rebels and Traitors, set in the period of the English Civil War, was published in September 2009. Davis has won many literary awards, and was honorary president of the Classical Association from 1997 to 1998.
Her interest in history and archaeology led to her writing a historical novel about Vespasian and his lover Antonia Caenis (The Course of Honour), for which she couldn't find a publisher. She tried again, and her first novel featuring the Roman "detective", Marcus Didius Falco, The Silver Pigs, set in the same time period and published in 1989, was the start of her runaway success as a writer of historical whodunnits. A further nineteen Falco novels and Falco: The Official Companion have followed, as well as The Course of Honour, which was finally published in 1998. Rebels and Traitors, set in the period of the English Civil War, was published in September 2009. Davis has won many literary awards, and was honorary president of the Classical Association from 1997 to 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
October 25, 2025
This very compelling historical Roman mystery is the 13th volume of the great "Flavia Albia" series.
At the front of the book you'll find some lines taken from Silvae 4 by Statius, and there's a very well-drawn map of the Bay of Neapolis, with the place called Stabiae as the heart of this mystery, and not to forget a List of Characters featuring in this story.
Storytelling is excellent, all characters come vividly to life in this tale about deception, family feuds and of course murder, even after a good ten years after the eruption of Vesuvius, while also the atmosphere of Roman villainy come superbly to the forefront in this greatly executed mystery.
This story is set in March, AD90, and the Bay of Neapolis is the place where the investigating events will be taken place by Flavia Albia, in much the same dogged and determined way as her adoptive father, the famous Marcus Didius Falco. (See my reviews of that series also, as well as all the other about Flavia Albia)
Flavia Albia and her husband Tiberius Manlius, who's a nephew of Tullius Icilius, and its on the Icilius's instructions that Tiberius Manlius and his household are instructed to restore a villa in Stabiae at the Bay of Neapolis more than ten years after the eruption of Vesuvius, and when while restoring it bodies will turn up dead, and most bodies will turn up as a violent death, especially the body of the former owner of the villa, Publius Primus, and so for Flavia Albia these criminal cases to investigate and to bring them to a satisfied conclusion for everybody concerned in the end.
What will follow is an intriguing and thrilling mystery, a book with a great and witty storyline and a superbly worked-out plot, and these factors combined will make this story such an enormous joy to read from start to finish.
Very much recommended, for this is another wonderful addition to this remarkable series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "An Excellent Secret Death Revealed"!
At the front of the book you'll find some lines taken from Silvae 4 by Statius, and there's a very well-drawn map of the Bay of Neapolis, with the place called Stabiae as the heart of this mystery, and not to forget a List of Characters featuring in this story.
Storytelling is excellent, all characters come vividly to life in this tale about deception, family feuds and of course murder, even after a good ten years after the eruption of Vesuvius, while also the atmosphere of Roman villainy come superbly to the forefront in this greatly executed mystery.
This story is set in March, AD90, and the Bay of Neapolis is the place where the investigating events will be taken place by Flavia Albia, in much the same dogged and determined way as her adoptive father, the famous Marcus Didius Falco. (See my reviews of that series also, as well as all the other about Flavia Albia)
Flavia Albia and her husband Tiberius Manlius, who's a nephew of Tullius Icilius, and its on the Icilius's instructions that Tiberius Manlius and his household are instructed to restore a villa in Stabiae at the Bay of Neapolis more than ten years after the eruption of Vesuvius, and when while restoring it bodies will turn up dead, and most bodies will turn up as a violent death, especially the body of the former owner of the villa, Publius Primus, and so for Flavia Albia these criminal cases to investigate and to bring them to a satisfied conclusion for everybody concerned in the end.
What will follow is an intriguing and thrilling mystery, a book with a great and witty storyline and a superbly worked-out plot, and these factors combined will make this story such an enormous joy to read from start to finish.
Very much recommended, for this is another wonderful addition to this remarkable series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "An Excellent Secret Death Revealed"!
July 21, 2025
Just A Simple Villa Clean Up, Not!
Tiberius Manlius's uncle, Tullius Icilius, hired him to dig out a piece of property he had just acquired in Stabiae. Mount Vesuvius buried it during its eruption ten years earlier. He expects that Tiberius, with his construction company, will clear out, i.e., excavate, the volcanic material and restore the villa. He gave them a budget for buying furniture and other requirements for his occupancy. He tells him that some people who lived there were missing after the eruption. The seller will pay for basic memorials for slaves, but the previous owner wants to hold a full funeral if his long-lost brother is discovered. From this start, an interesting story unfolds that leads to a most dangerous situation for Falvia Albia.
The main storyline consists of three threads. The first thread is the restoration of the Stabiae villa. While clearing the volcanic material, the title of the novel becomes true. First, a guard dog chained in his cubicle, a horse, and three shackled skeletons in a locked prison. The prison’s wood was carbonized, and indications that they died in the pyroclastic flow. Lastly, a person, who appeared to be the previous owner, was found in a storage shed. He seemed to have died before the eruption. The second thread starts here. Albia starts an informal investigation. Soon, the previous owner asks her officially to look into the death. While Tiberius and Albia are eating in a local shop, two vigiles from Rome recognize Albia and join them. While talking, they tell Tiberius and Albia that they are down here to protect their tribune, but he has gone partying and has not returned. This meeting is the start of the third thread, the search for the tribune. The reader will see this story through the eyes and thoughts of Albia as she narrates all the chapters. I call this pace of this novel a nice cosy mystery pace. The major problem is that after ten years, only the sister, currently suffering dementia, and two friends of he family remain. Those two claim not to know anything. All the slaves from that time are gone. As Albia works to solve this case, she must interview neighbors and townspeople to learn what they remember of what happened. Her investigation kept my interest engaged throughout the novel.
Having read every novel in which Flavia Albia was a character, there isn’t anything new that I recognized in this novel. Looking at her background through the eyes of someone who has not read this series extensively, the background provides a solid foundation for her actions. For me, the references to previous events were good refreshers to explain her current actions to me. I did enjoy seeing some background on Albia’s husband, Tiberius, through his uncle, who leaned on him for some free work. I feel that the background was adequate.
There just isn’t much in this novel that could stop any readers from reading. There are no intimate scenes. Vulgar words are almost non-existent. There is minimal violence, and it is pretty mild. As usual with Lindsey Davis novels, her use of archaic or little-used words gives the speech an ancient feeling. I used the dictionary extensively on my ereader and its easy Internet access to learned the meaning or more details of these words. I believe that a reader can read and enjoy reading this novel as the first novel or one of the earlier novels.
I have read all 20 Falco novels, the 11 previous Albia novels, some stand-alone novels, and short stories, so that I may be more tolerant of minor issues. But I did not find any in this novel. I did find much that I liked. Specifically, the high point in this novel for me was the use of the classic closed circle mystery reveal, although there were many more observers than usual. Lindsey Davis often plants Easter eggs in her novels. These have nothing to do with the storyline, but stop my reading, and I say, “What?” In this novel, she references Egyptian Bagpipes. I had to look that up and discovered that it is true. I also enjoyed the ending. The two twists provided a fascinating insight into two of the characters in this novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and eagerly await the next one. I highly recommend reading it. I rate this novel with five stars.
I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from Minotaur Books through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
Tiberius Manlius's uncle, Tullius Icilius, hired him to dig out a piece of property he had just acquired in Stabiae. Mount Vesuvius buried it during its eruption ten years earlier. He expects that Tiberius, with his construction company, will clear out, i.e., excavate, the volcanic material and restore the villa. He gave them a budget for buying furniture and other requirements for his occupancy. He tells him that some people who lived there were missing after the eruption. The seller will pay for basic memorials for slaves, but the previous owner wants to hold a full funeral if his long-lost brother is discovered. From this start, an interesting story unfolds that leads to a most dangerous situation for Falvia Albia.
The main storyline consists of three threads. The first thread is the restoration of the Stabiae villa. While clearing the volcanic material, the title of the novel becomes true. First, a guard dog chained in his cubicle, a horse, and three shackled skeletons in a locked prison. The prison’s wood was carbonized, and indications that they died in the pyroclastic flow. Lastly, a person, who appeared to be the previous owner, was found in a storage shed. He seemed to have died before the eruption. The second thread starts here. Albia starts an informal investigation. Soon, the previous owner asks her officially to look into the death. While Tiberius and Albia are eating in a local shop, two vigiles from Rome recognize Albia and join them. While talking, they tell Tiberius and Albia that they are down here to protect their tribune, but he has gone partying and has not returned. This meeting is the start of the third thread, the search for the tribune. The reader will see this story through the eyes and thoughts of Albia as she narrates all the chapters. I call this pace of this novel a nice cosy mystery pace. The major problem is that after ten years, only the sister, currently suffering dementia, and two friends of he family remain. Those two claim not to know anything. All the slaves from that time are gone. As Albia works to solve this case, she must interview neighbors and townspeople to learn what they remember of what happened. Her investigation kept my interest engaged throughout the novel.
Having read every novel in which Flavia Albia was a character, there isn’t anything new that I recognized in this novel. Looking at her background through the eyes of someone who has not read this series extensively, the background provides a solid foundation for her actions. For me, the references to previous events were good refreshers to explain her current actions to me. I did enjoy seeing some background on Albia’s husband, Tiberius, through his uncle, who leaned on him for some free work. I feel that the background was adequate.
There just isn’t much in this novel that could stop any readers from reading. There are no intimate scenes. Vulgar words are almost non-existent. There is minimal violence, and it is pretty mild. As usual with Lindsey Davis novels, her use of archaic or little-used words gives the speech an ancient feeling. I used the dictionary extensively on my ereader and its easy Internet access to learned the meaning or more details of these words. I believe that a reader can read and enjoy reading this novel as the first novel or one of the earlier novels.
I have read all 20 Falco novels, the 11 previous Albia novels, some stand-alone novels, and short stories, so that I may be more tolerant of minor issues. But I did not find any in this novel. I did find much that I liked. Specifically, the high point in this novel for me was the use of the classic closed circle mystery reveal, although there were many more observers than usual. Lindsey Davis often plants Easter eggs in her novels. These have nothing to do with the storyline, but stop my reading, and I say, “What?” In this novel, she references Egyptian Bagpipes. I had to look that up and discovered that it is true. I also enjoyed the ending. The two twists provided a fascinating insight into two of the characters in this novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and eagerly await the next one. I highly recommend reading it. I rate this novel with five stars.
I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from Minotaur Books through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.
June 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️¼ (3.25 stars)
A Roman-era detective mystery with strong female leads, tangled family drama, and a vivid historical setting.
Set ten years after the eruption of Vesuvius, They Will Be Bodies follows investigator Flavia Albia as she gets pulled into a case involving unearthed remains and a house with secrets. The historical detail is rich—daily Roman life, politics, and social structures are woven throughout—and Flavia is a clever, quietly rebellious main character.
I especially enjoyed the layered female characters and the messy family dynamics. That said, the Roman naming conventions (Primus, Secundus, etc.) made it a little confusing to track who was who, and the mystery followed a more traditional, Holmes-style structure—nothing too surprising, but still satisfying.
Even though this is the 13th book in a series, it reads fairly well on its own. If you’re in the mood for a slower-paced historical mystery with a unique setting and smart women navigating complex roles, this is a solid pick.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
A Roman-era detective mystery with strong female leads, tangled family drama, and a vivid historical setting.
Set ten years after the eruption of Vesuvius, They Will Be Bodies follows investigator Flavia Albia as she gets pulled into a case involving unearthed remains and a house with secrets. The historical detail is rich—daily Roman life, politics, and social structures are woven throughout—and Flavia is a clever, quietly rebellious main character.
I especially enjoyed the layered female characters and the messy family dynamics. That said, the Roman naming conventions (Primus, Secundus, etc.) made it a little confusing to track who was who, and the mystery followed a more traditional, Holmes-style structure—nothing too surprising, but still satisfying.
Even though this is the 13th book in a series, it reads fairly well on its own. If you’re in the mood for a slower-paced historical mystery with a unique setting and smart women navigating complex roles, this is a solid pick.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 7, 2025
As she did with Flavia Albia #12, Lindsey Davis returns here to the cracking form of the best of the Falco novels. Set in the ruins of the then-recent Vesuvius disaster, this one is fast-paced, funny and highly entertaining. Brava!
September 20, 2025
Another great entry in this long-running series.
The title is a direct quote from Tiberius (Albia's husband) to his building business's employees. His Uncle Tullius has purchased a holiday villa near the Bay of Naples, and dear uncle has hired his nephew and company to do the home renovation. Said villa has suffered some damage from the Vesuvius eruption that buried nearby Pompeii, but, with a little work, it can be made quite livable.
The original owner of the villa is 'missing' and hasn't been heard from in the 10 years since the eruption. Well, the owner's body is found; however, it is obvious that he died before the eruption. Could he have been murdered? And why were three slaves locked into a small room and abandoned there when the rest of the household fled to safety?
Fortunately, Albia accompanies her husband and is primed to do a bit of sleuthing. And she will be paid to do so by the town magistrate.
What follows is a lively story, with pirates, a little old lady, shady 'friends of the family', and a lot of skullduggery.
Great fun!
The epilogue had me thinking this might be the final book in the series. But no, coming next year is Murder in Purple and Gold. I am ready!
The title is a direct quote from Tiberius (Albia's husband) to his building business's employees. His Uncle Tullius has purchased a holiday villa near the Bay of Naples, and dear uncle has hired his nephew and company to do the home renovation. Said villa has suffered some damage from the Vesuvius eruption that buried nearby Pompeii, but, with a little work, it can be made quite livable.
The original owner of the villa is 'missing' and hasn't been heard from in the 10 years since the eruption. Well, the owner's body is found; however, it is obvious that he died before the eruption. Could he have been murdered? And why were three slaves locked into a small room and abandoned there when the rest of the household fled to safety?
Fortunately, Albia accompanies her husband and is primed to do a bit of sleuthing. And she will be paid to do so by the town magistrate.
What follows is a lively story, with pirates, a little old lady, shady 'friends of the family', and a lot of skullduggery.
Great fun!
The epilogue had me thinking this might be the final book in the series. But no, coming next year is Murder in Purple and Gold. I am ready!
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July 13, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
There Will Be Bodies by Lindsey Davis is a first person-POV historical mystery set in the Roman Empire after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Flavia’s uncle-in-law has purchased a villa that was impacted but not covered by the eruption, but a dead body is found and Flavia isn’t convinced that he died from the ashfall. She’ll need to find out what actually happened and fast.
When I requested this, I had never heard of the Flavia Albia series, so there might be bits and pieces of broader context that I am missing. Like most episodic mystery series, most things probably mentioned in previous books that the reader needs to know are mentioned in this book, so I never felt lost or like I was flying completely blind with this new cast of characters. I don’t think it’s necessary to go back to the very beginning of the series if a reader is really curious about There Will Be Bodies specifically, but if I could go back and do it again, I probably would start with the first book just so I can have all of the context.
The worldbuilding is very thorough as there is a lot of exploration of life during the time of the Roman Empire. There’s mentions of what other societies are doing, different ideas for contraception, the impact of Pompeii, oils, perfumes, food, and so much more. I can tell that a lot of research went into making the setting feel alive and real instead of just a backdrop. The worldbuilding was probably my favorite aspect as plot-based mysteries are not something I normally gravitate to, but I would return to the series for more of the setting.
One of the threads that comes up over and over is the fact that those who were enslaved by the previous owner were probably killed because they knew too much. Flavia recognizes that they were human beings and that one of them, Endymio, is stated to have tried to runaway multiple times. It’s not comfortable, but it does shed a light on how enslaved people were viewed in the Roman Empire while also humanizing and stating very clearly that their lives and experiences did also matter.
Content warning for mentions of enslavement and sexual assault
I would recommend this to fans of historical mysteries who are also interested in the Roman Empire and readers who like a lot of worldbuilding in their historicals
There Will Be Bodies by Lindsey Davis is a first person-POV historical mystery set in the Roman Empire after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Flavia’s uncle-in-law has purchased a villa that was impacted but not covered by the eruption, but a dead body is found and Flavia isn’t convinced that he died from the ashfall. She’ll need to find out what actually happened and fast.
When I requested this, I had never heard of the Flavia Albia series, so there might be bits and pieces of broader context that I am missing. Like most episodic mystery series, most things probably mentioned in previous books that the reader needs to know are mentioned in this book, so I never felt lost or like I was flying completely blind with this new cast of characters. I don’t think it’s necessary to go back to the very beginning of the series if a reader is really curious about There Will Be Bodies specifically, but if I could go back and do it again, I probably would start with the first book just so I can have all of the context.
The worldbuilding is very thorough as there is a lot of exploration of life during the time of the Roman Empire. There’s mentions of what other societies are doing, different ideas for contraception, the impact of Pompeii, oils, perfumes, food, and so much more. I can tell that a lot of research went into making the setting feel alive and real instead of just a backdrop. The worldbuilding was probably my favorite aspect as plot-based mysteries are not something I normally gravitate to, but I would return to the series for more of the setting.
One of the threads that comes up over and over is the fact that those who were enslaved by the previous owner were probably killed because they knew too much. Flavia recognizes that they were human beings and that one of them, Endymio, is stated to have tried to runaway multiple times. It’s not comfortable, but it does shed a light on how enslaved people were viewed in the Roman Empire while also humanizing and stating very clearly that their lives and experiences did also matter.
Content warning for mentions of enslavement and sexual assault
I would recommend this to fans of historical mysteries who are also interested in the Roman Empire and readers who like a lot of worldbuilding in their historicals
May 9, 2025
Another one of those remarkable books that I didn't know was apart of a series. Thankfully I did a little research by looking up the other books because I was very interested in reading it. So I will say that I was impressed but since there are other reviewers who have read the other books I will keep this brief.
The setting in set in ancient rome. Our main character and her husband end up traveling to an ancient city that has a lot of history. From there they uncover a lot of interesting finds. Overall i was very impressed by this book and I will be sure to check out the other books in this series.
I received a arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.
The setting in set in ancient rome. Our main character and her husband end up traveling to an ancient city that has a lot of history. From there they uncover a lot of interesting finds. Overall i was very impressed by this book and I will be sure to check out the other books in this series.
I received a arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.
August 20, 2025
There Will Be Bodies is the first Flavia Albia novel to not take place in Rome--instead, Tiberius and Albia are in Stabiae, southwest of Pompeii, cleaning out a villa that Tiberius's uncle has purchased. As the title suggests, they find multiple sets of skeletal remains, and it becomes apparent that the previous owner of the villa died before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
This was a fairly straightforward mystery (except for some Roman naming confusion with Primus and Secunda and Quinctia and the like) but I enjoyed Albia's Poirot-esque revelation at the end. While I liked getting to visit somewhere new, I did miss the Roman setting a little.
This was a fairly straightforward mystery (except for some Roman naming confusion with Primus and Secunda and Quinctia and the like) but I enjoyed Albia's Poirot-esque revelation at the end. While I liked getting to visit somewhere new, I did miss the Roman setting a little.
December 31, 2025
Another good mystery. Very evocative descriptions of Campania after the eruption.
November 27, 2025
I really enjoyed the story about Flavia Albia being placed in the Bay of Naples area following the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. It was nice to get out of Rome. Davis still is the queen of excellent research, and this volume gives lots of detailed information about Roman daily life. As an additional bonus, there is plenty of foreshadowing about what will happen in the next installment.
September 2, 2025
Yes, I have decided to give this 5 stars. And I've read all the Falco and all the Flavia Albia, so I think this might be only the 1st or 2nd that I gave more than 4. Truly a 4.5 stars throughout the read, yet it is pretty long and within enough circa 90 AD criteria to make the read difficult. Many terms, titles, and mechanics too not especially "known" by a 2025 reader.
But the plot was excellent, truly well done. And this is the Flavia that is finally and probably ultimately giving up her rather "kiss my ass" independence (at least half the time anyway) and deciding her partnerships are even more important and prime. It's taken a long while. Possibly her past plus her poor luck with husbands' health and accidents? Regardless, this husband is a gem. And she seems to know for sure now that he's a keeper. Until the next lightening strike anyway!
The scene is post-catastrophe, in Naples Bay 10 years after Vesvius has blown and destroyed (79 AD horrific demise of 1000's). Their task is to clean up a villa (high mount location down the coastline) at a farther location which was not completely leveled but may be able to be dug out and restored for Tiberius's uncle. His (Tiberius) Adele year is completed and he is in the building/real estate/contractor persuasions/ work. Boss, of course. All the favorite slaves and freedmen are here too. (Plus the dogs, of course Drax and Barley.) Dromo actually playing a bigger part, despite his stupidity in this one. And Falco's pursuits, training are giving Flavia huge help in the pirate's world or /and "after looting" of valuables businesses going around all the various decimated villages farther than Pompeii or Herculeum. Some of which stil have points "visible" to save. Yet do not forget that now you can do "knock offs" and call them originals too.
If you love archeology you will love the 5 star level of this one. Especially concerning baths, aqueducts, garden and plumbing fixtures etc. Just super entertaining for me to read. Almost as enjoyable as the bronze tub that Flavia uses here.
Much danger, lots of the usual (too much almost) hilarity of side remarks from all. Love, loved the development of Suza (Flavia's personal body slave). I remember the first time she was found as a 9 or 10 year old and rescued by the couple. Orphan of shriveled skin and standing water having an endless job shucking snail shells all day/night then; and now she is a teen ager with quite a depth of awareness. Not only for the liars or frivolous either. Better to best job too.
I could go SO long. But there is Petro's (Falco's police/vigiles' 4th Cohort buddy) offspring which play a huge role here as well (Flavia's first cousin in connection too, are you following). Musicians and army gents who want to be actors or players on stage too. Very fun mix, despite the horrific finds (5 bodies human, 1 dog, 1 horse etc.} Body remains left from the heat wave or choking ash bury? Or not at all? There are even some huge bodied Germanic house painters/restorers of fresco and a duo of frivolous vigiles (firemen) of the 7th Cohort waiting for further instructions from their kidnapped tribune. The tribune also becomes devoloped in superb depth over the length of this tale.
Fabulous formal Roman funeral too at conclusions. Great ending to "the case". But there is even an "afterwards" of 2 pages which gives clues that this might be the last Flavia Albia, or very close to it. Because it states a few facts from the period coming up as if they were in nostalgia memories. YOU DO KNOW that forgetting the "unguent" because of rescue circumstances of reunion will result in a BIG change for Flavia very soon. If it IS her last Flavia Albia or not? Lindsey Davis gets a career grade of 5 stars for me too. She was SO wise in starting the newer generation into its own path series. And both were filled with Rome as it was to a deluctible V stars. Brava! She is only a year younger than I am so if she wants to relax it is WELL DESERVED.
But the plot was excellent, truly well done. And this is the Flavia that is finally and probably ultimately giving up her rather "kiss my ass" independence (at least half the time anyway) and deciding her partnerships are even more important and prime. It's taken a long while. Possibly her past plus her poor luck with husbands' health and accidents? Regardless, this husband is a gem. And she seems to know for sure now that he's a keeper. Until the next lightening strike anyway!
The scene is post-catastrophe, in Naples Bay 10 years after Vesvius has blown and destroyed (79 AD horrific demise of 1000's). Their task is to clean up a villa (high mount location down the coastline) at a farther location which was not completely leveled but may be able to be dug out and restored for Tiberius's uncle. His (Tiberius) Adele year is completed and he is in the building/real estate/contractor persuasions/ work. Boss, of course. All the favorite slaves and freedmen are here too. (Plus the dogs, of course Drax and Barley.) Dromo actually playing a bigger part, despite his stupidity in this one. And Falco's pursuits, training are giving Flavia huge help in the pirate's world or /and "after looting" of valuables businesses going around all the various decimated villages farther than Pompeii or Herculeum. Some of which stil have points "visible" to save. Yet do not forget that now you can do "knock offs" and call them originals too.
If you love archeology you will love the 5 star level of this one. Especially concerning baths, aqueducts, garden and plumbing fixtures etc. Just super entertaining for me to read. Almost as enjoyable as the bronze tub that Flavia uses here.
Much danger, lots of the usual (too much almost) hilarity of side remarks from all. Love, loved the development of Suza (Flavia's personal body slave). I remember the first time she was found as a 9 or 10 year old and rescued by the couple. Orphan of shriveled skin and standing water having an endless job shucking snail shells all day/night then; and now she is a teen ager with quite a depth of awareness. Not only for the liars or frivolous either. Better to best job too.
I could go SO long. But there is Petro's (Falco's police/vigiles' 4th Cohort buddy) offspring which play a huge role here as well (Flavia's first cousin in connection too, are you following). Musicians and army gents who want to be actors or players on stage too. Very fun mix, despite the horrific finds (5 bodies human, 1 dog, 1 horse etc.} Body remains left from the heat wave or choking ash bury? Or not at all? There are even some huge bodied Germanic house painters/restorers of fresco and a duo of frivolous vigiles (firemen) of the 7th Cohort waiting for further instructions from their kidnapped tribune. The tribune also becomes devoloped in superb depth over the length of this tale.
Fabulous formal Roman funeral too at conclusions. Great ending to "the case". But there is even an "afterwards" of 2 pages which gives clues that this might be the last Flavia Albia, or very close to it. Because it states a few facts from the period coming up as if they were in nostalgia memories. YOU DO KNOW that forgetting the "unguent" because of rescue circumstances of reunion will result in a BIG change for Flavia very soon. If it IS her last Flavia Albia or not? Lindsey Davis gets a career grade of 5 stars for me too. She was SO wise in starting the newer generation into its own path series. And both were filled with Rome as it was to a deluctible V stars. Brava! She is only a year younger than I am so if she wants to relax it is WELL DESERVED.
September 2, 2025
There Will be Bodies is the next book in the Flavia Albia series, and while I found this one interesting due to the descriptions of the aftereffects of the Vesuvius eruption, I did find the actual mystery to be somewhat less compelling than in previous books and that there really wasn't much to the 'investigation'.
One of the things I truly do like about this series, and the concept does continue in this book, is the very layered discussions around women and their roles within the Roman Empire. A lot of this is done through Flavia's voice and I enjoy her sarcastic inner monologue with regards to what she sees and her interpretation of events compared to how the men are dealing with things. It is always interesting to see how she manipulates those around her to get what she wants; women have certainly developed some skilled negotiation/manipulation techniques over the years and the men don't even know what hit them. I have definitely become more cynical and sarcastic as I've grown older so I empathize with Flavia and the women during this time period who didn't have as much freedom as people would think and had to rely on men to make decisions for them, decisions they didn't necessarily agree with. The author uses Flavia's voice to discuss the problematic nature of women and other people who were struggling and this is definitely a strength to these novels.
While the descriptions of the aftermath of the eruption were wonderful and personally, I don't think I've read too many of those, the investigation itself was fairly predictable, and somewhat mundane. A lot of the actual investigative work got lost within the work Flavia and her husband were doing at the villa and if I hadn't read the previous entries to this series, I wouldn't have realized how shallow the investigation was compared to previous books. There were really no twists and turns and few attempts to try to deter the reader from figuring out the culprit and I was left feeling disappointed in how everything turned out.
There Will be Bodies is the first Flavia Albia book to have its setting outside Rome and I am still not sure how I feel about that although I was fascinated with the descriptions of the area around Vesuvius after the eruption. And while I enjoyed the descriptions of what Flavia and her husband were doing to restore the villa, the mystery itself was a disappointment as it was predictable and frankly, this was probably my least favourite of the series so far. If you are a new reader to this series, you could read this as a standalone, but I do recommend starting from the beginning to get a richer experience of the characters and their life. Even better, start with the Marcus Didius Falco series, the series about Flavia's father, to get the full immersive experience.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
One of the things I truly do like about this series, and the concept does continue in this book, is the very layered discussions around women and their roles within the Roman Empire. A lot of this is done through Flavia's voice and I enjoy her sarcastic inner monologue with regards to what she sees and her interpretation of events compared to how the men are dealing with things. It is always interesting to see how she manipulates those around her to get what she wants; women have certainly developed some skilled negotiation/manipulation techniques over the years and the men don't even know what hit them. I have definitely become more cynical and sarcastic as I've grown older so I empathize with Flavia and the women during this time period who didn't have as much freedom as people would think and had to rely on men to make decisions for them, decisions they didn't necessarily agree with. The author uses Flavia's voice to discuss the problematic nature of women and other people who were struggling and this is definitely a strength to these novels.
While the descriptions of the aftermath of the eruption were wonderful and personally, I don't think I've read too many of those, the investigation itself was fairly predictable, and somewhat mundane. A lot of the actual investigative work got lost within the work Flavia and her husband were doing at the villa and if I hadn't read the previous entries to this series, I wouldn't have realized how shallow the investigation was compared to previous books. There were really no twists and turns and few attempts to try to deter the reader from figuring out the culprit and I was left feeling disappointed in how everything turned out.
There Will be Bodies is the first Flavia Albia book to have its setting outside Rome and I am still not sure how I feel about that although I was fascinated with the descriptions of the area around Vesuvius after the eruption. And while I enjoyed the descriptions of what Flavia and her husband were doing to restore the villa, the mystery itself was a disappointment as it was predictable and frankly, this was probably my least favourite of the series so far. If you are a new reader to this series, you could read this as a standalone, but I do recommend starting from the beginning to get a richer experience of the characters and their life. Even better, start with the Marcus Didius Falco series, the series about Flavia's father, to get the full immersive experience.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
April 30, 2025
I'll start off by saying this is my favourite Flavia Albia novel to date (it's the 13th in the series) and I think that Lindsey Davis is finally finding Flavia's niche. Let's face it though, Falco is and impossible act to follow, and I've always felt the Flavia books, while always exciting, never quite equal the exploits of her dad. It might be simply that as a man Falco had more freedom and I always have to suspend my disbelief a little with a female PI in Ancient Rome, or simply the spheres in which Flavia operates are just less exciting than dodgy antiques, imperial spies and military cover-ups.
There Will be Bodies grabbed me from the get go however because of it's great premise. Faustus' uncle buys a villa in Pompeii (10 years after Vesuvius erupted) and Flavia & her husband are sent to renovate - They find the body of a master and three chained slaves - And while everyone assumed the main victim was lost during the chaos of Vesuvius, he of course was murdered and Flavia is hired to find out whodunit.
I adore the idea of a murder victim hidden amongst the Pompeii victims. I just wish more had been done with this - that the murder was more deliberate and the body actually hidden. The murder plot is the worst thing about this novel - ~It's so obvious whodunit - there's not even any real red herrings. It nearly dropped a star for being such a basic murder plot.
However I loved the premise and the setting. It's really funny as well as we get the antics of the family and building crew as they renovate this villa - Lindsey Davis really is the queen of evoking ordinary daily life in 1st century Ancient Rome. The characters and setting are both 5 stars. I found Flavia more believable in this one - she really fit, I liked her outspokenness and viewpoints and she gets kidnapped at one point which was a hoot.
Despite being a somewhat obvious murder plot, this stays on track, doesn't meander and has excellent pacing. I also ought to give a nod to the strong title, which made be pick this up before I even realised it was the latest Flavia novel.
This one's loads of fun and a wonderful insight into the lives of ordinary people in the aftermath of Pompeii.
There Will be Bodies grabbed me from the get go however because of it's great premise. Faustus' uncle buys a villa in Pompeii (10 years after Vesuvius erupted) and Flavia & her husband are sent to renovate - They find the body of a master and three chained slaves - And while everyone assumed the main victim was lost during the chaos of Vesuvius, he of course was murdered and Flavia is hired to find out whodunit.
I adore the idea of a murder victim hidden amongst the Pompeii victims. I just wish more had been done with this - that the murder was more deliberate and the body actually hidden. The murder plot is the worst thing about this novel - ~It's so obvious whodunit - there's not even any real red herrings. It nearly dropped a star for being such a basic murder plot.
However I loved the premise and the setting. It's really funny as well as we get the antics of the family and building crew as they renovate this villa - Lindsey Davis really is the queen of evoking ordinary daily life in 1st century Ancient Rome. The characters and setting are both 5 stars. I found Flavia more believable in this one - she really fit, I liked her outspokenness and viewpoints and she gets kidnapped at one point which was a hoot.
Despite being a somewhat obvious murder plot, this stays on track, doesn't meander and has excellent pacing. I also ought to give a nod to the strong title, which made be pick this up before I even realised it was the latest Flavia novel.
This one's loads of fun and a wonderful insight into the lives of ordinary people in the aftermath of Pompeii.
July 26, 2025
This is the first book in the series to take place out of Rome. I admit I rather enjoyed that! Falco & Helena Justina used to leave Rome every once in a while, which seemed to give the reader (and I suspect the writer) a much needed change of pace.
This time, Flavia Albia and Manlius Faustus are tasked by his uncle Tullius to clear a property that he just purchased sight unseen. Said property was damaged when Vesuvius erupted 10 years earlier.
Needless to say, bodies were found, mysteries were discovered, and to no one's surprise, Flavia Albia is caught up in the search for the truth of what happened.
I enjoyed spending more time with Faustus' workmen. I also enjoyed the folks who journeyed with them to the villa, and who came along later. Most of all, I enjoyed Faustus and Albia together. We get a look at a solid partnership, much like Falco and Helena's.
I always enjoy the epilogues. Ms. Davis has a wonderful habit of dropping pebbles throughout her books about many things but it is in the epilogues that she provides a glimpse into the future. I admit I am often caught off guard by the realization that these books, as with the Falco series, are memoirs written many years after the fact.
It was heartbreaking to learn of the impact the volcano's eruption had not only on Falco but the rest of the family. Albia's recollections filled out what little we had learned about Falco heading to Pompeii to find his nephew and family only to return empty handed and broken hearted. She had accompanied her father, seeing the destruction at the time and now the ravages 10 years after.
I find myself pondering Suza's recovery from her adventures i the prior book. Dromo might actually be maturing. A bit. Maybe. How many children???
Looking forward to an audiobook I hope will be coming soon. As much as I enjoy reading these books, I prefer to listen to them!
This time, Flavia Albia and Manlius Faustus are tasked by his uncle Tullius to clear a property that he just purchased sight unseen. Said property was damaged when Vesuvius erupted 10 years earlier.
Needless to say, bodies were found, mysteries were discovered, and to no one's surprise, Flavia Albia is caught up in the search for the truth of what happened.
I enjoyed spending more time with Faustus' workmen. I also enjoyed the folks who journeyed with them to the villa, and who came along later. Most of all, I enjoyed Faustus and Albia together. We get a look at a solid partnership, much like Falco and Helena's.
I always enjoy the epilogues. Ms. Davis has a wonderful habit of dropping pebbles throughout her books about many things but it is in the epilogues that she provides a glimpse into the future. I admit I am often caught off guard by the realization that these books, as with the Falco series, are memoirs written many years after the fact.
It was heartbreaking to learn of the impact the volcano's eruption had not only on Falco but the rest of the family. Albia's recollections filled out what little we had learned about Falco heading to Pompeii to find his nephew and family only to return empty handed and broken hearted. She had accompanied her father, seeing the destruction at the time and now the ravages 10 years after.
I find myself pondering Suza's recovery from her adventures i the prior book. Dromo might actually be maturing. A bit. Maybe. How many children???
Looking forward to an audiobook I hope will be coming soon. As much as I enjoy reading these books, I prefer to listen to them!
June 3, 2025
I’ll never not enjoy the books in the series – they are very much comfort reads for me at this point, and I always love returning to the world, characters and writing that is so familiar to me. After giving the previous book 5 stars, I did have higher hopes than usual for this one, but unfortunately for me this installment took a bit of a dip.
This is the first time (if I am recollecting correctly) that one of the Flavia Albia books has taken place almost entirely outside of Rome. It is understandable why these books are usually confined to the city, on the basis of Albia’s position, and the kind of crimes she is able to investigate (in contrast to her father, Falco, in the parent series, who was often sent around the empire on imperial missions, and then later had the funds to travel for pleasure), and if I’m honest, the Rome-based settings are one of things I enjoy most about this series, as I find Ancient Rome to be endlessly fascinating. Therefore, while the shift in setting to the Bay of Naples, ten years after the famous eruption of Vesuvius, is definitely interesting, I missed Rome. Additionally, the fact that the landscape and people around the volcano are still very much dealing with the aftermath of the eruption gave the story quite a sombre tone, without much of the humour that usually brings some lightness to proceedings.
On top of this, I didn’t find the case/investigation to be particularly compelling in this book – it always felt like we knew exactly who was involved, and that Albia didn’t really have to do much ‘investigating’. There were no red herrings, and no real twists or surprises, which I always enjoy in my murder mysteries. And while there were a couple of revelations later on, mainly to do with characters, it felt like they came out of nowhere, without the necessary groundwork, or foreshadowing, meaning they fell somewhat flat and left me feeling a little bit cheated.
Of course, there’s no way I’m going to stop reading this series (and I’m actually slightly worried about how many installments might still be to come), but this definitely wasn’t one of my favourite entries.
This is the first time (if I am recollecting correctly) that one of the Flavia Albia books has taken place almost entirely outside of Rome. It is understandable why these books are usually confined to the city, on the basis of Albia’s position, and the kind of crimes she is able to investigate (in contrast to her father, Falco, in the parent series, who was often sent around the empire on imperial missions, and then later had the funds to travel for pleasure), and if I’m honest, the Rome-based settings are one of things I enjoy most about this series, as I find Ancient Rome to be endlessly fascinating. Therefore, while the shift in setting to the Bay of Naples, ten years after the famous eruption of Vesuvius, is definitely interesting, I missed Rome. Additionally, the fact that the landscape and people around the volcano are still very much dealing with the aftermath of the eruption gave the story quite a sombre tone, without much of the humour that usually brings some lightness to proceedings.
On top of this, I didn’t find the case/investigation to be particularly compelling in this book – it always felt like we knew exactly who was involved, and that Albia didn’t really have to do much ‘investigating’. There were no red herrings, and no real twists or surprises, which I always enjoy in my murder mysteries. And while there were a couple of revelations later on, mainly to do with characters, it felt like they came out of nowhere, without the necessary groundwork, or foreshadowing, meaning they fell somewhat flat and left me feeling a little bit cheated.
Of course, there’s no way I’m going to stop reading this series (and I’m actually slightly worried about how many installments might still be to come), but this definitely wasn’t one of my favourite entries.
July 20, 2025
Talk about a riveting novel! There Will Be Bodies by Lindsey Davis is the thirteenth in the Flavia Albia series and the first for me. Though part of a series, it is fine as a standalone, though I will read the series in its entirety with great interest. This Historical Fiction appealed to me as I know Rome as well as the Campania region including Mount Vesuvius, the Stabiae ruins, Naples, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Rich descriptions took me there in a second. It was also fun to read about food, homes, apothecary ingredients and other historical information which were, in ways, juxtaposed with contemporary language.
The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD not only killed thousands of people and animals but also decimated crops and contributed to disease. Flavia's husband's uncle decided it was the perfect time to pick up a villa near Herculaneum for a steal. But what was discovered was much more than ash. There were bodies but details caused Flavia to suspect possible murder. The descriptions match the plaster casts in Pompeii which I will never forget. Brilliant touch. Additionally, there is family drama with Flavia, her husband and two adopted sons as well as extended family members.
The story feels fresh, original and vibrant. The author mixes in clever wit and banter which really elevated the story. I really enjoyed being immersed in this atmospheric mystery!
The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD not only killed thousands of people and animals but also decimated crops and contributed to disease. Flavia's husband's uncle decided it was the perfect time to pick up a villa near Herculaneum for a steal. But what was discovered was much more than ash. There were bodies but details caused Flavia to suspect possible murder. The descriptions match the plaster casts in Pompeii which I will never forget. Brilliant touch. Additionally, there is family drama with Flavia, her husband and two adopted sons as well as extended family members.
The story feels fresh, original and vibrant. The author mixes in clever wit and banter which really elevated the story. I really enjoyed being immersed in this atmospheric mystery!
August 15, 2025
This latest entry in the Flavia Albia series finds them going outside of Rome for the first time, to the area around Vesuvius 10 years after the eruption. Tiberius' uncle has purchased a villa near Stabiae, sight unseen. Although it was outside the main destruction area, it has been abandoned and needs clearing out. He asks his nephew to use his construction firm to clear it up and make it suitable for occupancy, mentioning that there probably will be bodies.
Albia had traveled with Falco to the area shortly after the eruption to search for missing relatives, and is prepared for the worst. But she finds that the countryside is recovering. As promised, they do find bodies, four slaves that died in the intense heat of the explosion, and also what appears to be the former owner, who has been missing. But there are suspicious circumstances around all these deaths, which Flavia and Tiberius investigate. Along the way, there are encounters with unsavory characters who may have something to hide. And when Albia finds herself in hot water, she is cool and calm in how she handles this trouble.
This is an enjoyable read, and able to stand alone from the rest of the series. The information about how the area is recovering is interesting, although Albia is very much a city girl and finds the quiet of the countryside somewhat unsettling.
Albia had traveled with Falco to the area shortly after the eruption to search for missing relatives, and is prepared for the worst. But she finds that the countryside is recovering. As promised, they do find bodies, four slaves that died in the intense heat of the explosion, and also what appears to be the former owner, who has been missing. But there are suspicious circumstances around all these deaths, which Flavia and Tiberius investigate. Along the way, there are encounters with unsavory characters who may have something to hide. And when Albia finds herself in hot water, she is cool and calm in how she handles this trouble.
This is an enjoyable read, and able to stand alone from the rest of the series. The information about how the area is recovering is interesting, although Albia is very much a city girl and finds the quiet of the countryside somewhat unsettling.
September 18, 2025
When I was about 10, I remember being fascinated by a National Geographic article about Herculaneum, the city destroyed along with Pompeii in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.
It’s an entirely different thing to learn about a natural disaster in a foreign country that happened nearly 2,000 years ago, than it is to read a novel set in that time, to put yourself in the place of characters who survived the event, who are getting on with life in the aftermath of an unthinkable disaster.
Lindsey Davis’ Falco and Flavia Alba mystery series have explored many aspects of the Roman world, but in this novel, it’s time to look at Pompeii. Flavia and her husband must refurbish a country villa abandoned because it was partly buried in volcanic ash ten years before. “There will be bodies,” Tiberius Manlius tells the workmen; and he is not wrong. Someone appears to have turned the disaster into an opportunity for crime. But who was it, and why did they do what they did?
This story offers everything a fan of the series has come to expect—chaotic household drama, witnesses and suspects from all walks of life, food and drink, wry humor, and a certain amount of action and danger. Highly recommended!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book.
It’s an entirely different thing to learn about a natural disaster in a foreign country that happened nearly 2,000 years ago, than it is to read a novel set in that time, to put yourself in the place of characters who survived the event, who are getting on with life in the aftermath of an unthinkable disaster.
Lindsey Davis’ Falco and Flavia Alba mystery series have explored many aspects of the Roman world, but in this novel, it’s time to look at Pompeii. Flavia and her husband must refurbish a country villa abandoned because it was partly buried in volcanic ash ten years before. “There will be bodies,” Tiberius Manlius tells the workmen; and he is not wrong. Someone appears to have turned the disaster into an opportunity for crime. But who was it, and why did they do what they did?
This story offers everything a fan of the series has come to expect—chaotic household drama, witnesses and suspects from all walks of life, food and drink, wry humor, and a certain amount of action and danger. Highly recommended!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book.
January 9, 2026
4-4.5 out of 5
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
Ever since Davis 'skipped' the eruption of Vesuvius in the timeline of her novels, I've been waiting for something to happen to bring one of her characters to Naples. Flavia and Tiberius end up in the area on a working vacation in this book, when his uncle tasks them with the renovation of a villa he's just bought for a steal.
Of course it turns out that the previous owner is dead, mysteriously, and Flavia sets out to discover what happened, and if the 'heir' who sold it had anything to do with the death.
There are quirky neighbours, a cantankerous magistrate, questionable relatives, a dilapidated temple and lots of trekking around a locale devastated 10 years previously by one of the most famous disasters in history. Davis excels at bringing everyday details of 2000 year old history and daily existence to life, along with focusing on what women (as well as men) might actually have been doing.
I really enjoyed the more lighthearted tone of this book, after Flavia has dealt with a lot of trauma in recent novels, and can't wait to see what she'll tackle next.
Recommend to fans of realistic and well written historical mysteries. Recommend reading other books in the series, but could stand alone.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
Ever since Davis 'skipped' the eruption of Vesuvius in the timeline of her novels, I've been waiting for something to happen to bring one of her characters to Naples. Flavia and Tiberius end up in the area on a working vacation in this book, when his uncle tasks them with the renovation of a villa he's just bought for a steal.
Of course it turns out that the previous owner is dead, mysteriously, and Flavia sets out to discover what happened, and if the 'heir' who sold it had anything to do with the death.
There are quirky neighbours, a cantankerous magistrate, questionable relatives, a dilapidated temple and lots of trekking around a locale devastated 10 years previously by one of the most famous disasters in history. Davis excels at bringing everyday details of 2000 year old history and daily existence to life, along with focusing on what women (as well as men) might actually have been doing.
I really enjoyed the more lighthearted tone of this book, after Flavia has dealt with a lot of trauma in recent novels, and can't wait to see what she'll tackle next.
Recommend to fans of realistic and well written historical mysteries. Recommend reading other books in the series, but could stand alone.
September 1, 2025
Another stellar installment in the Flavia Albia series - a tragedy and a mystery with our favorite Roman investigator.
Albia's husband Tiberius is tasked with clearing out some property by his shady uncle, so we travel to the countryside, still haunted by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius a decade earlier.
There are bodies, indeed, buried under volcanic ash, but one body in particular - that of Publius Primus - is of importance, and leads us to the mystery of who and why he was murdered. Because murdered he was, by human hand, not the volcano.
Flavia Albia is one of my favorite characters - she is clever and witty, know how she must play the game within the limits of Roman society.
One of the best aspects of this series, and the Falco series, is that we get to see the lives of ancient Romans brought to a level that is relatable.
Usually we only see grand historical figures, but here we see the every day, the social climbing men wearing clothes above their station, the gossiping business owners, etc.
I look forward to reading more of this series as long as Ms. Davis writes it.
Albia's husband Tiberius is tasked with clearing out some property by his shady uncle, so we travel to the countryside, still haunted by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius a decade earlier.
There are bodies, indeed, buried under volcanic ash, but one body in particular - that of Publius Primus - is of importance, and leads us to the mystery of who and why he was murdered. Because murdered he was, by human hand, not the volcano.
Flavia Albia is one of my favorite characters - she is clever and witty, know how she must play the game within the limits of Roman society.
One of the best aspects of this series, and the Falco series, is that we get to see the lives of ancient Romans brought to a level that is relatable.
Usually we only see grand historical figures, but here we see the every day, the social climbing men wearing clothes above their station, the gossiping business owners, etc.
I look forward to reading more of this series as long as Ms. Davis writes it.
December 14, 2025
There Will Be Bodies is a strong addition to the Flavia Alba series and the wider Falco-verse. Most notably, it benefits from a couple of strong choices from Davis - moving the story out of Rome to an environment which is both different but familiar allows for a pleasant change of pace and a different sort of story, engaging with modern archaeology which is beginning to examine the post-eruption recovery around Versuvius.
Equally, the decision to move to a 'cold case' with fewer moving parts is also welcome especially compared to some of the more labyrinthine Flavia Alba books of late, and gives a bit more space to develop and enjoy the relationships between the characters as opposed to getting too deep into minutiae. There are some slightly weaker aspects to it (the supporting cast is perhaps still not quite as memorable as those in the Falco series, and the B plot which emerges in the second act feels a little out of place) but all in all, it's an enjoyable read and one which bodes well for future entries.
Equally, the decision to move to a 'cold case' with fewer moving parts is also welcome especially compared to some of the more labyrinthine Flavia Alba books of late, and gives a bit more space to develop and enjoy the relationships between the characters as opposed to getting too deep into minutiae. There are some slightly weaker aspects to it (the supporting cast is perhaps still not quite as memorable as those in the Falco series, and the B plot which emerges in the second act feels a little out of place) but all in all, it's an enjoyable read and one which bodes well for future entries.
May 17, 2025
Wow, what a rollercoaster ride, from the first page to the last! I'm a fan of historical fiction and "There will be Bodies" by Lindsey Davis certainly did not disappoint. The novel takes place in the first century Rome, just ten years after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. As life is starting to return to normal, along the Bay of Naples, wealthy individuals are taking the opportunity to purchase these damaged properties. Even though the purchase prices are cheap, a considerable amount of work needs to be done. The uncle of Flavia Albia's husband seizes this opportunity. As the workers dig the villa out of the ash, bodies start appearing. One body in particular seems to be a suspicious death. As Flavia digs into the mystery, it is quickly determined that the body was that of the previous owner. There are many suspects. Hence, Flavia's work begins. Ms. Davis does a truly amazing job of creating an interesting novel. The characters, plot, and setting keep the reader engaged.
December 25, 2025
There isn't much to say about the series. Each books is written in a way that carries the story to the end with out cutting any corners. The mystery doesn't start right away, it meanders in several chapters later. We are then taken on a journey of how the mystery unravels and the truth is discovered.
The wrap up is precise in how the story unfolded in the beginning. Albia, the mc doesn't normally get her family involved. However, a cousin does make an entrance with this story line which is wonderful. I miss the characters from Falco's books, and its nice to see them pop up every once in a while to see how they are progressing outside of Albia's story line.
I actually held my breath towards the end, due to a wonderful surprise the author Lindsey Davis provided. It was wonderful to see it happen.
The wrap up is precise in how the story unfolded in the beginning. Albia, the mc doesn't normally get her family involved. However, a cousin does make an entrance with this story line which is wonderful. I miss the characters from Falco's books, and its nice to see them pop up every once in a while to see how they are progressing outside of Albia's story line.
I actually held my breath towards the end, due to a wonderful surprise the author Lindsey Davis provided. It was wonderful to see it happen.
August 6, 2025
Another strong installment in this series! This time Flavia Albia, husband and various members of her household travel to the Bay of Naples just 10 years after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Historical fiction props for descriptions of the area, including physical destruction and mental trauma at that time. A few series regulars pop up but most of the action centers on Albia and getting to the bottom of an old murder covered up post-disaster at a villa purchased by husband Tiberius's uncle. The conclusion was a well-written set piece, but the Afterward was confusing (it was clearly labeled "Afterward" but it read more like an epilogue). Hints for future adventures or an odd conclusion to the series--it's hard to know! I guess we'll see if any other books come after this one.
September 4, 2025
Couldn’t decide between 3 or 4 stars. Interesting material about 10 years after Vesuvius exploded and buried more than just Pompei. It just seemed to go on longer than necessary as Flavia found the bones of her husband’s uncle, the older brother of the uncle that has bought the house half buried near Pompei.With the dirt under him he must have been put there already dead and not killed by the volcano. So who did it? With the usual long list of characters typical of Lindsey Davis it was hard to keep track of everyone even with the printed list at the beginning of the book and not everyone was listed even. After 500 pages or so we finally find out who’s guilty but that whole revelation takes about 2 pages which seemed kind of oh, by the way, here’s the muderer, book’s over.
December 26, 2025
Flavia Alba, her husband Tiberius and his work team are sent to the area of Pompeii, to restore a villa bought by his uncle, ten years after the eruption of Vesuvius. The discovery of the bodies of three slaves locked in a shed and obviously killed in the eruption causes some concern but then the builders make a more serious discovery; the body of the former owner of the property, who was obviously dead before the eruption of the volcano. Flavia Alba begins to investigate a complex family history and the involvement of local criminals.
This is a classic case from Lindsey Davis, with an interesting setting away from Rome and a complex plot. Flavia Alba is an engaging narrator and brings a real sense of drama to the cases she investigates.
This is a classic case from Lindsey Davis, with an interesting setting away from Rome and a complex plot. Flavia Alba is an engaging narrator and brings a real sense of drama to the cases she investigates.
April 16, 2025
A brilliant read. Flavia Albia and her husband are off to restore his uncles new villa on the bay of Naples, ten years after the eruption of Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii. They discover the body of the previous owner and other bodies. At least one was not killed by the eruption. Flavia investigates both this and the strange case of a missing tribune, meeting various characters along the way who may or may not be involved.
The story of Vesuvius erupting is there in the background, how it destroyed places other than Pompeii. How it destroyed people, their lives and livelihoods. And how, in this case, it could be used to hide a crime.
The story of Vesuvius erupting is there in the background, how it destroyed places other than Pompeii. How it destroyed people, their lives and livelihoods. And how, in this case, it could be used to hide a crime.
June 19, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. The synopsis sounded interesting enough a murder mystery set in Ancient Rome in the aftermath of the Vesuvius eruption. Sign me up. Overall I was very impressed with this book. I have never read any of the previous books in the series, but felt this could be read as a standalone. There was enough background introduced throughout so I was never confused. It reminded me of a good Hercule Poirot mystery. Overall good sleuthing and entertaining. Would recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. The synopsis sounded interesting enough a murder mystery set in Ancient Rome in the aftermath of the Vesuvius eruption. Sign me up. Overall I was very impressed with this book. I have never read any of the previous books in the series, but felt this could be read as a standalone. There was enough background introduced throughout so I was never confused. It reminded me of a good Hercule Poirot mystery. Overall good sleuthing and entertaining. Would recommend.
November 7, 2025
I think I particularly liked this latest Flavia Albia novel because it is set in the Bay of Naples, and that I started to read it during a weekend break to Naples to watch Napoli v Como. This weekend break also included a visit to Pompeii!! Until purchase of the book I did not know the setting and that the story line was set around Vesuvius erupting and the aftermath. The author with particular ease transports the reader to early Roman life and the characters continue to evolve within each book. A superb plot, set at a quick pace, with the many clever twists and turns so beautifully crafted by the author.
November 18, 2025
Flavia and hubby head out on a mission from hubby’s uncle to fix up a villa that was partly destroyed in the eruption of Vesuvius, about ten years ago. While excavating/cleaning up they find the body of the late owner and four slaves. Flavia sets out t investigate even before she’s made official by a local magistrate.
It’s not clear if the deceased was killed or died accidentally, but there a lot of suspicious people around: the deceased’s dotty sister, her pliant friends, a real pirate and a bunch of local thugs. And when Flavia goes exploring trouble sees.
Recommended because of characters and setting, but the series is getting a bit tired.
It’s not clear if the deceased was killed or died accidentally, but there a lot of suspicious people around: the deceased’s dotty sister, her pliant friends, a real pirate and a bunch of local thugs. And when Flavia goes exploring trouble sees.
Recommended because of characters and setting, but the series is getting a bit tired.
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