Scandal Takes a Holiday

Marcus Didius Falco #16

by Lindsey Davis

As an "informer"--a private detective--Marcus Didius Falco has an insider's knowledge of the Empire's less than glorious side. He's also been in the middle of its most dangerous secrets more than once. So when he's hired to find notorious gossip "scribe" Infamia, Marcus figures the missing muckraker is either taking advantage of a vacation bribe from some wealthy wife--or resting up from injuries inflicted by some senator's henchmen. But instead of earning an easy fee, Marcus soon finds himself at odds against a sinister ring of pirates preying on the wealthy; a ruthlessly-vulgar construction magnate...and several of his own less-than-reputable family members. And what he uncovers will lead him through the dark byways and underground of the Empire's busiest seaport…where a cold-blooded killer with nothing to lose waits to bury one cynical informer for good...

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Crime, Historical Mystery, Detective

Audiobook

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Lindsey 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.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in 2014, and its the 16th outing of the marvellous Marcus Didius Falco series.

This time we find Falco with his wife Helena Justina and little family, with their friend Petronius, on a holiday in Ostia.

The real reason for this holiday is that the pen name of the scribe of the gossip column for the Daily Gazette called, "Infamia", has gone missing.

His fellow scribes have asked Falco to investigate this case, and soon the whole extended family are busy investigating.

What will follow is an exciting mystery where the whole family will take part in helping Falco to solve this case of the missing scribe, and where kidnappers, gangsters, assassins and an old pirate will play a decisive role in disturbing this case, before Falco with all his wit and cunning will be able to reveal the culprit.

Very much recommended, for this is a great addition to this amazing series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Very Satisfying Gossip Mystery"!

[Mary Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

My idea of joy. Finding a book you missed somehow written by one of your favourite authors. That's how I felt on seeing this. I had bought it months ago when I finally got round to reading the.Falco.series and I read them in order but somehow missed this one, so yay I got to back to ancient Rome with my favourite informer (sorry Flavia Albia). This is road trip book, Falco is off to the port town of Ostia he's looking for a missing scribe and as it's a coastal town has brought the family with him for a bit of a holiday. Petronious and his sister Maia are also in town with their children but the two.couples are not staying together. As it's Falco what should be a simple missing persons case becomes something aT more involving pirates, ex pirates and other dodgy types. Not to.be left out Falco's sister Junia with her family turn up closely followed by his mother and father .........not together obviously. Falco.finds.himself getting more and more entangled in suspicious going on that have nothing to.do.with his missing person but once his curiosity is piqued he can't resist even though he keeps.reminding himself it's none of his business and it.not the job he's being paid to investigate........................

[Xabi1990 · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10 en 2010.

Parodia de la Davis sobre la prensa rosa entre la Roma Antigua que extrapolamos fácilmente al día de hoy.

Palma un comentarista de estos asuntos y se ve envuelto Didio Falco cuando pretendía descansar en Ostia.

Me hacían falta 3,5 estrellas. Le cae la cuarta porque -para no variar- es divertido.

[Anthony Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the strongest entry in the series, in fact possibly one of the weakest. Its hard to put my finger on exactly why... I didn't find that ostia was as well realised as many of the other locations, the new characters felt quite generic and the surprises weren't that surprising.

Still love Falco though.

[Assaph Mehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gossip columnists and pirates make an interesting combination for Falco.
Ostia is Rome's seaport, and like all seaports is a hotbed of shady dealings.

Expect a review of Rome's literary scene (read, published gossip), a trip to the seaside (with family meals in taverna courtyards, and some light piracy (with an over-the-top rescue).

Be aware that while it's not necessary to read the books in order, it certainly helps; Falco's family life has evolved throughout the series, and play a big part in describing daily lives and plot points.

--
Assaph Mehr, author of [[ASIN:B015TXPPG6 Murder In Absentia: Togas, Daggers, and Magic]] - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent Falco novel. This is one of my favorite series and Davis should be applauded for doing the research to bring ancient Rome alive. The wry humor which permeates every page is so well done. Falco investigates pirates and kidnaping in this one, and, as usual, Helena is the real brains of the team. Falco supplies the bravery and Petro supplies the brawn. Highly recommended.

[Simon Binning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcus Didius Falco is one of those characters that you wish you had thought of, rather than leaving it to Lindsey Davis! Her series featuring the Roman informer has been very successful, and it is easy to see why. Each episode contains a self-contained mystery for our hero to solve, but it is Falco and his family who are the main ingredient. From the beginning, he was never a lone figure. Over time, his wife - the brilliant Helena Justina - and various members of his wider family have all played important roles in the books.
In this volume, Falco takes his family on holiday to Ostia, but as usual, it's a working holiday. One of the scribes responsible for the gossip column in the Daily Gazette has gone missing, and Falco is trying to find out what has happened to him. The plot soon widens as he discovers that the port seems to be full of men of wealth from dubious sources. All seem to have - or have had - connections to piracy, even though - officially - there are no pirates any more.
His old friend Petronius turns up, and he has to admit his true purpose in Ostia. He also finally meets the one member of his family he has never seen; it comes as no surprise, that this latest relative is not the most trustworthy person in the port. As always, there is a marvellous cast of new characters; one of the author's strengths is that her supporting cast are always really well drawn and believable.
The story in this episode is entertaining and fun. Falco is his usual self; hassled by most of his family, supported by his wife, and dogged in his work. It's not the best in the series, but that's not really the point. For those of us who have read the whole series, it builds slowly over time. We learn more about Falco and his family in each book, sometimes only small things, but by this episode, we feel we know him - and Helena - very well. Sometimes we know how he will react to a situation before the author actually tells us. Occasionally though, she still surprises us.

[Gypsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falco goes to Ostia to find a missing scribe, and becomes involved in searching out a kidnapping ring. As is generally the case with the Falco mysteries, it is witty, quick paced, and a good deal of fun. Davis writes well, and the details of Roman life during the early Flavian dynasty are always fascinating.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of a new year clean up, I found this unread Falco book on my kindle by filtering "Unread" and was surprised I had missed it. It had been so long since I read one of these I was surprised to find so little humour in the book. I have become accustomed to the Flavia Albia series since finishing Falco where things are lighter at times.
So...I did find this book tedious in places but glad I read it nevertheless. He takes a beating or two, for sure, in completing his mission to find what happened to a certain scribe.

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The conventions of the genre tell us that every person we meet and every thread of the plot must be related somehow. In this book, however, there are just too many. A missing gossip columnist, a favorite aunt, a revenge plot, corruption in the builders' union, rivalry between different police precincts and intelligence agencies, an older woman pressed into service by kidnappers, a younger woman in love with one of the kidnappers without really knowing what she's gotten herself into, pirates and smugglers, two different groups of sinister foreigners who sometimes collaborate and sometimes go for one another's throat...I have intentionally used the modern terms for these people so you may ask, as I did, "Is this Ostia and Rome, or Brooklyn and Manhattan?"

As for people being related, we finally meet Marcus's long-lost uncle Fulvius. He has an interesting story of his own, and it's not implausible for him to show up here. But why does nearly every other person from both Marcus's and Helena's families put in an appearance? I suspect it's more in the interests of fan service than because they actually advance the plot.

Despite my earlier comments, you do learn a lot about the setting, the times, and the shipping trades from reading this book. I liked that, but others may skip over paragraphs at a time to get to the action...or to find out more about Marcus Didius Falco as a paterfamilias of a growing clan.

[Michelle Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsey Davis paints a vivid and colourful world of Ancient Rome and the surrounding towns and countryside

[Louisa Mead · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is interesting in principle but oddly disengaging and I struggled to finish it (second time around). Pirates, religious rites and a bit of family drama all sounds great but lacks the usual vim of the series. Onto the next!

[Beachcomber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy the characters, but I didn’t really manage to follow the whole pirate/random storyline.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series.

[Selina Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

real treat to have this essentially read to me on audible. the narrator Jamie glover did a great job too.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

c2004: Ostia, gossip, scribes, piracy, uncle. I have seen some comments about this series that indicated that some readers felt that the books had become formulaic and, sadly, that is probably the reason why I love these books. I have quite a bit invested in the characters now and the various relationships on the go and I usually can't wait to get the next in the series. There is no unknown factor and reading one of them is more relaxing than yoga. "It depends on how you look at it. Let us land and beat up the locals: you are a pirate; I am a heroic warrior with expansionist pretensions on behalf of my city-state. Goes back at least to Athens ... Piracy was the fast alternative to diplomacy.

[Rosanne Lortz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scandal Takes a Holiday, the next book in the Falco series, follows our intrepid hero to the port of Ostia where he is trying to ascertain the whereabouts of a missing scribe. This is not just any scribe, however–it is Infamia, the celebrated writer of the scandal column in Rome’s official newspaper. In the process, Falco discovers a corrupt builders’ guild, a kidnapping racket, and the unsettling information that Cilician pirates (the ones that Pompey wiped out a hundred years ago) might be plying their trade once again. I “really liked” this one, but it wasn’t “amazing.” Four stars! I’m going to be so sad when I finish reading this series….

[Silke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falco and family go to Ostia in search of a missing scribe and soon he finds himself wrapped up in kidnapping and piracy cases.
It was witty, quick paced and vivid as usual and I really liked getting to know one of the charakters from a previous book a little bit more. CN: There is also a (minor) queer subplot which was handled a bit awkward

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Falco and company interact with modern sensibilities, these are still fun and interesting books. Davis has done a lot of good research.

[Shani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falco, Helena and Petronius working together to bring the criminals to book in Ostia outside Rome.

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

In which Marcus Didius Falco spends summer seeking a scribe in Ostia, tangles with pirates, takes an unexpected dip, assignates with Attis, Cybele’s castrated consort and encounters a mysterious uncle. That is, it’s a classic Falco adventure where nothing is quite as it seems, but we know we can expect some high level dodgy practice and reasonably hope for corruption as ancient Rome’s finest hard boiled loner seeks justice and by virtue of family life becomes lightly less hard boiled and much less of a loner.

Davis has a rich, deep knowledge of ancient Rome and its wider world, and is adept at bringing it to life through these adventures. In this instance I like that it is through a search for the gossip columnist in an official imperial news source, leaving lots of opportunity for comment on ‘news’ as well as rummaging around in dodgy settings, all perfect for Falco. Helena, Falco’s aristocratic wife, continues to be the sensible one, stepping in from time to time and stepping up when it is called for, and it is good to see a hint of the future direction of the Davis oeuvre as Albia, their teenage adopted orphaned Briton, takes a greater role in the events as more than a provider of childcare, actively intervening in settings and providing good sense and insight from her past world.

The Falco stories are a loving engagement with the hard boiled loner world of crime fiction, and while never quite Dashell Hammett they are among the best at the lighter end, with a sharply cynical, morally upright hero, sassy characters and great narratives. This is one of the better, lacking only a compelling femme fatale to be classic noir but with plenty of other threats.

[gardienne_du_feu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wie unzählige andere Römer verbringt Marcus Didius Falco die heißesten Sommerwochen im beliebten Hafenstädtchen Ostia. Doch während die Hautevolée die Sommerfrische sucht, ist Falco in beruflicher Mission unterwegs: Der Klatschreporter der römischen Tageszeitung ist verschwunden und nicht, wie das Blatt behauptet, in Urlaub gefahren. Zuletzt hat man ihn in Ostia gesichtet, wo er angeblich bei seiner Tante wohnte.

Falco schwant Übles. Doch bevor er den verschollenen Schreiberling aufstöbern kann, stößt er zunächst auf seinen besten Freund Petronius Longus, der gerade mit seiner Einheit der Vigiles in Ostia stationiert ist, und dann auf einige eher wenig umgängliche Gestalten aus verschiedenen fernen Provinzen, die sich dermaßen seltsam benehmen, dass er sich sehr schnell sicher ist, dass sie etwas Ungutes im Schilde führen.

Als dann auch noch Helena mit den Kindern in Ostia ankommt und weitere Familienmitglieder aus Falcos weit verzweigtem Clan aufkreuzen, ist das Chaos perfekt, und er weiß kaum noch, wo er zuerst anpacken soll.

Dass in diesem Band alles irgendwie mit allem zusammenhängt, vermutet der geübte Leser schon ziemlich früh, doch der Weg zur Lösung ist lang und verschlungen und manchmal auch ein wenig verworren. Aber wer jetzt genau mit wem was ausgeheckt und wer wie gegen wen intrigiert hat, ist am Ende wie bei eigentlich allen Büchern der Reihe eher zweitrangig (wobei es bessere Fälle als den hier gab, der erst in der Mitte wirklich Fahrt aufnimmt).

Das größte Vergnügen besteht ganz einfach darin, Falco bei seinen unorthodoxen Ermittlungen über die Schulter zu schauen, die Reibereien und Frotzeleien im Familiengefüge mitzuerleben und das eine oder andere Mal die Luft anzuhalten, wenn dem selbstironischen Römer trotz aller Vorsichtsmaßnahmen mal wieder Gefahr droht. Und so ganz nebenbei lernt man wieder einiges über die Sitten und Gebräuche und verschiedenste Alltagsdinge im Römischen Reich, diesmal unter anderem die Schiffahrt, die Begräbniskultur und diverse Götterkulte.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yo Ho, Ho! (And an Amphora of Wine)

By contrast to the previous restrained courtroom drama based novel, Lindsey Davis’s sets the sixteenth episode of the Falco series in Ostia, Rome’s vital harbour town, where our gum-sandaled protagonist finds himself tracking down the whereabouts of an influential journalist who has gone missing while on holiday. During his investigations Marcus Didius encounters civic corruption, a kidnapping gang and an old ex-pirate with a colourful history. The narrative is witty and fast-paced with an intriguing complex plot involving numerous twists and turns. Having gained a knowledge of the extended Didius clan, each subsequent book never fails to delight as more is revealed about this unique family, in this case the mystery behind the disappearance of an uncle twenty years ago. The high standard of writing is maintained in this novel as the author continues to skilfully educate and effortlessly entertain her readers about Roman history and Roman life.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"Wicked people sometimes lie."
AD 76, and Falco plus many of his family are in Ostia. An investigator has gone missing and Falco wants to find him. Danger, family in-fighting, smuggling and pirates, usual sort of Falco adventure, and none the sort for that. Some marvellous descriptions such as 'Old Father Tiber was a widdle of rat's piss", atmospheric and fun. I have previously read and love this whole series and am rediscovering it through audio, in this case read by Jamie Glover. His narration is certainly good but unfortunately does not fit with the exuberance of character I associate with these stories. So it did detract somewhat from the overall pleasure.for this reader.
However, Falco is excellent, always recommended for anyone enjoying a fun filled, thrilling detective romp through the ancient Roman world. Wonderful.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing to make my way thru the Falco series and enjoying them all the way. Unfortunately reading them in December means a much slower pace as other parts of my life get in the way. In this book Falco and Helena Justina are in Rome's port of Ostia where Falco is searching for a missing person -- the author of the official scandal column in the Daily Gazette. It looks as if it will be an easy job with the fun of being at the seaside during August. Of course there are complications... It's always fun in these books to find out more about Falco's extended family. This time we are introduced to his mother's oldest brother -- the one no one ever mentions and we find out that Pa is richer than ever.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This got off to a faster start than most of the later books in the Falco series. He is already working on a case and he is already in place at the Roman port of Ostia. Ostia is lovingly described, and the action of the story feels rooted in the environs which quite charmingly come alive. Falco's interactions with his family (father, mother, sister, uncle, wife, children) are lively and authentic.

The plot is complex. It involves fire-fighting, a Builder's guild with out sized influence, pirates, kidnapping, and (of course!) murder. Falco's wife, Helena Justina, makes a significant contribution through her scholarship. Their adopted daughter, Albia, is shown settling into the family. It is all-in-all quite satisfying.

[Ronald Spitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author was suggested by Good Reads and I found this one used so I picked it up and read it. Likely I should have started this author's books with the first of the series. There are references to past events and people. It was not a problem. Excellent characterization (some are "real characters") and a fun plot, humor and action. The Roman culture of the time period fits. For those who don't know and are disturbed by the corn references and complain that corn did not exist in ancient Rome. True corn/maize did not, but the term corn was used by Julius Caesar and other Romans as a generic reference to a variety of grain crops and that is how this book uses the term. Therefor the author is accurate.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read several books in this series long ago and liked it, so decided it was time to go back to ancient Rome and see what Marcus Didius Falco was up to. It took about five chapters before I waded through the dialogue and meanderings reasonably appropriate for the time and began to enjoy my listening time.
Falco is hired to find a scribe who works for the Emperor's newspaper. Scribe's missing and the path leads Falco into other issues that require investigating. One of which is a kidnapping ring that needs to be stopped.
A lot of characters, lots of action, plenty of interesting dialogue. Sort of a like a film noir set in ancient Rome.
I like this series and I'm glad to get back to it. I can recommend this book, series and author.

[William Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Often, when a mystery series has matured over the years, the author has an idea for a novella when a novel is what is needed. To pad the text, every one of the central characters' family, friends, and associates is brought in to add often pointless fullness to the book. Davis is a good writer, but this book could have been halved without wasting any plot points. Also, the addition of a large cast of new folk to the large ongoing cast, with their sometimes confusing names, made me wish for that standard in mysteries of the Twenties and Thirties, the "Cast of Characters" so that I didn't have to tax my memory.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been enjoying the Marcus Didius Falco series set in ancient Rome, and Scandal Takes a Holiday is another fun romp with historical underpinnings. Marcus is a private of sorts and has been hired to find a missing newspaper gossip columnist. Think Hedda Hopper but with a toga. Marcus takes his family with him to the sea side resort/bustling port, and spends a lot of time coping with his extended family while trying to track down the reporter. As always, he gets into several pickles and meets up with unsavory sorts, but solves the mystery in his own comical style.