Deadly Election

The characters in these books are like members of

I loved the Falco books, and the Albia books are just as wonderful although quite different in tone. The strong stories are matched with strong characters. They are so familiar, it's like catching up with family. My only quibble is the narrator made Petro sound like a pompous old fox-hunting fool.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Please bring back Lucy Brown

Since these books are written in the first person the choice of narrator is especially important. I had really got used to the previous narrator, who voiced Flavia Albia with a wry humour and played the other parts very well. While I still enjoyed the narrative, it was harder to connect with this narrator and her male voices, in particular, were unconvincing.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

brilliant

I have loved all three in this series so far. I sincerely hope that there will be more to follow. I also really want to visit Rome and to try and find some of the places mentioned. the stories really bring ancient Rome to life.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A more dry and wry narrator

I liked this narrator better than Lucy Brown who is frankly too giggly for my idea of Albia, not wonderful for Tiberius and I never saw Petro as an upper class twit but had Albia down to a 'T'

Flavia Albia Makes a Good Listen

Although the Flavia Albis stories are not quite as brilliant as their predecessors the Falco novels, they never the less make an excellent listen in a well-drawn ancient Roman background.

A view of Roman policital elections + a murder

Of course we need a murder to get the story going, but I feel this is a side line to expand the Falco world and introduce Flavia to a love interest. I preferred Lucy Brown as a narrator, although she's note perfect by any means

Slow to get into

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes if they were reading/ listening to the series

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Pacier

Have you listened to any of Jane Collingwood’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No? I wasn't sure about her mail voices

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

And they.....

Any additional comments?

I found this third book hard to get into. If it hadn't been part of a series I'm not sure I would have stuck with it.

Flavia Albia - Comes of Age

I am a great lover of the original falco novels and Christian Rodska well there was nothing wrong with the narrator in the first two books she was a bit of formal and a bit stiff in places didn't have the warmth and ironic sarcasm expect from the daughter those two incredibly well rounded characters Lucy Collingwood does an absolutely wonderful witty job- thought provoking and a little melancholy as she should be I hope they bring her back for the next books I also think the props of the stories the more domestic personal side of history I really starting to mature the constant sense of Menace from a character that seems so inconsequential the original series that of the new emperor is a masterstroke I understand why some people of complained about the portrayal of petro but given his dialogue I would have probably made that choice myself vocally I haven't read any of the previous stories all in all I think we're back in trend

Not yet the definitive voice of Flavia Albia

I may be too harsh on the narrator giving only 2 stars, because her own reading voice is pleasant enough, but her efforts to portray other characters, especially the men, are increasingly annoying. When she attempts Petro it's particularly grating. The story is interesting, both a window on Roman society under Domitian and a satire on our own political and economic life. Always good to know how Falco et al have been doing!

Things are hotting up

What did you like most about Deadly Election?

The combination of character development against the background of another fascinating exploration of an aspect of Roman life

What did you like best about this story?

Faustus showing a wider range of personal traits and character

Have you listened to any of Jane Collingwood’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was very pleased with the end, which left me smiling and looking forward to the next instalment

Any additional comments?

The Falco books, and now the Albia books, provide a fountain of listening pleasure - I never get sick of listening to any of them, time after time; always appreciating the excellent story arc that has been created to accurately explore the fascinating world of ancient Rome through the medium of historical fiction.