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There
are not many authors whose books are awaited with bated breath. However,
Lindsey Davis and her character Marcus Didius Falco definitely fall into
that rarefied category.
Alexandria is the nineteenth book in this excellent series and
this time around our intrepid informer and his family find themselves in
Egypt. But what are they doing in there? Helena Justina is determined
that despite the fact that she is in the late stages of her pregnancy to
see two of the seven wonders of the world which are situated in Egypt.
Luckily for Falco his unconventional maternal Uncle Fulvius now lives in
Egypt and it is at his place of residence in Alexandria that Falco and
his family bed down. If Falco had any hopes that this would be a
peaceful holiday, he is sadly mistaken.
Theon the Librarian of the Great Library in Alexandria is found dead in
his office not long after he has returned from dinner with Falco. Falco,
being one of the last people to see the victim alive, finds himself
delegated into taking on the investigation. As Falco tries his hardest
to get to the bottom of this sudden death he realises that academia is
not all about scrolls. As he dodges bribery, arson, violence and
academics that would rather stab each other in the back he realises that
if he is not careful he will join the list of bodies piling up.
Alexandria is a welcome return to this series and once again he
has been taken away from his normal abode and thrust into a city where
he is not known. His attempts to get to the bottom of the crime are
tempered with the verity that he is far more cognisant of the fact that
he has a family to look after as well. Despite this there is no lack of
witticism flowing from Falco and the interplay between him and the
spirited Helena Justina is one of the things that make this series so
enjoyable.
Lindsey Davis has a great following for a very good reason. She knows
how to write a cracking story that pulls you along with no let up of
pace but which is also bursting with hilarity, surprises and familial
satire. Along with the in-jokes and deception that follow Falco, the
reader finds themselves immersed in a story that will leave you
chortling along the way. Alexandria is well worth finding a
corner to disappear into so that you can absorb yourself in it without
any distractions. Falco is one of a kind and I hope that he stays that
way.
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