Davis, Lindsey - Shadows in Bronze

[oyceter]

Second of the Marcus Didius Falco mysteries.

I read this book over several weeks, and for the life of me, I can't tell you what the plot is. I think this is why I don't do well with mysteries, just maybe. Anyhow, somehow Falco gets caught up in a case of mistaken identities and dead bodies, and then he ends up on a road trip to somewhere for a reason that I can't remember.

I would like to note that this probably isn't because Davis doesn't plot well. It's because I do not particularly care about mystery plots and as such, do not pay much attention to what's going on unless absolutely necessary.

And yet, I keep reading these and will probably pick up the third book! This is because I really love the characters, and, most importantly, I adore Falco. He's the first-person narrator for all the books (?), and he's irreverent and attempts to be sarcastic and aloof, usually very unsuccessfully. He has a giant family which he grouses about; one of his sisters sends her son along not for Falco to watch over, but so that Falco has someone to watch over him.

Senator's daughter Helena Justina also features prominently, and while I probably should be annoyed by them getting together and breaking apart and getting together and breaking apart, I'm not, because Falco is so obviously in love and Helena Justina is so wonderfully herself.

There's a plot twist involving the two that made me grit my teeth a little, but really, it isn't handled with a heavy hand, which makes all the difference.

Fun and fast, and really, I just love the narrative voice so much.

Links:
My review of The Silver Pigs, the first book of the series

Comments

[minnow1212.livejournal.com]

Falco! Helena!

oh, god, the plot of Shadows in Bronze. There was...corn involved?

Venus in Copper was a standalone mystery that was more easily followed, I think, though I also read for character rather than mystery. Also, Venus in Copper contains my favorite passage in the series.

[oyceter]

Yes, I remember you saying that your favorite chapter was in the next book! I'm really looking forward to it.

Also, I have no idea... I vaguely remember corn, but not when or why it was included. Oh well. There was enough Falco-Helena interaction and lots of snark, which is really all I ask for.

[avrelia.livejournal.com]

I have read through Lindsay Davis series the last year, and I have to say I had the same reaction. I adored the main characters and their families and skipped through the mistery stuff. and I generally enjoy misteries! in the last books I think I simply looked at what is going on with the Falco's bunch and the Emilii bunch and stopped caring about the plt altogether.

My favourite in the series is Iron Hand of Mars, I think.

[oyceter]

Cool! Yeah, I mostly tend to read mysteries for character.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I've read a few of the Davis books and realized that if I try to follow the plot, I just end up hopelessly confused. So when I read them, it's for the setting and the characters, and I skim the rest.

[oyceter]

I'm glad it's not just me! I had no idea what was going on, but I figured that was more me than the plot.

[thewildmole.livejournal.com]

Y'know...if you look over at my account on bookmooch? I have a lot of the Falco books up for grabs...

[oyceter]

Amazingly, I'm not actually on bookmooch... so I feel bad because I don't have anything listed to trade =(.