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