A wonderful addition to an awesome series. A good read for lovers of ancient Rome and mysteries, although I do recommend starting with the first book in the series to give you details.

There Will Be Bodies by Lindsey Davis takes readers back to first-century Rome, where Flavia Albia—daughter of the famous Marcus Didius Falco—once again finds herself entangled in a mystery that blurs the line between history and crime. Set a decade after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the story begins when Albia’s husband’s uncle purchases a villa buried under ash. As the site is cleared, bodies are uncovered—but one in particular raises troubling questions. Found locked in a storeroom rather than caught in the eruption, the victim’s death points to secrets, betrayals, and perhaps murder.

Davis excels at weaving historical detail with the rhythm of a detective novel. The atmosphere of post-eruption Pompeii and its surrounding towns is vivid—ruins, ash, and all—and the mystery itself is layered with greed, inheritance disputes, and shifty characters, from caretakers to pirates. Flavia Albia remains a sharp, witty narrator, balancing grit and humor while navigating a society where power, politics, and survival are deeply entwined.
At times, the pacing lingers on the historical descriptions, which, while fascinating, can slightly slow down the momentum of the mystery. Some secondary characters also felt underdeveloped, which made certain twists less impactful. Still, the intrigue and setting more than make up for it.

Overall, There Will Be Bodies is a clever and atmospheric historical mystery. Fans of Flavia Albia and Falco alike will enjoy this new puzzle, and newcomers will find it an engaging entry point into Davis’s richly researched Roman world.

Here is why I get deep into the Jessica-lore- when I was in my teens, I would take out several of Davis’ Marcus Didius Falco novels from the library and read a ton of them on family vacations. (That series focused on Marcus Didius Falco, a PI in first century Rome, and this new series focuses on his adopted daughter, Flavia Albia.) I have incredibly fond memories of reading these books while driving across Canada and camping when I was younger, so I’m always excited to see another.

As I said above, you don’t need to have read the previous books to enjoy this one. Like most mystery series, you get the information that you need to understand what is going on and you get stuck into the mystery pretty quickly.

For this novel, we actually find ourselves in the area surrounding Mount Vesuvius a decade after the eruption. It’s a super interesting setting to start with, and then we find a dead body that only makes everything more complicated. (I honestly have never thought about what would be left behind after the eruption, probably in large part due to how squeamish I am, but dang, is it a good premise for a murder mystery.) Then you add in the determined and take-no-nonsense Flavia Albia, and it makes for a novel that you can’t put down. (And if you’ve not read the others in the series, there would be no better time than to dive in!)

Note: I will say, it is shelved as historical crime fiction, so it is slightly gruesome. I am more squeamish/bothered than most people though, and I was okay- it just has more of a darker tone.

There Will Be Bodies by Lindsey Davis is a fast-paced entertaining historical mysteries set in Ancient Rome.
Book 13 in the Flavia Albia series was honestly written so well.
The storytelling is top-notch, all characters come vividly to life and the historical details, people and places in Rome was so detailed.
A wildly entertaining and exceedingly clever historical murder mystery that I had an amazing time reading!

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the ARC.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it just didn’t work for me. The plot felt slow and overly complicated, with too many characters to keep track of. I struggled to stay interested, and the mystery never truly hooked me. The historical setting had potential, but the story lacked momentum and emotional depth. I found myself confused more often than intrigued. If you’re a die-hard fan of the series, you might still find something to enjoy... it was a miss for me though.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

I’ve been following Flavia Albia since she was a young girl in the Falco series by Lindsey Davis. She now has a series of her own. There Will be Bodies is book 13.

Albia has inherited a knack for investigating from her adoptive father, Falco. Her long-suffering husband, Tiberius Manlius, not only allows her this unconventional profession, but encourages her and sometimes helps her. He is a builder (and a magistrate) and has been assigned the task of looking over and cleaning up a property purchased by his wealthy uncle. The property is in the vicinity of Mount Vesuvius, and suffered in the famous volcano eruption 10 years earlier.

Sextus Curvidius, the man who inherited the property and sold it to Tiberius’ uncle, has asked them to see if they can locate his elder brother who lived there but disappeared during the time of the eruption. He is presumed dead, but Sextus would like to provide the proper funeral rites if his body can be located.

Tiberius and Albia are warned, and warn their crew, that there will be bodies, given that the estate is partly buried in volcanic ash.

Bodies are found. But, suspiciously, they don’t seem to be merely victims of the volcano. Foul play is Albia’s diagnosis. She just needs to prove it and found out who did it.

Using her trademark snark and brazenly marching into danger, Albia wracks up suspects, clues, and possible witnesses, but can’t quite choose which of the potential scenarios is the right one until she gathers all the suspects together to try out her theories.

Although I love this series, this was one of my least favorites. Maybe Albia’s cynical/soft-hearted voice is growing stale for me. Or maybe I wish Tiberius was a more interesting partner. Or maybe the plot required a few too many coincidences. Still, the mystery is wrapped up in a satisfying conclusion. And I’m sure I’ll come back for book 14.

I am pleased to review Lindsey Davis' latest Flavia Albia adventure. There is the usual murder mystery but in this particular case, the action takes place in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, ten years after the eruption. As always Davis incorporates history to inform her story and characters. The suspense, twists and turns, and human pathos still evident in the layers of ash, keep the reader engaged and the characters guessing. The adventures of informer Flavia Albia do not get old! And the setting caused me to do additional research about the volcanic events. (seek out the video re-construction of the eruption by Zero One Animation "A Day in Pompeii" shown by the Melbourne Museum!!!!)

Just A Simple Villa Clean Up, Not

Tiberius Manlius's uncle, Tullius Icilius, hired him to dig out a piece of property he had just acquired in Stabiae. Mount Vesuvius buried it during its eruption ten years earlier. He expects that Tiberius, with his construction company, will clear out, i.e., excavate, the volcanic material and restore the villa. He gave them a budget for buying furniture and other requirements for his occupancy. He tells him that some people who lived there were missing after the eruption. The seller will pay for basic memorials for slaves, but the previous owner wants to hold a full funeral if his long-lost brother is discovered. From this start, an interesting story unfolds that leads to a most dangerous situation for Falvia Albia.

The main storyline consists of three threads. The first thread is the restoration of the Stabiae villa. While clearing the volcanic material, the title of the novel becomes true. First, a guard dog chained in his cubicle, a horse, and three shackled skeletons in a locked prison. The prison’s wood was carbonized, and indications that they died in the pyroclastic flow. Lastly, a person, who appeared to be the previous owner, was found in a storage shed. He seemed to have died before the eruption. The second thread starts here. Albia starts an informal investigation. Soon, the previous owner asks her officially to look into the death. While Tiberius and Albia are eating in a local shop, two vigiles from Rome recognize Albia and join them. While talking, they tell Tiberius and Albia that they are down here to protect their tribune, but he has gone partying and has not returned. This meeting is the start of the third thread, the search for the tribune. The reader will see this story through the eyes and thoughts of Albia as she narrates all the chapters. I call this pace of this novel a nice cosy mystery pace. The major problem is that after ten years, only the sister, currently suffering dementia, and two friends of he family remain. Those two claim not to know anything. All the slaves from that time are gone. As Albia works to solve this case, she must interview neighbors and townspeople to learn what they remember of what happened. Her investigation kept my interest engaged throughout the novel.

Having read every novel in which Flavia Albia was a character, there isn’t anything new that I recognized in this novel. Looking at her background through the eyes of someone who has not read this series extensively, the background provides a solid foundation for her actions. For me, the references to previous events were good refreshers to explain her current actions to me. I did enjoy seeing some background on Albia’s husband, Tiberius, through his uncle, who leaned on him for some free work. I feel that the background was adequate.

There just isn’t much in this novel that could stop any readers from reading. There are no intimate scenes. Vulgar words are almost non-existent. There is minimal violence, and it is pretty mild. As usual with Lindsey Davis novels, her use of archaic or little-used words gives the speech an ancient feeling. I used the dictionary extensively on my ereader and its easy Internet access to learned the meaning or more details of these words. I believe that a reader can read and enjoy reading this novel as the first novel or one of the earlier novels.

I have read all 20 Falco novels, the 11 previous Albia novels, some stand-alone novels, and short stories, so that I may be more tolerant of minor issues. But I did not find any in this novel. I did find much that I liked. Specifically, the high point in this novel for me was the use of the classic closed circle mystery reveal, although there were many more observers than usual. Lindsey Davis often plants Easter eggs in her novels. These have nothing to do with the storyline, but stop my reading, and I say, “What?” In this novel, she references Egyptian Bagpipes. I had to look that up and discovered that it is true. I also enjoyed the ending. The two twists provided a fascinating insight into two of the characters in this novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and eagerly await the next one. I highly recommend reading it. I rate this novel with five stars.

I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from Minotaur Books through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

Talk about a riveting novel! There Will Be Bodies by Lindsey Davis is the thirteenth in the Flavia Albia series and the first for me. Though part of a series, it is fine as a standalone, though I will read the series in its entirety with great interest. This Historical Fiction appealed to me as I know Rome as well as the Campania region including Mount Vesuvius, the Stabiae ruins, Naples, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Rich descriptions took me there in a second. It was also fun to read about food, homes, apothecary ingredients and other historical information which were, in ways, juxtaposed with contemporary language.

The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD not only killed thousands of people and animals but also decimated crops and contributed to disease. Flavia's husband's uncle decided it was the perfect time to pick up a villa near Herculaneum for a steal. But what was discovered was much more than ash. There were bodies but details caused Flavia to suspect possible murder. The descriptions match the plaster casts in Pompeii which I will never forget. Brilliant touch. Additionally, there is family drama with Flavia, her husband and two adopted sons as well as extended family members.

The story feels fresh, original and vibrant. The author mixes in clever wit and banter which really elevated the story. I really enjoyed being immersed in this atmospheric mystery!

Another stellar installment in the Flavia Albia series - a tragedy and a mystery with our favorite Roman investigator.

Albia's husband Tiberius is tasked with clearing out some property by his shady uncle, so we travel to the countryside, still haunted by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius a decade earlier.

There are bodies, indeed, buried under volcanic ash, but one body in particular - that of Publius Primus - is of importance, and leads us to the mystery of who and why he was murdered. Because murdered he was, by human hand, not the volcano.

Flavia Albia is one of my favorite characters - she is clever and witty, know how she must play the game within the limits of Roman society.

One of the best aspects of this series, and the Falco series, is that we get to see the lives of ancient Romans brought to a level that is relatable.

Usually we only see grand historical figures, but here we see the every day, the social climbing men wearing clothes above their station, the gossiping business owners, etc.

I look forward to reading more of this series as long as Ms. Davis writes it.

A terrific addition to the series that will be just fine as a standalone. This sees Flavia and her husband Tiberius literally uncover secrets, lies and murder when he takes on the renovation of a home destroyed when Mt. Vesuvius exploded. The ash hides the body of murdered man in a locked room. It's been ten years which makes it a more difficult case than usual for Flavia, who must also navigate the politics and skullduggery of the elite. Davis does a wonderful job with worldbuilding (I always learn something about Rome) and with her characters. And of course the plot is tricky enough to keep you guessing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm a fan.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for this arc.

As with many of Flavia Albia's investigations, she often has no idea how many bodies and crimes will need to be solved. Many things might initially appear to be unconnected and there are clues and details everywhere. By the end, everything gets tied together and makes sense but along the way, red herrings and diverse possibilities will be entertained. 

There's also a wealth of information about life in the reign of Domitian whom Albia despises. The various strata of society are there from wealthy Roman businessmen, a former aedile and his wife - the adopted daughter of an equestrian rank family, two dodgy siblings, a possible pirate, a sniffy temple priestess, a missing military man, and several slaves who didn't deserve the end they got. 

Albia is often fearless where perhaps she ought to at least exercise caution and tip off Tiberius to where she's going and when she might return home. She takes no guff from most everyone and can dish it out when needed. Witnesses are often slippery and public ceremonies are prime events to watch families go at each other while snaffling dainties and nuts. There are enough clues to follow along at home while not giving the game away too early and ruining the fun. And from something that is casually slipped into the afterward, I can't wait for what might happen in the next book. B

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

There Will Be Bodies by Lindsey Davis is a first person-POV historical mystery set in the Roman Empire after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Flavia’s uncle-in-law has purchased a villa that was impacted but not covered by the eruption, but a dead body is found and Flavia isn’t convinced that he died from the ashfall. She’ll need to find out what actually happened and fast.

When I requested this, I had never heard of the Flavia Albia series, so there might be bits and pieces of broader context that I am missing. Like most episodic mystery series, most things probably mentioned in previous books that the reader needs to know are mentioned in this book, so I never felt lost or like I was flying completely blind with this new cast of characters. I don’t think it’s necessary to go back to the very beginning of the series if a reader is really curious about There Will Be Bodies specifically, but if I could go back and do it again, I probably would start with the first book just so I can have all of the context.

The worldbuilding is very thorough as there is a lot of exploration of life during the time of the Roman Empire. There’s mentions of what other societies are doing, different ideas for contraception, the impact of Pompeii, oils, perfumes, food, and so much more. I can tell that a lot of research went into making the setting feel alive and real instead of just a backdrop. The worldbuilding was probably my favorite aspect as plot-based mysteries are not something I normally gravitate to, but I would return to the series for more of the setting.

One of the threads that comes up over and over is the fact that those who were enslaved by the previous owner were probably killed because they knew too much. Flavia recognizes that they were human beings and that one of them, Endymio, is stated to have tried to runaway multiple times. It’s not comfortable, but it does shed a light on how enslaved people were viewed in the Roman Empire while also humanizing and stating very clearly that their lives and experiences did also matter.

Content warning for mentions of enslavement and sexual assault

I would recommend this to fans of historical mysteries who are also interested in the Roman Empire and readers who like a lot of worldbuilding in their historicals

Ten years after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the bay of Naples, Roman informer Flavia Albia and her husband Tiberius Manlius, recently an aedile - now a builder and contractor, undertake the digging out and restoring of a villa recently bought by the uncle of Tiberius. The first sentence of the book stated by Tiberius to his work crew is true…there will be bodies – buried in the ashes. It is not long before those bodies are found, including three chained slaves, a child, a trapped dog, and the body of the previous owner. One of those was dead before the eruption, and Albia is hired by the brother of the owner to investigate the murder. Committed to also finding justice for those slaves, Albia fixates as well on unearthing why the last moments for those slaves were this cruel.

Not only the contractor’s crew, but the family’s motley household staff leave Rome to join Albia and Tiberius. The cast of characters (possible murder suspects) of siblings, caregivers, friends of the deceased owner, and even a Sicilian pirate are often greedy and larger than life. The themes of family relationships, loss and grief, class justice, death and compassion are intrinsic and well written - right to the pyres and answers for truth. Albia and Tiberius are a fascinating pair as they work well together and support those who rely on them and those whom they love.

When I received this thirteenth book in the series, I knew it was necessary to start at the first book and read each one right up to There Will Be Bodies. And what a marvelous time traveling adventure it has been. My review of There Will Be Bodies inherently includes the wealth of the other twelve. Lindsey Davis richly explores multiple aspects of first century ancient Roman life from the plight of slaves and women to the intricate, elaborate culture of gods and rituals, not as a backdrop but rather an integral part of the plots and characterizations. Because of the writer’s wit, the enjoyment of possible ancient Roman swearing (“Heifers in Hades”) and entertaining expressive words (just a few - nobble, winkle, haring, snaffle) is pervasive. Even a startling statue of Augustus majestically holding a broom works well. Albia and Tiberius are wonderful characters, and their love story is perfect, from book one through thirteen.

Because of this excellent series, I will take a journey now through the whole Falco series. There is a line at the end of There Will Be Bodies that gives me pause as to the prospect of any more books in the series by Lindsey Davis. I am in awe of her writing which is consistently topnotch, and I am grateful to her for her superb series.

I am grateful to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for early access to this memorable book. This opinion is all my own.

Flavia Alba comes across unexpected bodies when she joins her husband to clean out a family villa that got covered with ash debris after Mount Vesuvius erupted. The plot continues to haunt me months later, making me question the nature of cruelty and the horrendous treatment of slaves in the Roman world. It is a must read. I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for this review.

Another strong addition to Davis's Falco family series featuring his daughter Flavia. Ten years later, events related to the eruption of Mt Vesuvius bring the young detective to that region allowing Davis to spin a satisfying mystery while providing the reader with a fascinating peek at life after a cataclysmic natural disaster. A history lesson wrapped around a thoightful and compelling read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. The synopsis sounded interesting enough a murder mystery set in Ancient Rome in the aftermath of the Vesuvius eruption. Sign me up. Overall I was very impressed with this book. I have never read any of the previous books in the series, but felt this could be read as a standalone. There was enough background introduced throughout so I was never confused. It reminded me of a good Hercule Poirot mystery. Overall good sleuthing and entertaining. Would recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️¼ (3.25 stars)

A Roman-era detective mystery with strong female leads, tangled family drama, and a vivid historical setting.

Set ten years after the eruption of Vesuvius, They Will Be Bodies follows investigator Flavia Albia as she gets pulled into a case involving unearthed remains and a house with secrets. The historical detail is rich—daily Roman life, politics, and social structures are woven throughout—and Flavia is a clever, quietly rebellious main character.

I especially enjoyed the layered female characters and the messy family dynamics. That said, the Roman naming conventions (Primus, Secundus, etc.) made it a little confusing to track who was who, and the mystery followed a more traditional, Holmes-style structure—nothing too surprising, but still satisfying.

Even though this is the 13th book in a series, it reads fairly well on its own. If you’re in the mood for a slower-paced historical mystery with a unique setting and smart women navigating complex roles, this is a solid pick.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved how the story explores themes of loss, resilience, and the search for truth. Flavia’s strength shines through not just in her wit but in her vulnerability, which made her so relatable. The author’s attention to historical detail makes the world feel authentic without ever bogging down the narrative, which is something I really appreciate. I simply couldn’t put down.

Another one of those remarkable books that I didn't know was apart of a series. Thankfully I did a little research by looking up the other books because I was very interested in reading it. So I will say that I was impressed but since there are other reviewers who have read the other books I will keep this brief.
The setting in set in ancient rome. Our main character and her husband end up traveling to an ancient city that has a lot of history. From there they uncover a lot of interesting finds. Overall i was very impressed by this book and I will be sure to check out the other books in this series.
I received a arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.