Fatal Legacy

By: Lindsey Davis

Narrated by: Jane Collingwood

The next witty, must-listen audiobook in the Flavia Albia series.

An unpaid bar bill leads Flavia Albia to her most bitter and complex case yet.

Decades earlier Appius Tranquillus Surus wrote his will: it freed his slaves and bequeathed his businesses to them. He left an orchard to the Prisci, a family he was friendly with, on the condition that his freedmen could still take its harvest.

The convoluted arrangement has led to a feud between the two families, each of which has its own internal strife. Endless claims and counterclaims lead to violence and even death. Lawyers have given up in exasperation as the case limps on. The original will has disappeared, along with a falsified codicil - and might there be another one?

But is there a solution? Two youngsters from each side of the divide, Gaius Venuleius and Cosca Sabatina, have fallen in love, which could unite the feuding families. There is only one problem: were Sabatina's grandmother and father really liberated in the Surus will? If not, the stigma of slavery will stop the marriage and the dispute will rage on forever.

Reconciliation seems impossible, but Albia will try. Her investigation must cut through decades of secrets, arguments, lies and violence to reach a startling truth.


Praise for Lindsey Davis and the Flavia Albia series

'It positively crackles with knowledge of the city and its people, mixed with social comment, ingenious and bloody plots and sharp observational skills leavened by more than a smattering of genuine and sometimes earthy humour' Crime Review

'Fiendishly twisted mystery' Mail on Sunday

'Great fun, shot through with sharp observations' SHOTS

(P) 2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2023 Lindsey Davis

Critic reviews

All teeming Roman life is here with its smells, entrenched snobbery . . . and superstitions described by a wise-cracking heroine. A feast, to be savoured with a cup, or two, of violet wine

another Roman riot of fun

The twists and turns of Roman law.

Difficulty with all the names. I enjoyed the factual build up to the ending recitations of Roman law that gave the good result.

Another entertaining Flavia Albia story

A bit confusing at times, however this is an appropriate reflection of the way Fatal Legacy paints a picture of Roman family life and its complicated interrelationship with slavery. As usual the author allows us to step into and walk around the ancient city. The narration was very good - expressive and well read.

Lindsey Davis never lets me down!

Loved the narration story and details! This story took me to ancient Rome, and I continued to fall in love with the family and all of the details.

Good story and great performance

A convoluted but good mystery and Jane Collingwood makes it immensely enjoyable! I’m very much looking forward to the next installment.

Complex plot with Davis’s trademark humor

The reader does an amazing job of distinguishing a large number of characters who are intricately snarled in family and legal relationships. These would probably have been easier to keep straight with a physical book, but somehow she got them across. Flavia Albia, the informer, gradually unsnarls the strands that link these characters to get to the truths they have all tried to hide, accompanying her narration with her usual wry comments.