Wonderful adventure...

I do not know why Romans are always portrayed with a British accent, but here the graveled Cockney narration Christian Rodska uses is absolutely superb. I love Audiobooks, and a good narrator can make or break a book, let alone a series. Here, both Mr. Rodska and Ms. Davis blend wonderfully. Marcus Didius Falco’s Rome is enthralling and his investigations through the political nuances of intrigue and deception kept me sitting the car listening well after I should have gone into work (playing on the car’s stereo, not headphones, I am a responsible driver). An interesting and fully fleshed cast of supporting characters helps create a world that is as interesting as it is believable. If only Audible would acquire the rest of the series!!!

12 people found this helpful

Like stepping back in time.

What a concept for a novel. A private detective in ancient Rome. But it is very well done, great story line, keeps moving at a very good pace. The narrator makes each character really come to life. Will read more by this author.

10 people found this helpful

good fun

this story is fun. The author has done a fine job of making a story centuries old seem very modern and fast paced. It has a 50's detective novel feeling to it,and the characters are very likeable.

8 people found this helpful

The Bdginning of a great series.

I somehow happened upon Silver Pigs in hardbound, the year that it was first published. After adjusting to the culture shock of life in empirial Rome I was intrigued and highly entertained by the characters and plot twists that were presented by Lindsey Davis. I faithfully awaited each new book until life distracted me but have recently gone back to the series in Audible format.

It is hard to believe that audio could improve on the written form but it clearly does. Christian Rodska, who narrates all of the unabridged titles that are available from Audible is amazing at portraying Falco in all of his cynical but ethical glory. He is also able to add interest to the sometimes almost pedantic delivery of information about the cultures and history that are a must to understand the plots that unfold. This audio and the rest of the series is one of the most amazing ways to get a sense of the everyday life in Empirial Rome as well as getting an idea of the scale and scope of the Roman Empire.

I highly recommend these to anyone with an interest in history or just a good story.

7 people found this helpful

Show some respect, commoner!

Any additional comments?

I love historical fiction, especially when it is set in the Roman Republic or Empire. This is the first Didius Falco novel I have read, and I found it generally entertaining. I quite like Falco himself, and the way in which the author depicted Rome and Roman Britain. Everything was going nicely until Falco (a plebeian gumshoe detective in 70 AD) started interacting directly with senior members of the imperial family, including the Emperor himself. Falco seemed not the slightest bit awed or even outwardly respectful. He was even fairly rude to them. Not only that, but Falco also spurned, in a most rude way, a high honour bestowed on him by the Emperor. His behaviour was not exactly irrational (there were some barely good reasons), but his behaviour was difficult to believe in the historical and social context of ancient Rome. I found this aspect of the book significantly detracting from the aura of historical realism that surrounded an otherwise 'ripping yarn' from classical Rome.

6 people found this helpful

70 AD P.I.

Read a book by Ruth Downie about Roman's in Britain. that got me interested and I came across this series. This is book one of the series by Lindsey Davis. It opens up in 70 A.D. with Susia Camillina running into Marcus Didius Falco (PI) on the steps of the Forum running away from some street thugs. Falco rescues her and finds out she is the niece of a Senator. Falco is first hired by the Senator to find out what is going on but then Susia is murdered and Falco goes to Britain to see Helen the daughter of the Senator recently divorced, who Falco thinks is the key to the mystery. He discovers silver being stolen from the Emperor. The Emperor Vespasian hires him to find the silver pigs and solve the murder. Told in the first person, some action, suspense and information about the romans of the period. Falco has a dry wit and is a bit sardonic, not an appealing character for me but it will give him a second try. Interesting enough for me to try the second book in the series. Christian Rodska narrated the book he has a English accent which was okay for the part of the book in England but where is the Italian accent when in Rome?

5 people found this helpful

Not my cup of Roman tea

I generally enjoy novels--mysteries or not--set in the classical world, and am a huge fan of the Roman sleuths created by Steven Saylor, John Maddox Roberts, and Ruth Downie. But for some reason I really dislike the characters in this series, and the attempts at what I guess could be called "wry wit" don't resonate with me.

I read "Silver Pigs" when it first came out--and I believe this first book in the series predates the three series I do like--and I didn't care for it then. Decided to try the audio version because it was on sale and because I like Christian Rodska (if you haven't heard him "channel" Winston Churchill in the latter's WWII histories, you're missing something). Rodska's Cockney version of hero and narrator Didius Falco is well conceived and sort of fun. But I just don't like this book. Still not sure why, and it doesn't mean you won't.

5 people found this helpful

The Silver Pigs

This delicious little murder mystery takes place in ancient Rome and in Roman Britain during the reign of Vespasian. I was struck by how modern and familiar daily life in the Roman Empire seemed in the book. Very graphic depictions of the life of a slave in the silver mines in Britain were horrifying, but seemed authentic. The narrator, Christian Rodska, speaks with an apparent northern English accent, (Lancaster?) but gives the senator in England a pretty convincing Oxford and his landlady a satisfying cockney (Mrs Bridges?). He softens his voice for the noble women. I found his narration surprisingly satisfying.

4 people found this helpful

One of my favorite series!

I have read and re-read the books, and now am having fun listening to them on audio. Great narration! These novels have a little bit of something for everyone- they're good mysteries, they're an interesting look at the Roman Empire, and the main character is funny. Smart, but also light and entertaining. So far there has only been one book in the series I haven't absolutely loved.

4 people found this helpful

The best of the Falco stories.

Would you listen to The Silver Pigs again? Why?

Yes, Marcus Didius Falco comes across as a real person whom one would like and respect. The deception is unraveled in a practical yet piecemeal fashion.

Any additional comments?

Falco in the later books becomes more cynical (and less effective). The early books are the best.

3 people found this helpful