Falco: The Complete BBC Radio Collection

Five Full-Cast Dramatisations

By: Lindsey Davis

Narrated by: Anna Madeley, Anton Lesser, Ben Crowe, Frances Jeater, Fritha Goodey, full cast, Jonathan Keeble, Michael Tudor Barnes, Trevor Peacock

Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Full-cast BBC Radio 4 dramatisations of the first five Falco novels by Lindsey Davis, starring Anton Lesser as Marcus Didius Falco.

The Silver Pigs:

One fine day, AD 70, Sosia Camillina quite literally runs into Marcus Didius Falco on the steps of the Forum. It seems Sosia is on the run from a couple of street toughs, and after a quick and dirty rescue, PI Falco wants to know why. Hoping for future favours from Sosia's powerful uncle, Falco embarks on an intricate case of smuggling, murder, and treason that reaches into the palace itself.

Shadows in Bronze:

Rome, AD 71. Against his better judgment, Marcus Didius Falco secretly disposes of a decayed corpse for the Emperor Vespasian, then heads for the beautiful Bay of Naples with his friend Petronius. But this will be no holiday: they have been sent to investigate the murderous members of a failed coup, now sunning themselves in luxurious villas and on fancy yachts in Neapolis, Capreae, and Pompeii.

Venus in Copper:

A small accounting error has left Marcus Didius Falco sharing a cell with a large rat. But the Roman Empire's most hard-done-by investigator is finally bailed out and promptly accepts a commission to help a family of freed slaves fend off a professional bribe....

The Iron Hand of Mars:

Falco is dispatched to one of the most hostile parts of the empire to deliver a new standard, an iron hand, to one of the legions. Germania is cold, wet, dismal and full of dark forests inhabited by bloodthirsty barbarians, but Falco has an even bigger problem to worry about: he has forgotten Helena Justina's birthday, and she is being pursued by the Emperor's son Titus Caesar.

Poseidon’s Gold:

Returning to Rome after his mission to Germania, Falco finds that his mother is being harassed by a centurion named Censorinus, who says he is chasing a debt owed to him by Falco's late brother, Festus. When Falco refuses to cough up the money, he and Censorinus end up fighting...and later, the centurion turns up dead. Under suspicion of murder, Falco must confront his past and uncover his brother's secrets before he can clear his name and solve the mystery.

These funny and fast-moving adaptations are a treat for all Falco fans.

Cast:

Falco...Anton Lesser

Helena...Fritha Goodey/Anna Madeley

Petronius...Ben Crowe

Ma...Frances Jeater

Pa...Trevor Peacock

Vespasian...Michael Tudor Barnes

Titus...Jonathan Keeble

Dramatised by Mary Cutler

Directed by Peter Leslie Wild

Audio updated as of February 2020.

©2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Great story

A true pleasure to listen to and very well narrated and acted out in it’s entirety

"Of all of the vineyards in the known worlds ...

... she just happened to walk into this one."

A lifetime fan of all things Roman, I had read the printed versions of Lindsey Davis'e entire unabridged Falco series years ago and delighted in the radio adaptations for BBC radio. This Audio brings together those first five Falco plays, starring Anton Lesser as Falco, with a full supporting cast. They are all excellent.
Anton Lesser excels as Falco, his is the voice I heard in my head when I first read the books. Tender but strong, with courage and cowardice, duty and family frustration all on display: not just his acting skills but places him centre stage. His lover, Helen Justin's is also beautifully portrayed by Anna Madley in books 2 - 5, though I actually preferred the warmer, more laughter or disdain filled Helena of Frilla Goodey in book one.

The titles included are:
- The Silver Pigs
- Shadows in Bronze
- Venus in Copper
- The Iron Hand of Mars
- Poseidon's Gold.

Although heavily abridged, the five book series is superb, really catching the humour as well as the excitement of the stories and the atmosphere of Rome in the first Century. A book that I will listen to again and again

Fantastic stories

I love Marcus Didius Falco! I have read the books many times & listened to the unabridged audiobooks. The cast dramatizations are brilliant.

Great fun

This BBC series is intriguing, historically interesting and a lot of fun. Falco is a bit like Philip Marlowe meets Ancient Rome with a dry, cheeky wit that Anton Lesser, the king of narrators, captures perfectly. All the actors are terrific and bring their characters to life especially Fritha Goodey & Anna Madeley who play Falco's love, Helela, and Trevor Peacock, who plays his father. I know I will listen to this more than once and my only regret is that the BBC didn't do more of the books with the same cast.

Terrific adaptation

This covers the first 5 books of the series Each is around 2.5 hrs so it is abridged However, it is true to the storyline and great fun Sometimes the background audio is a bit too loud for the voices but that is a minor issue This a great series and I hope the BBC will consider doing the next 5 books as well I highly recommend this!

Fairly entertaining

Not mind-blowing, but I'll listen to anything Anton Lesser reads. I like to think the sound flaws are the actors wrapping packages with those big tape dispensers :-).

Roman Empire Investigator

Delightful visit to the Roman Empire’s seedy underside. BBC radio productions are better than TV or pure audio books and I wish they’d made more episodes of this series!

Fabulous adaptation!

The BBC takes the first 5 Falco books, and while abridging them, perfectly captures their spirit. PERFECTLY! The writing and pacing is good, the acting superb. I couldn’t wait to hear them all - and then play them right again. I hope they’ll someday do the rest.

Fun detective stories

Loved it. Great detective drama with a comedic edge set in Ancient Rome. Anton Lesser and Anna Madeley are great!

Fantastic!

I loved it! What are they going to do more? The cast was perfect especially Anton Lesser, playing Falco. Nobody does radio dramas like the Brits!