The Silver Pigs

Marcus Didius Falco, Book 1

By: Lindsey Davis

Narrated by: Christian Rodska

One fine day, A.D. 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, P.I. Falco wants to know why.

Falco finds out that Sosia, the niece of a highly placed senator, holds the secret to a stockpile of silver pigs, ingots intended for no good use. Hoping for future favors from Sosia's powerful uncle, Falco embarks on an intricate case of smuggling, murder, and treason that reaches into the palace itself. And if he does not tread lightly, the treacherous puzzle of the silver pigs could buy him a one-way ticket to his own funeral pyre.

©1989 Lindsey Davis (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

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.

Ancient Rome with a Street-Wise Slant - Fantastic!

Would you listen to The Silver Pigs again? Why?

I love this book and I love this recording - I have listened to it 3 times already and it's one of my 'go to' great reads when I am stuck on trains and planes for work.

Who was your favorite character and why?

They are all great - lots of depth, believability in the writing (I have all the Falco books and have read the series several times).

What about Christian Rodska’s performance did you like?

Christian Rodska's voice is perfect for this series: his voices for the cynical street-wise Didius Falco and for Helena, her father, uncles, emperor, etc are fantastic as well as the score of minor characters who have regional English accents. It's a terrific performance and he brings an amazing depth to this recording. I have listened to it three times and it's better each time.

Any additional comments?

Please can you get Christian Rodska to record the volumes from 2 - 7 as the one that follows after the Silver Pigs is Vol 8 and there is a lot to the series.

Wonderful story, deeper and richer than I expected

Wonderful story, deeper and richer than I expected. The people seem so 3 dimensional and real, and it's so fun to find a film noire style "hard bitten detective on the seedy side of town" story set in ancient rather than modern times. Loved this one!

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!!!

Fantastic start for a fantastic series

This is a masterful matching of narrator and piece. Christian Rodska is perfect as Falco, the slightly cynical but rather idealistic informer. A cast of great characters are introduced and Rodska handles them with aplomb. A great choice for mystery and history lovers alike.