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Summary: Didius M Falco, Gumshoe and Swain
Review: SILVER PIGS is the first of a series of mysteries highlighting the adventures of the Roman sleuth Falco and his clever accomplice and lady friend, Helena Justina. The latest, LAST LIGHT IN CORDUBA, is just about to be released in the U.S. Buy it by all means, buy them all, but START WITH THIS ONE.
Lindsey Davis makes one critical mistake in this first outing, but it is nevertheless an engrossing and endearing book--and perhaps my favorite. Her hero, precariously poised between the lower and upper ranks of Imperial Roman society, is the perfect observer of the daily life of what the average person assumes was either a very dusty, dry existence or else extremely sensational, as in I, CLAUDIUS. The truth was probably somewhere in between, and we get it rendered in SILVER PIGS with a gritty realism and a charmingly anachronistic Sam Spade delivery that makes the novel humorous and unforgetable.
Falco has a number of problems in this book--not counting his demanding mother, irritating brothers-in-law, and not terribly hygenic nieces and nephews--the first of which is making ends meet. The fabric of his existence seems held together with cockroaches. It becomes increasingly hard to hold together after he befriends the niece of a Senator, who unwittingly holds the key to a dangerous secret. It is with the character of Sosia that Davis makes her only significant mistake: Falco and the reader get so very attached to her that when, at the end of the first section, we are forced to part ways with her, it is tempting to put the book down in discouragement.
It is vital that you do not, for that would mean failing to meet Sosia's cousin Helena Justina, who changes everything for both Falco and the reader. The novel's pace picks up considerably after Falco is posted to Britain, of which he says sourly: "If your mapskin has grown ragged at the edges you will have lost it, in which case so much the better is all I can say."
The silver pigs of the title, by the way, are pigs of iron, laced with silver, mined in Britain, and the property of the Emperor. At least, that is the way it is supposed to be...
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Summary: Not out of print everywhere
Review: Silver Pigs may be out of print in the US, but it's still available (without paying collectors prices) in Britain. Get ye to Amazon[.com] UK (and probably Amazon[.com] Canada) so you don't miss the best series-starter ever. All the books in this series can stand on their own, if they must, but without this one, well, it's like missing the first half hour of a movie. Worth every New Pence of the postage!
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Summary: An author who rises to new heights with each book
Review: Some authors barely get past the glossy, stereotypical vision of ancient Rome that has become par for the course in romances and mysteries; Davis goes straight for the Empire's heart. Falco, shifting during his investigations between the worlds of the plebeians and of the patricians, is a perfect lens through which to see Roman life. He's also a funny, engaging protagonist. With a smart, strong heroine -- Helena Justina, daughter of a senator -- to match him move for move, Davis has a winning team. What stands out in Davis' writing is her attention to the details of the everyday: how did you live in Rome if you couldn't afford a fancy mansion, staff of slaves, and dinner parties with the elite?
There's some first-novel-itis in the first book, Silver Pigs. In the author's first efforts a stroll through Rome is much like a stroll through modern London, and it takes her a book or two to work out the kinks. But Davis' ease with her craft grows with every new case for Falco, and her evocation of Rome through the eyes of ordinary people is matchless. With Falco you see not the airy days of the lofty classes, but how the other 90 per cent lived. It's not all humour -- Falco has seen his share of personal tragedy, personal failure; the character is all the richer for it. The author's ability to bring the city of Rome to life, the continuing growth of her characters, and the fascinating places she takes us, make her first novel -- and all the rest -- well worth the read.
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Summary: Five different kids of fun...
Review: The Falco books defy genre. Sure, there's the gumshoe mystery aspect, but there's also mystery, history (albeit unobtrusive), humor, and a strong and appealing romance. No strong literary pretensions here, but good crunchy prose and great reading fun. Get them all, and read them in order
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Summary: Looking for a new author - look no further
Review: The Silver Pigs is Lyndsey Davis first "Marcus Didicus Falco" detective book. It has this loveable rogue dashing from Rome to Ancient England on the trail of the Silver Pigs. Murder, Adventure, Love and a brilliant sense of fun make this thriller an absolutely excellent read. I would strongly advise anyone ordering this book to order the others at the same time, as waiting for the postman between titles will be a killer.
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Summary: Great All-Around Book
Review: This book contained mystery, history, and action - adventure. Any Roman History or Mystery or Adventure lover should read this book. You'll enjoy it!
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Summary: Dideus Falco - Detective, Romancer, and Roman - A+
Review: This book was the required "travel reading" for my highschool's summer Classics Tour. While in Rome, I was able to envision the city and its ambiance that Dideus Falco says seductively invites you to explore. You might have to possess some knowledge on Roman customs/history to truly appreciate the plot and many of the allusions. Yet even the casual reader can't help but at least smirk when lines like, "Whay happened next is between me, the senator's daughter, and the gardener's horse." Kudos to Ms. Davis for not making my required reading boring and on creating a comfort book for all who enjoy the prospect of an Ancient Roman mystery.
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Summary: An amazing piece of historical fiction
Review: This is an absolutely outsanding work on many levels. To begin with, Lindsey Davis brings to life a world which existed 2000 years ago. She details daily life, from Falco's apartment to upper class living, and even the politics of the time, allowing you to experience the Roman empire hands on. But there is much more to this book than just Davis' ability to let you experience a new world - there is the amazing fact that this all really happened. There is evidence that Falco existed, that he fell in love with a young, high ranking woman, and that he actually did help to solve the mystery of the silver pigs. This is not just some throw-back to a 1940s 'private eye' movie, it is one of the original stories, pulled out of the pages of history books and transformed into a fascinating story which will broaden your horizons. I highly reccomend this book! And if you enjoy it, continue reading the series!
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Summary: Certainly a Unique Setting and Timeframe
Review: This is the first time I've read about Didio Falco, and I really enjoyed it. This is the first book in what promises to be a fun series. The dust jacket has a review by the eminent Ms. Ellis Peters (author of the Cadfael series, a personal favourite of mine), and the late Ms. Peters said that she loved the series, and wondered why she didn't think to write about ancient Rome. Anything that Ms. Peters liked is certainly good enough for me, so that's why I read this book. It is a wonderful book. It's light, cheery and has a really good mystery. Ms. Davis does a pretty good job of creating the scene and the era. The book is funny, and Falco is a wonderful protaganist. I certainly will read more about him and his charming Helena again.
Rating:
Summary: Certainly a Unique Setting and Timeframe
Review: This is the first time I've read about Didio Falco, and I really enjoyed it. This is the first book in what promises to be a fun series. The dust jacket has a review by the eminent Ms. Ellis Peters (author of the Cadfael series, a personal favourite of mine), and the late Ms. Peters said that she loved the series, and wondered why she didn't think to write about ancient Rome. Anything that Ms. Peters liked is certainly good enough for me, so that's why I read this book. It is a wonderful book. It's light, cheery and has a really good mystery. Ms. Davis does a pretty good job of creating the scene and the era. The book is funny, and Falco is a wonderful protaganist. I certainly will read more about him and his charming Helena again.
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