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The Silver Pigs: (Falco 1) [Paperback]

Lindsey Davis (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 7 Feb 2008 | Series: Falco (Book 1)

Discover one of the world's favourite detectives, as his first case leads him into conspiracy, murder and adventure ...

In 1989 THE SILVER PIGS introduced the world to laid-back first-century detective Marcus Didius Falco, his partner Helena Justina, his law and order pal Petronius, and his indomitable Mother - who became some of the most celebrated characters in historical fiction.

Now reissued in a special new edition to celebrate publication of Falco's twentieth investigation, THE SILVER PIGS sees Falco cynically eyeing up the new Roman emperor, Vespasian. Our hero, a private informer, rescues a young girl in trouble and is catapulted into a dangerous game involving stolen imperial ingots, a dark political plot and, most hazardous of all, a senator's daughter connected to the traitors Falco has sworn to expose ...

Frequently Bought Together

The Silver Pigs: (Falco 1) + Shadows In Bronze: (Falco 2) + Venus In Copper: (Falco 3)
Price For All Three: £17.57

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Product details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Arrow (7 Feb 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0099515059
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099515050
  • Product Dimensions: 12.7 x 1.9 x 19.7 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 13,923 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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› Visit Amazon's Lindsey Davis Page
Lindsey Davis
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Product Description

Review

"

Every book in this series is a delight . fans will snap it up, highly recommended

Library Journal

" (Library Journal )

"Davis is a prolific and popular writer . Her research has been assiduous and detailed, her commitment to the subject is impressive, and the background detail is often eye-opening" (Hilary Mantel Observer )

"One of the best of the current writers in this field" (Donna Leon The Times )

"Surely the best historical detective in the business" (Mike Ripley Daily Telegraph )

"The whole thing is splendid. It has everything: mystery, pace wit, fascinating scholarship . she brings imperial Rome to life" (Ellis Peters )

Book Description

One of the Roman novels from the bestselling historical fiction Falco series
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Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
46 reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Introducing Falco 22 July 2007
By Marshall Lord TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
This is the first of a series of detective stories set in Vespasian's Roman Empire and featuring the informer Marcus Didius Falco.

I tried this historical detective story because I had enjoyed Ellis Peter's "Brother Cadfael" detective stories. They were excellent but this is brilliant, as is the rest of the series.

Funny, exciting, and based on a painstaking effort to re-create the world of 70 AD.

By chance, Falco rescues a 16-year old girl called Sosia Camillina from a gang of thugs. She turns out to be the illegitimate niece of a senator, who suspects that an illegal trade is going on in silver pigs (ingots) from a godforsaken remote corner of the empire - Britain. To Falco's disgust he has to return to this barbaric spot where he had once served with the legions ...

The events of this story vary from the tragic to the hilarious, and are often completely unexpected. It includes a mystery and the start of a charming ongoing love story.

If you have met and enjoyed the Cadfael series, this is even better.

It isn't absolutely essential to read these stories in sequence, as the mysteries Falco is trying to solve are all self-contained stories and each can stand on its own. Having said that, there is considerable ongoing development of characters and relationships and I think reading them in the right order does improve the experience.

The full Falco series, in chronological order, consists at the moment of:

The Silver Pigs
Shadows in Bronze
Venus in Copper
The Iron Hand of Mars
Poseidon's Gold
Last Act in Palmyra
Time to Depart
A Dying Light in Corduba
Three Hands in the Fountain
Two for the Lions
One Virgin Too Many
Ode to a Banker
A Body in the Bath house
The Jupiter Myth
The Accusers
Scandal taks a Holiday
See Delphi and Die
Saturnalia
Alexandria
Nemesis

I have read and can warmly recommend all of these.

Lindsey Davis has also written a historical novel set in the same timeframe called "The Course of Honor" which is about the love affair between Vespasian and his mistress Caenis. The author has taken the two sentences from Suetonius which are all we know of Caenis, and from them she has conjured the vital image of a woman beautiful in both form and personality and a charming love story.
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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A darker novel, but with life and humour 12 Jun 2001
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This first 'Falco' novel from Lindsey Davis has a more sombre quality than her subsequent novels but with no less humour and attention to characterisation. This remains my favourite of the series, partly because it defines the relationships between the principal characters. It also tells the events that form the haunting memories of some of Davies' later novels. Like any good read it expands beyond the confines of the pages and grabs the imagination. The smells of the ancient Roman empire, both fragrant and foul, infuse the pages.
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32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent mystery novel set in ancient Rome. 10/10 28 Jan 2002
By markphillips@cytanet.com.cy
Format:Hardcover
Based in ancient Rome in the time of the emperor Vespasian, The Silver Pigs finds itself deep in the intrigue and deception of the roman administrators, right to the top. In his search for the truth it takes Falco, (the main character), to near death in the distant, and freezing, (the Romans didn't have underwear), province of Britannia. Of course, he saves the day but only by weaving his way through the rich and twisting tapestry of everyday life as a roman citizen.
The book is based on a strong plot and a very likable character, but is highly detailed about roman politics and everyday roman life. Anyone can read and enjoy this, you don't have to know anything about ancient Rome but it will appeal more to those who like the roman period. The best thing about the book is that it is the first in a string of Falco novels (thirteen so far, I have them all), so once you are hooked you can follow your hero all over the roman empire as he eaks out an existence doing his bit for Rome and tries to inch his way up the greasy pole to a better life.
I would give this book 10/10, one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A great start!
I have read a few Falco books before reading this one, but it was great to finally read the first ever Falco and get a feel for how the relationship between Falco and Helena starts... Read more
Published 1 day ago by A. Bailey
4.0 out of 5 stars A good opening novel
This is my first encounter with Lindsey Davis's creation, Falco, and I will certainly be continuing with the series. The style is easy and very readable. Read more
Published 5 days ago by Simon Binning
5.0 out of 5 stars First book of the series
Really enjoyed this book and have gone on to read all the others in the series. Really like Lindsey Davis as an author.
Published 12 days ago by Mrs. H. E. Jackson
4.0 out of 5 stars A cynical hero
This is only the second Falco book I've read and much preferred it to the first (Nemesis). It's very well researched and worth reading for this alone. Read more
Published 1 month ago by WychofSalem
4.0 out of 5 stars Falco.
Anyone who enjoys whodunnits will love this series...Falco is an engaging and very human hero who stumbles through his life in a way that most of us will recognise only too well. Read more
Published 4 months ago by kerrywatts
4.0 out of 5 stars LA/ROMA?
Meet Roman noir. A brisk romp across Rome and its dark and nasty colony with a distinct touch of Marlowe and Conrad.
Published 4 months ago by Robert Crabtree
5.0 out of 5 stars Hooked, Unhooked and Hooked
After my friend insisted I read this series, I had this book on my bookshelf for a good few months before I ran out of books and decided to give it a go. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Rhinne
5.0 out of 5 stars The beginnings of a love affair
I hope this will be the start of many hours of enjoyable reading as more Falco books join my collection. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Kindle Bookworm
5.0 out of 5 stars Book club read
I loved this book and it has made me keen to read all the others in this series. Lindsey Davis's humour is subtle and very funny. I also want to know how the romance ends.
Published 11 months ago by Maggie
5.0 out of 5 stars The start of something very special.
Having just devoured and reviewed Lindsey Davis' latest book, 'Master and God', I decided to go back to the beginning of my acquaintance with a favourite author, and re-read 'The... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Louisa Gray
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