The Silver Pigs
(Marco Didius Falco: book I): the first novel in the bestselling historical detective series, exposing the criminal underbelly of ancient Rome
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4.3 • 27 Ratings
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- £3.99
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- £3.99
Publisher Description
A NEW EMPEROR SEEKS AN EXPERIENCED AGENT
Marcus Didius Falco is a private informer, the closest thing that first-century Rome has to a detective.
A new emperor, Vespasian, has ascended to power. The tides of money and power are in flux, and Rome's vicious games swirl more ferociously than ever.
When Falco rescues a young girl in trouble, he catapults himself 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.
The rule of law is tenuous for ordinary citizens of Rome. Only a man with a mind as sharp as a gladius can prevail. . .
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'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 writers in this field!' Donna Leon, The Times
' The best historical detective in the business' Daily Telegraph
'Every book in this series is a delight. . . highly recommend!!' Library Journal
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Why Readers Love Lindsey Davis:
'Be careful, if you get the taste for this you'll end up reading them all... I can think of worse ways to pass the time' -- ***** Reader review
'This series is just so addictive!' -- ***** Reader review
'I just could not put it down' -- ***** Reader review
'Engrossing' -- ***** Reader review
Fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom will absolutely love this gripping page-turner of a historical mystery from multi-million copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis. Full of twists, turns and tension - you will be hooked from page one.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The intriguing premise of a detective story set in Imperial Rome in 70 A.D. is unpredictably fulfilled by Davis's hero-gumshoe, M. Didius Falco, an iconoclastic young republican. Falco rescues the niece of a senator from a kidnapping attempt, is attracted by both her innocence and the secret she keeps regarding a silver ingot (the ``pig'' of the title) and then stricken when her corpse is found in a spice warehouse. Hired by her family to track down the reasons behind her death, Falco spends the winter in Britain working as a slave in a silver mine. Enduring vividly depicted hardship with customary sharp-witted pluck, he picks up the hints of a plan to overthrow Vespasian, the current emperor. He also meets the senator's divorced, sharp-tongued daughter, Helena Justina, and brings her back to Rome where they work with--and against--each other to bring the well-developed plot to its satisfying conclusion. Wisecracking in ancient idiom, Falco seems, nevertheless, a recognizably up-to-date young man, one whose honor, humor and humanity work him quickly into reader's affection. Davis's story, though couched in period detail, rewards as much for deft handling of plot and depth of characterization as for its historicity.
