Author:Lindsey Davis,Anton Lesser,Anna Madeley,Fritha Goodey,Ben Crowe,Frances Jeater,Trevor Peacock,Michael Tudor Barnes,Jonathan Keeble,Full Cast
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, 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. 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.
Shadows in Bronze:
Rome, AD 71. Against his better judgement, 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
Sound quality varies due to the age of these recordings.
The Adventure King
—— Sunday ExpressCussler is hard to beat
—— Daily MailDelivers what it promises
—— Financial TimesThis is a tense read, fill of characteristic Goddard twists
—— GuardianAs always, Goddard can be relied upon to entertain
—— The Literary ReviewA well-constructed page-turner of a thriller that’s very hard to put down
—— Choice magazine'[An] ingeniously twisted eco-thriller'
—— The TimesReaders cannot tell fact from fiction. The timing is perfect, the layers of the story both peel away and deepen as the search into the mind of a killer takes turns no one is expecting
—— RT Book ReviewsThe tension crackles . . . it had me changing my mind so often, my head was spinning. A work of art.
—— Sunday ExpressA dialogue propelled two-hander, a murder mystery, a road novel, a pair of psychological case studies. It would make a fine indie movie, although screen adaption would entail sacrificing Heaberlin's evocative prose
—— THRILLER OF THE MONTH , The Sunday TimesStrong characterisation, haunting images, a wonderful sense of place
—— GuardianThis book haunted me . . . The writing is beautiful and chilling, laced with a subtle dark humour, and the multiple twists build to a perfect icy shiver of an ending. I loved it!
—— C J TUDOR , Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chalk ManUtterly compelling . . . the writing is mesmeric
—— ALI LAND , Sunday Times bestselling author of Good Me Bad MeHeaberlin knows exactly how to create a feeling of suspense. The kind of fear that that creeps up on you from behind. It is a compelling and sinister, character-driven read.
—— Cheryl M-M's Book BlogA clever tale about finding closure
—— The SunA beautifully written, gripping and extraordinary book
—— Sophie Hannah , bestselling author of The Narrow BedA rich hybrid work that's at once a zany dialogue-propelled town-hander, a murder mystery, a road trip, a pair of psychological case studies and a meditation on photography
—— Sunday Times Paperbacks Round UpFinding something new to say about serial killers is almost impossible these days, but Heaberlin's approach is completely original and all shades of menacing
—— Crime Fiction Lover, 5 Women to Watch in 2019My crime novel of 2018. It's a stunning page turner of a book which kept me gripped throughout. It's a book that has stayed with me beyond the last chapter and I'm recommending it to everyone
—— Jo Jakeman, author of Sticks and StonesThe timing is perfect, the layers of the story both peel away and deepen as the search into the mind of a killer takes turns no one is expecting
—— RT Book ReviewsThis book haunted me. Such a gripping exploration of obsession and loss: of those we love, but also our memories and sense of self. The writing is beautiful and chilling, laced with a subtle dark humour, and the multiple twists build to a perfect icy shiver of an ending. I loved it!
—— C J Tudor, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chalk ManUtterly compelling . . . the writing is mesmeric
—— Ali Land , Sunday Times bestselling author of Good Me Bad MePraise for Black-Eyed Susans
—— -It's a terrific plot, matched by the quality of the writing and superbly paced tension
—— The Times BOOK OF THE MONTHOne of the classiest thrillers you'll read this year
—— Charlotte Heathcote , The ExpressBlack Eyed Susans is a compelling read, especially for Serial fans
—— CosmopolitanCreepy and compelling, Black-Eyed Susans is a shadowy and crooked journey to a very dark place indeed, a twisty fairytale that deceives you just when you think you've cracked it and a thriller to make you remember why you love thrillers. Don't miss it
—— Observer, Thriller of the MonthSophisticated, disturbing and with plenty of red herrings
—— Woman and HomeBlack-Eyed Susans is a masterful thriller that shouldn't be missed . . . and in terms of suspense, characterizations and storytelling... is outstanding. Heaberlin's work calls to mind that of Gillian Flynn. Both writers published impressive early novels that were largely overlooked, and then one that couldn't be: Flynn's Gone Girl and now Heaberlin's Black-Eyed Susans. Don't miss it
—— Washington PostA truly compelling tale of the fragility of memory and elusive redemption
—— Kirkus ReviewsTerrific. Impeccable plotting
—— Barry ForshawJónasson is an automatic must-read for me . . . possibly the best Scandi writer working today
—— Lee ChildAs chilling as the nip in the Icelandic air
—— Choice MagazineSuperb. . . chilling . . . This is the first volume in Jonasson's Hidden Iceland trilogy, which tells Hulda's story in reverse chronological order and establishes her as one of the great tragic heroines of contemporary detective fiction
—— Sunday Times Crime Book of the MonthExpertly plotted, with an ending that's a true shocker, The Darkness is the first book in a trilogy featuring this engaging investigator, which is good news
—— The GuardianMagnificently dark and twisted! That ending - blimey!
—— C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Chalk ManA sympathetic yet entirely unsentimental portrait of a flawed but decent detective seeking justice for a murdered Russian asylum seeker
—— Sunday Times Crime ClubIt will get your pulse racing and keep you hooked to the last page
Crime fiction has never seen a character quite like Hulda Hermannsdóittir; nor a series launch so entirely willing to take risks and obliterate long-standing tropes . . . There is no doubt that The Darkness will rank as one of the most popular and powerful reading experiences of the year.
—— BOLO Books ReviewThe Darkness is a bullet train of a novel, at once blazingly contemporary and Agatha-Christie old-fashioned. With prose as pure and crisp as Reykjavik snowcrust, Ragnar Jónasson navigates the treacherous narrative with a veteran's hand. I reached the end with adrenalized anticipation, the final twist hitting me in the face. I dare you not to be shocked
—— Gregg Hurwitz , Sunday Times bestselling author of Orphan XThe Darkness is Ragnar Jónasson at the top of his game - deft plotting, a great central character and a story as chilling as the Icelandic winter. I couldn't put it down
—— William Ryan , author of The Holy ThiefAnother masterpiece from the King of Icelandic Noir
—— Thomas Enger , bestselling author of the Henning Juul seriesUnbearably sinister
—— Helen Callaghan, bestselling author of Dear AmyThe Darkness is a true masterpiece of a crime novel, introducing an original protagonist, a plot full of twists and turns and an ending that leaves you gasping for air
—— Yrsa Sigurðardóttir , author of the bestselling Thora Gudmundsdottir crime seriesPraise for Ragnar Jónasson
—— -No country associated with the label Nordic noir is as bleak, cold, snowy and empty as Iceland. And no crime writer portrays those elements as evocatively and scarily as Ragnar Jonasson
—— The TimesA classic crime story seen through a uniquely Icelandic lens... first rate and highly recommended
—— Lee Child, on , SnowblindA modern take on Agatha Christie--style mystery, as twisty as any slalom . . .
—— Ian Rankin, on , SnowblindRagnar Jónasson writes with a chilling, poetic beauty - a must-read addition to the growing canon of Iceland Noir
—— Peter JamesDistinctive blend of Nordic noir and golden age detective fiction...atmospheric...economical and evocative prose
—— The Guardian on NightblindSeductive ... an old-fashioned murder mystery with a strong central character and the fascinating background of a small Icelandic town cut off by snow. Ragnar does claustrophobia beautifully
—— Ann CleevesThe ending hits the reader like a kick in the stomach
—— FRÉTTATIMINN ****Jonasson's books have breathed new life into Nordic noir ...all the skilful plotting of an old-fashioned whodunit although it feels bitingly contemporary in setting and tone
—— Sunday ExpressHulda Hermannsdottir is a welcome addition to the selection of Icelandic crime fiction protagonists . . . It is almost impossible to put the book down until the last word has been read
—— Fréttablaðið ****Out of all of Ragnar's books, this is the one I like the most . . . The book of his which reminds me most of Agatha Christie
—— Kiljan, on The IslandThe threads lie in various places, the plot is well woven and the pieces in the puzzle come together well in the end. The structure is good, the main characters are believable, the story flows well, everyone is a suspect á la Agatha Christie and the solution unveils the mystery and leads the readers to the truth. But not all the truth, as some things are better left hidden
—— Morgunbladid (Icelandic newspaper)A very good book, gripping and interesting, with all the threads carefully managed. Hopefully the author will publish as many books as possible with lead character Hulda
—— Vikan Magazine, on The Island