2007 Book Log #4: The Silver Pigs, by Lindsey Davis

cafiorello had recommended the Marcus Didius Falco series to me some time ago, but I only just recently got around to buying the first book--because it only just recently got re-released in a new edition. On the strength of her recommendation, for lo Cathy is cool, I happily picked it up and have finally read it. Short form, Marcus Didius Falco is an "informer" in ancient Rome, circa AD 70, in the reign of the Emperor Vespasian. In this first book he is pulled into what proves to be the most complicated case he has ever investigated when a beautiful young girl leads him to discover a plot to steal silver ingots (the "pigs" of the title) out of mines in Britain--and to ultimately threaten the Emperor and his sons.

In the initial chapters of the book I was a little put off by Davis' writing style. Like Robert Ludlum, she has a tendency to overuse italics and exclamation marks, which always reads badly to me and makes the prose feel forced, whether in character interactions or in narrative. I also initially found Falco, the hero, a bit too glib for my liking. (And the fact that he was named "Falco" kept making me want to sing "Rock Me Amadeus" all throughout the book.) But I have to admit that he grew on me, as did the amusing collection of colorful side characters.

Same deal, really, for Davis' writing style. She treats her setting pretty much as if she were writing a modern-day detective story, because that's really what this is, only set in ancient Rome. All the characters converse in what comes across as casual, modern-flavored dialogue, too. This may put one off; it did me, initially. But once the story really got its feet under it (and she backed off on the italics and exclamation marks), it stopped seeming out of place. So I was happy I gave it a chance.

All in all a likable read and I'll be checking out the next book in the series. Three and a half stars.