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Shadows in Bronze

Falco, Book 2

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Shadows in Bronze

By: Lindsey Davis
Narrated by: Gordon Griffin
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I was the new boy, so they saddled me with the worst jobs. Rome, AD 71. Against his better judgement, Falco secretly disposes of a decayed corpse for the Emperor Vespasian, then heads for the beautiful Bay of Naples with his best friend Petronius. He conveniently forgets to mention to his companion that 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.

The idyllic seaside location further complicates his seemingly doomed romance with Helena Justina. The deeper he probes, the more it seems Helena is inextricably connected to the elite plotters, in ways that the smitten Falco cannot bear to contemplate.

©1991 Lindsey Davis (P)2014 Audible Studios Crime Fiction Historical Mystery Thriller & Suspense
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Would you listen to Shadows in Bronze again? Why?

I enjoyed the story - the quirks of Falco's character voice and the vividly real people and places he encounters.
I missed Christian Rodska so much, though. He was the perfect voice of Falco in the first volume.

What did you like best about this story?

Characterization; sense of time and place.

What three words best describe Gordon Griffin’s performance?

Dull. Old. Errors.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, but it would be a spoiler to say who gets hurt.
I did like Falco's care of the less fortunate - his seemingly endless family, and especially the sacred goat.

Any additional comments?

If Lindsey has any input on the choice of narrator, please, I beg her to insist on Christian Rodska.

Bring back Christian Rodska

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Really disappointing after the thrill of the first in the series. Didn't understand the plot at all (I mean, I did, but it didn't really work), but nice to hear the characters again. Shame they ditched the great reader of the first book for someone who made all the characters sound like a slightly bored and out of touch Oxford Classics Don. Very bad move. Cheaper? Probably.

Much, much less good that the first one

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Personally I enjoy this narrator, although other reviewers don’t.
The writing can be a little slow in places but the wonderful detail really brings Ancient Rome to life in such a relatable way.
The visit to Pompeii in this story is a great touch.

Great story as always

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The second in the Falco series has our hero ranging farther afield. As before, the real heart of the story is his evolving relationship with Helena Justina. Unfortunately the narrator is not the same as the first book and this is to its detriment. The line readings are frequently off-key, the voice is too refined and there are even misreadings in parts, e.g. snowing instead of showing.

Vivid and involving but narration is weak

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While I love the Falco books I feel this story let down by the narrator, Gordon Griffin for me at least sounds too polished, Christian Rodska's portrayal is very much the lose and free wide boy character I associate Falco to be.

Gordon Griffin is no Christian Rodska

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