HE IS VENGEANCE, HE IS THE LAW, HE IS...... Oh, he is actually a lawyer.... Ah....

So... in December... when we were still reeling from the end of the hedonist and beginning the long wait until August for the Danish Prince, the chaps behind all that, sans the great Alexander Bloody Vlahos, decided to try something new; a standalone, download only historical piece. Then they announced that Dirk Gently himself, Samuel Barnett would be in the title role, and finally said what the story was going to be about.... I think it was safe to say we were all a little intrigued....

CICERO REVIEVV

THE BIG FINISH HISTORICAL

By Iack Ryan

BEVVARE: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS. READ AT YOVR OVVN RISK

⬆You get the gag? It's in the Latin alphabet!

Rome, 80 BCE: A time of peace, prosperity, the advancement of knowledge, the expansion of the empire. Or so it seems. The noted landowner Sextus Roscius the Elder has been murdered and his son, Sextus the Younger, has been accused of the foul deed. Seeking the only way to clear his name, he hires the brothers Cicero, amateur investigator Quintus Tullius and noted prodigy of law, Marcus Tullius. But as Marcus and Quintus investigate deeper into the crime, they discover details leading to the possibility that the inner workings of the Great Roman Empire might not be as great as it claims...

Where do I begin with this incredible little tale? Firstly, I had no idea what to expect going in. No idea whatsoever. The synopsis of David Llewellyn's well crafted tale could only tell me so much, but I went into it nevertheless, integued by it's names and it's premise. And..... TIS MARVELLOUS. Mr Llewellyn has gone and done a Death In Paradise and accomplished in the space of an hour what would take others perhaps multiple episodes and gives us a brilliant murder mystery and political drama all rolled into one, directed to perfection by the legendary Scott Handcock.

Of course, a mystery is only as good as those embroiled in it. And boy, oh boy, do we have a cast for you, with the likes of upcoming talent George Naylor, Broadchurch's Simon Ludders, Jeeves And Wooster's Elizabeth Morton, regular Big Finish reader Stephen Critchlow, and Youssef Kerkour, all of whom play their parts so incredibly well, you forget you're listening to actors and think you're listening to a seemingly impossible recording of ancient Rome. But the highlight of this brilliant cast? Dirk Gently himself, Samuel Barnett as the lead who can only succeed in not just making the role his own, but differentiating it from all his previous work, as only a good actor can!

For the music and sound design, we see the return of more Dorian Gray alumni, namely Neil Gardner for the sound design and Ioan Morris and Rhys Downing for the music. I think it's safe to say that this was a bit of a challenge, trying to make it sound believably like ancient Rome without the stomp of alien boots or the vvorp of a TARDIS. But our three sonic musketeers not only take on this challenge, but they excel at it. Especially Morris and Downing's music. Seriously, I'm addicted to that opening theme! I NEED A TEN MINUTE VERSION OF IT! IT'S SO GOOD!

Did this story need to be done? Not really. Should we be glad they did it anyway? HELL YES! It might not have Mr Bloody Vlahos, but that does not mean that this should be passed over. Everyone brings their all to every role in this little piece of perfection, and that makes it an utter joy to listen to.


VERDICT: 10/10 It's a fiver. YOU! HAVE! NO! EXCUSE! ;D

Cicero is now available to download from the Big Finish website here. If you would like to hear my very quick thoughts on the first twelve minutes of this release, you can check out my Freebie Fridays episode here.