Lindsey Davis Falco Series Books In Order

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Falco Books In Order

Throughout the Falco series, Marcus Didius Falco works as the Roman imperial agent and “informer” investigating crimes for Emperor Vespasian. Set in ancient Rome, the series includes real historical figures and events as the backdrop to Falco’s mysteries.

Lindsey Davis, whom many readers feel is underappreciated, has created an entertaining, well-researched series that gives a detailed glimpse into life in the Roman Empire along with fun mysteries to solve. The books are also filled with humour, which readers enjoy.

Falco’s personal life evolves considerably in the series and is part of the fun, which makes reading the books in order more enjoyable. The books span a period in Roman history, with The Silver Pigs (Book 1) set in 69 AD and continuing chronologically to the last book, Nemesis (Book 20), set in 77 AD.

Several secondary recurring characters in the Falco books reappear in Lindsey Davis’s short stories The Spook Who Spoke Again, Invitation to Die, and Voices of Rome.

1. The Silver Pigs

Marcus Didius Falco is a private informer, the closest thing that first-century Rome has to a detective.

2. 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 best friend Petronius.

3. Venus in Copper

Things are going well for Marcus Didius Falco, ancient Rome’s investigator: he hates sharing a cell with a rodent, although being bailed by his old mother is almost as embarrassing; his highborn girlfriend can’t decide if she wants him and Titus Caesar’s reward

4. The Iron Hand of Mars

AD 71, Germania Libera: dark dripping forests, inhabited by bloodthirsty barbarians and legendary wild beasts, a furious prophetess who terrorises Rome, and the ghostly spirits of slaughtered Roman legionaries.

5. Poseidon’s Gold

AD 72: Marcus Didius Falco returns home from a six-month mission to the German legions. But trouble is in store for him

6. Last Act in Palmyra

The Roman detective, Marcus Didius Falco, goes to Syria in search of an abducted woman who was a water organist in a circus. A perfect cover to do some spying for the emperor

7. Time to Depart

It is Rome in AD 72, and Petro, captain of the Aventine watch, with his friend Falco, finally nails Rome’s top criminal. Sentenced to exile, the evil Balbinus is put aboard ship. But soon the corpses start appearing

8. A Dying Light in Corduba

Nobody was poisoned at the dinner for the Society of Olive Oil Producers of Baetica, though in retrospect this was quite a surprise…

9. Three Hands in the Fountain

Marcus Didius Falco and his laddish friend Petronius find their local fountain has been blocked – by a gruesomely severed human hand.

10. Two for the Lions

The murder of a star gladiator finds Roman detective Marcus Didius Falco in Tripoli searching for clues, where he uncovers evidence and danger aplenty. 20,000 first printing.

11. One Virgin Too Many

A frightened child approaches Roman informer Marcus Didius Falco, pleading for help. Nobody believes Gaia’s story that a relation wants to kill her – and neither does he.

12. Ode To A Banker

When a wealthy Athenian banker is found gruesomely murdered, Marcus Didius Falco must scour the seedy streets of ancient Rome to hunt down the killer.

13. A Body in the Bathhouse

Roman sleuth Marcus Didius Falco explores the fervor of home improvement that’s sweeping the Roman Empire and Falco’s own household, specifically the bath house–where a body turns up.

14. The Jupiter Myth

While visiting his wife’s relatives in Britain, Roman sleuth Marcus Didius Falco confronts a diplomatic crisis when the body of Verovolcus, courtier to King Togidubnus, is found stuffed down a barroom well.

15. The Accusers

Having returned from his trip to Londinium, Falco takes up employment with two lawyers at the top of their trade.

16. Scandal Takes a Holiday

Ancient Rome’s organized crime syndicates have never been more dangerous or more cunning than in this latest adventure featuring first-century sleuth Marcus Didius Falco.

17. See Delphi and Die

When Falco and Helena hear that a young girl and a newly married woman have been murdered at Olympia, they step in to investigate.

18. Saturnalia

Roman sleuth Marcus Didius Falco is pitted against his old rival, the Chief Spy Anacrites, to find a fugitive, an enemy of Rome who vanished from house arrest, leaving behind the body of murdered young man.

19. Alexandria

In first century A.D. Rome, during the reign of Vespasian, Marcus Didius Falco works as a private “informer,” ferreting out hidden truths and bringing villains to ground.

20. Nemesis

In the high summer of A.D. 77, Roman informer Marcus Didius Falco is beset by personal problems.

Invitation to Die: A Short Story of Falco's Rome