Carmine Delmonico Reading Order
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| On, Off | 2005 | Buy |
| Too Many Murders | 2009 | Buy |
| Naked Cruelty | 2010 | Buy |
| The Prodigal Son | 2012 | Buy |
| Sins of the Flesh | 2013 | Buy |
Masters of Rome Reading Order
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The First Man in Rome | 1990 | Buy |
| The Grass Crown | 1991 | Buy |
| Fortune’s Favorites | 1993 | Buy |
| Caesar’s Women | 1996 | Buy |
| Caesar | 1997 | Buy |
| The October Horse | 2002 | Buy |
| Antony and Cleopatra | 2007 | Buy |
Colleen McCullough was born in Wellington, New South Wales, on June 1, 1937. Before becoming a full-time writer, she pursued a career in science, working as a neuroscientist and researcher in neurophysiology. This scientific background influenced her methodical approach to research and writing. She published her first novel, Tim, in 1974, but it was her second book, The Thorn Birds (1977), that established her as an international literary sensation.
While The Thorn Birds remains her most commercially successful work, McCullough’s true passion was historical fiction. She spent over a decade researching and writing the Masters of Rome series, which critics praised for its meticulous historical accuracy and compelling characterizations of figures from ancient Rome. Later in her career, she turned to mystery fiction with the Carmine Delmonico series, set in 1960s Connecticut, demonstrating her versatility across genres.