Marcus Didius Falco books in order

All Marcus Didius Falco books in order by Lindsey Davis. The complete reading order for the historical mystery series set in first-century Rome.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Silver Pigs 1989 Lindsey Davis Buy
2 Shadows in Bronze 1990 Lindsey Davis Buy
3 Venus in Copper 1991 Lindsey Davis Buy
4 The Iron Hand of Mars 1992 Lindsey Davis Buy
5 Poseidon’s Gold 1993 Lindsey Davis Buy
6 Last Act in Palmyra 1994 Lindsey Davis Buy
7 Time to Depart 1995 Lindsey Davis Buy
8 A Dying Light in Corduba 1996 Lindsey Davis Buy
9 Three Hands in the Fountain 1997 Lindsey Davis Buy
10 Two for the Lions 1998 Lindsey Davis Buy
11 One Virgin Too Many 1999 Lindsey Davis Buy
12 Ode to a Banker 2000 Lindsey Davis Buy
13 A Body in the Bathhouse 2001 Lindsey Davis Buy
14 The Jupiter Myth 2002 Lindsey Davis Buy
15 The Accusers 2003 Lindsey Davis Buy
16 Scandal Takes a Holiday 2004 Lindsey Davis Buy
17 See Delphi and Die 2005 Lindsey Davis Buy
18 Saturnalia 2007 Lindsey Davis Buy
19 Alexandria 2009 Lindsey Davis Buy
20 Nemesis 2010 Lindsey Davis Buy

Marcus Didius Falco is a private informer in first-century Rome — essentially a detective working in the reign of Emperor Vespasian. Lindsey Davis introduced him in The Silver Pigs (1989), where he is hired to investigate a case involving stolen silver ingots from British mines, and kept him working through 20 novels ending with Nemesis (2010).

Falco’s cases take him across the Roman Empire: from the streets and slums of Rome to the provinces of Britannia, Germania, Spain, Greece, Egypt, and North Africa. The books mix mystery plots with sharp comedy and a detailed portrait of daily life in ancient Rome. Davis, who studied English at Oxford, draws on archaeological and historical sources to ground the stories in real Roman culture, politics, and geography. The series won the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger and has been translated into numerous languages.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Marcus Didius Falco series?

There are 20 books in the Marcus Didius Falco series, published between 1989 and 2010.

What is the first book in the Marcus Didius Falco series?

The first book in the Marcus Didius Falco series is The Silver Pigs, published in 1989.

Who is Marcus Didius Falco?

Marcus Didius Falco is a fictional private informer (detective) in first-century Rome during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. Created by Lindsey Davis, he takes on cases involving theft, murder, and political corruption across the Roman Empire. He is also the father of Flavia Albia, who stars in her own sequel series.

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