Reading order · 20 books · 1989 to 2010 · Set in Rome
Marcus Didius Falco Books in Order
Marcus Didius Falco is a sardonic private informer in Rome under the emperor Vespasian, who takes on dangerous jobs for the palace. He falls for Helena Justina, a senator’s daughter far above his station. Witty, lively mysteries full of the life of ancient Rome.
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Series facts
- Books
- 20
- Published
- 1989 to 2010
- First book
- The Silver Pigs
- Latest
- Nemesis (2010)
- Setting
- Set in Rome
The reading order
Every Marcus Didius Falco book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
20 books · Set in Rome
- 1The Silver Pigs1989With Marcus Didius FalcoIn AD 70, Marcus Didius Falco, a private informer, rescues a young girl in the Forum, and is drawn into a plot involving stolen ingots of imperial silver.Buy on Amazon
- 2Shadows in Bronze1990With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco is sent to tidy up after the conspiracy, and the search takes him to the Bay of Naples, where Helena is staying.Buy on Amazon
- 3Venus in Copper1991With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco is hired to investigate a beautiful woman whose three rich husbands have all died.Buy on Amazon
- 4The Iron Hand of Mars1992With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco is sent to Germany on a mission to a troubled legion, and to find out what happened to a missing Roman commander.Buy on Amazon
- 5Poseidon’s Gold1993With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco’s late brother has left debts, and Falco must find a lost cargo of Greek statues to pay them.Buy on Amazon
- 6Last Act in Palmyra1994With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco and Helena join a troupe of travelling actors in the eastern provinces of the empire, and the playwright is murdered.Buy on Amazon
- 7Time to Depart1995With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco and his friend Petronius set out to stop a notorious gangster who is supposed to be in exile.Buy on Amazon
- 8A Dying Light in Corduba1996With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco travels to southern Spain to investigate a cartel of olive oil producers.Buy on Amazon
- 9Three Hands in the Fountain1997With Marcus Didius FalcoHuman remains are found in the aqueducts of Rome.Buy on Amazon
- 10Two for the Lions1998With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco is working on the imperial census when a lion is killed in the arena, and the case leads him to North Africa.Buy on Amazon
- 11One Virgin Too Many1999With Marcus Didius FalcoA young girl tells Falco that her family wants to kill her, and he does not listen, until she disappears.Buy on Amazon
- 12Ode to a Banker2000With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco’s rich new publisher is murdered, and Falco becomes a suspect.Buy on Amazon
- 13A Body in the Bath House2001With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco is sent to Britain to check on the building of a great new palace, where building works hide a body.Buy on Amazon
- 14The Jupiter Myth2002With Marcus Didius FalcoIn Londinium, Falco investigates a murder and meets a young street girl, Albia.Buy on Amazon
- 15The Accusers2003With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco investigates the death of a disgraced senator, apparently by his own hand, as his accusers squabble over the spoils of his conviction.Buy on Amazon
- 16Scandal Takes a Holiday2004With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco goes to the port of Ostia to find a missing gossip writer.Buy on Amazon
- 17See Delphi and Die2005With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco and Helena join a tour of Greece to find a young woman who disappeared from one.Buy on Amazon
- 18Saturnalia2007With Marcus Didius FalcoDuring the festival of Saturnalia, Falco is sent to find a German priestess who has escaped in Rome.Buy on Amazon
- 19Alexandria2009With Marcus Didius FalcoThe head of the Great Library of Alexandria is found dead in a locked room.Buy on Amazon
- 20Nemesis2010With Marcus Didius FalcoFalco investigates the murders of a couple found in the marshes outside Rome.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in order, starting with The Silver Pigs. Falco and Helena’s family grows through the series.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Marcus Didius Falco | Helena Justina | Lucius Petronius Longus | Anacrites | Ma | Flavia Albia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The Silver Pigs | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 2 Shadows in Bronze | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 3 Venus in Copper | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 4 The Iron Hand of Mars | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 5 Poseidon’s Gold | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 6 Last Act in Palmyra | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 7 Time to Depart | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 8 A Dying Light in Corduba | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 9 Three Hands in the Fountain | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 10 Two for the Lions | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 11 One Virgin Too Many | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 12 Ode to a Banker | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 13 A Body in the Bath House | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 14 The Jupiter Myth | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
| 15 The Accusers | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 16 Scandal Takes a Holiday | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 17 See Delphi and Die | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 18 Saturnalia | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 19 Alexandria | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 20 Nemesis | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
Characters in the Marcus Didius Falco books
6 characters from Lindsey Davis’s chart, with the number of Marcus Didius Falco books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Marcus Didius FalcoInformer and imperial agent in first-century Rome | 20 | The Silver Pigs 1989 |
| Helena JustinaSenator’s daughter who becomes Falco’s partner and wife | 20 | The Silver Pigs 1989 |
| Lucius Petronius LongusWatch captain and Falco’s best friend | 20 | The Silver Pigs 1989 |
| AnacritesImperial spymaster and Falco’s rival | 20 | The Silver Pigs 1989 |
| MaFalco’s formidable mother | 20 | The Silver Pigs 1989 |
| Flavia AlbiaBritish-born orphan adopted by Falco and Helena, later an informer | 7 | The Jupiter Myth 2002 |
Crossovers with Lindsey Davis’s other series
- Flavia Albia: Marcus Didius Falco also appears in 14 of its books