I love a book series that is so compelling, captures so much interest, evolves into that rare realm titled “Can’t Put It Down!” that I literally can’t stop. Lucky for me, I discovered Falco thanks to Audible.com

I recently found myself stuck in a rut while waiting for other series to update via newer additions. Thanks to Audible, I have access to a very large and varied collection of books as part of their Audible Plus offering. What started as a test run with book one evolved into a marathon download and listen to each book in turn – some of the books listened to/read multiple times before moving on.

Make no mistake, I’ve inhaled this series.

After finishing the last book in the series, ‘Nemesis’, I can honestly say that this particular odyssey was worth every single minute. Each individual book stands on its own but taken together create a tapestry that is both complicated and cohesive. Davis is an author who is willing and able to connect the dots for both history and crime fiction.

Check out the author’s website: Lindsey Davis. You can also find more by going to Goodreads.com and Amazon.com. You can also check out this entry for a broader overview.

Falco is a first century Roman citizen who is a private investigator. Between his family, his friends, and his clients (Roman Emperor Vespasian, for example), Falco encounters some complicated mysteries and family dynamics that would make any modern protagonist wonder if there was benefit to moving elsewhere and starting a new career.

Personally, I am constantly amazed at how astute Falco can be while being determinedly obtuse when it comes to certain family truths.

Historical novels can often suffer due to the research ability of their author. Some choose to avoid details that could be questionable while others dive in so deep the reader can lose track of the story altogether. Davis has provided a balanced combination of information about the Roman Empire with enough nuts and bolts operation of the private detective. We aren’t stuck in one location throughout the series, either. Starting in Britiania we visit a wide array of locations within the empire, but it is Rome itself that shines in the books. Falco loves Rome. It is his home city and he knows it like the back of his hand.

While the books themselves are true gems, don’t overlook the Official Companion. There Lindsey has gathered maps of the city and the empire along with information on all the main characters without overstepping and giving spoilers.

Speaking of spoilers…

The series has several story arcs. Some carry through several books, some carry through the entire series. Everyone evolves throughout the series, some in unexpected ways.

Once this series is completed, I plan on continuing with the second series set in Rome. It will be a welcome addition to my Reading Table. 🙂