The Falco books by Lindsey Davis

There are works of serious literary nature. Books like The Road most likely fall into this category. And then there are books like The Historian and Wicked which take themselves incredibly seriously and challenge notions of linearity, good and evil, and things like that. And then there are good ol' fashioned books like the Falco series that are just plain fun.

Marcus Didius Falco is a private detective. He lives in Rome. The time: 70AD. Like the movie A Knight's Tale, Lindsey Davis's books (of which there are 14 or 15 at this point) transcend the time and place in which they are set without losing any of the authenticity of a period piece. Davis writes a thoroughly modern, thoroughly British tale that just happens to take place 2,000 years ago in the heart of the Western world. Her main character is a deliciously cyncial Roman plebian with a heart of gold and a patrician girlfriend/eventual wife. Like most mysteries, the Falco books usually involve corpses, corruption, and a heavy dose of hard-boiled Dashiell Hammet prose. At the same time, Davis has done her historical homework and creates realistic, believable locales for the action. The majority of her characters are one dimensional, which makes for quick reading, yet the situations she comes up with for each book are rich in detail and engaging enough to drive the series.

The first book is called Silver Pigs. It's a bit rough at the start. It takes a while to get comfortable with Davis' prose and the narration of Falco. But after a few books, the characters take over and the series is brilliantly executed. I've recently read The Accused, which brings Falco back to Rome after two novels set in Britain. Davis deftly renders the corruption that led to the Empire and ultimately the downfall of Rome. These are quick reads that will give you an enjoyable weekend or week. If, however, you're in for something a bit more historical and a bit less tongue-in-cheek, check out Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series. He too has a Roman detective, though he's going more for the historical fiction label rather than the mystery label.