Abie Longstaff is the eldest of six children and grew up in Australia, Hong Kong and France. She knows all about squabbling, chaos and bossing younger sisters around. So she logically began her career as a barrister. She started writing when her children were born. Her favourite childhood books were Hating Alison Ashley, A Little Princess, Maura's Angel and The Black Stallion and she sneakily reads them again sometimes. Abie lives in Hove with her family.

Abie Longstaff

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Lindsey Davis

Laid-back Roman detective Marcus Didius Falco investigates crimes in the dangerous world of first century Rome, a place of political intrigue, corruption and murder.

Another delightful excursion into the world of Marcus Didius Falco by multimillion-copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis. Bringing Ancient Rome to life with its vivid description and characterisation, this is perfect for fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom. 
 
'Davis's writing zings with fun' -- Daily Mail 
'One of the best of the current writers in this field' -- Donna Leon, The Times 
'Fantastic! I'm addicted to Falco!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Totally brilliant!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Wonderful plot - full of suspense, as usual. Brilliant!!!!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Subline - can't put these books down!' -- ***** Reader review 
******************************************************************************** 
WRITING FOR MONEY, PUBLISHING DEATH 
 
AD74: it's a long, hot summer and Marcus Didius Falco, private informer and spare-time poet, is giving a reading for his family and friends. Things get out of hand - as usual... 
 
The event is taken over by Aurelius Chrysippus, a wealthy Greek banker and patron to a group of struggling writers, who offers to publish Falco's work - a golden opportunity that rapidly palls. 
 
A visit to the Chrysippus scriptorium implicates him in a gruesome literary murder so when Petronius Longus, the over-worked vigiles enquiry chief, commissions him to investigate, Falco is forced to accept. 
 
Lindsey Davis' twelfth novel wittily explores Roman publishing and banking, taking us from the jealousies of authorship and the mire of patronage, to the darker financial world, where default can have fatal consequences...

Ode To A Banker

(Marco Didius Falco: book XII): a mesmerising and murderous mystery set in Ancient Rome by bestselling author Lindsey Davis

In the high summer of AD 77, laid-back detective Marcus Didius Falco is called upon to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a middle-aged couple who supplied statues to Falco's father, Geminus. The Claudii, nptorious freedmen who live rough in the pestilential Pontine Marshes, are the prime suspects. Falco, beset by personal problems, finds it a relief to consider someone else's misfortunes. 
 
When a mutilated corpse turns up near Rome, Falco and his vigiles friend Petronius investigate, only for the Chief Spy, Anacrites, to snatch their case away from them just as they are making progress.As his rivalry with Falco escalates, it emerges that the violent Claudii have acquired corrupt protection at the highest level. Making further enquiries after they have been warned off can only be dangerous - but will this stop Falco and Petronius? 
 
Egged on by the slippery bureaucrats who hate Anacrites, the dogged friends dig deeper while a psychotic killer keeps taking more victims, and the shocking truth creeps closer and closer to home...

Nemesis

(Falco 20)

Fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor, C. J. Sansom will absolutely love this captivating page-turner of a historical mystery from multi-million copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis. Full of twists, turns and tension - you'll be hooked from page one... 
 
'Davis's writing zings with fun' -- Daily Mail 
'One of the best of the current writers in this field' -- Donna Leon, The Times 
'Very addictive and, at times, difficult to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
I was mesmerized and thrilled -- ***** Reader review 
Lindsey Davis at her best -- ***** Reader review 
A cracking good read -- ***** Reader review 
**************************************************************************************** 
ALL THE NEWS THAT'S FIT TO DIE FOR... 
 
In the wealthy town of Ostia, our hero Falco appears to be enjoying a relaxing holiday. But when his girlfriend, Helena, arrives carrying a batch of old copies of the Daily Gazette - with the intention of catching up on the latest scandal - Falco is forced to admit to Petronius his real reasons for being there... 
 
'Infamia', the pen name of the scribe who writes the gossip column for the Daily Gazette, has gone missing. His fellow scribes have employed Falco to find him and bring him back from his lazy, drunken truancy. However, Falco suspects that there is more to his absence than there might first appear...

Scandal Takes A Holiday

(Marco Didius Falco: book XVI): another gripping foray into the crime and corruption at the heart of the Roman Empire from bestselling author Lindsey Davis

Fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor, C. J. Sansom will love this exciting and enthralling historical mystery from multi-million copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis. Expertly weaving an authentic depiction of Ancient Rome with exceptional characterisation and a tightly woven plot, this will have you hooked. 
 
'Another redolent dip into corruption in Vespasian's Rome ... original and delightful' -- Sunday Times 
'A tumultuous Ancient Rome with a delightful modern eye' -- Sunday Times 
'Fast-moving, funny and full of atmosphere' -- Mail on Sunday 
'A thrilling murder mystery' -- ***** Reader review 
'Such fun!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another corking Falco' -- ***** Reader review 
'My advice is BUY IT and READ IT as you will not regret it' -- ***** Reader review 
 
*********************************************************************************** 
MARRY IN HASTE. DIE FOR THE MONEY. 
 
 Things are going well for Marcus Didius Falco, ancient Rome's investigator: he hates sharing a cell with a rodent, although being bailed by his old mother is almost as embarrassing; his highborn girlfriend can't decide if she wants him and Titus Caesar's reward for past services is disappointing to say the least. 
 
Hoping for a better life, or at least a better apartment, he takes on new clients. 
 
 On the elegant slopes of the Pincian Hill, three freedmen with two flashy wives are under siege by a clever redhead. Severina Zotica has a foul-mouthed parrot, an odd connection with a snake dancer - and a very suspicious past. 
 
As he pursues this flame-haired fortune-hunter, Falco finds himself beset by violent rent-racketeers, poisoners, and women without consciences who have dangerous designs on him...

Venus In Copper

(Marco Didius Falco: book III): another gripping foray into the crime and corruption of Ancient Rome from bestselling author Lindsey Davis

Another engrossing historical mystery bringing Ancient Rome to life in all its gruesome glory from the pen of multimillion-copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis. Fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom will not be disappointed... 
 
'Davis's writing zings with fun' -- Daily Mail 
'One of the best of the current writers in this field' -- Donna Leon, The Times 
'My advice is BUY IT and READ IT as you will not regret it' -- ***** Reader review 
'A cracking good read' -- ***** Reader review 
'A real page-turner' -- ***** Reader review 
'Absolutely brilliant!' -- ***** Reader review 
********************************************************************************** 
THE ANCIENT SPORTS OF MURDER AND MYTH 
 
Stunned by a dramatic appeal from his otherwise cool mother-in-law, Falco cannot resist. His brother-in-law has been diverted from his route to Athens University by a man whose newly married daughter disappeared, with her husband, while visiting the Olympic Games as part of an extended wedding trip. Suspecting a classic cover-up, Aulus enrols Falco's help in solving the case. And of course his mother-in-law hopes to hurry her son along to university by passing the case over to Falco. 
 
Joining the rest of the married couple's tour group on the remains of their Grand Tour, Falco and Helena seize the opportunity to interview the owner/manager of 'Seven Sights Travel', as well as the other guests. 
 
Seemingly not getting very far, they can at least make the most of the splendid sights; but finally, on reaching Delphi, Falco and Helena unravel the mystery of the bride and groom...

See Delphi And Die

(Marco Didius Falco: book XVII): a thrilling Roman mystery full of twists and turns from bestselling author Lindsey Davis

Fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor, C. J. Sansom will love this exciting and enthralling historical mystery from multi-million copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis. Expertly weaving an authentic depiction of the Roman Empire with exceptional characterisation and a tightly woven plot, this will have you hooked. 
 
'Lindsey Davis combines an engrossing plot with pithy dialogue and a comic (though not cartoonish) depiction of the past in all its gory splendour.' -- The Guardian 
'Modern, exciting and plausible.' -- Sunday Times 
'Another cracker from Lindsey Davis' -- ***** Reader review 
'Very addictive and, at times, difficult to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another exceptional Falco novel' -- ***** Reader review 
'A terrific read' -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************************************************** 
 
GANGSTERS AND GLADIATING...BOTH BLOODY 
 
For Falco, a relaxed visit to Helena's relatives in Britain turns serious at the scene of a downtown murder. The renegade henchman of Rome's vital ally King Togidubnus has been stuffed head-first down a barroom well - leading to a tricky diplomatic situation which Falco must defuse. One murder leads to others. Londinium now has a forum and an amphitheatre; the town is a magnet for legitimate traders - and for criminals from Rome. 
 
With his vigiles pal Petronius, Falco leads the hunt for gangsters who are intent on taking over. This will bring unwelcome encounters with faces from the past and grave threats to their present relationships. 
 
Danger and death lurk throughout their pursuit, all the way from the brand new wharves beside the River Thames to the familiar old haunts of organised crime back home in Italy...

The Jupiter Myth

(Marco Didius Falco: book XIV): a compelling and captivating historical mystery set in the heart of the Roman Empire from bestselling author Lindsey Davis

With the great characterisation, fast-paced plotting and wry humour that we've come to expect from multi-million copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis, this is an addictive mystery that will transport you back to Britain at the time of the Roman invasion. Readers of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom will be hooked from page one... 
 
'Her most ambitious to date... Davis has found a winning formula.' -- Daily Telegraph 
'Lindsey Davis doesn't merely make history come alive - she turns it into spanking entertainment, and wraps it around an intriguing mystery. She is incapable of writing a dull sentence' -- Peter Lovesey 
'Wonderfully entertaining' -- ***** Reader review 
'Davis at her best' -- ***** Reader review 
'Very addictive and, at times, difficult to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'My advice is BUY IT and READ IT as you will not regret it' -- ***** Reader review 
'Gripping' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************** 
DEATH LIES BEYOND THE RIVER RHINE... 
 
AD 71, Germania Libera: dark dripping forests, inhabited by bloodthirsty barbarians and legendary wild beasts, a furious prophetess who terrorises Rome, and the ghostly spirits of slaughtered Roman legionaries. 
 
Enter Marcus Didius Falco, an Imperial agent on a special mission: to find the absconding commander of a legion whose loyalty is suspect. 
 
Easier said than done, thinks Marcus, as he makes his uneasy way down the Rhenus, trying to forget that back in sunny Rome his girlfriend Helena Justina is being hotly pursued by Titus Caesar. 
 
His mood is not improved when he discovers his only allies are a woefully inadequate bunch of recruits, their embittered centurion, a rogue dog, and its innocent young master; just the right kind of support for an agent unwillingly trying to tame the Celtic hordes...

The Iron Hand Of Mars

a compelling and captivating historical mystery set in Roman Britain from bestselling author Lindsey Davis

'I came fully equipped with the old prejudice that anything to do with Egypt involved corruption and deceit.' 
 
AD 77. Egypt was the destination of choice for Roman tourists, being home to not one but two Wonders of the Ancient World, a Centre of Culture, and people with exotic habits. 
Unfortunately, when Marcus Didius Falco pays a visit he discovers it's also a hotbed of schemers and murderers. When the Head Librarian dies in suspicious circumstances, the Roman authorities are only too happy to dump the case on one of the Empire's most celebrated investigators - all adding up to a typical Falco family vacation.

Alexandria

(Falco 19)

‘We should have time to manage it … and still get back to the party before the wine runs out.’ 
 
It is the Roman holiday of Saturnalia. The days are short; the nights are for wild parties. A general has captured a famous enemy of Rome, and brings her home to adorn his Triumph as a ritual sacrifice. The logistics go wrong; she acquires a mystery illness – then a young man is horrendously murdered and she escapes from house arrest. 
 
Falco is pitted against his old rival, the Chief Spy Anacrites, in a race to find the fugitive before her presence angers the public and makes the government look stupid. Falco has other priorities, for Helena’s brother Justinus has also vanished. Against the riotous backdrop of the season of misrule, the search seems impossible and only Falco seems to notice that some dark agency is bringing death to the city streets…

Saturnalia

(Falco 18)

Fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom will devour this captivating mystery, full of twists and turns, from multimillion-copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis. 
 
'Wonderful, great fun all round' -- Daily Telegraph 
'Surely the best historical detective in the business' -- Daily Telegraph 
'An excellent who-dunnit' -- ***** Reader review 
A relaxing and absorbing read -- ***** Reader review 
'Difficult to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Addictive' -- ***** Reader review 
 
***************************************************************************** 
A LOST CHILD IN A DEADLY LOTTERY... 
 
A frightened child approaches Roman informer Marcus Didius Falco, pleading for 
help. Nobody believes Gaia's story that a relation wants to kill her - and neither 
does he. 
 
Beset by his own family troubles, by his new responsibilities as 
Procurator of the Sacred Poultry, and by the continuing search for a new 
partner, he turns her away. 
 
Immediately he regrets it. Gaia has been selected as the new Vestal Virgin, and when she disappears Falco is officially asked to investigate. 
 
Finding Gaia is then a race against time, ending in Falco's most terrifying exploit yet...

One Virgin Too Many

(Marco Didius Falco: book XI): an unputdownable Roman mystery from bestselling author Lindsey Davis

Let multi-million copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis transport you back to 71 A.D. in this captivating mystery, full of political intrigue, twists, turns and romantic tension. Fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor, C. J. Sansom will not be disappointed... 
 
'A tumultuous Ancient Rome with a delightful modern eye' -- Sunday Times 
'Fast-moving, funny and full of atmosphere' -- Mail on Sunday 
'An exciting and gripping mystery' -- ***** Reader review 
'Couldn't put the book down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Gripping right from the beginning' -- ***** Reader review 
'Very addictive' -- ***** Reader review 
'My advice is BUY IT and READ IT as you will not regret it' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************* 
LOVE, DEATH AND POLITICS UNDER VESUVIUS 
 
Rome, AD 71: Against his better judgement, Marcus Didius Falco secretly disposes of a decayed corpse for the Emperor Vespasian, then heads for the beautiful Bay of Naples with his best friend Petronius. It's an opportunity to forget his doomed romance with the beautiful and bright Helena Justina. 
 
He conveniently forgets to mention to his companion that this will be no holiday - they have been sent to investigate the murderous members of a failed coup, now sunning themselves in luxurious villas and on fancy yachts. 
 
Nor does the idyllic seaside location help matters with Helena. The deeper he probes, the more it seems she is inextricably connected to the elite plotters, in ways that the smitten Falco cannot bear to contemplate ...

Shadows In Bronze

(Marco Didius Falco: book II): all is fair in love and war in this superb historical mystery from bestselling author Lindsey Davis

Fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom will absolutely love this gripping page-turner of a historical mystery from multi-million copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis. Full of twists, turns and tension - you'll be hooked from page one... 
 
'Her research has been assiduous and detailed, her commitment to the subject is impressive, and the background detail is often eye-opening' -- Hilary Mantel, Observer 
'One of the best writers in this field' -- Donna Leon, The Times 
'Surely the best historical detective in the business' -- Daily Telegraph 
'Every book in this series is a delight ... highly recommended' -- Library Journal 
'Be careful, if you get the taste for this you'll end up reading them all... I can think of worse ways to pass the time' -- ***** Reader review 
'This series is just SO addictive!' -- ***** Reader review 
'I just could not put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Engrossing' -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************************** 
A NEW EMPEROR SEEKS AN EXPERIENCED AGENT 
 
Marcus Didius Falco is a private informer, the closest thing that first-century Rome has to a detective. 
 
A new emperor, Vespasian, has ascended to power. The tides of money and power are in flux, and Rome's vicious games swirl more ferociously than ever. 
 
When Falco rescues a young girl in trouble, he catapults himself into a dangerous game involving stolen imperial ingots, a dark political plot and, most hazardous of all, a senator's daughter connected to the traitors Falco has sworn to expose. 
 
The rule of law is tenuous for ordinary citizens of Rome. Only a man with a mind as sharp as a gladius can prevail.

The Silver Pigs

(Marco Didius Falco: book I): the first novel in the bestselling historical detective series, exposing the criminal underbelly of ancient Rome

This gripping and pacy historical mystery is perfect for fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom. With its wry humour, expert characterisation, vivid descriptions and incredible sense of adventure, you'll be hooked from page one... 
 
'Several cheers for Lindsey Davis... Great fun' - The Times 
'The whole thing is splendid. It has everything: mystery, pace, wit, fascinating scholarship ... she brings Imperial Rome to life' - Ellis Peters 
'Another excellent Falco book that is difficult to put down' - ***** Reader review 
'Astounding' - ***** Reader review 
'A fabulous read' - ***** Reader review 
'Full marks and happily recommended' - ***** Reader review 
 
****************************************************************** 
DROWNING IN MYSTERY, DYING ON STAGE 
 
The spirit of adventure calls Marcus Didius Falco on a new spying mission for the Emperor Vespasian to the untamed East. He's picking up extra fees from his old friend Thalia, the snake dancer, as he searches for Sophrona, her lost water organist. With the Chief Spy Anacrites paying his fare, Falco knows anything can go wrong. 
 
 A dangerous brush with the Brother, the sinister ruler of Nabataean Petra, sends Falco and his girlfriend Helena on a fast camel-ride to Syria. They join a traveling theatre group, which keeps losing members in non-accidental drownings. 
 
The bad acting and poor audiences are almost as bad as the desert and its scorpions - then as the killer hovers, Falco tries to write a play...

Last Act In Palmyra

(Marco Didius Falco: book VI): a compelling and captivating historical mystery set in Ancient Rome from bestselling author Lindsey Davis

Another engrossing historical mystery bringing Ancient Rome to life in all its gruesome glory from the pen of multimillion-copy bestselling author Lindsey Davis. Fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom will not be disappointed... 
 
'Uniquely entertaining' -- Time Out 
'Bizarre, funny and satisfying' -- Irish Times 
'As always, Davis wears her research lightly, bringing Ancient Rome to vivid life in a series of delicious vignettes' -- Val McDermid 
'Exciting and gripping' -- ***** Reader review 
'I love this book. what an amazing author and what an amazing series!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another excellent Falco book that is difficult to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Well written, humourous, interesting and a good read' -- ***** Reader review 
 
 
************************************************************************************************ 
A SERIAL KILLER STALKS THE GAMES 
 
'The fountain was not working. Nothing unusual in that...' 
 
Marcus Didius Falco and his laddish friend Petronius find their local fountain has been blocked - by a gruesomely severed human hand. 
 
Soon other body parts are being found in the aqueducts and sewers. 
 
Public panic overcomes official indifference, and the Aventine partners are commissioned to investigate. Women are being abducted during festivals, with the next Games only days away. 
 
As the heat rises in the Circus Maximus, they face a race against time and a strong test of their friendship. They know the sadistic killer lurks somewhere on the festive streets of Rome- preparing to strike again.

Three Hands In The Fountain

(Marco Didius Falco: book IX): a thrilling Roman mystery full of twists and turns from bestselling author Lindsey Davis

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