Lindsey Davis 2007-10-24

In this richly detailed episode of the Poisoned Pen Podcast, Barbara Peters welcomes acclaimed historical crime novelist Lindsay Davis, whose Falco series has captivated readers for decades. The conversation traces Davis's journey from a disillusioned civil servant in 1980s England to a bestselling author, highlighting her five-year struggle to publish her debut novel, *The Silver Pigs*, during which she lived in poverty and faced repeated rejections. She recounts how her love for Edith Pargeter (Ellis Peters) inspired her to write historical crime fiction, and how she created the irreverent, first-person narrator Marcus Didius Falco—a Roman sleuth with a modern voice and a 'sandal sleuth' persona. Davis reflects on her creative process, her commitment to authenticity, and her belief that writers must live before they can write well. She discusses the historical depth of her series, from the political intrigue of Vespasian’s reign to the social realities of Roman urban life, including tenements, malaria, and the role of the Vigiles as Rome’s fire-fighting police force. The episode also explores her dedication to the crime writing community, her leadership in the Crime Writers Association, and her membership in the legendary Detection Club, where she shares the whimsical tradition of swearing allegiance to a glowing skull. Throughout, Davis emphasizes the importance of narrative variety, moral clarity, and the enduring power of storytelling.