One Virgin Too Many

Marcus Didius Falco returns from North Africa with a prestigious but largely decorative title — Procurator of Poultry for the Sacred Geese of Rome — and discovers that the city he left has been busy accumulating trouble in his absence. A murdered legionnaire, a missing candidate for the Vestal Virgins, and the worst-kept secret of the Sacred Brotherhoods all converge on Falco with the enthusiasm of problems that have been waiting for someone competent enough to sort them out.

Simon Prebble has narrated multiple entries in the Falco series and brings his customary warmth to Lindsey Davis's first-person voice — the Roman detective's combination of cynicism and decency, street knowledge and family obligation. His handling of the Roman religious world gives the second-century setting specificity without pedantry. At just over 11 hours, One Virgin Too Many is a solid mid-series entry in a landmark historical mystery series.