Lindsey Davis was born and brought up in Birmingham, read English at Oxford, then joined the civil service, which she left in 1985. She has now been a historical novelist for nearly thirty years. She began writing about the Romans with The Course of Honour, the real life love story of the Emperor Vespasian and Antonia Caenis, but is best known for her twenty-book adventure series about Roman detective, Marcus Didius Falco and his partner Helena Justina. More recently she has embarked upon a new Roman detective series, featuring Flavia Albia (published by Hodder & Stoughton). Her non-Roman books include Rebels and Traitors and A Cruel Fate, both set in the English Civil War.

Her books have been translated into many languages and dramatized on BBC Radio 4. Her awards include the Premio Colosseo, awarded by the Mayor of Rome ‘for enhancing the image of Rome’, the CWA Dagger in the Library and the Crimewriters’ Association Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement.
She has been Honorary President of the Classical Association, Chair of the Crimewriters’ Association, Chair of the Society of Authors and President of the Birmingham and Midlands Institute.