Finished Business
A Marcus Corvinus Mystery set in Ancient Rome
by David Wishart
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Pub Date Nov 01 2014 | Archive Date Sep 28 2014
Description
November, AD 40. When a wealthy consul’s wife asks Corvinus to investigate the death of her uncle, killed by a block of falling masonry during renovations on his estate in the Vatican Hills, a sceptical Corvinus is inclined to agree with the general verdict of accidental death. But his investigations reveal clear evidence of foul play, as well as unearthing several skeletons among the closets of this well-to-do but highly dysfunctional family. Who could have wanted Lucius Surdinus dead? His vengeful ex-wife? His ambitious mistress? His disillusioned elder, or his estranged younger, son? Or does the key to the mystery lie in the dead man’s political past? But when Corvinus’s investigations draw him to the attention of the emperor, a dangerously unpredictable Caligula, his prospects of surviving long enough to solve the mystery look slim to say the least.
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Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781780290638 |
| PRICE | $34.99 (USD) |
Average rating from 9 members
Featured Reviews
Roman C, Reviewer
A convoluted mystery for Marcus Corvinus
There are many Roman crime series out there but Wishart’s is my favourite. For one, he does actually have an understanding of ancient Rome and the sources though he wears his learning very lightly and we never get the kind of info-dumps that Saylor, for example, has a tendency to give us. For another, his books are wonderfully characterised and plotted so that Rome is the setting, not the driver, for the story. Marcus Valerius Corvinus and the wonderful Perilla have taken on a life of their own, and opening a new book is now like re-meeting old friends.
This is one of the most complex of Wishart’s book with a nicely convoluted plot – it starts off in an almost domestic way, but the trail leads Corvinus all the way up the Palatine...
For anyone new to the series, Wishart gives Corvinus the voice of a ‘50s American gumshoe detective – and our enjoyment of the book is as much from Corvinus’ semi-cynical takes on Rome and Roman society as from the plot itself. Places are modernised so that the Forum becomes the Market Square, and Corvinus’ chief slave has more than a tinge of Jeeves about him as he ‘buttles’ around.
This is a convoluted story which takes an unexpected twist about halfway through: anyone who knows their Roman history will know the outcome before Corvinus – but part of our enjoyment of the book is seeing events from a different angle.
Highly recommended.
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