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Marcus Corvinus #9
Parthian Shot (Marcus Corvinus Mysteries) by David Wishart (1-Sep-2004) Paperback
If there's one thing Marcus Corvinus hates more than doing the household accounts, it's politics. So when he's interrupted in the former to get involved in the latter, he's not at all pleased. His brief is to conduct an unofficial investigation into an attack on the Parthian Prince Phraates, a task that taxes his meager diplomatic skills to the utmost. When the attack is followed by the murder of one of the Parthian delegation, a full diplomatic incident threatens. The byzantine twists and turns of the case give Corvinus a headache that rivals his customary hangover, and it takes a violent threat to his wife Perilla before he gets a grip on what's really happening.
Unknown Binding
First published March 1, 2004
19 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
David Wishart
57 books95 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Historical crime writer David Wishart was born in Arbroath, Scotland. He studied Classics - Latin and Greek - at Edinburgh University and after graduation taught for four years in a secondary school.
He then retrained as a teacher of English as a Foreign Language and worked abroad for eleven years, in Kuwait, Greece and Saudi Arabia. He returned to Scotland in 1990 and now lives with his family in Carnoustie, mixing writing with teaching EFL and study skills at Dundee University.
Historical crime writer David Wishart was born in Arbroath, Scotland. He studied Classics - Latin and Greek - at Edinburgh University and after graduation taught for four years in a secondary school.
He then retrained as a teacher of English as a Foreign Language and worked abroad for eleven years, in Kuwait, Greece and Saudi Arabia. He returned to Scotland in 1990 and now lives with his family in Carnoustie, mixing writing with teaching EFL and study skills at Dundee University.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 7, 2022
Read this book in 2008, and its the 9th volume of the amazing "Marcus Corvinus" mystery series.
In this mystery Marcus Corvinus will get dragged into politics, something he hates most of all, and so when he's asked to start an investigation in an attack on the Parthian Prince Phraates's life, its a task that he hates but must perform to settle the peace.
But when another member of the Parthian delegation is murdered, a full diplomatic incident threatens and all the more reason for Corvinus to solve this murder quickly and with care.
Only after when his wife, Perilla, is threatened with her life, will Corvinus get a grip on what is really involved with this sinister case of politics and backstabbing.
What is to follow is an intriguing and thrilling mystery, in which Corvinus must all his wits and cunning to solve this mystery of deceit and death, and after some twists and turns, followed by a superbly executed lot will he be able to solve this murder and reveal the mysterious culprit.
Highly recommended, for this is another wonderful addition to this terrific series, and that's why i like to call this episode: "A Fabulous Parthian Shot"!
In this mystery Marcus Corvinus will get dragged into politics, something he hates most of all, and so when he's asked to start an investigation in an attack on the Parthian Prince Phraates's life, its a task that he hates but must perform to settle the peace.
But when another member of the Parthian delegation is murdered, a full diplomatic incident threatens and all the more reason for Corvinus to solve this murder quickly and with care.
Only after when his wife, Perilla, is threatened with her life, will Corvinus get a grip on what is really involved with this sinister case of politics and backstabbing.
What is to follow is an intriguing and thrilling mystery, in which Corvinus must all his wits and cunning to solve this mystery of deceit and death, and after some twists and turns, followed by a superbly executed lot will he be able to solve this murder and reveal the mysterious culprit.
Highly recommended, for this is another wonderful addition to this terrific series, and that's why i like to call this episode: "A Fabulous Parthian Shot"!
June 27, 2023
One of the most mystifying of the Corvinus books. There has been an attempt on the life of Phraates a Parthian prince who is living in exile in Rome. A delegation had just arrived from Parthia offering to support him in a rebellion against the current High King and he was on his way home from a meeting with them when his carriage was attacked and four of his guards killed luckily Phraates was unharmed. An emissary arrived at Corvinus house with a letter from the Emperor Tiberius, he wants Corvinus to investigate the attack and find out who is behind it. Corvinus, although he very much wants to, cannot refuse a direct request (order) from Tiberius so off he sets. Now, the whole thing is sketchy from the start, Corvinus is not political and what he knows about Parthia could fit in the head of a pin, so surely there are more qualified people who could do the job. There are and his liaisons is one of them the chief spy in charge of looking out for Roman interests in Parthia, Isidorus and Lucius Vitellius the commissioner in charge of dealing with the Parthians. Both men believe Corvinus being involved in the situation is a recipe for disaster, he's bound to say or do something to offend the Prince of the delegation. Corvinus agrees added to which he feels like he's swimming in soup, he's no idea what he's doing, who he's dealing with it even what the stakes are. But one thing he does know, he's making some.people nervous he gets warned off and when that doesn't work Perilla is threatened,.........................now they (whoever they are) have gone too far, if they have a beer with him fair enough but you don't threaten the wife......EVER. Corvinus might not have been invested in the case before but now he's determined to bring the guilty down..........the only problem is he still doesn't know all the facts and when he does ........well it changes everything......................
April 7, 2019
Parthian Shot throws Corvinus way over his head, with a high-level, politically-charged case that leaves him stumped and frustrated.
What to Expect
Unlike the previous mysteries, this starts with an attempted murder rather than a body (but don't worry - a corpse is coming along soon enough). Corvinus is brought in as an independent investigator to solve an attack on a Parthian prince, related to the visiting Parthian delegation in a time when Rome was seriously concerned about what was happening across their eastern borders. Corvinus, while familiar with resolving twisty cases, is unaccustomed to both the Eastern way of thinking and dealing with royalty, as well as to the fine points of foreign diplomacy. This presents him a case where he's out of his depth, and must combine his skills with new ways of thinking.
Although this is book 9 of the series and there is some continuity from past books (recurring characters), because events are not related to the previous novels it can be read out of order. Only the first three novels deal with more historical events (where order is important), and the rest of the series so far are fairly independent mysteries.
What I liked
Wishart does his usual excellent job of presenting Roman life, from the high-society ex-consuls dealing with the vast Empire's interest to the lowlifes and dregs of society living in the slums, and everything in between. This time he throws in the foreign Parthian royalty point of view, and the contrasts just illustrate how complex and lively all the characters are.
As with the previous novels, Wishart uses a modern language to bring the characters to life. He's also using a time-honoured trope of representing the Roman patriarchy similar to British aristocracy. The result is a novel that reads as a cross between Sam Spade and Downton Abbey, on a backdrop of ancient Rome. It makes for very enjoyable reading for lovers of those genres.
What to be aware of
Though Wishart's prose is excellent, he avoids all Latin terms to the point where it's a bit much (like referring to a toga as a mantle, or to the Forum as Market Square). I find this a bit diluting the experience of Rome, which is a big factor to anyone reading Roman-era fiction.
Summary
This is my second favourite of the series so far (right after White Murder), and is an awesome addition to this series. If you like Roman-era mysteries by Lindsey Davis, Steven Saylor, Ruth Downie and the like, you really need to read the Corvinus series as well. This is as good a starting point as any.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
Unlike the previous mysteries, this starts with an attempted murder rather than a body (but don't worry - a corpse is coming along soon enough). Corvinus is brought in as an independent investigator to solve an attack on a Parthian prince, related to the visiting Parthian delegation in a time when Rome was seriously concerned about what was happening across their eastern borders. Corvinus, while familiar with resolving twisty cases, is unaccustomed to both the Eastern way of thinking and dealing with royalty, as well as to the fine points of foreign diplomacy. This presents him a case where he's out of his depth, and must combine his skills with new ways of thinking.
Although this is book 9 of the series and there is some continuity from past books (recurring characters), because events are not related to the previous novels it can be read out of order. Only the first three novels deal with more historical events (where order is important), and the rest of the series so far are fairly independent mysteries.
What I liked
Wishart does his usual excellent job of presenting Roman life, from the high-society ex-consuls dealing with the vast Empire's interest to the lowlifes and dregs of society living in the slums, and everything in between. This time he throws in the foreign Parthian royalty point of view, and the contrasts just illustrate how complex and lively all the characters are.
As with the previous novels, Wishart uses a modern language to bring the characters to life. He's also using a time-honoured trope of representing the Roman patriarchy similar to British aristocracy. The result is a novel that reads as a cross between Sam Spade and Downton Abbey, on a backdrop of ancient Rome. It makes for very enjoyable reading for lovers of those genres.
What to be aware of
Though Wishart's prose is excellent, he avoids all Latin terms to the point where it's a bit much (like referring to a toga as a mantle, or to the Forum as Market Square). I find this a bit diluting the experience of Rome, which is a big factor to anyone reading Roman-era fiction.
Summary
This is my second favourite of the series so far (right after White Murder), and is an awesome addition to this series. If you like Roman-era mysteries by Lindsey Davis, Steven Saylor, Ruth Downie and the like, you really need to read the Corvinus series as well. This is as good a starting point as any.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
April 18, 2025
I just love these books.
June 21, 2009
I don’t think I’ve read any of these before. My husband got this one from the library on spec and didn’t care for it; can’t say I was particularly enamoured, either. Although the mystery itself was pretty good, it got a little overly convoluted in the political intrigue; still, that part wasn’t bad. On the other hand…it’s a matter of taste, but while I like Lindsey Davis’ smart-ass Roman ‘tec, this one is just enough further over the edge with the slangy Chandler/Spillane that it annoys me. I did appreciate one remark that sent me to Google – when Our Hero gets beat up and someone asks him about his bruises, Mr. Smartass says he tests boxing gloves for a living. Sure enough, the Romans did have boxing gloves – not the big padded things they use now, but leather gloves, all the same. Actually, theirs tended to be, er, enhanced with spikes and studs, eek.
April 24, 2022
Terrible, lousy writing, just crude and vulgar throughout, dialogue is full of modernisms like, "Oh, shit," and, "the place was kitted out like a five-star cat-house." Or head scratching things like, "‘Uh…yeah.’ Jupiter in rompers!" If you're writing a historical novel maybe try not to talk how you do when texting your buddies and referencing modern concepts. I'm surprised this actually wasn't self published. Stephen Saylor isn't great but he's better than this shit. This has the typical armchair hardboiled styling sprinkled with anachronistic stock phrases, like someone took a lousy detective novel and ctrl+F'd all the references of Chicago into Rome.
August 13, 2016
I'm still annoyed by the usage of "pal." Not sure why. Out of date? Usually used ironically/sarcastically/hostilely? Finally checked the back flap and discovered the author seems to be a Scot. Maybe it's a Scots thing. "Whui dui yui think yuir luiking at, pal?" But the narrator uses it for everyone, just about. Is this a translation of amicus?
But getting past the annoying narrator and the political tomfoolery, it was okay. It got me interested in the history. I was previously unaware of Parthians and now I think I have the measure of it.
Marcus Corvinus is tasked with safety of Prince Phraates, whose litter entourage was attacked. A delegation from Parthia is visiting in the hopes of convincing Phraates to return to Parthia and replace Artabanus on the throne. And then we descend into the madness of the politics of Parthia, Iberia (not the Spanish one), and Seleucia - not to mention the spice trade. Phraates is a canny individual with a great deal of charm who has had to live most of his life in Rome. While the rest of his family was killed off, in the delightful Parthian tradition, he has a son by his Greek mistress - not eligible for kingship, and a nephew (and member of the Roman Naughty Hellfire Club) who is.
After a dinner with the main movers-and-shakers, the head of the Parthian delegation is murdered. Corvinus seems to have solving this laid on his plate as well
And then there's the case of the missing eels.
I've come into this series late (see #9 above), so I don't have background on Corvinus, his wife Perilla, their sniffy majordomo (a Jeeves?), or their temperamental cook. Perilla seems sensible while Corvinus goes off half-cocked. I suppose that's the Italian in him? And I may never get over that "pal" thing. Fortunately, this seems to be the only book in the series the library has.
But getting past the annoying narrator and the political tomfoolery, it was okay. It got me interested in the history. I was previously unaware of Parthians and now I think I have the measure of it.
Marcus Corvinus is tasked with safety of Prince Phraates, whose litter entourage was attacked. A delegation from Parthia is visiting in the hopes of convincing Phraates to return to Parthia and replace Artabanus on the throne. And then we descend into the madness of the politics of Parthia, Iberia (not the Spanish one), and Seleucia - not to mention the spice trade. Phraates is a canny individual with a great deal of charm who has had to live most of his life in Rome. While the rest of his family was killed off, in the delightful Parthian tradition, he has a son by his Greek mistress - not eligible for kingship, and a nephew (and member of the Roman Naughty Hellfire Club) who is.
After a dinner with the main movers-and-shakers, the head of the Parthian delegation is murdered. Corvinus seems to have solving this laid on his plate as well
And then there's the case of the missing eels.
I've come into this series late (see #9 above), so I don't have background on Corvinus, his wife Perilla, their sniffy majordomo (a Jeeves?), or their temperamental cook. Perilla seems sensible while Corvinus goes off half-cocked. I suppose that's the Italian in him? And I may never get over that "pal" thing. Fortunately, this seems to be the only book in the series the library has.
March 15, 2015
2-7-13 I found the modern vernacular disruptive to my ability to get into the novel as much as other historical mysteries. Every time Corvinus calls someone "guy" or talks like a Raymond Chandler PI I was thrown right back out of the story.
Second try- read it in three days. This time I just went with the flow. The mystery part was fun. My most important criteria- that the author doesn't hide clues from the reader to spring them on in the end- was met. I still prefer the Marcus Didius Falco (now Flavia Alba) books, and the Libertus mysteries and even Ruth Downies Medicus series. Still, when I finished the last Davis book, I was in the mood for another Roman Mystery (like potato chips), and so tried the one that was available from our library. I think I will try another.
Second try- read it in three days. This time I just went with the flow. The mystery part was fun. My most important criteria- that the author doesn't hide clues from the reader to spring them on in the end- was met. I still prefer the Marcus Didius Falco (now Flavia Alba) books, and the Libertus mysteries and even Ruth Downies Medicus series. Still, when I finished the last Davis book, I was in the mood for another Roman Mystery (like potato chips), and so tried the one that was available from our library. I think I will try another.
June 13, 2011
The funny thing is that I thought that I was reserving "Parthian Shot" by Loyd Little, winner of the Hemingway Foundation award in 1976 at the library, so I was surprised when I found this book on hold.
It is a fun idea and I did enjoy reading it. Since this is the 9th in a series, it was an awkward place to start but the story stood alone just fine. The juxaposition of film noir and Roman times was really different. I found it a good summer read, and if the library has them, I'd be open to reading the first 8! I declare it the summer of Roman Noir!
It is a fun idea and I did enjoy reading it. Since this is the 9th in a series, it was an awkward place to start but the story stood alone just fine. The juxaposition of film noir and Roman times was really different. I found it a good summer read, and if the library has them, I'd be open to reading the first 8! I declare it the summer of Roman Noir!
July 1, 2015
A summons to help in a diplomatic matter comes - from the Wart so refusal is not possible. Someone tried to kill the Parthian Prince - Rome's next candidate for Great King. Plots abound with other candidates and family enemies. Imperials are involved so everyone is on edge. Fun look at foreigners.
Read
January 28, 2016Good fun in Tiberian Rome
The continuing adventures of Marcus Corvinus are a good deal of fun and should be treated as such. Not a landmark historical novel, just a fun detective story set in Ancient Rome. I enjoy this series.
The continuing adventures of Marcus Corvinus are a good deal of fun and should be treated as such. Not a landmark historical novel, just a fun detective story set in Ancient Rome. I enjoy this series.
March 28, 2008
The complexities of Roman Imperial policy and Parthia, Iberia, etc. were interesting but at time a bit too dry for me, too.
January 26, 2018
I enjoyed this one. There were some really funny spots, and despite the "byzantine twists and turns" mentioned in the Amazon description, the story was easy to follow. However there wasn't quite enough of it (only 288 pages): hence the deducted ?-star. The actual plot sort of frays away into disconnected strands at the end, though Corvinus's reactions and the ending itself are good.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews