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Marcus Corvinus #12
Illegally Dead
When Corvinus receives a letter from his adopted daughter, Marilla, with a tantalizing PS mentioning a possible murder, he hot-foots it to Castrimoenium at once. Not everyone, however, agrees that Lucius Hostilius was murdered. Poison was apparently the means of death, but Lucius was terminally ill. It was only a matter of time. Although he hasn't any official investigative status, Corvinus can't resist doing a little amateur sleuthing. And he has barely begun when two other corpses turn up and he is formally on the case. Lucius had been suffering something of a personality change because of his illness, so there is no shortage of suspects among friends and family whom he had antagonized. But Corvinus goes up many a blind alley before arriving at the heart of the mystery. As we follow Marcus Corvinus, clue by clue, on his 10th case, we allow ourselves to be diverted by rumors of Meton’s love life—and by an authentic recipe for fish pickle sauce.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2008
17 people are currently reading
80 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 8, 2022
Read this book in 2008, and its the 12th volume of the amazing "Marcus Corvinus" Roman mystery series.
In this tale tale Marcus Corvinus receives a letter from his adopted daughter, Marilla, in which she indicates that has been a murder, and at once Corvinus heads out to Castrimoenium to investigate this case for himself.
Although not official on the case the officials let him go on, and he will find out that Lucius Hostilius, although he was old and terminally ill, that he was murdered not the less, by poison.
Only just doing his investigations and two more corpses will turn up, which will be too much for the authorities and so Corvinus is now officially on the case.
Short before his death, Lucius has undergone a personality change, and by doing this he has made many enemies within his family and friends, so suspects enough for Corvinus to investigate.
Going up many a blind alley at first, he will get to the heart of the matter of this mystery, and solve the case in a most gripping and eventful fashion.
What is to follow is an intriguing and thrilling mystery, in which by using his wits and sometimes cunning Corvinus will, after some twists and turns, followed by a superbly executed plot, solve this mystery in his own spectacular fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is another sublime addition to this marvellous series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Glorious Illegal Death Mystery"!
In this tale tale Marcus Corvinus receives a letter from his adopted daughter, Marilla, in which she indicates that has been a murder, and at once Corvinus heads out to Castrimoenium to investigate this case for himself.
Although not official on the case the officials let him go on, and he will find out that Lucius Hostilius, although he was old and terminally ill, that he was murdered not the less, by poison.
Only just doing his investigations and two more corpses will turn up, which will be too much for the authorities and so Corvinus is now officially on the case.
Short before his death, Lucius has undergone a personality change, and by doing this he has made many enemies within his family and friends, so suspects enough for Corvinus to investigate.
Going up many a blind alley at first, he will get to the heart of the matter of this mystery, and solve the case in a most gripping and eventful fashion.
What is to follow is an intriguing and thrilling mystery, in which by using his wits and sometimes cunning Corvinus will, after some twists and turns, followed by a superbly executed plot, solve this mystery in his own spectacular fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is another sublime addition to this marvellous series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Glorious Illegal Death Mystery"!
June 1, 2019
'First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers'; so said Dick the Butcher in King Henry VI, Part 2--well, maybe not all of them.... But one prominent lawyer, Lucius Hostilius, has died under suspicious circumstances in Castrimoenium, where Marilla, Marcus' adopted daughter, has been living with Perilla's 'courtesy aunt' Marcia. At Marilla's request to investigate, Marcus Corvinus can't help himself wanting to discover the possible perp and hurries to that small town in the Alban Hills. This novel was another of the excellent Marcus Corvinus mysteries. I enjoyed it very much.
Marcus arrives at the town of Castrimoenium in detective mode. He's right on the case. Two more folks from the area are murdered; both of whom turn out to be connected to Hostilius' death. Not only Marcus' astute wife, Perilla, but Marilla and her boyfriend, Clarus, son of the local doctor and pharmacist, render much help with ideas and legwork. Clarus and his dad help with 'forensic' work. There was also a comic subplot involving Meton, Marcus' surly cook. This story was tightly plotted and at the denouement, everything fit together plausibly.
I'm trying to read as many in this series as I can find; Marcus is a great character, also Perilla. Modern turns of phrase and slang don't seem out of place, as I've settled into the series. Of course, I couldn't figure out the killer or motivation, but then, I hardly ever can. There was the same humor, same sardonicism. Each book of this series gets more sophisticated.
Very highly recommended for those who devour Roman historical mysteries.
Marcus arrives at the town of Castrimoenium in detective mode. He's right on the case. Two more folks from the area are murdered; both of whom turn out to be connected to Hostilius' death. Not only Marcus' astute wife, Perilla, but Marilla and her boyfriend, Clarus, son of the local doctor and pharmacist, render much help with ideas and legwork. Clarus and his dad help with 'forensic' work. There was also a comic subplot involving Meton, Marcus' surly cook. This story was tightly plotted and at the denouement, everything fit together plausibly.
I'm trying to read as many in this series as I can find; Marcus is a great character, also Perilla. Modern turns of phrase and slang don't seem out of place, as I've settled into the series. Of course, I couldn't figure out the killer or motivation, but then, I hardly ever can. There was the same humor, same sardonicism. Each book of this series gets more sophisticated.
Very highly recommended for those who devour Roman historical mysteries.
July 4, 2023
Another great entry to the series. Corvinus adopted daughter Marilla writes to him in Rome from her home in Castrimoenium (which is a resort town a few hours outside of Rome, she lives there with Perillas Aunt Marcia. Marilla prefers the quiet of the country and there she can also indulge her love of animals, in the last year she has also got pretty friendly with the local.doctors son Clarus. When she writes Corvinus she tells him Clarus and his dad think they uncovered a murder in town and the couple want her father to come and investigate. Needless to say Corvinus and Perillia along with Bathyllus, Meton and Alexis to with them. Turns out the doctor does make a very good case for murder but if the investigation is made official all the slaves in the victims house will be tortured to see what they know, it's Roman law. So having helped out on a case there two years ago Corvinus is able to work with the authorities and look into the matter. It seems quite straightforward but the more Corvinus digs the more he unsavoury goings on he uncovers. Then there's whatever Meton is getting up to to worry about, he's washing and wearing clean clothes, something's definitely up..........................
June 13, 2019
Illegally Dead send Corvinus back to Castrimoenium for another cozy mystery, plumbing the depth of human motivations for murder.
What to Expect
The story starts with one of the best invitations to a murder case ever: a letter from his adopted daughter with some in jokes relating ot past books ends on a ps "can you please come, we think there was a murder".
Corvinus navigates the small community as he tries to ascertain whether the man was murder, by whom, and why. In this novel the "why" is the crux (a whydunit in addition to a whodunit). In keeping with the detective genre, Wishart plumbs the depths of human emotions, with conflicting motives and personalities. This is where this work shines, even if human nature does not. Wishart, as a master storyteller, still manages to leave readers with a smile, by offsetting the dark turn by ending on a sub-plot.
This is book 12 of the series, but is one of the "plain" mysteries. (There is some continuity from books one to three, but most of the others can be read out of sequence.)
What I liked
As usual, Wishart breathes life into Roman life, with engaging characters and complex plots. His research and anecdotes (this book covering gastronomy and cookery, my favourite subject!) are always top notch, the writing style fluent and immersive. The characters we are presented with are fully realised, well drawn people, and Wishart makes us care about what's going on.
Corvinus in particular has a most unique voice that is a joy to read, though throughout the series 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 experience for lovers of those genres - we're not reading in Latin, after all, so taking a purist view is in itself a untenable proposition.
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 another great volume in the series, but note you should at least read the first 3 books before this one. If you like cosy mysteries and Roman-era detectives (e.g. by the likes of Lindsey Davis, Steven Saylor, and Ruth Downie), 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
The story starts with one of the best invitations to a murder case ever: a letter from his adopted daughter with some in jokes relating ot past books ends on a ps "can you please come, we think there was a murder".
Corvinus navigates the small community as he tries to ascertain whether the man was murder, by whom, and why. In this novel the "why" is the crux (a whydunit in addition to a whodunit). In keeping with the detective genre, Wishart plumbs the depths of human emotions, with conflicting motives and personalities. This is where this work shines, even if human nature does not. Wishart, as a master storyteller, still manages to leave readers with a smile, by offsetting the dark turn by ending on a sub-plot.
This is book 12 of the series, but is one of the "plain" mysteries. (There is some continuity from books one to three, but most of the others can be read out of sequence.)
What I liked
As usual, Wishart breathes life into Roman life, with engaging characters and complex plots. His research and anecdotes (this book covering gastronomy and cookery, my favourite subject!) are always top notch, the writing style fluent and immersive. The characters we are presented with are fully realised, well drawn people, and Wishart makes us care about what's going on.
Corvinus in particular has a most unique voice that is a joy to read, though throughout the series 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 experience for lovers of those genres - we're not reading in Latin, after all, so taking a purist view is in itself a untenable proposition.
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 another great volume in the series, but note you should at least read the first 3 books before this one. If you like cosy mysteries and Roman-era detectives (e.g. by the likes of Lindsey Davis, Steven Saylor, and Ruth Downie), 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.
December 1, 2017
Comfort reading
For stress reduction, aided with highly sweetened tea, then wine, this has not yet failed, a rate better than placebo
For stress reduction, aided with highly sweetened tea, then wine, this has not yet failed, a rate better than placebo
July 11, 2010
Corvinus is back in the Alban Hills, investigating a suspicious death. As usual, questions abound. The widow's grief is clearly sincere, but why is she hiding so much? Why was the victim attacked in the street, six days before his death, by a man no one recognised? Why is his partner in the legal firm still so upset by the death, decades ago, of his first wife? There are more personal matters too. The Corvinus household is getting older; we seem to be about to lose one member to old age, while another is contemplating marriage. Young Clarus, Marilla's boyfriend, is introducing us to the Roman medical world and its increasing interest in the autopsy. But the two most pressing questions are; what are Gabba and the other lads at Pontius's wineshop up to in secret, and why has Meton, Corvinus's bolshie gorilla of a cook, taken to going out dressed in a clean tunic and wearing perfume? Corvinus thinks he has guessed the answer, but it's much more surprising than that....
One thing that's beginning to look interesting. We already know Corvinus has a horror of mental incapacity. Now once again, as in "Food for the Fishes", he says if he ever became mentally incapable he hopes someone would oblige him with a mercy killing. I'm beginning to wonder if Wishart is building up to confronting him with this problem close to home.
Not the all-time best from this series but well up to standard.
One thing that's beginning to look interesting. We already know Corvinus has a horror of mental incapacity. Now once again, as in "Food for the Fishes", he says if he ever became mentally incapable he hopes someone would oblige him with a mercy killing. I'm beginning to wonder if Wishart is building up to confronting him with this problem close to home.
Not the all-time best from this series but well up to standard.
October 2, 2008
Illegally Dead is the latest in the Corvinus series of murder mysteries set in Rome in the 1st century C.E. This one actually takes place outside Rome, in a small town called Castrimoenium, where a local lawyer has died under suspicious circumstances. For a variety of reasons the local authorities are unwilling to open a formal investigation until it is certain that it was murder. Corvinus is called in unofficially and soon the bodies start piling up.
The result is a seemingly very tangled web that, we eventually learn, is the playing out of events from 20 years earlier.
This is a very well plotted novel. And it includes the humor and wisecracking tough-guy schtick that we've come to expect from this series.
The result is a seemingly very tangled web that, we eventually learn, is the playing out of events from 20 years earlier.
This is a very well plotted novel. And it includes the humor and wisecracking tough-guy schtick that we've come to expect from this series.
July 3, 2015
The Princess writes a letter suggesting there is a murder to solve in her area so we travel to visit. An old man who is senile is dead, his medicine has been used to fast and is filled with water, The Princess's future father in law, the local doctor suspects foul play. A nasty pile of 20 year old shenanigans is uncovered in regular style. Meton provides the funny side line this time and it is quite entertaining, but not to the level of the crazy dog in the last one.
December 27, 2008
One of the best in the series. As tightly plotted as the early Agatha Christies, fairly well written (tho the modernist dialogues can be a little tiring at times), and so amazingly likely you wonder why you didn't guess.
BTW no need to have read any of the previous in the series.
BTW no need to have read any of the previous in the series.
May 23, 2013
Another good Corvinus mystery. Always enjoy private detectives, and this Roman series works well
April 15, 2016
Very nicely complicated, lots of suspects.
January 26, 2018
Not quite as gripping as some, but still good. Whodunnit was not quite unexpected, though there was an abundance of red herrings; and the way Hostilius's wife at first appears squeaky-clean, but gradually emerges as not quite so innocent, is excellently done.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews