What do you think?
Rate this book
Marcus Corvinus #8
A Vote for Murder
Marcus Corvinus is spending a few days in the Alban Hills, while taking a mild interest in the forthcoming consul's elections. Then one of the two candidates is murdered, and Corvinus is all too pleased to put his holiday on hold and help with the investigation. The obvious suspect is the rival political candidate, but needless to say, the obvious solution is not always the right one.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
14 people are currently reading
92 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 9, 2022
Read this book in 2008, and its the 8th volume of the wonderful "Marcus Corvinus" series.
It starts in the Alban Hills where Corvinus is taking a little break by visiting his stepdaughter, when all of a sudden one of the candidates for the consul's election is murdered.
Eager to be of help Corvinus starts investigating this murder case, and soon enough will come up with a lof of suspects.
Everyone he meets and investigates can be the culprit, but the only clue given to him by his intelligent wife, Perilla, that a Nationalists' conspiracy is at work.
Step by step Corvinus will come closer to the solution to this murder, but only after two more brutal deaths and an attempt on his own life wil it make him aware of the danger that he's dealing with.
What is to follow is an intriguing and thrilling Roman mystery, in which Corvinus after some twists and turns, followed by a superbly executed plot will be able to reveal the culprit behind all these murders.
Highly recommended, for this is another tremendous addition to this sublime series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Murder Vote"!
It starts in the Alban Hills where Corvinus is taking a little break by visiting his stepdaughter, when all of a sudden one of the candidates for the consul's election is murdered.
Eager to be of help Corvinus starts investigating this murder case, and soon enough will come up with a lof of suspects.
Everyone he meets and investigates can be the culprit, but the only clue given to him by his intelligent wife, Perilla, that a Nationalists' conspiracy is at work.
Step by step Corvinus will come closer to the solution to this murder, but only after two more brutal deaths and an attempt on his own life wil it make him aware of the danger that he's dealing with.
What is to follow is an intriguing and thrilling Roman mystery, in which Corvinus after some twists and turns, followed by a superbly executed plot will be able to reveal the culprit behind all these murders.
Highly recommended, for this is another tremendous addition to this sublime series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Murder Vote"!
June 26, 2023
This one keeps you guessing right till the end. Corvinus and.his wife Perillia along with their major domo Bathyllus and chef Meton have gone.to visit their adopted daughter Marilla (who lives with AUnt Marcia on her villa in Latinum) They have been there three days when the local official.turns up.wanting Corvinus s help, there's been a murder, a prominent landowner has had his throat cut by an unknown assailant. Corvinus is now.well known for his investigative work so the.man has come asking for help in finding out who the killer is. Corvinus is only too happy to give his aid and so begins this story. The dead man was not well liked but nobody had any reason to wish him dead.............. Unless the killer was after his land, valuable lakefront property. But as he investigates Corvinus finds himself with lots of questions for which he doesn't have many answers, turns out the solution to the.murder is not so simple. Then another prominent man is murdered, so the stakes have risen, after all what are the chances of the two.deaths being unrelated.................. With the progression of the series we are starting to see some.very humerous interactions between Corvinus, Perilla and their staff (I have trouble calling them slaves) and the foster daughter Marilla is a delight sixteen now and.obsessed with animals, I hope we see lots more of her in future books................. Also the epilogue is pure delight
March 8, 2017
Outing with Marcus and family on a visit to Marcia Fulvia. Instead of enjoying a relaxing vacation in the Alban Hills, Marcus is drawn into investigating the murder of political candidate and dodgy businessman, Marcus Vettius Bolanus. Not only does Marcus investigate this murder, but has to fight the anti-Roman prejudice
of some of the locals. More bodies pile up. Motivations for the killings? Also Marcus gets wind of a possible conspiracy by a local group, the "Alban Brotherhood", to disrupt the soon-to-be-celebrated Latin Festival. Can Marcus put all pieces of the puzzle together before the Festival? Another circuitous and tightly-plotted mystery involving our intrepid hero.
Novel on a par with others in the series. I had to admit the subplot with the dipsomaniacal sheep Dassa was a bit silly. 3.5/5.
of some of the locals. More bodies pile up. Motivations for the killings? Also Marcus gets wind of a possible conspiracy by a local group, the "Alban Brotherhood", to disrupt the soon-to-be-celebrated Latin Festival. Can Marcus put all pieces of the puzzle together before the Festival? Another circuitous and tightly-plotted mystery involving our intrepid hero.
Novel on a par with others in the series. I had to admit the subplot with the dipsomaniacal sheep Dassa was a bit silly. 3.5/5.
March 28, 2008
I am reading a mystery series set in Ancient Rome (c. 1st century C.E.), which I just chanced upon. It is good, not great, but enough to keep me more than slightly interested, and annoyed that in the public library system, five books (give or take) of the series are missing. Fortunately, the books in the series stand alone reasonably well, and nothing too earth shattering seems to happen to the central characters between each book, which means having read them entirely out of order (well, in sequential order, with big gaps), I am not suddenly going, “What??? They did what???” Well, there was one moment of that, because the library had book #2 (Germanicus) and then nothing until about book #6 or so (Last Rites), so somewhere in there, the detective (Marcus Corvinus) and his wife (Lady Rufia Perilla) adopted a daughter (Marcella), but it is not a huge sticking point as far as I can tell. Some of the books (like Germanicus) are very complex with Roman history of the era. (The writer, being a classicist does not use the period as a gloss for a different setting the way some writers do, particularly with 19th century mysteries), but really really really knows his history—so much so, that I think some might find his mysteries too complex. I learned the ins and outs of the Julio-Claudian dynasty at Robert Graves’ knee (thank you, I, Claudius, Sir Derek Jacobi, and the BBC), and so the importance of Livia, Gaius Caligua, Aelius Sejanus, Drusilla, Agrippina, Tiberius, Julia, Drusus and all the other happy, back-stabbing, poisoning members of the imperial royal family were not lost on me, but for someone without the background, I would think it would be a bit bewildering. Wishart (the author), does his best to remind the reader, but it is really confusing keeping track of who married who, divorced who, had an affair with who, and who sided with which faction when. Actually, I have found so far with all his mysteries, I generally lose sight of all the plots’ twists and turns about 2/3rds of the way through the book; the last one I read, A Vote for Murder I pretty much was with it until the end (shockingly). I think I keep reading the series because I like Marcus and Perilla; the side characters (all the usual suspects) are for the most part, a totally despicable bunch, and I could really care less who got killed and who did it. There are usually one or two likeable side characters, but it is rather amazing how many unlikable characters appear in each book. Rather different than Anne Perry, who in her two Victorian series, often makes both the victim and the eventual murderer, sympathetic. I am also learning a lot about vintages of wine in Ancient Rome, which is rather amusing.
April 1, 2019
A Vote for Murder sees Corvinus on vacation in the Latin countryside, where he's invariably called upon to assist the local authorities with the murder of a political candidate.
What to Expect
In a classic Corvinus, what starts off as the obvious murder of a high-profile local politician quickly devolves into a intrigue and plots at the highest levels of the Roman empire. As bodies pile up and the deadline looms, Corvinus strives to extract information from hostile locals and make sense of who's is about to be murdered next.
Although this is book 8 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
As with Old Bones (book #5 in the series), I love the treatment of the Roman countryside. So much literature is focused on Roman society itself, that it's easy to lose the view of how the conquered people around Rome viewed the big city. Here Wishart deals with the Latins, who hare a lot of background with Rome but are striving to maintain their unique cultural heritage. Wishart does an amazing job of bringing these characters and their unique outlook to life, and gives us readers an excellent, different view of the early Roman empire.
Though the mystery part of standard, I loved the bit at the end. After all the corpses and murderers are accounted for, after the dust settles, that extra last chapter had me rolling in laughter. This book in general has an excellent humourous B-plot running through it.
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
I found the mystery aspect a bit predictable. For the majority of the novel it seemed like Corvinus is missing the obvious, although, to be fair, there is an extra twist at the end. Still a very worthwhile read, for all the reasons listed above.
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 a good addition to the series, with a lighter tone than others. 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
In a classic Corvinus, what starts off as the obvious murder of a high-profile local politician quickly devolves into a intrigue and plots at the highest levels of the Roman empire. As bodies pile up and the deadline looms, Corvinus strives to extract information from hostile locals and make sense of who's is about to be murdered next.
Although this is book 8 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
As with Old Bones (book #5 in the series), I love the treatment of the Roman countryside. So much literature is focused on Roman society itself, that it's easy to lose the view of how the conquered people around Rome viewed the big city. Here Wishart deals with the Latins, who hare a lot of background with Rome but are striving to maintain their unique cultural heritage. Wishart does an amazing job of bringing these characters and their unique outlook to life, and gives us readers an excellent, different view of the early Roman empire.
Though the mystery part of standard, I loved the bit at the end. After all the corpses and murderers are accounted for, after the dust settles, that extra last chapter had me rolling in laughter. This book in general has an excellent humourous B-plot running through it.
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
I found the mystery aspect a bit predictable. For the majority of the novel it seemed like Corvinus is missing the obvious, although, to be fair, there is an extra twist at the end. Still a very worthwhile read, for all the reasons listed above.
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 a good addition to the series, with a lighter tone than others. 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.
June 2, 2024
Excellent as always.
April 29, 2020
So much fun...
Bah, humbug to the historical purists. My beloved sister is one of those sorts. She concentrated on the 18th and 19th centuries in Great Britain and Pre-Alexandrian Egypt (hours of fascinating discussions of economics and domestic hygiene development...apparently, records of war and politics are a collection of profoundly stupid decisions).
She LOVES this collection.
So there!
Bah, humbug to the historical purists. My beloved sister is one of those sorts. She concentrated on the 18th and 19th centuries in Great Britain and Pre-Alexandrian Egypt (hours of fascinating discussions of economics and domestic hygiene development...apparently, records of war and politics are a collection of profoundly stupid decisions).
She LOVES this collection.
So there!
December 25, 2017
Great story
Great reading, and I laughed out loud at several vignettes, belly laughs, tears down my cheeks, hard to see the page laughter. No, not fine literature, just an entertaining, kinda historically accurate enough, enjoyable story. A bard in hard times when a belly laugh is priceless.
Great reading, and I laughed out loud at several vignettes, belly laughs, tears down my cheeks, hard to see the page laughter. No, not fine literature, just an entertaining, kinda historically accurate enough, enjoyable story. A bard in hard times when a belly laugh is priceless.
August 30, 2018
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** A murder mystery pitting the Latins against the Romans! Residual anti-Roman sentiment, but in reality a plot to murder a political rival. Two points, tired of Corvinus being bossed around by his women-folk. I mean, Roman men were the head of the family. Second, the misuse of the word "theory" by Corvinus, and speculation he considers he refers to as a "theory". Annoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2019
Excellent read by the pool or at the beach
As always, the books in the Corvinus series read fast and are enjoyable. I liked the twist at the end with Dassa the sheep. Excellent light reading.
As always, the books in the Corvinus series read fast and are enjoyable. I liked the twist at the end with Dassa the sheep. Excellent light reading.
May 29, 2018
Excellent read
Even though there is very little history in the story, I enjoyed it very much - particularly the way author developed the suspense and the final ending.
Even though there is very little history in the story, I enjoyed it very much - particularly the way author developed the suspense and the final ending.
June 30, 2015
Marcus and Perilla are in the hills visiting their daughter and Aunt Marcia during a local election and prior to the local Latin Festival. One of the candidates is murdered in his home and the local official asks Marcus for help. The Princess buys a crazy sheep who breaks into wine cellars. More bodies drop and Marcus thinks he has uncovered a plot to kill the Roman bigwigs during the festival. Stepping on local toes and anti Roman prejudice makes it interesting. Meton the tempermental chef and the Princess are up to something involving the sheep providing some comic relief in a side story. Much better than the last entry and much more concise story without losing the fun twists and sidelines for recurring characters
February 20, 2016
I am a big fan of the Marcus Corvinus series - I think Wishart manages to marry the modern language and humor with the historical context in a seamless manner. 'A Vote for Murder' is my favourite... I couldn't stop laughing each time the goat was mentioned and the ending was just perfect :D
April 23, 2011
The poor man's Lindsey Davis, I'd say. Pleasant rustic-flavored whodunit, a bit slow to get going. I'd read more in the series, though, if in the mood.
February 19, 2012
Another excellent convoluted mystery.
July 25, 2012
L
Wishart knows his Rome,
March 19, 2013
Much better job of explaining the political climate, and the relationship between Rome and the rest of Italy. The mystery was great, as well.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews