On this page

This page lists novels that feature the ancient Roman investigator Marcus Corvinus.

Ovid

David Wishart

1995

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"Ovid was banished by the Emperor Augustus and died in exile ten years late. No one known why he was banished. Years after Ovid's death Marcus Corvinus, grandson of the poet's patron, tries to arrange the return of his ashes to Rome for burial. But official permission is refused; and Corvinus makes the dangerous mistake of asking why the Emperor will not make space in Italy for Ovid's bones."

Germanicus

David Wishart

1997

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"Marcus Corvinus feels his heart sink when he is summoned by Empress Livia. Age has not sweetened her and she's about as trustworthy as a snake with a migraine. But Livia has a way of asking a favour that is impossible to refuse - which is how Marcus finds himself investigating the death of her grandson, Germanicus. And uncovering a multi-stranded web of betrayal and deceit that threatens the imperial succession and even Emperor Tiberius himself."

Sejanus

David Wishart

1998

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"Immediately after his father's funeral, Marcus is approached by two senators who want him to dig up some dirt on Sejanus, emperor Tiberius' deputy and likely successor. Despite the dangers, Marcus cannot resist the thrill of more detective work, and his investigations uncover a trail of treason, betrayal, and murder."

The Lydian Baker

David Wishart

1998

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"When the solid gold statue of a female baker gifted to the oracle at Delphi by King Croesus of Lydia and missing for over three centuries unexpectedly reappears on the Athenian black market, Corvinus’s stepfather Helvius Priscus recruits him as go-between in the purchase. Priscus, though, it turns out, isn’t the only interested party, and where bidding methods are concerned his rivals don’t play games."

Old Bones

David Wishart

2000

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"Marcus Corvinus is spending his time in ancient Tuscany, sampling wine and ogling local talent (under the beady eye of his lovely wife Perilla) when his stepfather is accused of murder. It doesn't take long for Marcus to get him off the hook, but finding the true culprit is rather trickier. As he pursues his investigation, Marcus uncovers a major wine-making fraud as well as a sorry tale of infidelity, treachery, deceit and betrayal. And when he uncovers the real murderer, the reason for the crime turns out to have its roots in myth and history."

Last Rites

David Wishart

2001

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"It is the morning after the nocturnal rite of the good Goddess, an all-female ceremony, and the body of a young woman has been found with her throat cut. Hoping to avoid scandal, Senator Lucius Arruntius calls in Marcus Corvinus to do some discreet sleuthing. Inevitably, to solve the mystery, Marcus must look beyond the obvious and untangle a complex web of treachery and deceit."

White Murder

David Wishart

2002

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"When Pegasus, racing mega-star and lead driver of the Whites faction, is found stabbed to death in the alleyway, Marcus Corvinus is already on site. Tracking the murderer down takes Marcus deep into the murky world of Roman chariot-racing with all its secrets, skulduggeries, and scams; and his task is not made any easier by the fact that in the process he has a lovesick major-domo, an invisible dagger, and Mount Etna to contend with."

A Vote for Murder

David Wishart

2003

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"Marcus Corvinus is spending a few days in the Alban Hills, visiting his stepdaughter and enthusiastically patronising the local wineshop, 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 the right one. In the course of his investigations Corvinus meets an unconventional young woman - the dead man's fiancée; a shady property developer; an ex-war hero; the younger son of a wealthy family who is pursuing a career as an artist and assorted low lifes. But which one is the murderer?"

Parthian Shot

David Wishart

2004

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"When a delegation from the High King of Parthia arrives in Rome, and a member-in-exile of the Parthian royal family is attacked by knifemen, Corvinus finds himself caught up in the murky world of backstairs diplomacy, espionage, and general political skulduggery. Particularly when the delegation’s leader is found dead in bed with his throat cut."

Food for the Fishes

David Wishart

2005

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"When Licinius Murena, wealthy owner of a fish-farm, is found dead, drowned in one of his own eel tanks, not many tears are shed. Certainly not by Trebbio, who had just been booted out of his cottage by the landowner, and was heard bad-mouthing him drunkenly in public the day before Murena's death. Nor by the widow, a little stunner half Murena's age who allegedly spent an inordinate amount of time 'under the doctor'. Nor by his daughter or his farm manager. With friends like these, who needs enemies? Marcus Corvinus is the man to find out."

In At The Death

David Wishart

2007

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"The surprise suicide of a young man with - apparently - everything to live for, prompts his family to ask Marcus Corvinus to investigate. All they really want is an explanation. But Marcus's sleuthing uncovers many contradictory elements in the tale, and he is forced to conclude that this wasn't suicide at all, but murder. As usual, he needs Perilla's agile brain to untangle the complexities of the case and the pair come to realise that the suicide scenario has a political, as well as a personal, dimension."

Illegally Dead

David Wishart

2008

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"When Corvinus receives a letter, with a tantalising PS, from his adopted daughter, Marilla, mentioning there might have been a murder, he hot-foots it to Castrimoenium at once. Not that everyone 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 antagonised. But Corvinus goes up many a blind alley before arriving at the heart of the mystery."

Bodies Politic

David Wishart

2010

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"When Marcus Corvinus is given a letter from Sertorius Macro - the Emperor Caligula's erstwhile adviser forced into suicide for plotting against him - claiming that he was innocent and asking Corvinus to clear his name, he isn't keen on the job at all: sticking your nose into the political dirty laundry basket is currently just too damned dangerous. However, when the inconsistencies begin to mount up, Corvinus is firmly hooked. It'll take him two near-death experiences, a lot of fancy footwork in avoiding the attentions of Rome's great and not so good, and some serious riot-dodging in Alexandria before he works it all out."

No Cause For Concern

David Wishart

2012

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"Four years down the line, and Sempronius Eutacticus is still the charming, good-natured organised-crime boss that he was when they last met. Now his stepson has gone missing, and he wants Corvinus to trace him. Not that it should be too difficult: young Titus has simply run off to join an acting troupe, and there really is no cause for concern. Until his body turns up."

Solid Citizens

David Wishart

2013

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"December, AD39. While enjoying the Winter Festival holiday at his adopted daughter’s home in the Alban Hills, Marcus Corvinus discovers that an outwardly respectable pillar of the community, local politician Quintus Caesius has been discovered beaten to death at the rear entrance of the town brothel. Questioning those who knew the victim, Corvinus is dismayed to find Bovillae a place of small town secrets, bitter feuds, malicious gossip and deadly rivalry: a world away from the sophistication of Rome. As he is to discover, there are several suspects with reason to bear Caesius a grudge. But who would hate him enough to kill him? And what would a supposedly solid citizen be doing visiting the local brothel?"

Finished Business

David Wishart

2014

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"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?"

Trade Secrets

David Wishart

2015

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"May, AD 41. The emperor Claudius has acceded to the throne, and the citizens of Rome look forward to an era of peace and stability. Not so Marcus Corvinus however, who finds himself embroiled in not one but two investigations. A friend of his wife has asked him to look into the murder of her brother, found stabbed to death at the Shrine of Melobosis. A wily businessman and notorious womaniser, no one seems to have a good word to say about Gaius Tullius, not even his less-than-grieving widow. But who would have a good enough reason to want him dead? At the same time, Corvinus's daughter comes across a dead body in the Pollio Gardens, and urges her father to investigate. At first Marcus refuses to get involved - but when his enquiries lead him to Ostia, Rome's busy trading port, he uncovers a disturbing connection between the two deaths."

Foreign Bodies

David Wishart

2016

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"June, AD 42. The emperor Claudius himself has requested Corvinus's help in investigating the murder of a Gallic wine merchant, stabbed to death as he was taking an afternoon nap in his summer-house at Lugdunum. Not especially happy at being despatched to Gaul, and even less enamoured of his enforced travelling companion, the insufferable Domitius Crinas, Corvinus is increasingly frustrated as it becomes clear that the dead man's extended family and friends are hiding something from him."

Family Commitments

David Wishart

2017

A Marcus Corvinus novel.

"When Corvinus’s major-domo Bathyllus’s long-lost brother turns up in a Suburan tenement he is totally gobsmacked. And things don’t improve when he discovers that Brother Damon is a serial crook on the run whose owner and partner-in-crime has just died under very suspicious circumstances. Digging into the whys and wherefores brings its own dangers. Especially when the case turns political... The fact that his mother suspects her octogenarian husband Priscus of having an affair and wants him to look into the matter doesn’t help much, either."