Old Bones (Marcus Corvinus Mysteries) [Paperback]

David Wishart (Author)

Book Description

Series: Marcus Corvinus Mysteries | Publication Date: May 1, 2001

When Marcus Corvinus hears that his father-in-law, Priscus, has been accused of murder, it doesn't take Marcus long to get Priscus off the hook—but finding the real culprit proves tricky. Marcus uncovers a major wine-making fraud as well as a sorry tale of treachery, deceit, and betrayal.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Wishart takes true historical events and blends them into a concoction so pacy that you hardly notice all those facts and interesting details of Roman life being slipped in there. Salve! To this latest from the top toga-wearing 'tec of Roman times!' -- Highland News Group 'Wishart writes economically and with pace' -- Nairnshire Telegraph 'Innate humour and pace' -- Irish Times 'A classical crime caper out of the top drawer.' -- Steve Craggs, Northern Echo 'I'll certainly be chasing up the previous Marcus Corvinus novels ... These are unusual detective tales' -- Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph 'David Wishart wields an entertaining stylus ... a terrific book to hole up with for the holidays' -- Scotland on Sunday 'A taut thriller in which ancient Rome springs to life' -- The Times 'With the toga-wearing sleuths of Lindsey Davis an dSteven Saylor prowling the alleys of Ancient Rome, is there room for Wishart's Marcus Corvinus? On this evidence the answer is resoundingly in the affirmative.' -- Times 'His learning shines through. He has a feel for ancient times yet uses modern dialogue. This neat trick manages to combine the atmosphere of the ancient world while moving the story quickly and assuredly on. Highly recommended' -- Yorkshire Evening Post

About the Author

David Wishart studied Classics at Edinburgh University. He then taught Latin and Greek in school for four years and after this retrained as a teacher of EFL. He lived and worked abroad for eleven years, working in Kuwait, Greece and Saudi Arabia, and now lives with his wife and family in Scotland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340768843
• ISBN-13: 978-0340768846
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #756,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Good Read, November 11, 2004

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Old Bones (Marcus Corvinus Mysteries) (Paperback)

For anyone new to David Wishart's main character Marcus Corvinus and they have read any of the "Falco" novels by Lindsey Davis, the Marcus Corvinus novels are in the same "style:" A Roman sleuth whose manner of speech is out of character with the surroundings he lives in i.e. Ancient Rome. He has a beautiful and intellingent wife called Perilla, and a "butler" who is a total snob and who in the main looks down his nose at Marcus. Another member of the family is the chef who tends to get drunk and sulk in the kitchen. I do not want to give the plot away so why not buy the book, you won't regret it. All David Wishart's books are well written and researched and the sights and sounds of Ancient Rome leap off the page at you.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Definitely not up to snuff, April 29, 2008

By 

Terry Weiss "Mystery Lover" (Corvallis, OR U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Old Bones (Marcus Corvinus Mysteries) (Paperback)

I'm a huge fan of mysteries set in Rome - but this series falls short of the rest. I liked the first couple I read, but was stunned at how the quality fell off as each book arrived. David Wishart can write, but for some reason he rambles endlessly, puts in unnecessary characters - and this from someone who loves lots of eccentric charactes in her mysteries - and generally over does the slangy casualness. I do get what the writer is after, but I don't think he achieves if except fleetingly. I have found the books frustrating, as they are almost good. Which is worse than just plain bad. Well, with the exception of the last book in the series - which was just plain bad. Anyway, check one or two out of the library first - perhaps you have a different viewpoint than I do.

For reference - I like John Maddox Roberts, Lindsey Davis, Steven Saylor mysteries of ancient Rome.