Food for the Fishes

David Wishart produces great Roman mysteries from a part of Europe Rome never reached – just north of Hadrian’s Wall. Food for the Fishes is one of the most enjoyable of Wishart’s series about Marcus Corvinus, a young patrician, set during the reign of Tiberius.

The interplay among Corvinus and the recurring supporting cast is one of the strengths of Wishart’s series. Perilla (his wife), Vispania (his mother) and Priscus (his step-father) are all well developed characters and each contributes to this book, which is set in Vispania’s seaside villa in Baiae, a favorite Roman resort for the wealthy.

The mystery itself is delightfully plotted and the book is well written. I look forward to each installment in the series, as I do to show more those of Steven Saylor, Lindsey Davis and Rosemary Rowe. show less

Trebbio was well and truly drunk when he bad-mouthed Licinius Murena, but 'in vino veritas', as the saying goes. So when Murena was found the next morning, drowned in one of his own eel tanks, not many tears were shed. Certainly not by Trebbio, who had just been booted out of his cottage by the landowner. 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. With the help, of course, of his clever wife Perilla – if she can spare the time from her newly acquired passion for gambling.

This is the first I have read by this author. The plot was good show more and the characters were interesting. But I couldn't come at the 1930's style gangster slang - it was really out of time and grating.

Don't think I'd bother again. show less

By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea -- Corvinus is visiting his mother at her vacation villa in Baiae, and murder (naturally) raises its ugly head. I read everyone of Wishart's series of Roman mysteries with pleasure, because of the appealing central character (and his interesting household), and because of the excellent recreation of the Roman scene. The later books in the series may not be as compelling as the earlier entries, but I happily buy them as soon as they come out.

My first exposure to Marcus Corvinus, the party-boy, 'purple-striper' amateur detective. Visiting his mom and his stepfather at Baie, the vacation resort, trying to save an acquaintance who is suspected of the dirty deed, Marcus is drawn into solving the mystery of the murder of a fish-farm owner. Marcus is an appealing character, and you just have to accept Wishart's Roman world as is. I'm trying to read as many of this series as I find.

This is the ninth mystery set in ancient Rome featuring Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus. This series is set during the reign of the emperor Tiberius. The name of the lead character comes directly from Roman history, though the adventures are fictional.
In this installment, Corvinus and his wife are staying with his mother in the seaside resort of Baiae, the playground of the idle rich during this period. The gruesome death of a fish farmer gives Corvinus the excuse to use his holiday to do some investigating. The author's interesting combination of period details with modern speech patterns (including British slang) is sometimes disconcerting, but succeeds in conveying the character's informality and amateur detective status.

Licinius Murena drowns at his fish farm and is half devoured by carnivorous eels. An evicted tenant is arrested but there is no shortage of other suspects in the victim's very dysfunctional family.

Another entertaining entry in the series.