Ancient Roman sleuth Marcus Corvinus is despatched to Gaul on a personal mission for the emperor. 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 … 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. Unused to strange Gallic customs and facing an uphill struggle getting anyone to talk freely to a Roman, Corvinus is convinced that there’s more to this murder than meets the eye – but, a stranger in a strange land, how is he going to prove it . . .’
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Foreign Bodies is an interesting mystery, boderline between the political and regular lines of the series. While asked by the emperor to look into a murder in Gaul, this has nothing to do with the imperial family. Still, politics are rife and make for a rich background for the murder of someone with no enemies.
*** What to expect
It’s hard to say no to the emperor, even if he’s the polite (and sane) Claudius and not his predecessor. Corvinus finds himself sent further west than he’s ever been, into the barely civilised country of what up to a century ago was known as “Hairy Gaul”. On the plus side, it’s an imperial appointment and he’s travelling in style.
We as readers get a quick trip to Massilia and up into Lugdunum (Lyon). Not enough sight-seeing (for his wife) and not enough sampling of the local wines (for Corvinus) on the way. In Lugdunum, it seems like the deceased was well liked by everyone, and Corvinus is stymied. He decides to go digging into the family’s past, twenty years ago around the time of the Florus revolt. That takes him on further to Augusta Treverorum in Gallia Belgica, and the preparations for Claudius’ invasion of Britannia.
Though this is book 18 of the series, becuase of its detached nature it’s actually a nice jump-in point – in case you’d like to try one of the more recent novels first.
*** What I liked
As usual, the why and wherefore of the murders, the personalities of those involved and their motivations, are the best part of the whodunit. The mystery itself will keep you guessing till the very end, with an emotionally satisfying resolution. Add the Roman Gaul history background, and it’s an historical-fiction lover’s dream.
In prose and storytelling, Wishart keeps an excellent balance of humour and suspense, of Roman trivia and mystery writing which make this series a pleasure to read. He breathes life into all his characters, with their personal and cultural foibles, and you can just see their realistic interactions.
Corvinus himself 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 Saturnalia as winter Festival). Interestingly, as the series progresses Wishart slowly includes more of them.
*** Summary
This is a classic historical mystery, and can be read standalone from previous novels in the series. Whether you read in order or just want to jump in, it’s a great read. If you enjoyed historical 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.
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Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic – for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.