Rating: 5/5
Review:
very enjoyable
I enjoyed this book very much. It's the first of Wishart's I have read, and
I'll definitely be looking out more in the series.
Foreign Bodies is set in the Roman Empire
in the reign of Claudius as he plans the invasion of Britain. Marcus Corvinus is asked by Claudius to
investigate a murder in Lugdunum (now Lyons) in Gaul, and he and his wife
Perdilla head off there – and beyond as the mystery deepens and becomes
involved in high politics before unravelling.
As a detective story it's pretty ordinary, to be honest, with a rather
ridiculous denouement, but it's made hugely enjoyable by the period setting and
Marcus's terrific narrative voice.
Wishart is plainly deeply knowledgeable about the period,
which allows him to give Marcus Corvinus (and his other characters) a
thoroughly modern voice while maintaining a very convincing atmosphere. Marcus speaks to us much like a witty and
cynical contemporary Londoner, and it works brilliantly; it's wholly believable
and genuinely funny in places. I know
comparisons with Philip Marlowe are almost always ignorant and lazy cliché, but
even in the very English-sounding voice there is something of Marlowe's
rebellious tone and his use of striking similes - which is a high compliment.
In short, this is an engaging, thoroughly readable and very
enjoyable novel. I'm delighted to have
discovered David Wishart and I can recommend this very warmly.
(I received an ARC via Netgalley.)
No comments:
Post a Comment