David Wishart Books in Order

Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path

For anyone looking to dive into the historical mystery world of David Wishart, the best place to begin is the very start of his signature Marcus Corvinus series: Ovid (1995). The novels follow a linear timeline in the life of its protagonist, Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, a sharp-tongued, noble Roman sleuth. Reading the series in publication order is highly recommended, as it allows you to watch the characters grow, track recurring political developments in the Roman Empire, and enjoy the evolving banter between Marcus and his clever wife, Perilla.

While most of the Marcus Corvinus books can function as standalone whodunits, the background relationships and the changing political climates under the reigns of Roman emperors flow chronologically. Starting with Ovid gives you the necessary introduction to Corvinus’s detective style, his social standing, and his domestic life before he embarks on increasingly dangerous political conspiracies.

The Marcus Corvinus Series in Order

The Marcus Corvinus series is Wishart’s most famous contribution to historical crime fiction. The novels follow Marcus Corvinus as he navigates the dangerous waters of Rome’s elite class, solving murders while using colloquial, hardboiled detective dialogue. The publication order perfectly mirrors the chronological order of Marcus's investigations:

1. Ovid (1995) – Marcus investigates the reasons behind the famous poet Ovid's exile to the Black Sea, uncovering a dangerous web of imperial secrets.
2. Germanicus (1997) – Marcus is sent to investigate the suspicious death of the popular Roman general Germanicus in Antioch.
3. Sejanus (1998) – Set during the reign of Tiberius, Marcus probes the conspiracies surrounding the fall of the infamous Praetorian prefect Sejanus.
4. The Lydian Baker (1998) – A local Roman bakery owner is murdered, leading Marcus into a web of everyday Roman crimes and minor corruption.
5. Old Bones (2000) – Marcus investigates a cold case involving the suspicious death of a family patriarch years prior.
6. Last Rites (2001) – Marcus is drawn into a mystery involving a series of strange murders that seem to point toward domestic vendettas.
7. White Murder (2002) – Set during a winter retreat, Marcus must solve a murder in a snow-bound villa where everyone is a suspect.
8. A Vote for Murder (2003) – Political corruption and election-rigging lead to a high-profile murder that Marcus must quickly solve.
9. Parthian Shot (2004) – Marcus travels to the borders of the Roman Empire, dealing with international diplomacy and sudden murder.
10. Food for the Fishes (2005) – A darkly humorous tale involving a suspicious death linked to the Roman fish market and luxury trade.
11. In at the Death (2007) – Marcus deals with the fallout of family secrets and legacy disputes that turn deadly.
12. Illegally Dead (2008) – A complex mystery where Marcus must prove that an allegedly deceased man was actually murdered.
13. Bodies Politic (2010) – High-stakes Roman politics take center stage when a senator is found dead under mysterious circumstances.
14. No Cause for Concern (2012) – Marcus investigates what looks like an accidental death, only to find a calculated crime.
15. Solid Citizens (2013) – Marcus probes the dark underbelly of Rome's upper-middle class and their respectable facade.
16. Finished Business (2014) – An old enemy or unresolved case returns to haunt Marcus, forcing him to tie up loose ends.
17. Trade Secrets (2016) – Merchants, guilds, and illegal trading practices form the backdrop of this murder investigation.
18. Foreign Bodies (2016) – Marcus is tasked with solving a murder involving visiting foreign dignitaries, raising diplomatic tensions.
19. Family Commitments (2017) – A domestic mystery that hits close to home, forcing Marcus to investigate relatives and close associates.
20. Going Back (2018) – Marcus returns to familiar grounds, uncovering secrets that have been buried for decades.
21. Dead Men's Sandals (2020) – A fresh investigation that puts Marcus back on the trail of Roman conspiracies and elusive killers.
22. Dead in the Water (2025) – Marcus and Perilla travel to the rugged island of Corsica, where they encounter deadly foes and a brand-new mystery.

Standalone Historical Novels

In addition to his famous detective series, Wishart has written several standalone historical novels that explore ancient Rome through different lenses. These books are ideal for readers who enjoy fictionalized historical biographies and broader Roman history:

• I, Virgil (1995) – Written as a fictional autobiography of the famous Roman poet Virgil, tracing his life from his humble origins to his patronage under Augustus and the composition of the Aeneid.
• Nero (1996) – A deep dive into the life and reign of the controversial Emperor Nero, told from the perspective of his close advisor, the writer and courtier Titus Petronius.
• The Horse Coin (1999) – Set in Roman Britain in AD 59, this novel focuses on Marcus Julius Severinus, a cavalry officer trying to maintain peace between Roman occupiers and British tribes in the lead-up to Queen Boudicca's rebellion.

The Angus Books: A Mythology-Driven Departure

If you want to see a completely different side of Wishart's storytelling, check out the Angus books. Although they were published in the early 2010s, Wishart actually wrote them back in the 1980s before his debut novel was published. Set in his home county of Angus in Scotland, these books are aimed at young adults and readers who enjoy Celtic and Norse mythology, exploring the thin boundary between the past and the present:

• Hexagon (2011)
• Jaeger's Howe (2012)

What to Know Before You Start

Wishart's historical novels stand out due to their unique tone. While his historical settings, political details, and cultural references are meticulously researched and highly accurate, the characters speak in a modern, colloquial, and often sarcastic style. Marcus Corvinus behaves less like a dusty historical figure and more like a Roman Philip Marlowe, navigating the city's underbelly with wit, sass, and a modern sensibility. This mash-up makes ancient Rome feel incredibly accessible and alive. Furthermore, Marcus's wife, Perilla, is a crucial partner in his investigations, offering sharp intellect and domestic banter that form the emotional heart of the series.

A Tale of Two David Wisharts: Clearing Up the Confusion

When searching for books by David Wishart, readers often encounter a major source of confusion: the presence of non-fiction whisky books under the same name. It is important to know that the historical crime novelist David Wishart (born 1952) is not the author of Whisky Classified: Choosing Single Malts by Flavour or World of Whisky. Those works were written by Dr. David Wishart (1943–2020), a renowned Scottish statistician who used data-driven cluster analysis to categorize single malt whiskies. While both authors are Scottish and share a name, our guide focuses strictly on the historical fiction and mythology novels of the novelist David Wishart.