Another of those OOPS moments as an intriguing charity shop find lands me into the middle of a series with my first book of a new author to me. Woo Hoo - a Scottish Author though and I like to collect Scottish author books to release in Edinburgh over the International Festival’s period. I’ll see if I can get this read soon.
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A VOTE FOR MURDER (Marcus Corvinus Mystery 8) by DAVID WISHART (2003)
ISBN: 9780340771303 (UK PB)
Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks (pages 368)

From Fantastic Fiction: Marcus Corvinus, one of the liveliest and most engaging of sleuths, makes a welcome return in this baffling and intricate puzzle. Marcus Corvinus is spending a few days in the Alban Hills, visiting his stepdaughter and enthusiastically patronising the local wineshop, while taking a mild interest in the forthcoming consul's elections. Then one of the two candidates is murdered, and Corvinus is all too pleased to put his holiday on hold and help with the investigation. The obvious suspect is the rival political candidate, but needless to say, the obvious solution is not the right one. In the course of his investigations Corvinus meets an unconventional young woman - the dead man's fiancee; a shady property developer, an ex-war hero; the younger son of a wealthy family who is pursuing a career as an artist and assorted low lifes. But which one is the murderer? There are two more violent deaths, plus a near miss for Corvinus himself, before (tipped off, as usual, by his intellectual wife, Perilla) Marcus uncovers a nationalists' conspiracy and solves the mystery. In a grand finale, he enters the local wine-tasting competition (which, given his dedicated attitude to training, should be a walkover) only to be beaten... by a sheep.

Brilliant loved it! Accomplished storytelling, ingenious plotting, a cracking pace and some delightfully wry humour all set firmly against a richly detailed historical background. I do so admire authors who offer engaging characters who really inhabit their skin, what a treat. I’m going right out to find more by this author. Kicking myself for finding book eight of what’s currently a sixteen strong series but yet - oh joy more to find!

My plan is to release this at the Edinburgh BookCrossers Meeting at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Sunday 24th August. If no no-one picks it up I’ll be blooming surprised as I will be offering it to BookCrossers and potential BookCrossers alike! Even then I have a back-up plan to do some ‘wild releasing’ in and around Fringe and Festival venues! Now some welcoming BC burble…
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Hello book finder, if you aren't familiar with BookCrossing – WELCOME! I hope you will enjoy this book and make a little journal entry! You can leave notes anonymously. When you are done with it, perhaps you will send it on its way. Check out BookCrossing - it's a fun community of readers! HAPPY READING

PS And if you find yourself liking BookCrossing, EDINBURGH has an active group of BookCrossers who meet [at least] twice monthly: every first Thursday of the month at 7.30 pm and also every third Sunday of the month at, 2pm. Venue: Hemma, a Swedish bar near the Scottish Parliament in central Edinburgh on 75 Holyrood Road, EH8 8AE Come join us! For more information, see our Meet-Up Group http://www.meetup.com/bookswapedinburgh