Six For Gold
by Mary Reed & Eric Mayer
John the Eunuch is really in deep trouble in his sixth case - on the run from the law, and
then chained up in the dungeons being gloated over by a malevolent Theodora. A senator
has been murdered, and John is the main suspect; but he can redeem himself if he goes to
Mehenopolis in Egypt. Here, according the Emperor Justinian, he will find the answers.
At last, a dungeon scene a la Salammbo! The series seems to have been working up to
this and even if it comes to naught something in the rocky relationship between John and
Theodora has shifted. As ever, the pages are packed with plot, history and a sprinkling
of humor. Byzantium has been swapped for Egypt, and here is a tortuous tale of sheep
that kill themselves, a snake deity, a wandering beekeeper, erstwhile charioteer and
battles between a magician and a cleric. John remains enigmatic and melancholy as ever,
with his newly reunited family to worry over, and certain old faces who have reappeared.
He is certainly one of the most tantalising and readable sleuths around, and he provides
grounding to some of the more giddy characters and flights of plotting fancy that makes
the story all balance out so nicely. Balance is what makes this a successful series in
my opinion, as each book has a new case and the latest instalment of long-running plot
strands, humor and drama, invention and history. In this particular novel (as in the last)
a need for editing and repetition has gone completely and this is one of the strongest
entries in the series. Do I really have to wait a whole year for book seven? Another
pleasing, well plotted and historically evocative delight. |
The Book |
Poisoned Pen Press |
November 2005 |
Hardback |
1590581458 |
Historical Crime [542, Byzantium & Egypt] |
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Excerpt |
NOTE: Review 2 |
The Reviewer |
Rachel A Hyde |
Reviewed 2005 |
NOTE: |
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