Synopses & Reviews
Ambition, intrigue, treachery, murder—another Byzantine mystery…. 548 CE. Its a hot summer night in Constantinople. Emperor Justinian is mourning his dead wife, Theodora. John, his Lord Chamberlain, has been exiled. And at the Church of the Holy Apostles, an Egyptian magician tries to raise the Empress from the dead while demons vanish into the darkness with one of the city's holiest relics, a fragment of the shroud of the Virgin. As if Felix, Captain of the Palace Guard, didn't have enough problems already what with his gambling debts, political maneuverings, and an ambitious new mistress, Justinian orders him to find the missing relic. Before Felix can begin, someone deposits an anonymous corpse at his house. An attempt to dispose of the body goes wrong, leaving Felix in the frame. And a former madam turned leader of a religious refuge, a wealthy and famous charioteer, a general's scheming wife, and a man who wears so many protective charms that he jingles when he walks play their parts in the ensuing misdirection. It seems as if half the city wants to possess the relic, see Felix dead—or both. If only Felix's friend, the shrewd John, were still in the city, but the former Lord Chamberlain sailed for Greece with his wife the morning after the theft. Felix is left to fight for survival in a situation where he can't be sure who his enemies are, or even whether they are all human, while John lends a hand from afar.
Review
"Subtle, well-drawn characters, from the ascetic John to the capricious and enigmatic Justinian; deft descriptive detail revealing life in the late Roman Empire; and sharp dialogue make this another winner in this outstanding historical series." —Publishers Weekly, starred review of John the Lord Chamberlain Mysteries
Review
"Subtle, well-drawn characters, from the ascetic John to the capricious and enigmatic Justinian; deft descriptive detail revealing life in the late Roman Empire; and sharp dialogue make this another winner in this outstanding historical series." —
Publishers Weekly, starred review of
John the Lord Chamberlain Mysteries
“The puzzle is challenging enough to keep readers searching for clues, but the triumph of the authors lies in their spot-on recreation of the political and bureaucratic climate of the times.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review of Nine for the Devil "More complex and colorful than any Byzantine mosaic, Nine for the Devil by Mary Reed and Eric Mayer, will sweep you back into the cruel intrigue-ridden court of the Emperor Justinian, where treachery and murder linger behind every shadowed column of the imperial palace in Constantinople."—Robin Burcell, award-winning author of The Bone Chamber, on Nine for the Devil "Subtle, well-drawn characters, from the ascetic John to the capricious and enigmatic Justinian; deft descriptive detail revealing life in the late Roman Empire; and sharp dialogue make this another winner in this outstanding historical series." —Publishers Weekly, starred review of Eight for Eternity "The authors get everything right in their latest historical. The story is fast paced, the tensions between characters well portrayed; the ending leaves the reader clamoring for more."—Library Journal, starred review of Seven for a Secret
Review
Ten for Dying: A John, the Lord Chamberlain Mystery Mary Reed and Eric Mayer. Poisoned Pen, $24.95 (304p) ISBN 978-1-4642-0227-8 Reed and Mayer mix things up a bit with their 10th whodunit set in Constantinople during the reign of Emperor Justinian (after 2012's Nine for the Devil). In the wake of the murder of the emperor's wife, Theodora, which John solved in the last book, the chamberlain has been dismissed from his position, and decides to start a new life in Greece. That decision leaves his friend Felix, a captain of the place guard, to solve a series of crimes. Bizarre circumstances surround the theft of a relic kept in the Church of the Holy Apostles: the thief left behind 30 frogs, sacred to an Egyptian god, and a scarab beetle on top of Theodora's sarcophagus. The case is complicated by witness reports of demons and Felix's discovery of a corpse, under potentially compromising circumstances. The authors offer a lighter tone to go along with their new lead sleuth, although it's unclear who will be featured in the next installment. (Mar.) Publishers Weekly
Review
[A] spot-on recreation of the political and bureaucratic climate of the times. Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
It's a hot summer night in 548 CE Constantinople and Emperor Justinian, distraught from the death of his Empress Theodora, has exiled John, the Lord Chamberlain. At the Church of the Holy Apostles, an Egyptian magician tries to raise the empress from the dead. As the unholy ceremony explodes into chaos, supposed demons vanish into the darkness with one of the city's holiest relics, a fragment of the shroud of the Virgin. Felix, Captain of the Palace Guard, is selected as John's successor. Already juggling his gambling debts, political maneuverings, and an ambitious new mistress, Felix is charged with finding the missing relic, as well. But before Felix's investigation even begins, someone deposits a corpse at his house. A botched attempt to dispose of the body leaves Felix looking suspect. To make matters worse, it seems as if half the city wants to possess the relic, see Felix dead--or both. If only Felix's friend, the shrewd John, were still in the city, but the former Lord Chamberlain has already sailed for Greece. Now Felix enters a fight for his very survival, a crucible in which he cannot cannot tell friend from foe--or worldly dangers from the supernatural.
About the Author
The husband and wife team of Mary Reed and Eric Mayer had published several short John the Eunuch detections in mystery anthologies and in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine prior to 1999's highly acclaimed first full length novel, One for Sorrow. Their protagonist's adventures continued in Two For Joy (2000), a Glyph Award winner in the Best Mystery category. Two For Joy also gained an Honorable Mention in the Glyph Best Book Award list and in addition was a finalist for the IPPY Best Mystery Award. Three For A Letter (2001) and Four For A Boy (2003) followed. In June 2003 the American Library Association's Booklist Magazine named the John the Eunuch novels as one of its four Best Little Known Series.
The next John the Eunuch story will appear in Mike Ashley's The Mammoth Book of Roman Whodunnits (Carroll and Graf edition, it's already out in the UK from Constable Robinson). It's called The Finger of Aphrodite and is set in besieged Rome, being another locked room story.The husband and wife team of Mary Reed and Eric Mayer had published several short John the Eunuch detections in mystery anthologies and in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine prior to 1999's highly acclaimed first full length novel, One for Sorrow.