Synopses & Reviews
"Corby has not only made Greek history accessible—he’s made it first-rate entertainment.” --Kelli Stanley, award-winning author of Nox Dormienda and City of DragonsIn 5th century B.C., Nicolaus, a young private investigator fresh off successfully helping save democracy in Athens, is again hired by Pericles to help solve the murder of Thorion, Athens' proxenos to Epheus. It's not long before his mission turns far graver - to stop a plot to invade and destroy Athens. With this added urgency, Nico embarks on a mission to Ephesus. His first stop: meeting with Ephesus' proxenos to Athens, who is found murdered, before Nico can question him.
Along the way, Nico encounters almost every possible setback and calamity. He soon finds himself in possession of Asia, who he purchased off a slave block thinking she held a key to his mission. He learns she is the daughter of the most powerful diplomat in Ephesus, Themistocles, also the most famous traitor to Athens in recent history. On his way to return Asia, he encounters his great love Diotima, who had left him to become a priestess, but joins them on their mission. They become the toast of a banquet held by Themistocles, where the lines between loyalty and traitorousness are blurred, and the threat to Athenian democracy is again made abundantly real.
Synopsis
Corby has not only made Greek history accessible--he's made it first-rate entertainment. --Kelli Stanley, award-winning author of Nox Dormienda and City of Dragons
Athens, 460 B.C. Life's tough for Nicolaos, the only investigating agent in ancient Athens. His girlfriend's left him and his boss wants to fire him. But when an Athenian official is murdered, the brilliant statesman Pericles has no choice but to put Nico on the job.
The case takes Nico, in the company of a beautiful slave girl, to the land of Ionia within the Persian Empire. The Persians will execute him on the spot if they think he's a spy. Beyond that, there are only a few minor problems:
He's being chased by brigands who are only waiting for the right price before they kill him.
Somehow he has to placate his girlfriend, who is very angry about that slave girl.
He must meet Themistocles, the military genius who saved Greece during the Persian Wars, and then defected to the hated enemy.
And to solve the crime, Nico must uncover a secret that could not only destroy Athens, but will force him to choose between love, and ambition, and his own life.
Synopsis
"Corby has not only made Greek history accessible—hes made it first-rate entertainment.” --Kelli Stanley, award-winning author of Nox Dormienda and City of DragonsAthens, 460 B.C. Life's tough for Nicolaos, the only investigating agent in ancient Athens. His girlfriend's left him and his boss wants to fire him. But when an Athenian official is murdered, the brilliant statesman Pericles has no choice but to put Nico on the job.
The case takes Nico, in the company of a beautiful slave girl, to the land of Ionia within the Persian Empire. The Persians will execute him on the spot if they think he's a spy. Beyond that, there are only a few minor problems:
He's being chased by brigands who are only waiting for the right price before they kill him.
Somehow he has to placate his girlfriend, who is very angry about that slave girl.
He must meet Themistocles, the military genius who saved Greece during the Persian Wars, and then defected to the hated enemy.
And to solve the crime, Nico must uncover a secret that could not only destroy Athens, but will force him to choose between love, and ambition, and his own life.
About the Author
Gary Corby has long been fascinated by ancient history, finding it more exciting and bizarre than any modern thriller. He's combined the ancient world with his love of whodunits, to create an historical mystery series set in classical Greece. Gary lives in Sydney, Australia, with his wife and two daughters. He blogs at A Dead Man Fell from the Sky, on all things ancient, Athenian, and mysterious.