Synopses & Reviews
Murder and mayhem may seem like unreasonable company for Aristotle, one of the founding minds of Western philosophy. But in the skilled hands of Margaret Doody, the pairing could not be more logical. With her Aristotle Detective novels, Margaret Doody brings a Holmesian hero to the bloodied streets of ancient Greece, trading the pipe and deerstalker of Sherlock for the woolen chiton and sandals of Aristotle. Replete with suspense, historical detail, and humor, and complemented by an ever-growing cast of characters and vivid descriptions of the ancient world, Doodyand#8217;s mysteries are as much lively takes on the figures and forms of the classics as they are classic whodunits in their own right.
Stephanos and his teacher return in Aristotle and Poetic Justice, when a party given by wealthy Athenian silver miners leads to kidnapping, a ghost, a road trip to Delphi, and, of course, murder. More historical fiction than a detective novel, this sequel runs the gamut of Athenian social customs, myth, politics, and economicsand#151;from the trials of virgin love to the dangers of silver lust.
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Review
"Gripping...a combination of Hitchcock-style suspense and vivid historical detail." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Review
"Engrossing...contains all the elements that an entertaining mystery and also provides a view of life in ancient Rome. Highly recommended." Booklist
Synopsis
Elena asks that you come to the House of Swans at once...
Compelled by this message, the wealthy, sybaritic Sextus Roscius goes not to his harlot, but to his doom savagely murdered by unknown assassins. In the unseasonable heat of a spring morning in 80 B.C., Gordianus the Finder is summoned to the house of Cicero, a young advocate staking his reputation on this case. The charge is patricide; the motive, a son's greed. The punishment, rooted deep in Roman tradition, is horrific beyond imagining.
Gordianus's investigation takes him through the city's raucous, pungent streets and deep into urban Umbria, unraveling layers of deceit, twisted passions, and murderous desperation. From pompous, rouged nobles to wily slaves to citizens of seemingly simple virtue, the case becomes a political nightmare. As the defense proceeds toward a devastating confrontation in the Forum, one man's fate may be threaten the very leaders of Rome itself.
Synopsis
In the unseasonable heat of a spring morning in 80 B.C., Gordianus the Finder is summoned to the house of Cicero, a young advocate staking his reputation on a case involving the savage murder of the wealthy, sybaritic Sextus Roscius. Charged with the murder is Sextus's son, greed being the apparent motive. The punishment, rooted deep in Roman tradition, is horrific beyond imagining.
The case becomes a political nightmare when Gordianus's investigation takes him through the city's raucous, pungent streets and deep into rural Umbria. Now, one man's fate may threaten the very leaders of Rome itself.
Synopsis
This sequel to
Aristotle Detective is both a detective novel and a work of historical fiction.and#160;February, 330 BC: a party being given by wealthy Athenian silver miners is followed by a kidnapping and more than one grisly murder. But these take up fewer pages than discussions of Athenian social events, the economics of mining, financial strategies, politics, and brothels. An exciting and scenic road trip to Delphi leads to sub-plots and digressions, including a witty prophecy by Aristotle that someday writers will invent a new genre: the novel!and#160;The characters become more interesting as Doody develops them. Shy Stephanos, for example, falls in love and impulsively chooses a wife. Lots of suspense: despicable villains, a ghost, and two runaways add to the excitement.
About the Author
Steven Saylor has had a lifelong fascination with ancient Rome, from the drive-in movies of his boyhood (Cleopatra, Spartacus, Ben Hur), to his degree in history from the University of Texas, and through his appearances on the History Channel as an expert on Roman politics and life. He is the author of the Roma Sub Rosa series as well as A Twist at the End, a historical novel set in 19th century Texas. He divides his time between Berkeley, California and Austin, Texas.
Table of Contents
Maps
List of Characters
I and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Silver Men and an Heiress
II and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Flower Festival and the Night of the Ghosts
III and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Goblins and Disappearances
IVand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Ill-Tempered Man
V and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Man in a Landscape
VI and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Rural Interludes
VII and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Into the Hills
VIII and#160;and#160;and#160; The Slaveand#8217;s Tale
IX and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Fire and Water
X and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Delphi
XI and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Silver Singer
XII and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Brothel at Kirrha
XIII and#160;and#160;and#160; The Beautiful Girl
XIV and#160;and#160;and#160; The Hanged Girl
XV and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Elektra of the Cave
XVI and#160;and#160;and#160; The Oracle of Apollo
XVII and#160; The Murderer
XVIIIand#160; Justice and an Abductor
XIX and#160;and#160;and#160; Silver, Gold and Virtue
XX and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Aristotleand#8217;s Poetics