Review ~ Scorpions in Corinth by J M Alvey

Orion
5 September

Philocles #2

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Popular playwright Philocles and his actors are hired to take his latest play to Corinth, to promote goodwill between the two cities. But on arrival, their guide and fixer Eumelos drops dead - a victim of poison.

Philocles is convinced someone is out to sabotage the play, and to find out who - and why - he must first uncover the murderer.

But in Corinth the ruling oligarchs seem more interested in commerce than justice. And with the city's religious brotherhoods pursuing their own vicious rivalries, asking the wrong questions could get an outsider like Philocles killed.

What did I think about it...

At the beginning of 2019 I enjoyed reading Shadows of Athens, which is this authors first historical mystery, so I was delighted to read this second thriller in the series, which, once again focuses the attention on playwright, Philocles, and his troop of actors, who always seem to get drawn into a particularly challenging murder/mystery. Travelling from Athens to perform their latest production in Corinth should be straightforward but then their guide, Eumelos, drops dead, seemingly as a result of poisoning.

What then follows is a classic whodunnit in which Philocles, and his disparate group of actors, get drawn into trying to discover just who responsible for the death of Eumelos whilst at the same time trying to keep the peace in a different sort of setting and with a culture that is unlike what they are used to in Athens.

The author writes this type of historical mystery with a good eye for detail and brings the ancient classical world to life in a meaningful way. There are twists and turns aplenty and the plot travelled along quite nicely with more than enough going on to keep me guessing. Scorpions in Corinth is an interesting murder/ mystery which I am sure will appeal to those who enjoy reading about the classical world of ancient Greece and whilst book #2 can be read as an enjoyable standalone it would be better to get to know the idiosyncrasies of Philocles, and his actors, by reading Shadows of Athens first.

About the Author

J M Alvey studied Classics at Oxford in the 1980s. As an undergraduate, notable achievements in startling tutors included citing the comedic principles of Benny Hill in a paper on Aristophanes and using military war-gaming rules to analyse and explain apparent contradictions in historic accounts of the Battle of Thermopylae. Crime fiction was always relaxation reading and that love of mysteries and thrillers continued through a subsequent, varied career, alongside an abiding fascination with history and the ancient world. These interests have all now come together in the first adventure of Philocles Hestaiou, comic playwright and pen for hire in classical Athens.

Twitter @AlveyAuthor  #ScorpionsInCorinth

@OrionBooks

Amazon UK

Summer Read ~ Those Who Are Loved by Victoria Hislop

Headline
30 May 2019

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Those Who Are Loved is set against the backdrop of the German occupation of Greece, the subsequent civil war and a military dictatorship, all of which left deep scars.

Themis is part of a family bitterly divided by politics and, as a young woman, her fury with those who have collaborated with the Nazis, drives her to fight for the communists. She is eventually imprisoned on the notorious islands of exile, Makronisos and Trikeri, and has to make a life or death decision. She is proud of having fought, but for the rest of her life is haunted by some of her actions. Forty years after the end of the civil war, she finally achieves catharsis.

Victoria Hislop sheds light on the complexity of Greece’s traumatic past and weaves it into the dynamic tale of a woman who is both hero and villain, and her lifelong fight for justice.

My thoughts..

I'm always a little bit excited when I get the chance to read one of this author's fine stories and so I eagerly started Those Who Are Loved one sunny afternoon in the garden. From the start of the story I was transported to the Greek city of Athens and into the life story of Themis Stavridis, who on the occasion of her birthday in 2016, looks back over her eventful life when she was a young girl growing up in  a very troubled 1930s Greece. Themis and her family suffer great personal hardship as the political climate, particularity during the German occupation, and then later during the civil war unrest, wreaks havoc on the lives of ordinary people.

As always, the author gets right into the heart of the matter and there's such a sense of history that I became quite immersed in the story of Greek politics, something I'm ashamed to say that  knew very little about. I always associate this beautiful country with endless sunshine and happy summer holidays and yet during the tumultuous years of the 1930s and beyond, Greece was a very different country.

There's a wonderful theme of family which runs throughout, not just from those who are bound to us by blood but perhaps, in times of great adversity, it's more about those who become family simply because of the situation they find themselves in, and there is no doubt that Themis, who undergoes great personal hardship, comes to rely on the friends she makes in times of great danger. I won't spoil the story by explaining just how difficult her life becomes, but there were definitely several times I found that I was reading with a huge lump in my throat as I read of Themis' later ordeals whilst incarcerated on the islands of exile.

Such is the skill of the author that every novel she writes is filled with passion and a real love of bringing history alive. Those Who Are Loved, whilst a little bit heavy going in places, is definitely a  wonderful immersive story ,by a talented author, which is perfect for a long, lazy summer read.

About the Author

Victoria Hislop read English at Oxford, and worked in publishing, PR and as a journalist before becoming a novelist. She is married with two children.

Twitter @VicHislop #ThoseWhoAreLoved

@headlinepg

Review ~ Aphrodite's Tears by Hannah Fielding

London Wall Publishing
25th January 2018

In the summer of 1977, Oriel Anderson is nursing a broken heart and goes to the Greek island of Helios where she hopes to fulfil her lifelong dream of joining an archaeological diving team. However, making her way in this male dominated activity is going to test Oriel's considerable resolve to the limit. When she finds that the island's enigmatic owner, Damian Lekkas, is attracted to her, Oriel has some difficult decisions to make. Will Oriel be guided by her head or her heart?

At its heart, Aphrodite's Tears is a passionate and romantic love story with a fascinating and complex mystery. Combining passionate romance and Greek legends, a story emerges which has its roots in ancient mythology but which also has a place very firmly in the 1970s. What then follows is a beautifully written romantic saga which has all the trademarks of this talented author's ability to weave together a magical tale.

What I love about this author's writing is her ability to take the reader on a journey of discovery whilst at the same time giving us a wonderfully passionate story. The romantic connection between Oriel and Damian is strong and passionate and yet, the darker elements of the story are equally as compelling and add depth and richness to the narrative. 

As always, with this author’s stories, time and place come beautifully alive. The stunning Greek setting acts as a glorious backdrop to a story which is rich in romance and alive with all the sunshine and culture of this beautiful country.

About the Author

Website

Twitter @fieldinghannah 

Amazon UK

Aphrodite’s Tears is out now in ebook and in paperback 

Review ~ Mothers, Sisters and Other Lovers by Simone Mondesir

PublishNation
2016

A Bit of Blurb

Mother-daughter relationships can be difficult enough, but what would you do if your mother fell in love with a woman young enough to be your sister? 

That’s the dilemma facing dutiful daughter, Grace Hamilton, who risks her own relationship to go to Greece to rescue her mother, only to be caught up in a heady mix of sexual politics and village rivalries, richly spiced with ancient myth and some very contemporary “goddesses”. Seduced by the heat and languor of a Greek summer, Grace sheds her inhibitions and discovers the truth about herself as well as about the father she has never known.

My Thoughts

Mother, daughter relationships can be fraught with all sorts of emotions and for Grace Hamilton, the relationship she has with her mother is beset with difficulties. However, Grace is ever the dutiful daughter and when her mother needs help, she duly travels to Greece only to discover that her mother is in a new relationship with Lilith, a woman who is young enough to be Grace's sister, but who has a decidedly, prickly exterior.

What then follows is a look at relationships, not just between mother and daughter, but also between lovers, both male and female, and also between husband's and wives. It took me a little while to get comfortable with the way the story was progressing, but I think that the author does a good job in making both the place and the people feel realistic without it ever becoming too contrived. The story moves along at a good pace and there are interesting observations about life and love. Of course, the Greek setting adds a nice touch and makes this a good choice of story to take on a summer holiday.

I enjoyed reading Mothers, Sisters and Other Lovers, and particularly liked the Greek landscape and seeing how the story eventually played out, kept me entertained.

Best Read with....A Greek salad, rich with feta and an indulgent bottle of local, white wine...

About the Author

Website

Amazon UK

My thanks to the author for sharing her novel with me.

~***~

Happy Publication Day ~ After the Honeymoon by Janey Fraser

2014

Two couples share a honeymoon destination at the beautiful Villa Rosa on the idyllic Greek island of Siphalonia. On the surface everything should be as perfect as possible but sometimes life doesn't always work out quite as you planned it. Winston is a celebrity fitness guru seeking an intimate retreat with his new wife, Melissa, what he doesn't bargain for is the unexpected arrival of his wife's two teenage children. Emma is a reluctant honeymooner who feels bereft at leaving her children back at home. When her new husband Tom proves to be a wet blanket, moaning about food poisoning and the heat, Emma starts to wonder if this marriage lark is going to be all it’s cracked up to be. And then there’s Rosie, the lovely villa owner who has long buried secrets of her own which, if revealed, threaten to upset, not just her own life, but also that of her beloved son Jack. 

What then follows is a perceptive and sharply written story about the diverse nature of relationships. Beautifully observed and with some genuine funny moments this delightful story made me smile. The characters are so true to life that they could be people you would meet on holiday, from the smooching honeymoon couple, to the archetypal Greek fisherman, all are infused with the warmth and energy of a perfect Greek summer. The sun is shining and the calm blue sea is as inviting as only the Mediterranean can be and with a glass of something cold in hand this book will make an ideal beach or poolside read.

 I loved it.

***

About the author

Janey Fraser