Four for a Boy

John the Eunuch #4

by Mary Reed, Eric Mayer

"In this captivating prequel set in sixth-century Constantinople, the fourth in Reed and Mayer's well-received historical series (One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, Three for a Letter, etc.), the future emperor Justinian asks a young slave named John the Eunuch to investigate the murder of philanthropist Hypatius, struck down while examining the controversial Christ statue he and three others have given to the city's Great Church. Discounting rumors of a political plot, John undertakes a search for the truth that will lead him from opulent palace to squalid hospice, and to meetings with such memorable characters as the naove Lady Anna and the quirky Avis, who lives in a virtual aviary and is convinced he will fly someday. Written with humor and pathos, this superior historical is sure to please existing fans and send new ones in search of the rest of the series."
--Publishers Weekly

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Mary Reed and Eric Mayer began writing together in 1992. They have contributed to a number of anthologies such as Royal Whodunnits, MammothBook of Historical Whodunnits and Mammoth Book of Shakespearean Detectives, as well as to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. They have also published several short stories set in and around the 6th century Constantinople court of Emperor Justinian I as well as four (to date) novels about their protagonist John the Eunuch, Lord Chamberlain to the emperor. The series was listed as one of four Best Little-Known Series in Booklist Magazine in 2003, and a Greek edition of the first novel, One For Sorrow, appeared in late 2002. They live in Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Anna Bergmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the last installment... What can I say? This might be a small step for humankind, but a huge leap forward for Reed and Mayer!

Story wise this is a prequel. John the Eunuch is fifteen years younger and still a slave. He feels angry, helpless and humiliated. Emotions that provides him with a stronger personality than his older, wealthier, more successful self, and his youthful strength makes for a lot more physical excitement. I mean, at the end of the book... That last home stretch action when Johnny boy runs for his life... It's so good time simply flies by when you read it. (And thinking about it, our eunuch hero actually flies by as well. Believe it or not.)

Adding all the smiles I got from John running into character after character from earlier installments, getting to know them for the first time, this sure was entertaining. 4,5 stars and a wish that the whole series could have been this fun. But no... I'm pretty sure that the "old" John will be back again in the next installment, the light whiff of a Marcus Didius Falco P.I. wit and grit-feel nothing but a distant melancholy memory. A sad thing that.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical mystery/thriller set in Constantinople curing Justin's era.

Plodding writing. No real tension. I guess you could say competently written, but I won't be reading any more.

[Mary MacKintosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book, and felt it brought forward some of the dangers of its time, when no one was truly safe, and many lived only at the pleasure of a more powerful personage. John is an interesting character, although I felt there was much in his past that was not revealed. I suppose the author plans other "prequels" to explore his earlier life.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives the backstory of how John became a detective. The mystery isn't quite as compelling as the previous three in the series, but the authors make 5th century Constantinople come to life so it was still a fun read.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story, but I felt that it dragged.

[Margareth8537 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable series