The Deadliest Deceptions

by June Trop

Enter the world of first-century CE Roman Alexandria and participate in the perilous adventures of Miriam bat Isaac, budding alchemist and sleuth extraordinaire. Join her and her deputy Phoebe as they struggle to solve nine of their most baffling cases beginning with the locked-room murder of a sailor in which Miriam is confounded by not just who killed the sailor but how he could have died and how the killer could have entered and escaped from the room.

But be careful as you accompany them into the city's malignant underbelly. Whether or not you can help them solve the crimes, your blood will flow faster as you escape to that world of adventure we all long for. Enjoy!

208 pages, Paperback

Published February 14, 2023

About the author

June Trop and her twin sister Gail wrote their first story, "The Steam Shavel [sic]," when they were six years old growing up in rural New Jersey. They sold it to their brother Everett for two cents.

"I don't remember how I spent my share," June says. "You could buy a fistful of candy for a penny in those days, but ever since then, I wanted to be a writer."

As an award-winning middle school science teacher, June used storytelling to capture her students' imagination and interest in scientific concepts. Years later as a professor of teacher education, she focused her research on the practical knowledge teachers construct and communicate through storytelling. Her first book, From Lesson Plans to Power Struggles (Corwin Press, 2009), is based on the stories new teachers told about their first classroom experiences.

Now associate professor emerita at the State University of New York at New Paltz, she devotes her time to writing historical mysteries with a connection to early science. Her heroine, Miriam bat Isaac, is based on the personage of Maria Hebrea, the legendary founder of Western alchemy, who developed the concepts and apparatus alchemists and chemists would use for 1500 years.

June lives with her husband Paul Zuckerman in New Paltz, where she is breathlessly recording her plucky heroine's next life-or-death exploit. The Deadliest Lie is her first novel. Her second novel, The Deadliest Hate has won Honorable Mention in the 2016 New York Book Festival.

Visit June on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/June-T... and on her website http://junetrop.com, click on her contact page, and enter her contest to win a free book.

Reviews

[Geza Tatrallyay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful short collection by Professor June Trop chronicles the exploits of Miriam bat Isaac and her former slave, Phoebe, in Roman era Alexandria, the important port city of Egypt, full of sailors from all over the Empire and their bawdy behavior. A natural sleuth, Miriam, who is also an accomplished alchemist, is modeled on the real-life figure of Maria Hebrea, the legendary founder of Western alchemy, who for fifteen hundred years was “the most celebrated woman of the Western World.” The research that went into creating this personage and the world around her is breathtaking, and one literally feels a part of that era as the reader follows the heroine and her friend around Alexandria’s streets and agora in Miriam’s sedan chair borne by two Nubian slaves. The sights, smells and sounds Ms. Trop evokes successfully take us back more than two thousand years to the second most important city in the Roman Empire under Nero.

The collection is made up of seven short stories and two novelettes -- mysteries, each more tantalizing and breathtaking than the next one. The action is ordered chronologically, some told from Miriam’s perspective, some from Phoebe’s, one more exciting than the previous one. My favorite is the last one, “The Missing Widow”, in which Phoebe tries to track down her missing friend, Demetra, the landlady of a neighboring boarding house. The tale ends in a gruesome manner, but again, it is the smells and visuals that are key in the sleuths’ success in uncovering Demetra’s fate.

The book is a study in the different aspects of the mystery genre, as each story delves into a certain type of crime: missing persons, stolen valuables, and dare I say it, even suspected cannibalism. This is a must read for aficionados of ancient history and a fun one for all lovers of mystery stories. Ms. Trop’s writing keeps the plots moving forward, and each story, though different, contributes to the development of the characters. The dialogue and the descriptions bring that era and the important port city to life. Highly recommended!

[EmmsBookShelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Deadliest Deception is an anthology of mystery stories, solved by as Alexandrian alchemist and informal detective Miriam. Each story is brief and to the point, with little diversion from the main plot and a full resolution at the end. Whilst this edition references other stories in the series, this anthology can be read entirely as a stand alone, without having read the other titles in the series.
Throughout each of the stories in the anthology, there were detailed and vivid descriptions of each location and setting. It was able to illustrate the diverse and culturally varied nature of Alexandria. I found the references to the different types of food particularly interesting. I also liked the subtle ways the historical time period was integrated, like the passing reference to Poppaea Sabina (one of Nero’s wives). Because of the nature of the anthology being plot based, there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for strong character growth and progression. But there was consistency in the characterisation throughout.
The female central character in Miriam was a really enjoyable to read about. She was sharp, inquisitive and dedicated. Phoebe was a really enjoyable secondary character to read about, a lot of personality really shone through.
There were a few little things I wasn’t a fan of throughout the story, just things that ruined the immersion for me. Some of the stories are presented as Miriam recounting the events to Phoebe (usually over an assortment of food, which I actually found delightful) and others are happening to them in real time. The switching niggled me, its likely that others won’t really care about this.
Overall, this was a fun read, very quick and enjoyable. It had the perfect mix of short mystery stories and historical fiction, without one overpowering the other.

[Sandra Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like delving into the long-ago past, The Deadliest Deceptions by June Trop, is for you. It definitely was for me. Set in first-century A.D. Alexandria, Egypt, under Roman rule, this is a fascinating peek into the culture, surroundings, trials and tribulations of living under the Emperor Nero's harsh edicts. Add to this mix a series of fascinating mysteries. Miriam, an alchemist (based on a real person of the era), and her sidekick, Phoebe, are the Cagney and Lacey of their time. With never-ending curiosity and danger be damned, the two women hunt down thieves, killers, and other assorted bad guys. The short stories in Deadliest Deceptions were developed from the characters in Trop's previous novels.

When you dip into the Miriam and Phoebe stories in Deadliest Deceptions, you'll enter into a world of lavish rooms, drool over sumptuous meals, bask in stunning natural surroundings, inhale delicious aromas of oils and perfumes, and gaze at beautiful jewels. Trop's command of details is second only to her storytelling ability.

Sandra Gardner, mystery author. Her latest novel, The Murder Blog, is due out in December from Black Rose Writing

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book full of mysteries all set and the time one Alexandria with the booming metropolitan. Miriam and her Maori best friend theby sing to go from one mystery to another from a locked room mystery to want to put Phoebe‘s life on the line but whether solving crime or just having tea they always pay homage to the Jewish holidays and have time for a gossip. I love these books and hope the author writes more of them. I don’t know where all these new historical mysteries are coming from but please keep coming the great and I can’t get enough. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these mysteries, this one is set in ancient Rome.This book brings us a bit of the lifestyle of the era with its dangers -of lion feeding for displeasing the principals. The stories are well drawn and leads a good mystery. If you are a fan of short stories, this one will not disappoint. It is nice to go back in time, leave all our gadgetry behind, and use just common sense to write and solve the stories. Written in a half humorous way, I really enjoy them. Thanks you NetGalley and the publishers for the DRC

[Adele Vaverchak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book of short stories was an interesting adventure into ancient times. Well written and articulate, it transported me into another era I have never been before. I found it to be an enjoyable history lesson as well, which was quite enlightening. I learned a lot about the people and what life must have been like for them back then. At first, I had a hard time understanding the terminology of biblical vocabulary, but the glossary was a huge help. I love good murder mysteries, and this got my imagination working overtime, and isn't that was good books are all about?

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read other novels in this series and enjoyed them. This anthology of short stories is entertaining, the stories are well plotted and solid.
I like the Miriam and the solid historical background.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[G. Chronicle · Rating 5 out of 5]

June Trop Does it Again!
Miriam bat Isaac and her deputy Phoebe solve 9 mysteries. Each is an independent short story. What a great escape into 1st Century Alexandria!

[Ron Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

June Trop is a sorceress. Once again, with "The Deadliest Deceptions" she transforms mere words into fascinating living characters and engaging, page-turning mysteries while immersing her readers deeply into the sights, sounds, smell and streets of Roman-occupied Alexandria. And June always serves up her plots the way I like my martinis: with a twist.