Mykonos After Midnight

Andreas Kaldis #5

by Jeffrey Siger, Stefan Rudnicki (Narrator)

On the celebrated Greek island of Mykonos, a legendary nightclub owner is found in his home, bludgeoned to death. In his lifetime he had helped transform Mykonos from an obscure, impoverished Aegean island into a world-renowned summertime playground for the world's rich and powerful, which made the Mykonian people some of the wealthiest in Greece. All evidence points to obvious killers, but the murder has put into play some long-hidden, politically explosive secrets and drawn a dangerous foreign investor to the island paradise.Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis, feared head of Greece's special crimes division, is certain there is a far more complex solution to the murder, and he vows to find it. His quest for answers, amid the entrenched cultural contradictions that give Mykonos so much of its magic, has him battling ruthless opportunists preying on his country's weakened financial condition. And he soon learns that there is an unexpected high price to pay for his curiosity as he becomes locked in a war with a powerful, clandestine international force willing to do whatever it takes to recast and control Mykonos--no matter what the cost, no matter who must die.

Genres: Mystery, Greece, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, 21st Century, Procedural

1 pages, Audiobook

First published September 2, 2013

About the author

I am an American living on the Aegean Greek island of Mykonos. A Pittsburgh native and former Wall Street lawyer, I gave up my career as a name partner in my own New York City law firm to write mystery thrillers that tell more than just a fast-paced story. My novels are aimed at exploring serious societal issues confronting modern day Greece in a tell-it-like-it-is style while touching upon the country's ancient roots.

Some Mykonian friends told me if I started sprinkling murders with a message across my adopted country's tourist paradises, I'd likely be banished, if not hung. No one was more amazed than I when my debut novel, Murder in Mykonos (a sort of Mamma Mia setting for a No Country for Old Men story), became Greece's #1 best selling English-language novel (and a best-seller in Greek, as well).

As of September 2016 I have eight Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis novels out there and receive no more than the customary number of death threats. I'm diligently trying to improve my percentage in that regard with posts about Greece each Saturday on the Murder is Everywhere blogsite I share with nine renowned mystery writers from around the world.

It's been a remarkable journey, punctuated most notably by The New York Times selecting the fourth in my Andreas Kaldis series (Target: Tinos) as one of its five "picks for the beach" while calling the entire series, "thoughtful police procedurals set in picturesque but not untroubled Greek locales;" Left Coast Crime's nomination of the fifth in the series (Mykonos After Midnight) in 2014 as Best Mystery in a Foreign Setting; a 2016 Barry Award Best Novel Nomination for my seventh in the series (Devil of Delphi); starred reviews and official government citations; and this quote from Fodor's Greek Islands Travel Guide under a section titled "Mykonos After Dark," which colleagues say I should consider the equivalent of winning an Oscar: "Some say that after midnight, Mykonos is all nightlife—this throbbing beat is the backdrop to Jeffrey Siger's popular mystery, Murder in Mykonos."

My work is published in the US, UK, Germany (German), and Greece (Greek and English), and I'm honored to have served as Chair of the National Board of Bouchercon, the world's largest mystery convention, and as Adjunct Professor of English at Washington & Jefferson College, teaching mystery writing.

Reviews

[Payton Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cool to read this book and know exactly where the people are/drive by places I was reading about. Siger does an amazing job at weaving Greek history and landmarks into this book.

[Lilisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The fifth in the Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis series, this book is rather lame and disappointing. A wealthy hotel owner is murdered on the island of Mykonos, a mecca for tourists and high rollers. But did the killers find what they were looking for? Kaldis and his second in command Yiannis Kouros are on the trail of the bad guys which involves foreign investors, global crime and an elusive leader. The plot was rather thin and the usual historical perspective of the region Siger usually handles well was disappointingly light. This book was the weakest of all in the series although the redeeming factor was that the book was set in Greece, so it gets two stars.

[Carolien · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. When a local nightclub owner is found bludgeoned to death on Mykonos, Chief Inspector Tassos Stamatos, head of the homicide unit finds some explosive contents in a safe which shows the wealthy and important of Greece in various compromising positions. Now the nightclub owner has been murdered by his very young companion and two Polish henchmen and the race is on to fill a gap in the Mykonos crime landscape. Andreas Kaldis and Yiannis Kouros from the Athens serious crime squad are soon embroiled in preventing the contents being used nefariously and catching the criminals before they obtain a foothold on the island. The author's love of Mykonos makes the setting integral to the story and the intrepid trio are some of my favourite crime fighters in literature. I thoroughly recommend this series.

[Ruth York · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story. The writing wasn't the best I've seen. Seemed rushed, with some of what felt like needless info thrown in, just for filler. Quick read, and if I'm without anything else to read, I might consider reading others in the series.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another success story from Jeffrey Siger, once again set on the beautiful island of Mykonos. Thrills and intrigue abound as Andreas tries to crack down on Russian big business. Really enjoyed it and can’t wait to get started on the next one.

[Hermien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up to number 5 in the series so it's almost like family now. Very enjoyable.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Siger progressed in writing these mysteries, he did improve, though he also began padding the story with extra environmental detail and repetitious recounting of the fabled dishonesty of Greek officials. This book, from 2013 also notes the massive investment in Greek real estate by outsiders and corrupt Greek capitalists. Just a couple weeks ago I watched a documentary about the destruction of Greek island farmland to build high end condos... in areas where there is barely enough water to sustain farmland, much less high human density condos.
The story focuses more on attempted foreign investment in tourism in Mykonos and how it can tap into existing corruption to deepen the problem. After nearly ten years of living in the Philippines (two back in the 70s and nearly eight this time) I'm no longer surprised at stories of corruption. It still hurts, however. One example is that Leni Lebrado, the duly elected Vice President, finally won a third court case proving she was legally elected... and it only took three years. Her corrupt and criminal opponent was... yes, you guessed it... the son of Ferdinand Marcos. Imelda is still not in jail.
I'm still enjoying the Greek culture aspects of the stories.

[Scilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Mykonos nightclub owner is found by the cleaning woman dead in his home, badly beaten. The safe in his bedroom has been emptied. Tassos talked with the cleaning woman, and found out two important things: Christos had a Ukrainian girlfriend who used to talk with her Ukrainian boyfriend Sergey on the phone when Christos wasn't home, and there was another hidden safe in the house. Tassos found the safe had a briefcase full of blackmailable material for almost everyone on Mykonos. Tassos calls Andreas and he and Kouros go to Mykonos and take charge of the briefcase. Meanwhile Tassos has found camera which showed the girlfriend, Anna, and two men driving away from the house the night of the murder.

Sergey goes to a crime woman called Teacher and tells her about the material Christos had, and convinces her to fund him into buying a place for a gambling casino and finding the briefcase. Of course, the Russian mob and the Greek police have their own war, with Andreas and Tassos in grave danger and Sergey trying to keep the Teacher happy along with Teacher's other worker keeping tabs on Sergey. Someone is hospitalized as usual in these stories.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mykonos After Midnight by Jeffrey Siger is book 5 of the Andreas Kaldis mystery series set in contemporary Mykonos. Andreas Kaldis, head of the special crimes division, teams with local police chief Tassos to outwit a ruthless thug and the mastermind "Teacher" who commands him. Savage beating, rape, torture, kidnapping are 'tools of the trade' for Sergei and the Albanian gang he hires for his dirty work. The objective of the first death was to obtain a cache of blackmail-worthy secrets saved by a longtime nightclub owner - but the killers fail to get it. Andreas does; realizes its dreadful power in the wrong hands; hides it well. Sergei will stop at nothing to make sure he does not fail his assignment.

Luckily Andreas and his sidekick Yanni Kouros are smarter and braver than the bad guys. After a hair-raising rescue, they set a trap for a killer, and scheme to trick the mastermind.

The author left his own Wall Street legal firm to live on Mykonos. His thrillers balance suspenseful plots with vivid descriptions of the history and surpassing beauty of the Greek Islands, as well as current social issues.

[M. O'Gannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mykonos After Midnight – A Chief Inspector Adreas Kaldis Mystery - 2013 - **** - Inspector Kaldis is out to stop the bad guys from ruining Greece. This time a thug from Russia is piling up the body count and trying to move in on the action in Mykonos. Kaldis and his crew have their work cut out for them and some serious injuries result before the book winds down. Once again, Siger has written a fast-paced book with great characters, dialogue and setting. It is fun to get a look at the Greek lifestyle while trying to out think the criminals. Siger books will never be a five-star quality, but I don’t think it matters, they are just so fun and fast to read. Keep them coming Siger.

[Vontel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have had to read this series in the order in which I've been able to obtain them, including by interlibrary loan, as with this one. Another action/mystery/murder/corruption quick read, might fill a few gaps in narrative. Not the only one about Mykonos, not the strongest of the bunch. I have to admit I raced through it in a day, which tells you I do enjoy the series & had the time to spend.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the style of writing and the twist of justice at the end but the subject matter of corruption in government is not something I really want to read about right now so some parts I did skim through. But I would read another in the series.

[Mike Vines · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a deadly underbelly to the paradise which is Mykonos. Inspector Kaldis runs afoul of the powers-that-be and must save his reputation, career, and life. Great action, plot twists. Enjoy! Remember to shop local and support your independent bookstores.

[Karren · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to learn about night life in Mykonos but the story was complicated and didn't resolve so smoothly.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite Kaldis novel so far. I like the way Siger enfolds the active political and social issues of the day in the Greek isles into the action of his stories. A very good series.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay.

[Ruth Nordenbrook · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book, like series as a whole, is sickening in its violence.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaldis finally runs up against (sort of) a villain that will get away from him. With this installment of the Kaldis mysteries we have a murder that needs solving on Mykonos--which of course brings us our friend Tassos Stamatos, chief of homicide investigations for the Cyclades. The mysterious Teacher weaves a web of murder and deceit over decadent Mykonos, alone in Greece in the middle of the financial crisis but feeling the pressures from the outside like never before. Kaldis and company can only get on the edges of the bigger threat in this one before settling for the smaller fish. This installment promises to bring forth a recurring challenge as Teacher's network of criminal activity continues to intrude into the purview and life of Greece's most honest, principled, and relentless cop.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say? Jeffrey Siger always delivers. As soon as you begin reading any of his Inspector Kaldis novels, you are instantly transported to Greece-- not only by the sights and smells and sounds, but by the customs, the people, and the political atmosphere. Whenever I want to immerse myself in another country, Jeffrey Siger is one of the writers I turn to first.

The plot of Mykonos After Midnight is fast-moving and hard-hitting. The clandestine group fighting for control of Mykonos is utterly believable because of the people its leader targets to recruit: "...the camaraderie they shared as ignored and undervalued human beings united by a common lack of faith in governments and endless suffering at the hands of society's empty promises. They were the disenchanted, the crazies, the betrayed, the outcasts, the exploited." There are plenty of people like that in the world. Why wouldn't some of them begin banding together to attain their own ends?

The story gathers speed like an avalanche rumbling down a mountainside, and as a result, some of my favorite characters in crime fiction are put in terrible danger. Kaldis and his men are smart, funny, honest, and dedicated to their jobs. They are also quite good at thinking outside the box in order to bring the bad guys to justice, but they aren't bulletproof. Knowing that harm can come to these characters makes me even more invested in the story's outcome.

But Kaldis and his men do not rule the roost. Not by a long shot. There are two women I love even more than Kaldis and Tassos: Kaldis' wife Lila and his secretary Maggie. These two are every bit as smart, brave, and determined as the men-- and they are even funnier.

Are you like me and reading your way around the globe? Take it from me, one of your stops must be Jeffrey Siger's Greece.

[David Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

UPDATE: February 22, 2024

As I reread this series, I find myself agreeing with my original reviews for the most part. And this one is no exception.

This fifth entry in Jeffrey Siger's Andreas Kaldis series was by far the darkest. As you know, I never go deeply into plots in these reviews to avoid spoilers. But I will say that this one included rape, kidnapping, and torture - on top of murder(s). So, it was hardly light reading.

Having said that, Siger's writing was once again solid. He obviously knows Mykonos well, so he makes that beautiful, hedonistic island come alive for the reader. And his characters (Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldishis, Yianni Kouros, Lila, Tassos, Maggie...) continue to entertain. So, the setting and characters were top notch.

In terms of the plot...as I alluded to above, it certainly was dark. But that's not why I gave it four stars instead of five. I felt as if the climax and denouement were a little anti-climactic compared to the rest of the novel. Don't get me wrong - they were good. I just thought the rest of the book was so engaging that the ending seemed somewhat "meh."

Still, I enjoyed reading it. And I continue to look forward to reading the rest of the series - especially as our upcoming trip to Greece draws nearer.

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a bit of trouble getting through this mystery about Mykenos, perhaps because I didn't care that much for the characters. Siger spends a lot of pages on the bad guys...a female anti-hero who is consolidating her hold on the criminal underworld and becoming more powerful than the states she corrupts, and her henchman protege, who is just crude, rude, and ruthlessly violent. Somewhat less time is spend on the contrasting upright cops who, unlike their corrupt, political, superiors, really care about the island and struggle to fight the graft and corruption that come with modern times. A wellknown nightclub owner with all the higher ups in his pockets is found beaten to death in his home. His Ukranian mistress is missing, gone to her boyfriend just out of prison...the one who happens to be the female anti-hero's protege. He moves in on the island nightclub scene and things get more progressively more violent on both the side of crime and the side of the law.

[Jia Cherng · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dip in the series I must say. Teacher makes for a rather convenient villain, but not so realistic and someone you can resonate with, so that's a minus. The novel started well, with Anna, his boyfriend and the murder of the businessman, then Anna. Well, it took a turn for the worse when Teacher appeared and his puppet turns out to be lacking in wits. With that out, I still have to say that the resolution of the case by Andreas and his team is not so good. His dialogue and natural conversations doesn't disappoint, his description of the imagery and natural history of Mykonos and Greece is still undoubtedly good that it makes you feel as if you're somehow in that place. It's a pretty okay book, just not one that gets you hook on to the series.

[Virginia Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wealthy night club owner is found dead in his house in Mykonos and his Polish girl friend has disappeared. When documents containing politically explosive secrets are found in a hidden safe, Andreas Kaldis, head of the special crimes division, is called in to investigate a case involving a dangerous foreign investor. More thriller than mystery, this book is a page turner with a strong local setting.

[LNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. The characters were well written, and I actually cared about what happened. The book is set up in such a way that both the reader and the detectives know who committed the murder and the story is more about the why. Siger brought in much of Greece today - the financial crisis, large amounts of money from Russia, and the organized crime from Eastern Europe.

[Kate Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of a series, all of which I've liked. As a regular visitor to Greece I enjoy the setting and Greek background, which I think is done well. The plotting is pretty good, and kept me engaged. It's an easy and entertaining read - I whipped though it. It's main weakness for me is in the characterisation, particularly the women. And the relationship between Lila and Andreas fails to convince...

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This mystery is set on the Greek Island of Mykonos. Andreas Kaldis is the head of a special investigative branch of the national police. When a nightclub owner is murdered he becomes involved with the case, which might involve the Russian mafia.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels like being in Greece

Another enjoyable mystery. Fun arch villain that runs through several books, and satisfying ending. The descriptions of Mykonos make you feel like you're there.

[Toby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one reminded me of a modern day Eric Ambler or similar! Murder, yes, but also international intrigue and espionage. Not what I usually read but I enjoyed it nevertheless. It was a nice diversion from the shitty state of the world right now.

[Elizabeth]

While I usually enjoy Jeffrey Siger's works gangsters and corruption are not my favorite things.

[Gloria]

This was a decent murder mystery. We are thinking of going to Greece so I enjoyed the descriptions.