What do you think?
Rate this book
Fortunes of Death
Unlock the Secrets of Ancient Can She Unmask the Killer Before It's Too Late?Step into the shadowy streets of 96 AD Ephesus, where danger lurks around every corner, and the line between friend and foe is razor-thin. Fortunes of Death, the electrifying new novel by Liisa Eyerly, plunges you into a world where faith is tested, alliances are shattered, and one woman's courage could be the difference between life and death.
Sabina, a fierce young Christian widow, is thrust into a deadly game when a wealthy citizen is murdered. With her friend’s life hanging in the balance, Sabina must unravel a web of lies, deceit, and hidden motives. Every clue she uncovers brings her closer to the truth—and closer to becoming the next victim.
This isn't just a murder mystery. It's a gripping tale of faith, resilience, and the power of one woman standing against the darkness. Fortunes of Death will keep you on the edge of your seat, heart pounding, as you race to discover the truth alongside Sabina.
Don’t just read history—live it. Immerse yourself in this unputdownable novel that blends suspense with a powerful message of faith and redemption. Your journey through ancient Ephesus starts now.
Are you ready to uncover the truth?
Sabina, a fierce young Christian widow, is thrust into a deadly game when a wealthy citizen is murdered. With her friend’s life hanging in the balance, Sabina must unravel a web of lies, deceit, and hidden motives. Every clue she uncovers brings her closer to the truth—and closer to becoming the next victim.
This isn't just a murder mystery. It's a gripping tale of faith, resilience, and the power of one woman standing against the darkness. Fortunes of Death will keep you on the edge of your seat, heart pounding, as you race to discover the truth alongside Sabina.
Don’t just read history—live it. Immerse yourself in this unputdownable novel that blends suspense with a powerful message of faith and redemption. Your journey through ancient Ephesus starts now.
Are you ready to uncover the truth?
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2024
81 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 19, 2024
Hooray!Sabina is,the 28 year old Christian woman and sleuth is back in Lisa Eyerly’s second book, Fortunes of Death,of The Secrets of Ephesus series.
Fans of the first book, Obedient Unto Death,will enjoy revisiting characters,meet new characters, and learn even more of life in Ephesus in the year 96/AD/CE. New readers will easily fall into this great blend of Mystery,Christian and Historical fiction.
Sabina anonymously receives a gold coin by an unknown messenger. The coin represents that revolt of Jewish people against Rome’s control is alive and resuming. Dangerous indeed to have such a coin and who and why would someone send it to Sabina?
Clever,resourceful and courageous Sabina is lead to seek truth and justice for two murder victims. One of whom is Dionysius, a rich and prominent citizen of Ephesus.
Widowed Sabina lives with her controlling father, Quintus Cantù’s,who is an important, and powerful magistrate. Quintus grudgingly fulfills the death wish promise of his wife to allow, Sabina, their only child, to continue worship as a Christian.
In an era where women were restricted and disrespected for intelligence and talents,Sabina faces many challenges as she attempts to solve the murders.The newly formed Christian community Sabina is part of puts her in even more peril.Never didactic or preachy, Eyerly conveys Sabina’s deep faith and the personal cost of being a Christian. Believing in the resurrected life of Jesus and proclaiming Him Lord over Caesar,early Christians led precarious lives.
Meticulously researched, including maps of the region, list of characters and vocabulary, Eyerly educates readers while entertains and keeps them guessing until the end of this most engaging book.
Fans of the first book, Obedient Unto Death,will enjoy revisiting characters,meet new characters, and learn even more of life in Ephesus in the year 96/AD/CE. New readers will easily fall into this great blend of Mystery,Christian and Historical fiction.
Sabina anonymously receives a gold coin by an unknown messenger. The coin represents that revolt of Jewish people against Rome’s control is alive and resuming. Dangerous indeed to have such a coin and who and why would someone send it to Sabina?
Clever,resourceful and courageous Sabina is lead to seek truth and justice for two murder victims. One of whom is Dionysius, a rich and prominent citizen of Ephesus.
Widowed Sabina lives with her controlling father, Quintus Cantù’s,who is an important, and powerful magistrate. Quintus grudgingly fulfills the death wish promise of his wife to allow, Sabina, their only child, to continue worship as a Christian.
In an era where women were restricted and disrespected for intelligence and talents,Sabina faces many challenges as she attempts to solve the murders.The newly formed Christian community Sabina is part of puts her in even more peril.Never didactic or preachy, Eyerly conveys Sabina’s deep faith and the personal cost of being a Christian. Believing in the resurrected life of Jesus and proclaiming Him Lord over Caesar,early Christians led precarious lives.
Meticulously researched, including maps of the region, list of characters and vocabulary, Eyerly educates readers while entertains and keeps them guessing until the end of this most engaging book.
April 14, 2025
I'm thoroughly enjoying this series! I especially found this book informative and insightful, because our church pastor has been teaching on the Book of Acts and Paul's missionary journeys for quite some time. Ms. Eyerly's writing flows so naturally that I feel like I'm living and walking on the streets with the characters. It is well researched with philosophical and moral challenges from the point of view of the various characters.
Sabina, a young Christian widow, is thrown into another mystery when a wealthy citizen is killed. Was it murder? Accidental? So many are depending on her findings, yet she must gather information undercover--especially away from her father's eyes. Along the way of her sleuthing, she discovers some personal answers to questions about her own family. With danger in every step she takes, she cannot (& will not) turn back. With faith and challenges along the way, will Sabina succeed? Can she follow God's will and not her own?
I love how this book depicts life as a Christian woman in Ephesus when Christianity was illegal and a woman's fate was in the hands of men. The author has compiled a list of Characters as well as a list of Vocabulary to aid the reader. Ms. Eyerly successfully merges the Biblical history along with historical fiction in such a way, that the reader will find it difficult to put the book down! I wholeheartedly recommend "Fortunes of Death" as well as the entire "Secrets of Ephesus" series. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this review.
Sabina, a young Christian widow, is thrown into another mystery when a wealthy citizen is killed. Was it murder? Accidental? So many are depending on her findings, yet she must gather information undercover--especially away from her father's eyes. Along the way of her sleuthing, she discovers some personal answers to questions about her own family. With danger in every step she takes, she cannot (& will not) turn back. With faith and challenges along the way, will Sabina succeed? Can she follow God's will and not her own?
I love how this book depicts life as a Christian woman in Ephesus when Christianity was illegal and a woman's fate was in the hands of men. The author has compiled a list of Characters as well as a list of Vocabulary to aid the reader. Ms. Eyerly successfully merges the Biblical history along with historical fiction in such a way, that the reader will find it difficult to put the book down! I wholeheartedly recommend "Fortunes of Death" as well as the entire "Secrets of Ephesus" series. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this review.
October 24, 2024
Having traveled to Turkey to tour the ruins of Ephesus, I knew the moment this book became available, I was going to read it. And what a power-packed book this is, filled with betrayal, loss, discovery, and faith in an era when women faced restrictions, Christians endured torture and murder, and daily life teetered on the edge.
The author's well-written prose transported me back to the ruins, allowing me to recreate life in the streets of an ancient, thriving Roman city. I could smell the stench of the streets, see the public bathhouses, and watch the elite as their slaves carried around them in fancy carts.
This is a book that will take you back in time to the beginning of Christianity, the fear of being a Christian or of Jewish faith in an era where belief in anything other than the government and its sponsored Gods was a death sentence in the making.
The story’s characters are vivid and real; I could see them and hear them speaking as they meandered through murder, betrayal, deceit, and love. Liisa Eyerly has outdone herself in this novel. The author beautifully crafted the narrative, bringing believable characters to life and creating a vibrant setting on every page.
I highly recommend this book to any lover of historical fiction. I can’t wait to read the first book in the series, Secrets of Ephesus.
I want to thank Book Sirens, the author, and the publisher, for the opportunity to read this as a free ARC. This review is voluntary and is mine alone.
The author's well-written prose transported me back to the ruins, allowing me to recreate life in the streets of an ancient, thriving Roman city. I could smell the stench of the streets, see the public bathhouses, and watch the elite as their slaves carried around them in fancy carts.
This is a book that will take you back in time to the beginning of Christianity, the fear of being a Christian or of Jewish faith in an era where belief in anything other than the government and its sponsored Gods was a death sentence in the making.
The story’s characters are vivid and real; I could see them and hear them speaking as they meandered through murder, betrayal, deceit, and love. Liisa Eyerly has outdone herself in this novel. The author beautifully crafted the narrative, bringing believable characters to life and creating a vibrant setting on every page.
I highly recommend this book to any lover of historical fiction. I can’t wait to read the first book in the series, Secrets of Ephesus.
I want to thank Book Sirens, the author, and the publisher, for the opportunity to read this as a free ARC. This review is voluntary and is mine alone.
December 6, 2024
This is the second book in a series set in 1st Century Ephesus, in which Sabina, a young woman from a highly respected Roman family ends up becoming a reluctant sleuth. Sabina gained a reputation as an investigator in the first book, and this time her father sets her to the task of looking into the death of Dio, scion of another local aristocratic family.
In the process, she gets caught in a tangled web of family intrigue and socio-political machinations as her increasingly dangerous mission leads her to uncover family secrets. Not just in the family she is investigating either.
This book wears its historical background lightly but makes it credible and immersive. Sabina is working more alone in this book, and we get to see more about her personality and struggles with resentment and identity. All this in a time when murdering somebody for being a Christian was permissible, even encouraged.
I understand there’s a third book coming and look forward to all future instalments. I received an advance review copy for free via Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In the process, she gets caught in a tangled web of family intrigue and socio-political machinations as her increasingly dangerous mission leads her to uncover family secrets. Not just in the family she is investigating either.
This book wears its historical background lightly but makes it credible and immersive. Sabina is working more alone in this book, and we get to see more about her personality and struggles with resentment and identity. All this in a time when murdering somebody for being a Christian was permissible, even encouraged.
I understand there’s a third book coming and look forward to all future instalments. I received an advance review copy for free via Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 21, 2024
Liisa Eyerly has given us another delightful mystery set in first-century Ephesus. The dusty ruins of archaeology spring to life with very real people striding their streets, riding in litters, using the public baths and lounging in cloistered gardens. Yechiel, the arrogant architect brother of the first book’s murder victim, has been accused of killing the wealthy patron who hired him to build a library as his legacy to the community. Or was it to be a gladiator training school? Yechiel’s wife asks Sabina, the daughter of the local Roman magistrate, to clear him. The victim’s wife (already into her next love affair) also asks for Sabina’s help, and soon she is embroiled in complications of a highly dysfunctional pagan family, a retired gladiator and thug, and a veiled illegal soothsayer, much to the ire of her father. Sabina is a Christian although her faith is strictly illegal in that time and place and complicates her interactions.
A great read that may just stimulate an interest in early church history.
A great read that may just stimulate an interest in early church history.
October 15, 2024
Another great mystery that Sabina solves. She gets involved to protect someone from the previous book, so make sure to read the first book before this one. There is another murder and too many suspects to eliminate. The easy suspect is not the one. There are many threads throughout the story that liven up the tale.
Sabina does not let the limitations of being a woman stop her. Unfortunately, she tends to make herself a target and irrates her father. The story teaches a lot about how society functioned in those early times. She gets some unexpected help and her father's actions are not always what they seem to be. Her faith grows through the story and some unusual people come to the faith.
I am looking forward to the last book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sabina does not let the limitations of being a woman stop her. Unfortunately, she tends to make herself a target and irrates her father. The story teaches a lot about how society functioned in those early times. She gets some unexpected help and her father's actions are not always what they seem to be. Her faith grows through the story and some unusual people come to the faith.
I am looking forward to the last book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 18, 2024
In Fortunes of Death, Liisa Eyerly takes readers are on a thrilling ride through a world we recognize from Scripture. (I especially appreciated the character summary and the vocabulary list at the front of the book.) Eyerly’s writing shines with rich, evocative prose and well-crafted characters, drawing us into a narrative that is as unpredictable as the lives it explores. Sabina’s journey is filled with intrigue and moral dilemmas, prompting us to weigh the true cost of power, the nature of choice, and the impact of faith. With each twist and turn, Eyerly deftly balances humor and tension, keeping us on the edge of our seats. This is a tale that resonates long after the last page is turned. A must-read for fans of historical fiction who crave depth alongside adventure.
November 24, 2025
Murder, Mystery, Intrigue
The characters are well developed. The plot is complicated and twisting. The clues are intentionally misleading in order to shock with the many plot twists this mystery takes..
The storyline is hopeful if not openly sappy. Yet, the last three clues leave enough doubt that the ending resulted in a pleasant sigh of relief.
While the tenuous relationship between father and daughter in this series is both predictable and tiring, I will still probably read the next book because they are familiar to me and have created an interest in my seeing what will happen with them and between them.
The characters are well developed. The plot is complicated and twisting. The clues are intentionally misleading in order to shock with the many plot twists this mystery takes..
The storyline is hopeful if not openly sappy. Yet, the last three clues leave enough doubt that the ending resulted in a pleasant sigh of relief.
While the tenuous relationship between father and daughter in this series is both predictable and tiring, I will still probably read the next book because they are familiar to me and have created an interest in my seeing what will happen with them and between them.
October 26, 2024
Liisa Eyerly’s second novel, “Fortunes of Death”, returns the reader to first century Ephesus and the life of Sabina.
Sabina is again thrust into the perilous role of finding a killer. The victim is an influential, wealthy Roman citizen. From the first paragraph to the conclusion you enter a fast-paced adventure of discrete, and often dangerous investigation. Sabina balances a delicate tightrope of honoring her faith, following the rules of her father, and finding the murderer before becoming the next victim.
Another expertly crafted tome.
Sabina is again thrust into the perilous role of finding a killer. The victim is an influential, wealthy Roman citizen. From the first paragraph to the conclusion you enter a fast-paced adventure of discrete, and often dangerous investigation. Sabina balances a delicate tightrope of honoring her faith, following the rules of her father, and finding the murderer before becoming the next victim.
Another expertly crafted tome.
February 25, 2025
Eyerly did another fantastic job blending mystery and Biblical Fiction in this captivating tale! Most mystery/suspense books I’ve read has me figuring out the guilty before I’m even half through the book and then dragging out the “detective” figuring it out, but not with Eyerly’s books! She writes so that we don’t figure out “who did it” until the last possible moment to keep us guessing and intrigued. Absolutely loving this series with returning characters and new ones and I can’t wait for book 3!
October 15, 2024
Fortunes of Death is a riveting read set in the first century. Eyerly deftly weaves vivid descriptions of the people, places, and customs of the Roman presence in Ephesus, with a murder mystery rooted in religious persecution. The sleuth, Sabina, shows intelligence and bravery as she works to find the murderer while dealing with the restrictions of a female practicing a forbidden faith. I really enjoyed learning more about the early Christian Church in such an entertaining read.
October 31, 2024
Author Lisa Eyerly has another winner!
I was hooked from the first page as Sabrina leads us through the perils of a Christian in Ephesus in 96 AD under cruel Roman rule. There are two murders to be solved and the intrigue deepens with a fortune teller; notorious gladiator and suspect family members.
Sabrina, herself, is in extreme danger as she searches for truth to save an innocent friend. Will she learn the truth in time?
I was hooked from the first page as Sabrina leads us through the perils of a Christian in Ephesus in 96 AD under cruel Roman rule. There are two murders to be solved and the intrigue deepens with a fortune teller; notorious gladiator and suspect family members.
Sabrina, herself, is in extreme danger as she searches for truth to save an innocent friend. Will she learn the truth in time?
November 3, 2024
I read it was best to read this series in order but Liisa Everly writes an engrossing mystery that stood well enough on its own in "Fortunes of Death." It cover a time when Christians were considered traitors to Caesar and those caught in such heresy were severely dealt with. The mystery part was very engaging and had me guessing. Sabrina is a bit impulsive yet loyal and talented and her father is aware of both traits. It was easy to immerse oneself in the setting of Ephesus, I wished there was a bit more color to the setting but this book is well written, delivers a good plot very skillfully and is suitable for any age (free from swears, sex and gore).
I give this review freely, honestly and in no way influenced by receiving this as an advanced review copy. I only wish I could remember more of the Latin I took ( no Latin in story) but the book did bring me back to my ancient history classes as a teen. Read and enjoy!
I give this review freely, honestly and in no way influenced by receiving this as an advanced review copy. I only wish I could remember more of the Latin I took ( no Latin in story) but the book did bring me back to my ancient history classes as a teen. Read and enjoy!
November 28, 2024
Looking forward to book 3. Of the two, the first one was my fav tho liked both. I liked the first one better because of more involvement with John and Apollos. Both stories are very plausible from the fictional side of historical fiction.
January 2, 2025
Worth reading again
I read this book twice (something I seldom do) and it was just as good the second time. Highly recommend it!!! I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own
I read this book twice (something I seldom do) and it was just as good the second time. Highly recommend it!!! I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own
May 26, 2025
Ephesus Revisited
Having enjoyed the beauty of Ephesus on two occasions, I love reading these books. I can see the streets, houses and shops in my mind as the story unfolds. Ephesus is a special memory for me.
Having enjoyed the beauty of Ephesus on two occasions, I love reading these books. I can see the streets, houses and shops in my mind as the story unfolds. Ephesus is a special memory for me.
October 30, 2024
Terrific.
What a fantastic work of Christian fiction with a lot of Biblical Prophecy. It's held my attention.
I highly recommend it and you won't be disappointed.
What a fantastic work of Christian fiction with a lot of Biblical Prophecy. It's held my attention.
I highly recommend it and you won't be disappointed.
November 17, 2024
Enjoyed the book as Sabina continues to solve murders and sorting out her own life. Can’t wait for number three!
December 5, 2024
Can't wait for book 3!
March 28, 2025
This book is so, so good. Sabina continues her detective work and this sequel picks up right where the last one left off. I loved the plot, perhaps more so than even the first one.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews