Mord im alten Athen

Aristotle #1

by Margaret Doody, Christine Frauendorf-Mössel (translator)

Nach dem Tod seines Vaters muss Stephanos mit nur zweiundzwanzig Jahren die Verantwortung für die Familie übernehmen. Schlaflos wandert er im Morgengrauen durch die Straßen Athens, bis er die lauten Klageschreie eines Sklaven hö »Man hat den Herrn getötet! Man hat den Herrn getötet!« Dem Lärm folgend, betritt er eine Villa, wo sich schon einige Schaulustige um die Leiche des Boutades versammeln, ein reicher und ehrbarer Bürger. Offenbar wurde er mit Pfeil und Bogen erschossen – nicht gerade eine typische Waffe für das antike Griechenland. Der Verdacht fällt ausgerechnet auf Stephanos Cousin Philemon, den er nicht mehr gesehen hat, seit der junge Mann für einen Mord in einer Tavernenschlägerei schuldig gesprochen und für mehrere Jahre ins Exil verbannt wurde. Ein Irrtum? Eine tragische Verwechslung? Stephanos, das neue Oberhaupt der Familie, muss herausfinden, was wirklich geschehen ist, und Philemon vor Gericht verteidigen. Verzweifelt wendet der junge Mann sich an seinen Lehrer und Mentor, den Philosophen Aristoteles.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Crime, Historical, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Greece

379 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Aka Margaret Anne Doody

Margaret Anne Doody (born 1939) is a professor of literature at the University of Notre Dame, and helped found the PhD in Literature Program at Notre Dame (http://www.nd.edu/~litprog). She served as its director from 2001-2007. Joseph Buttigieg has since become director.

Although historical detective stories are now a flourishing genre, with Steven Saylor and Lindsey Davis being particularly prominent in the field of detective stories set in classical antiquity, back in 1978, when Aristotle Detective was first published, Doody was something of a pioneer in the genre. Recently she has added four more to the series featuring Aristotle as a 4th Century B.C. detective.There is also a novella, Anello di bronzo (Ring of Bronze), currently available only in Italian.

Doody's "Aristotle" books and are published in Italy by Sellerio editore, which also produced a translation of The Alchemists. In France the mystery novels are published by 10/18. They are also available in Spanish, Portuguese and Greek; individual novels have recently been appeared in Polish and Russian.

Reviews

[Ozymandias · Rating 5 out of 5]

But there is a corollary to your first hypothesis which leads to a more interesting argument. After all, Eudoxia’s proof is only a support of your hypothesis, not a demonstration of it. It is absolute as it goes, but if this prop was knocked out your hypothesis could still be true. If we take it as true, the corollary might be demonstrated. If Philemon did not do it, somebody of the class non-Philemon did it. Someone did kill Boutades. Looked at objectively, that is the more interesting point. Find out who did kill Boutades and prove that this person did it, and your theorem stands proved. It is open to you, before the trial, to investigate who did kill Boutades, as well as to find witnesses to prove Philemon’s absence.

Does this type of dialogue appeal to you as a reader? A pseudo-Aristotelian dialogue that demands precision and intellectual clarity? If so, this is the book for you.

I have, for a long time, been looking for one of those quaint historical murder mysteries that actually holds up historically. Too many detective tropes (a passion for impartial justice, an official investigator position, a deductive approach to uncovering mysteries...) just don’t have any place in ancient times. Really, any story set pre-19th century has no place for detectives. Watching modern detectives in togas hiding behind titles such as vigiles, informers, or finders... Such books can be fun, but they are not a reflection of the ancient mindset. The only one I can think of that does make that effort is Harry Sidebottom’s The Return, and I found that the mystery, which was essentially solved without real investigation beyond torturing bandits, to be not very satisfying.

Well I can add this book to my list now. The events in this book are entirely possible. A criminal charge against his family is about the only reason I can think of for an Athenian to undertake many of the mystery requirements. As one facing prosecution for a relative accused of murder, the defendant has substantial time and motive to investigate the crime. The only reach is that he decides (as advised by Aristotle) that the best defense is to identify the actual murderer, which can certainly fall within the realm of the plausible even if rhetorical accusations against everyone would be more likely.

One thing that I really liked about this book is how amateurish Stephanos is. He blunders into most clues and seems oblivious to their deeper meaning. Hence why Aristotle is present. Aristotle has a bit of Sherlock Holmes in him. An impish, challenge-loving good natured Holmes. But what makes this very unusual for a mystery novel of this sort is that Aristotle, the most capable mystery solver, is not actually the detective. Rather, he’s the man offering advice to Stephanos, our lead and reluctant detective. Aristotle is happy to analyze the hints he brings and help in other ways, but he never goes so far as to investigate himself. I think that’s wonderful, and a very different approach.

Aristotle is excellent just as a character as well. The quote above is a good example of how he talks, but I also loved nuggets like this: “Men injure others from four main causes: chance, compulsion, habit and desire.” The idea of categorizing clues into smaller and smaller boxes is such an Aristotelian approach to criminology! And amidst the investigation we get plenty of insight into Aristotle’s philosophy and Athenian society more general.

I thought this book was pretty much perfect. It scratched an itch I’d been looking for for a long time and did so in a charming and informative way. I don’t think this book is for everyone though. The mystery itself is not overly impressive and the essential clue needs to be explained rather too precisely to win over an Athenian law court or even modern readers. But as a pleasant diversion in the early Hellenistic era it’s a great choice.

[Andrew✌️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A particular crime novel, set in the streets of ancient Athens, during the expansion of Alexander the Great. While Stefanos, young and inexperienced, as the eldest son of his late father Nichiarco, tries to fulfill his duties with regard to the family, finds himself having to defend his cousin charged with the murder of the rich Buotades. Being in trouble, decide to seek help from his old teacher, Aristotle. So begins a race against time to prove the innocence of his cousin, but at the same time to find the real murderess.
The story is engaging, the setting is original and intriguing, the pace is smooth. It's the first time I read a story set in this historical period and more than once I found the need to refresh my knowledge of history. I didn't know the author and I didn't have many expectations, but I must say it was an enjoyable read.
Noteworthy are the descriptions of the life and the Greek towns, the manners and customs, as well as accurate descriptions of the judicial processes of the time.
It 's fascinating the figure of Aristotle, teacher of rhetoric and logic that presents itself as a guide for the young, helping with reflections and recommendations and providing the right deductions to arrive to the truth.
Overall a good crime novel, perhaps more for the original setting.

[flaminia · Rating 2 out of 5]

il pregio di questo libro è che ha cementato la mia consapevolezza di avere una certa qual cultura, visto che di fronte a termini quali ad esempio trierarchia non ho battuto ciglio, né mi sono dovuta avvalangare sul vocabolario per scoprirne il significato.

[Georgiana 1792 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Protagonista e narratore di questo giallo ambientato nell'Atene di Aristotele, con tutt'intorno le conquiste di Alessandro il Macedone, che è appena uscito vittorioso dalla guerra contro i persiani, è Stefanos, che si è istruito presso l'Accademia di Platone prima e il Liceo di Aristotele poi.
A essere ammazzato è un suo vicino, Boutades, un ricco patrizio, ex-corègo e trierarca, del cui omicidio viene accusato il cugino di Stefanos, Filemone, che però si dovrebbe trovare in esilio per un omicidio accidentale in seguito a una rissa di taverna.
Stefanos comincia a indagare per poter scagionare in cugino e chiede il sostegno del suo maestro Aristotele, che indaga stando comodo da casa sua, grazie a tutti gli indizi raccolti da Stefanos. In questo modo, sono subito evidenti gli indizi significativi su cui applicare il metodo deduttivo, anche per il lettore.
Malgrado abbia capito fin dalla comparsa di Melissa e dal suo racconto chi fosse l'assassino, il giallo mi è piaciuto, e conto di continuare a leggere la serie. Sì, ci sono un po' di lungaggini che servono sia allo svelamento del delitto che a dare un po' di informazioni in più sull'ambiente in cui si muovono i personaggi, ma in un certo senso l'ho anche apprezzato, perché non è un ambiente in cui il lettore - a meno che non abbia fatto approfonditi studi classici - riesce a raccapezzarsi; e lo dice una ex studentessa del liceo classico.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

332 B.C. The young Athenian, Stephanos, is trying to clear his cousin, Philemon, of a murder accusation. Since Philemon has been exiled for manslaughter, Stephanos feels he wasn't even in Athens at the time of the murder. He consults Aristotle, who philosophically and logically tries to figure out the solution. For the most part, Stephanos does the running around and interviewing while the philosopher offers advice and deductions. A red clay pot, an heirloom from the victim's house, and a piece of horn from a Cretan bow found outside are the first clues. After red herrings, attempted murder of Stephanos, and a trip by Aristotle to Corinth, an ingenious solution to the mystery is found and brought out in a courtroom drama.

Ms. Doody wrote this novel in 1978, long before the current trend of mysteries set in ancient Greece. I felt this is one of the better in the genre; Ms. Doody also set me down right in the middle of Greek culture of those times. Workings of the Greek legal system and of Aristotle's rhetoric [in our modern expression: public speaking] lessons to Stephanos were fascinating.

Highly recommended.

[Effie Saxioni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Όμορφα γραμμένο,αλλά τίποτα ιδιαίτερο.
3⭐ για το ελαφρύ άρωμα Αρχαίας Αθήνας.

[Judy Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Çok keyifli bir kitap, antik çağ'da Atina'daki yaşamı deneyimlerken cinayet muamması çözüyoruz. Sevdim.

[Lilirose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un giallo che si svolge nell'antica Grecia, con Aristotele come deus ex machina. L'ambientazione quindi è originale ed accuratissima dal punto di vista storico e filosofico, si nota che l'autrice è molto preparata sull'argomento. I personaggi sperimentano passioni e sentimenti "moderni", ma filtrati dalle credenze e dalla cultura del tempo, risultando vividi e coerenti. La prosa pur adattandosi perfettamente ad uno stile classico (con tanto di invocazioni saltuarie alle muse) è scorrevole e chiara.
Tutto perfetto quindi? Se dovessimo limitarci alla parte storica del romanzo sì, ma questo è prima di tutto un giallo: e come giallo non funziona granchè.
Innanzitutto il personaggio di Aristotele non è altro che Sherlock Holmes trapiantato nell'Atene di Alessandro, con tanto di fido Stefanos / Watson a seguito; quindi per chi ha un po' di familiarità col personaggio di Conan Doyle il modus operandi del filosofo risulterà prevedibile e già visto. Il problema più grande però sta nell'intreccio: non solo già dopo un quarto del libro ho cominciato ad avere un'idea chiara del colpevole, ma ero anche perfettamente consapevole di tutti i giri a vuoto del protagonista, che sembrano messi lì apposta per allungare il brodo in una vicenda altrimenti già chiara.
In conclusione quindi il giudizio su quest'opera è la media fra l'ottimo contorno e la mediocre trama gialla: un esperienza non spiacevole, ma nemmeno particolarmente appagante.

[Buchdoktor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Doodys Icherzähler Stephanos musste im Athen zu Lebzeiten des Aristoteles aus finanziellen Gründen sein Studium aufgeben. Als der Zweiundzwanzigjährige zufällig nachts am Fundort des ermordeten Großbürgers Boutades vorbeikommt und ausgerechnet Stephanos Cousin Philemon der Tat verdächtigt wird, ist Stephanos überzeugt davon, dass Philemon als Bauernopfer herhalten muss, weil er aus einer einfachen Familie stammt. Stephanos bittet seinen ehemaligen Philosophie-Lehrer Aristoteles um Unterstützung dabei, seinen Cousin im Gerichtsverfahren zu verteidigen und dessen Unschuld zu beweisen. Aristoteles verfolgt in seinem Lehrstück offenbar das Ziel, Stephanos generell die Grundlagen von Beweissicherung, Anklage und Verteidigung beizubringen. So betont der Mentor mehrfach, dass es bei der Beschreibung von Fundort, Beweismitteln und Personen auf jedes Detail ankomme und dass die Beschreibung eines kräftigen, trainierten Mannes, der vom Fundort flüchtete, längst kein Beweis sei. Aristoteles engagiert sich in diesem Fall so tatkräftig, dass man sich fragt, welche Ziele er selbst verfolgt und was das mit seinem Status als Metöke zu tun haben könnte, als freier Städter ohne Bürgerrechte. Für Stephanos entpuppt sich seine frische Verantwortung in der Rolle des Familienoberhaupts zur unerwarteten Last, während er sich für den guten Ruf der Familie einsetzt. Seine Suche nach Motiv, Gelegenheit zur Tat und Zugang zur Tatwaffe führt Stephanos bis nach Piräus und zwingt ihn, vorschnelle Urteile zu revidieren. Aristoteles wiederum kann mit seinem Blick für Beweismittel und unerwartetem Nischen-Wissen punkten. Am Ende wird Stephanos aus eigenen Fehlern gelernt haben, dass man nicht jede Idee gleich aussprechen sollte.

Fazit
Der Austausch zwischen Mentor und Schüler hat mich in Doodys Serienauftakt ausgezeichnet unterhalten und mir vielfältige Anregungen gegeben, über Aristoteles Persönlichkeit nachzudenken. Wer in Kriminalromanen gern eigene Vermutungen anstellt oder danach sucht, wo die Ermittler auf dem Holzweg sein könnten, sollte hier zugreifen. Mit funktionierenden Links in der ebook-Datei erhält man direkten Zugriff auf zahlreiche Worterklärungen, die das Alte Griechenland näherbringen.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen, at the point that you are reading this book, you’ve already revealed something about yourself and you’re probably going to enjoy this.

If you’re looking for a surprisingly period-accurate description of a murder mystery set in Ancient Greece, you needn’t look further. Frankly, I’m not sure where else you could look.

If you’ve ever wondered what philosophers are good for, besides pursuing the Beautiful and the True, now you know. They fight crime.

The perfect beach read for that person in your life who sees the beach as a peculiar form of hell.

[Anna Dowdall · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an entertaining, smart story. At first I wasn't sure I would enjoy it, but the hero and the story (and all the characters) grew on me, and the resolution of the whodunit puzzle was confident and deft.

[Anna [Floanne] · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Aristotele Detective” è un libro che mescola con maestria il genere giallo e la filosofia, con un protagonista davvero singolare: Aristotele, il grande filosofo dell’antica Grecia.
La trama è ambientata a Atene, dove una serie di misteriosi omicidi scuote la casa del ricco Boutades e l’intera città. Aristotele, già noto per la sua mente brillante e la sua capacità di analisi, viene coinvolto nel caso da uno suo ex-allievo, Stefanos, cugino di tale Filemone. Quest’ultimo esiliato da Atene a causa di un passato criminoso, pur non trovandosi in città, viene ingiustamente accusato dell’omicidio del ricco Boutades, persona di spicco nella società ateniese. Poiché da prassi nell’antica Grecia era un parente a doversi far carico della difesa di un accusato della propria famiglia, il giovane ed inesperto Stefanos - che per puro caso quella mattina viene a trovarsi sul luogo del delitto - si sente chiamato in causa quando si tratta di dover difendere l’onore del cugino difronte al tribunale dell’agorà. Decide così di cercare aiuto rivolgendosi al suo celebre maestro di retorica Aristotele, sperando che, con il suo attento spirito osservatore, questi lo indirizzi verso la risoluzione di un caso che all’inizio sembra essere tutt’altro che scontato e di cui non vi racconterò niente di più. Mi è piaciuta la ricostruzione della Grecia classica, con le sue tradizioni. Il giallo di per sé non è stato molto intrigante e il finale, dopo aver raccolto qua e là parecchi indizi, è risultato abbastanza prevedibile. Un po’ noioso in certe parti eccessivamente lunghe ma nel complesso 3 stelle ci possono stare. Non penso però di continuare la serie.

[Virginia Moscatelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classico giallo deduttivo, ambientato in un'epoca lontana, l'affascinante antica Grecia
Storia semplice, con un ritmo che non fa perdere interesse

[Benny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book might be the first of the series, but I read most of the books in it before I even thought of reading this one. Because of that, I had already read about the dynamics between Aristotle and Stefanos and knew I’d enjoy them greatly once again. As always, I really enjoyed the writing and the setting of the story: it’s very interesting to me to learn more about ancient Athens and its culture and politics (which are explored more and more in depth as the series progresses). The final revelation of the murderer did take me by surprise, as it most often does, but it did also seem like it was a bit simpler than that of the other books in this series. Overall, I really enjoyed it.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gostei muito de ler este livro, porque embora não seja muito apreciadora de policiais, gosto muito de romances históricos e, neste caso, os pormenores na reconstituição histórica e na vida ateniense da época, agradaram-me muito.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've stumbled upon this book by chance, as when making an online purchase I was offered the second volume of this series. As I do not like to read series starting by the middle, namely in this genre as, though not always the older cases are needed to understand the background of characters, there are some mentions from time to time that help to understand more of the stories. It happened to me once, while reading Steven Saylor's A Murder on the Apian Way, and since then I always try to read a series in its straight order. However, although I quite liked the said book I feared this historical mystery wouldn't match my expectations, as another previous book, Nick Drake's Nefertiti was a disappointment.

In this book we follow Stephanos who tries to defend his cousin, Philemon, from the murder of an important figure in the city of Athens. Their defence is focused around the fact that Philemon wasn't in town because he had been voted into exile for manslaughter, incurring in the death penalty if he ever came back. But Stephanos finds a very thick plot thus requiring the help of his former master, Aristotle.

I liked the main characters, Stephanos and Aristotle, and found their dialogues very entertaining and philosophical. It reminded me some of the interaction between Poirot and Captain Hastings, or even Sherlock and Watson. I could not stop laughing at some lines like:

"If Philemon did not do it, someone of the class non-Philemon did it."

"Goodbye, Stephanos - and, by the way, say nothing of that last purchase of mine, or I'll do you a mischief. Think of the lewd jokes it would cause! But if ever I seem overbearing and foolishly proud of my intellect, you may always murmur to me, 'That leather bag contained stones.'"

I also thought it curious the interest of Aristotle in pottery and some of his conversations around that topic seemed too similar to others I had while attending classes. He seemed just like one of my teachers, but when Aristotle discoursed on Greek pottery, my teacher would have talked about Roman terra sigillata. :D

The story despite having a somewhat predictable end, the killer seemed obvious to me, had sufficient twists to make one stuck to the book. The only drawback I can point out is the lack of notes to clarify some of the terms used, as the months or prodikasia. However, the context makes it easy to understand what they mean, so it isn't such a fault as that.

Certainly a book I advise one to read, especially those who like mysteries set in Classical Antiquity.

[Catherine Mayo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanos is a naïve young Athenian in a tight position. His father has recently died; his only surviving male relative, Philemon has fled into exile after killing a man in a fight; his property is encumbered by a debt he can’t repay; he has a house full of women to support and little to manage it with. When cousin Philemon is accused of a murder that Stephanos has stumbled upon by accident one morning, Stephanos must dodge the charge of collusion while assuming the role of defender, lining himself up against Athens’ richest and best.
But Stephanos has assets he greatly underestimates – a slumbering intelligence; an unexpected gift for rhetoric; obstinacy; a latent talent for petty deceit and an unexpected ally in his old teacher, Aristotle.
In the absence of a formal police force and faced with the thorough process of Athenian law, Stephanos finds himself asking Aristotle for help. Students of Ancient Greek philosophy might be surprised to learn that Aristotle, son of Nichomachus, famous for his writings on ethics, politics, biology, metaphysics and aesthetics, has an interest in detection. But will the worthy pedagogue get the better of Stephanos’s foes? And will Stephanos survive long enough for Aristotle’s suspicions to reach a conclusion?
Margaret Doody’s first crime novel (first published in 1978 and recently reissued by Random House) combines her twin interests of ancient history and detective fiction in an account of Ancient Athens rich in authentic detail.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the first half of this book, Aristotle is a detective in the same way as Nero Wolfe--detecting from his armchair. Later he goes out to seek some answers himself. Stephanos, his former student, is the active participant in the detecting. Lots of philosophical points made, if you can catch them; e.g., at one point Aristotle says, "If Philemon did not do it, someone in the class non-Philemon did it." That's Aristotle all right -- proving theorems and building hypotheses.

[Rachel Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was marvellous. I love detective stories and I especially love detective stories set in well researched history. As a Classicist by formal eduction I've been looking for something set in Ancient Athens for a while.

This ticks all boxes - and the best thing? It's the first of a series :)

[Tintinnabula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mea culpa: ho cominciato a leggere questa serie dal, credo, settimo o ottavo volume. Ogni libro narra una storia autoconclusiva; quindi diciamo che non ne ho sofferto molto.

In questo volume la Doody ci presenta per bene Stefanos, e anche Aristotele, che non è esattamente il protagonista, a dispetto del titolo. La ricostruzione di Atene è accurata e affascinante, ma anche a tratti noiosa, perché troppo minuziosa.
Questa serie non è un capolavoro, ma ha inaugurato il filone dei personaggi illustri nelle vesti di detective. Il giallo è classico, alla Agatha Christie, con descrizioni accurate dei delitti che non diventano mai morbose, piccoli indizi qua e là, e una soluzione finale spiattellata alla maniera di Jessica Fletcher.
Un guilty pleasure insomma.

[Mariana Anaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 estrellas en realidad (y todo porque adiviné el asesino desde más o menos la página 340 de 502).
Qué libro para bueno y con una combinación genial: Novela negra más mitología/Grecia antigua. Aristóteles y Estéfano como Holmes y Watson, qué dupla! No me decepcionaron para nada, me mantuvieron en vilo siempre! Los amé. Y la trama desde el comienzo tan interesante, el libro no decayó en ninguna parte.
Totalmente recomendado.

[Moonrabbit_92 · Rating 4 out of 5]

L'ho acquistato attratta dall'idea insolita e non ne sono rimasta delusa. Ricostruzione dell'antica Grecia credibile e indagine molto interessante, come anche la sottotrama di Stefanos e la sua famiglia. L'espediente di Aristotele come detective a distanza che aiuta lo stesso giovane ad arrivare da solo alle giuste deduzione poi, rientra perfettamente nel concetto di maieutica proposto dai filosofi socratici.
Voglio assolutamente leggere il seguito.

[Marios George · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Σιγουρα η εμπειρια μου επηρεαστηκε απο το α ενικο προσωπο αφηγησης που δεν το εχω συνηθισει.

Το μυστηριο ηταν αρκετα καλα δομημενο και οι νεες εξελιξεις που εμπλεκαν τα πραγματα και φερναν ανατροπες κεντρισαν το ενδιαφερον μου.

Ο Αριστοτελης ξεχωριζει απο τους χαρακτηρες.Ειναι πιστικα ευφυης,διαθετει χιουμορ και εξυπηρετει τον ρολο του μεντορα πολυ καλα.

Απο την αλλη ο πρωταγωνιστης,ο Στεφανος, μου δημιουργησε αναμεικτα συναισθηματα.

Τελος η δικη,οπου λειτουργει ως κλιμακωση της ιστοριας ηταν αρκετα εντυπωσιακη.

[Kevin O'Neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the premise. And a really clever mystery. I liked this. But definitely not one I’d recommend. Just a Kevin read

[Costanza Pinna Berchet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interessante rilettura del metodo deduttivo di Aristotele in chiave doyliana, dall'ambientazione nella Atene del IV secolo estremamente curata e dalla caratterizzazione dei suoi cittadini magistrale.

Molto consigliato, per l'intreccio giallo, i dettagli storici e la scorrevolezza!

[Ame · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mi sono fermata prima del capitolo 15 (XV) perché l'ho trovato troppo lento e ha perso il mio interesse. Già il fatto che il protagonista dovrebbe essere Aristotele (dal titolo), ma non lo vediamo se non 4/5 volte mi ha fatto andare il latte alle ginocchia. Se é lui il detective non dovrebbe investigare? Forse succede nella seconda metà del libro? Troppo tardi. In questo caso ti perdi un sacco di lettori perché il protagonista, Stefanos, é noioso e non cattura affatto l'interesse del lettore come un protagonista dovrebbe. Credo che il libro sarebbe dovuto essere almeno 100 pagine in meno per un caso talmente semplice e lineare. Mentre stavo leggendo questo stavo anche leggendo uno su Poirot, l'ho divorato come non mai, aveva tutto quello che un giallo dovrebbe avere: un detective dalla presenza forte che fa cose, un caso semplice a prima vista ma molto più complicato, qualche personaggio simpatico e soprattutto delle interazioni e dialoghi che abbiano un senso dietro. Al 59%, quando un certo personaggio si é fatto vivo e i dialoghi si sono abbassati di qualità ho mollato. Credo che in un giallo l'investigatore debba almeno (!!!!) avere lo stesso livello di intelligenza del lettore, se non di più, ma in questo caso, considerando che Aristotele sembra più uno di passaggio, Stefanos si è rivelato intelligente come un pesce rosso. Non credo di riprendere la lettura. Non mi interessa nemmeno chi ha commesso l'omicidio, che dovrebbe essere il minimo per un giallo.

[anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

non sono riuscita ad andare oltre pagina 50

[Emanuela · Rating 3 out of 5]

È il primo libro della serie che leggo e non mi è dispiaciuto quindi, se capiterà, leggerò sicuramente qualcos’altro. All’inizio è un po’ lento, anche perché l’autrice si dilunga in passaggi che potevano esser tranquillamente evitati, poi però si riprende e diventa più coinvolgente. Certo non siamo ai livelli di Christie o Doyle, ma piuttosto a quelli della Comastri Montanari, ma è comunque una lettura piacevole e scorrevole. Interessanti le descrizioni degli ambienti e della vita quotidiana, ma anche di alcune leggi non scritte di integrità ed onestà.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having missed the vast majority of references and allusions, suitable appreciation of this book is precluded by my ignorance of ancient Greece. One could spend hours looking up terms and names, if only those for different kinds of pots, let alone what it would take to check the myriad of myths and legends. It speaks for the book that this ignorance is not an impediment to enjoyment. I should read it again with a classical encyclopedia at hand.

[Gianni Mannucci · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forse per l'aspettativa troppo alta che avevo, non sono rimasto colpito da questo romanzo. La ricostruzione storica appare quasi più una sfoggio di cultura, sebbene l'autrice se ne serva per la vicenda criminale e poi processuale. La matassa, per certi versi eccessivamente intricata, è sciolta da un Aristotele troppo simile ad un investigatore della tradizione inglese.