The Devil Takes Half

by Leta Serafim

At an archeological dig on the idyllic Greek Island of Chios, a severed hand is found lying in a blood-filled trench. Could it belong to Eleni Argentis, a beautiful archeologist who is also the wealthy daughter of a local ship owner? She and her young assistant, Petros, are both missing. The chief officer of the local police force, Yiannis Patronas, suspects that Eleni and Petros happened upon something of real value. However, his search turns up nothing but handfuls of broken clay, and then, another body—that of Petros, whose throat has been brutally cut. Body parts belonging to Eleni are left behind on a remote beach, confirming her demise. Then an old priest with a fondness for TV detective shows is attacked and left for dead. The dig site is located near the monastery where he was the only resident. Patronas interviews Petros’ longsuffering grandmother, his flighty mother and her money-grubbing boyfriend, as well as Eleni’s greedy stepmother and her charming son. He also confronts two archeologists, one British and one American …. If Eleni’s find is, as they insist, worthless, what are these men doing on Chios? Although Patronas has little experience with homicide, he is determined to conquer the evil that threatens this formerly peaceful island. The Devil Takes Half is Book 1 in the Greek Islands Mystery series.

Genres: Mystery, Greece, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2014

About the author

The daughter of an itinerant scientist, I was born in Wisconsin, spent the first years of my life in San Diego, before moving to Washington, D.C. when NASA was created and my father went to work for that agency. A genuine rocket scientist, he served there for twenty-five years in many capacities— Director of Unmanned Space, Director of Astronomy, Associate Administrator and Chief Scientist, and supervised the American missions to Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter. Our house was always littered with models of space ships and missiles and our guests at Thanksgiving spoke about ‘thrust and payload’ in a multitude of tongues, it being my father’s firm belief that the language of American science was ‘broken English.’

I attended Wells College in upstate New York for two years before transferring to George Washington University in Washington, DC where I graduated with a degree in political science and Russian studies, my focus being on Dostoyevsky, Pasternak and Solzhenitsyn. I worked at the Washington Post while in college, writing obituaries and doing research for the national desk, before leaving to join the staff of the Los Angeles Times Washington Bureau.

Following my marriage to a Greek national, Philip Serafim, I moved to Athens where I taught art while at home with small children, my daughters, Amalia and Annie. Upon return to the United States, I wrote for the local papers and sporadically for the Boston Globe. Philip, meanwhile, taught electrical engineering at Northeastern University for over 30 years and rivaled the best minds in NASA in his brilliance. He believed in me and was unwavering in his encouragement and support. Without him, I never would have finished a single page, let alone completed a book.

Currently, I spend at least a month every year in Greece and have visited over 33 islands and know the country well. I paint in both oils and acrylics, etch, cook (I’ve mastered many native cuisines, but my main focus is Greek) make prints and etch, and spend many joyful hours with my grandchildren.

Reviews

[Jeanie Loiacono · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leta Serafim has done a remarkable job! At an archeological dig on the idyllic Greek Island of Chios, a severed hand is found lying in a blood-filled trench. This docile place has seen nothing more than petty theft. The Chief of Detectives has his work cut out for him, but he has help from the local priest who has seen and memorized every American detective show. Fast-paced, it has you gasping for air and turning pages at the same time. You will go through a gamut of emotions. More! More!

[Hermien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining enough but the timeline didn't always add up. I enjoyed the Greek setting.

[Olgalijo · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I have a weakness for murder mysteries in set up in different cultures, so I thought that this would be a winner for sure. It ends up that the author was way too busy pinpointing every negative issue in the Greek culture and ensuring that every stereotype in her murder mystery was overblown. The main character's reason for being depressive towards the end of this set up for the rest of the series is the saddest; the murders are the goriest; the setup the most glittering; and the partner for the main character the most unlikely (it's difficult to write this review without spoilers).

[Jacqueline Vick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at the library and decided to give it a chance. I'm glad I did. It's a Greek mystery, and I found that the pacing and tone reminded me of Italian mysteries, such as Donna Leon. There's a fatalism and resignation to Chief Officer Yiannis Patronis's approach to both life and crime. When a female archeologist and her young assistant go missing with only a blood-drenched trench as a clue to what might have happened, Patronis is ill-equiped to deal with where it all leads. However, he perseveres with a dogged and sometimes niave approach that nearly gets him killed. With bumbling colleagues and a wife who never misses a chance to criticize, it seems that the world is against him, but with the help of a childhood sweetheart and an aged, Orthodox priest, he triumphs over the killer. I will have to check if Serafim has completed her second Greek Islands mystery. I certainly hope to see more of the characters I met this time around.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A library find.
Interesting plot.
Engaging character!

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leta Serafim her new book, “The Devil Takes Half” Book One in the Greek Islands Mystery series published by Coffeetown Press introduces us to Yiannis Patronas.

From the back cover: At an archaeological dig on the idyllic Greek Island of Chios, a severed hand is found lying in a blood-filled trench. Could it belong to Eleni Argentis, a beautiful archaeologist who is also the wealthy daughter of a local ship owner? She and her young assistant, Petros, are both missing.

The chief officer of the local police force, Yiannis Patronas, suspects that Eleni and Petros happened upon something of real value. However, his search turns up nothing but handfuls of broken clay, and then, another body that of Petros, whose throat has been brutally cut. Body parts belonging to Eleni are left behind on a remote beach, confirming her demise. Then an old priest with a fondness for TV detective shows is attacked and left for dead. The dig site is located near the monastery where he was the only resident.

Patronas interviews Petros’ long-suffering grandmother, his flighty mother and her money-grubbing boyfriend, as well as Eleni’s greedy stepmother and her charming son. He also confronts two archaeologists, one British and one American …. If Eleni’s find is, as they insist, worthless, what are these men doing on Chios? Although Patronas has little experience with homicide, he is determined to conquer the evil that threatens this formerly peaceful island.

The Devil Takes Half is Book 1 in the Greek Islands Mystery series.

There is something about Greece that is very attractive. Then add in that this whole mystery takes place on a small island where, up until this point, there has not been a murder and you have really skyrocketed this book. Two archaeologists are murdered. The remaining archaeologists are under the protection of their individual consuls. Then there are the relatives. This investigation is not simple nor is it easy. Questions, evasions and lies are just some of what Patronas is up against as he stumbles along in this investigation. Yiannis Patronas is a wonderful character and I like him a lot. “The Devil Takes Half” is loaded with twists and turns and red herrings that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. Ms. Serafim has provided us with a marvelous whodunit and I am already looking forward until the next book in this series comes out.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Coffeetown Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely young archaeologist Eleni and her assistant are both missing. It's not long until it's clear that they are both dead, brutally murdered. Chief officer of the police is unhappily married Yiannis Patronas, who has never investigated a murder because crime is so minimal on the tiny island of Chios. There are more bloody doings--this book is very dark--before Yiannis figures out what's going on, as he asks questions from Chios' poorest quarter to its richest, and to the foreign archaeologists who seem untouchable under the protection of their consuls.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in exchange for a review. At first I thought oh man this is dry and I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it. don't get me wrong the book started off with stuff happening and continued with more twists and turns than the crooked street in San Francisco. Turns out I am so glad I finished it because I truly enjoyed it. Between Patronas and the Priest you are entertained and juggled from one emotion to the next and don't even get me started on Patronas wife now that is a whole nuther story. But check it out for yourself I think you will enjoy it.

[Val Sanford]

A child and an archaeologist are brutally murdered on a dig in Greece where they are searching for proof of Minoan culture having made it to the Island of Chios. An elderly priest, an embittered Chief Officer and foreign archaeologists stumble around each other while Chief Officer battles not only with his vindictive wife, but his own demons. Well told with rich characters, i wish there had been more about the Minoans and the archaeology; I know so little about that period and culture. A good tale.

[Kate Page · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this much. My main problem was with the central character, the detective Patronas. Who is basically an unsympathetic old misogynist! I think he is meant to be a bit of a flawed character, but there wasn't enough that was likeable, or convincing, about him for this to work for me. I also found all of the other characters poorly drawn - so much so that I lost track of who was who - and didn't really care. So when the big reveal about who the murderer was came, I was thinking 'and so who is that??'

[Ellen Dark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A police procedural set in modern-day Greece, on the island of Chios (Yes, it does exist). The island's first murder in over twenty years is a grisly double homicide involving a rich archaeologist and her young helper. The main character, Chief Officer Yiannis Patronas, fumbles his way through the investigation. This is Serafim's first novel, and it was great! I look forward to the second installment.

[Lizzytish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing new take on a murder mystery series. I hope it will be a series! I enjoyed the Greek proverbs at the beginning of each chapter, the subtle humor and the history of Greece. Quite fascinating. I learned about archeology, not to mention a murder or two. The detective was down to earth and not perfect at all. I love the priest and his love of American detective shows.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devil Takes Half was a very well written mystery! The author did an wonderful job of telling a story about murder at an archeological dig on a Greek island while sharing a backstory about ancient Greek culture, insight on the Greek people, marriage issues, greed, theft and as a bonus a Glossary of Greek words. As the first book in the series, I am looking forward to next installment.

[NVTony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found myself liking the main character more with each step forward in his complicated life. Not your average detective so provides a refreshing change for reader. Here is chance to find a new writer worth your reading time.

[Jai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good mystery taking place on a bucolic Greek Island where major crime is rare and the policemen untried. Nice sprinklings of Greek words, proverbs and history. The slower pace suits the environment. An enjoyable read.

[Donna Gregorio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devil Takes Half - Eleni and Petros are murdered and the whole book is about solving the murder. The best part of the book is the resolution of the murder at the end, learning who the murderers were and why. Interesting to read about Greek culture.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excitement from beginning to end. A different kind of police detective with more than average flaws. Author uses just enough description of each scene to keep reader informed of surroundings.

[Jakenv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed finding a new sleuth in the guise of a flawed police officer. Will definitely be reading more from this author. Found story interesting and characters, flaws & all, most enjoyable.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a good police procedural set on Chios. Quite liked the characters although the central cop's relationship with his wife was a bit sexist.

[Aznosko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable,easy read. Wanted a read about Greece prior to my trip and this was helpful. Fun look into setting and culture