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The Athenian Mysteries #5
Death Ex Machina
A theatrical murder sends classical Athens into uproar.
It's the time of the Great Dionysia, the largest arts festival of the ancient world, held each year in honor of Dionysos, the god of wine. But there's a problem: A ghost is haunting Athens's grand theater.
Nicolaos and his clever partner in sleuthing (and now in matrimony), the priestess Diotima, are hired to rid the theater of the ghost so that the festival can begin. With the help of Theokritos, the High Priest of Dionysos, they exorcise the ghost publicly, while secretly suspecting that a human saboteur is the actual culprit.
Their efforts to protect the theater fall short when one of the actors is found hanged from the machine used to carry actors through the air when they play the part of gods. It's quite a theatrical murder.
As Nico and Diotima dig into the actor’s past, they discover all was not as it seemed. There are enough suspects to fill a theater. As the festival approaches and pressure mounts on all sides, can they hunt down the killer in time? Or will they simply have to hope for a deus ex machina?
From the Hardcover edition.
It's the time of the Great Dionysia, the largest arts festival of the ancient world, held each year in honor of Dionysos, the god of wine. But there's a problem: A ghost is haunting Athens's grand theater.
Nicolaos and his clever partner in sleuthing (and now in matrimony), the priestess Diotima, are hired to rid the theater of the ghost so that the festival can begin. With the help of Theokritos, the High Priest of Dionysos, they exorcise the ghost publicly, while secretly suspecting that a human saboteur is the actual culprit.
Their efforts to protect the theater fall short when one of the actors is found hanged from the machine used to carry actors through the air when they play the part of gods. It's quite a theatrical murder.
As Nico and Diotima dig into the actor’s past, they discover all was not as it seemed. There are enough suspects to fill a theater. As the festival approaches and pressure mounts on all sides, can they hunt down the killer in time? Or will they simply have to hope for a deus ex machina?
From the Hardcover edition.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2015
36 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Gary Corby
11 books210 followersI'm the author of the Athenian Mysteries.
Nicolaos, the ambitious son of a minor sculptor, walks the mean streets of Classical Athens as an agent for the promising young politician Pericles.
Murder and mayhem don't faze Nico; what's really on his mind is how to get closer (much closer) to Diotima, the intelligent and annoyingly virgin priestess of Artemis, and how to shake off his irritating 12 year old brother Socrates.
Nicolaos, the ambitious son of a minor sculptor, walks the mean streets of Classical Athens as an agent for the promising young politician Pericles.
Murder and mayhem don't faze Nico; what's really on his mind is how to get closer (much closer) to Diotima, the intelligent and annoyingly virgin priestess of Artemis, and how to shake off his irritating 12 year old brother Socrates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
November 13, 2021
Really nicely put murder mystery set in 458 BCE Athens, with true to history characters and instances.
I especially like how Nico divides the victim into 3 possible motive targets: the actor, the metic (plebeian), and the character Thanatos. I know you might not know what I mean, but once you start reading this you will.
Now Im wondering whether the Phantom of the Opera is inspired by the Ghost of Thespis, which haunting tales predate it by more than 2000 years.
I especially like how Nico divides the victim into 3 possible motive targets: the actor, the metic (plebeian), and the character Thanatos. I know you might not know what I mean, but once you start reading this you will.
Now Im wondering whether the Phantom of the Opera is inspired by the Ghost of Thespis, which haunting tales predate it by more than 2000 years.
October 7, 2019
I purchased this kindle book at a great price (as well as the 6th in the series) as I thought it would be entertaining historical fiction exploring ancient Greece, and this was a good bet. I forgot I had a pork tenderloin cooking away whilst I was following the plot to its grand conclusion. Whoops, but well worth the bother.
Athens is preparing for Dionysia, the annual arts festival attracting visitors to see a new play. The year is 458 BC, allowing for Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides to all be represented. Our man Nico, agent of Pericles, must discover who or what is engineering the failure of a play. The players fear a ghost is working against them and Nico must investigate as accidents and then murder go forward.
There is plenty of action with generous helpings of humour as Nico and his wife work against time to ensure the play will go on.
I appreciated the author's copious Notes in his afterwords, reminding me of all I had forgotten about Greek plays. I do still have my college textbook after all these years so I may be inspired to have a look before I read the next one.
Athens is preparing for Dionysia, the annual arts festival attracting visitors to see a new play. The year is 458 BC, allowing for Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides to all be represented. Our man Nico, agent of Pericles, must discover who or what is engineering the failure of a play. The players fear a ghost is working against them and Nico must investigate as accidents and then murder go forward.
There is plenty of action with generous helpings of humour as Nico and his wife work against time to ensure the play will go on.
I appreciated the author's copious Notes in his afterwords, reminding me of all I had forgotten about Greek plays. I do still have my college textbook after all these years so I may be inspired to have a look before I read the next one.
March 7, 2015
I discovered Gary Corby's ancient Greece novels after reading Wilbur Smith's 'Desert God' about ancient Egypt. It made me hunger for more on the lives of people before technology took over. Corby's five-installment series, based in the world's first democracy around 450 B.C., stars Athenian detectives Nicolaos and Diotima, The ongoing story of their adventures (and misadventures) and daily life is fun and engaging, with authentic detail about a long-gone era. An Afterword section discusses the history highlighted in each book which I read as eagerly as the novel.
"Death Ex Machina" is the latest of the series. Nicolaos and Diotima investigate a series of mishaps at the Great Dionysia, the largest arts festival on the ancient world and held to honor the god Dionysos. When an actor is murdered, it threatens to close down the festival and embarrass Athens in the eyes of both friends and enemies. 'Embarrassment' in those times was conflated with weakness, which was not good in a world populated by neighbors looking for opportunities to destroy neighbors. The two detectives follow clues, unravel mysteries, and avoid near-death experiences--much like would happen in any detective novel--but wrapped in the shroud of a long-ago Hellenic world--which means no forensics or technology, just the investigative tools available over two thousand years ago.
Corby weaves in so much about history, I come away with a much stronger understanding of that era. His supporting characters include Socrates, Aeschylus, and Sophocles--all names I've read, but now I get to know them as I would a friend. Every time I look up a piece of history Corby includes, he's spot on. He brings it to life by making it personal, approachable and relatable. The only device that rattled me--at first--is his characters used current language rather than ancient. I got used to it, accepting it as I would if it were translated from Greek to English. In this case, it was translated from 'ancient' to 'modern'.
Overall, a great find. I love every book in the series and eagerly await the next. Write on, Gary Corby, write on!
"Death Ex Machina" is the latest of the series. Nicolaos and Diotima investigate a series of mishaps at the Great Dionysia, the largest arts festival on the ancient world and held to honor the god Dionysos. When an actor is murdered, it threatens to close down the festival and embarrass Athens in the eyes of both friends and enemies. 'Embarrassment' in those times was conflated with weakness, which was not good in a world populated by neighbors looking for opportunities to destroy neighbors. The two detectives follow clues, unravel mysteries, and avoid near-death experiences--much like would happen in any detective novel--but wrapped in the shroud of a long-ago Hellenic world--which means no forensics or technology, just the investigative tools available over two thousand years ago.
Corby weaves in so much about history, I come away with a much stronger understanding of that era. His supporting characters include Socrates, Aeschylus, and Sophocles--all names I've read, but now I get to know them as I would a friend. Every time I look up a piece of history Corby includes, he's spot on. He brings it to life by making it personal, approachable and relatable. The only device that rattled me--at first--is his characters used current language rather than ancient. I got used to it, accepting it as I would if it were translated from Greek to English. In this case, it was translated from 'ancient' to 'modern'.
Overall, a great find. I love every book in the series and eagerly await the next. Write on, Gary Corby, write on!
May 16, 2017
Of the five so far, my least favorite. The mystery itself was overly convoluted and the book itself felt waaay overlong. Sometimes the book doesn't seem to know if it's light romantic comedy with like Nico and Diotima standing in for Bill Powell & Myrna Loy, or historical primer--occasionally it can succeed doing both, but not quite so much here for me.
Also, it could just be me reading all five of these books in a relative short span of time, and it stood out a bit to me in this one. Investigating a murder during rehearsals at the theater (so Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides all make appearances here), at one point the suspicion turns to the male groupies hanging around the theater hoping to see the actors and Nico needs it explained to him basically that sometimes men might like other men. I noticed this in the Themistocles book too where he is scandalized at massage options--and I just would think for historical accuracy sake, that Nico wouldn't be quite so clueless.
Honestly, I'm starting to find Nico and Diotima a bit annoying. I'd rather a book at some point from Socrates' point of view.
Also, it could just be me reading all five of these books in a relative short span of time, and it stood out a bit to me in this one. Investigating a murder during rehearsals at the theater (so Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides all make appearances here), at one point the suspicion turns to the male groupies hanging around the theater hoping to see the actors and Nico needs it explained to him basically that sometimes men might like other men. I noticed this in the Themistocles book too where he is scandalized at massage options--and I just would think for historical accuracy sake, that Nico wouldn't be quite so clueless.
Honestly, I'm starting to find Nico and Diotima a bit annoying. I'd rather a book at some point from Socrates' point of view.
December 6, 2021
I always enjoy a mystery that’s outside the box, and an ancient historical setting is definitely outside the typical box for this genre. That’s why I appreciate this series. I also appreciate the subtle but noticeable maturing of Nico and Diotima through the series, both as professionals and in their relationship to each other. Corby is able to bring in unexpected but historically inspired twists to his mysteries that have remained consistently entertaining.
August 14, 2019
I loved the combination of Agatha Christy like crime solving sleuthing combined with a delightfully realistic look into 450 BC Greek life. The book caught my imagination and didn’t release it until the last page
February 17, 2021
This is a hardboiled whodunit wrapped in a setting of ancient Greece. If you enjoy learning about ancient Greece, and specifically the heyday of Greek theater, this book might be for you.
Not the most lyrical writing, but the plot was satisfying.
Not the most lyrical writing, but the plot was satisfying.
June 25, 2020
As part of keeping my spirits up during the COVID-19 pandemic, I've decided to reread two series of novels set in Greece. Why? Because my wife and I are holding out hope that our September/October trip to Greece still will happen...fingers crossed!
I finished all the books in "The Seven Deadly Sins" series featuring Hermes Diaktoros (Hermes Messenger) - which are set in modern Greece. So, it was time to begin "The Athenian Mysteries" series, featuring Nicholaos, son of Sophroniscus the sculptor and older brother of an extremely inquisitive young boy named Socrates. Along with Diotema - a priestess of Artemis and daughter of the hetaera Euterpe (a high-class call girl) - Nicholaos is arguably the world's first private investigator. After all, the first novel in the series is set in ancient Athens just days after the first democracy is established there (461 B.C.).
Like all good history writers, Corby blends known facts from the past with delightful fiction. Not only do the books in this series entertain, they also provide the reader with a great sense of what it was like to live nearly 2,500 years ago at the birthplace of western civilization. Anyone who loves classical Greece will love these books. And anyone who doesn't know much about classical Greece can learn a lot about it in this historically accurate - and fun - series.
"Apoláfste, filoi mou!" ("Enjoy, my friends!")
P.S. It may seem funny that I would give this entry in the series the lowest rating so far, given my training as a Greek and Shakespearean actor. And I really did appreciate the theatrically themed plot. However, this novel suffers from the same shortcoming that the classical Greek plays did (especially those of Euripides). Specifically, Corby engages in the "Deus Ex Machina" technique to wrap up the plot. And it comes across as unsatisfying in this book as it does on the Greek stage. (He even addresses this phenomenon in his author's notes at the back of the novel - but STILL chose to employ it.) Besides this criticism of the plot wrap up, I have only positive things to say about the 5th book in this series. So, I definitely recommend it - even if I gave it only three stars.
I finished all the books in "The Seven Deadly Sins" series featuring Hermes Diaktoros (Hermes Messenger) - which are set in modern Greece. So, it was time to begin "The Athenian Mysteries" series, featuring Nicholaos, son of Sophroniscus the sculptor and older brother of an extremely inquisitive young boy named Socrates. Along with Diotema - a priestess of Artemis and daughter of the hetaera Euterpe (a high-class call girl) - Nicholaos is arguably the world's first private investigator. After all, the first novel in the series is set in ancient Athens just days after the first democracy is established there (461 B.C.).
Like all good history writers, Corby blends known facts from the past with delightful fiction. Not only do the books in this series entertain, they also provide the reader with a great sense of what it was like to live nearly 2,500 years ago at the birthplace of western civilization. Anyone who loves classical Greece will love these books. And anyone who doesn't know much about classical Greece can learn a lot about it in this historically accurate - and fun - series.
"Apoláfste, filoi mou!" ("Enjoy, my friends!")
P.S. It may seem funny that I would give this entry in the series the lowest rating so far, given my training as a Greek and Shakespearean actor. And I really did appreciate the theatrically themed plot. However, this novel suffers from the same shortcoming that the classical Greek plays did (especially those of Euripides). Specifically, Corby engages in the "Deus Ex Machina" technique to wrap up the plot. And it comes across as unsatisfying in this book as it does on the Greek stage. (He even addresses this phenomenon in his author's notes at the back of the novel - but STILL chose to employ it.) Besides this criticism of the plot wrap up, I have only positive things to say about the 5th book in this series. So, I definitely recommend it - even if I gave it only three stars.
December 29, 2018
This splendid book by Gary Corby is already the 5th outing of this Athenian mystery series.
The historical details about this Classical Greek period are very well researched by the author, for the book has been included with a very informative Authors Note and Glossary.
The story is set in the year 458 BC and it was done so especially to get three very imporant historical men within this book and thus making this tale more noticable, and those men are, Aeschylus in his final year, Sophocles in his prime and last but not least Euripides, who is three years away from his really first outing.
The tale itself is about Nicolaos and Diotima, now as man and wife in sleuthing, at the time of the Great Dionysia, which is the largest art festival of the ancient world that is held in honour of Dionysos, the God of Wine.
At this festival there's a ghost who's haunting Athens's great theater and Nicolaos and Diotima with the help of Theokritos, the High Priest of Dionysos, exorcise the ghost publicly while knowing already that there's a human saboteur at work who will finally commit murder by hanging a man on the machine that is situated within the theater.
Time for Nicolaos and Diotima to dig deep into this puzzle with all the people involved, and they will have to use and show all their cleverness and determination to unravel this murder mystery and finally catch the culprit.
Recommended, for this is a very "Exciting Athenian mystery" from an author who's absolutely worthy of following!
The historical details about this Classical Greek period are very well researched by the author, for the book has been included with a very informative Authors Note and Glossary.
The story is set in the year 458 BC and it was done so especially to get three very imporant historical men within this book and thus making this tale more noticable, and those men are, Aeschylus in his final year, Sophocles in his prime and last but not least Euripides, who is three years away from his really first outing.
The tale itself is about Nicolaos and Diotima, now as man and wife in sleuthing, at the time of the Great Dionysia, which is the largest art festival of the ancient world that is held in honour of Dionysos, the God of Wine.
At this festival there's a ghost who's haunting Athens's great theater and Nicolaos and Diotima with the help of Theokritos, the High Priest of Dionysos, exorcise the ghost publicly while knowing already that there's a human saboteur at work who will finally commit murder by hanging a man on the machine that is situated within the theater.
Time for Nicolaos and Diotima to dig deep into this puzzle with all the people involved, and they will have to use and show all their cleverness and determination to unravel this murder mystery and finally catch the culprit.
Recommended, for this is a very "Exciting Athenian mystery" from an author who's absolutely worthy of following!
November 25, 2020
Bad things are happening at the theater where a play is being prepared for the Great Dionysia, a festival to honor the god Dionysus. Pericles commissions Nicolaos to find out what's going on. Not long after the start of the investigation, one actor is badly injured and another one is killed. We get to learn a lot about theater in ancient Greece and the treatment of metics, foreign non-citizens in Athens. Of course, Nico's younger brother Socrates is a big help.
May 23, 2015
A splendid addition to Gary Corby's series of mysteries set in Periclean Athens. The plot moves along so swiftly, and the characterization is so adroit, that you seldom realize how much actual history you're imbibing along with the fiction.
February 22, 2024
in all honesty, I skipped a huge chunk of this book. I felt no desire to figure out the culprit and frankly most of this book was filler. premise was cool tho
August 23, 2017
It's a solid book. Characters might be a bit too shallow, but they still have some depth. What's given is what naturally flows with the book. A little confused as to why Diotima stays behind unexlained. I figured it out, but Nico is so thurough with explaining everything, that I was surprised it wasn't. I think it passes the bechdel test under some people's standards, but not everyone's (including my own strict ones).
Historically accurate, from what I can see. A little disappointed with the author approving of misread character names, but I admire his strategy for his pronounciation nonetheless. Also a little disappointed with how little Pagan it is despite the fact that the characters themselves are Pagan and the Gods an important point. We don't really see the characters having a connection with their gods, even though two of them are priest/esses. We see a bit of the bond and arguably some UPG with Theokritos and the Phyrigians, but only if you squint. Gary Colby, I'm certain that Nepaganism (Neo-Hellenism?) differs quite a bit from ancient Hellenism, and I know you wrote the books to be friendly to people of other faiths. But perhaps a tiny bit more of the connection people feel to their bonded gods could be shown?
That said, the complaint doesn't impact the quality of the book itself. It's just a personal disappointment :) But expected. In some ways, it does make it better (hence "tiny bit") since appealing to an audience with multiple religious views is very important, and a character portrayed with a relationship to a deity more then anything other then a distant-but-dedicated priest/ess might alienate a viewer.
Other then those, it's a solid, good book.
Historically accurate, from what I can see. A little disappointed with the author approving of misread character names, but I admire his strategy for his pronounciation nonetheless. Also a little disappointed with how little Pagan it is despite the fact that the characters themselves are Pagan and the Gods an important point. We don't really see the characters having a connection with their gods, even though two of them are priest/esses. We see a bit of the bond and arguably some UPG with Theokritos and the Phyrigians, but only if you squint. Gary Colby, I'm certain that Nepaganism (Neo-Hellenism?) differs quite a bit from ancient Hellenism, and I know you wrote the books to be friendly to people of other faiths. But perhaps a tiny bit more of the connection people feel to their bonded gods could be shown?
That said, the complaint doesn't impact the quality of the book itself. It's just a personal disappointment :) But expected. In some ways, it does make it better (hence "tiny bit") since appealing to an audience with multiple religious views is very important, and a character portrayed with a relationship to a deity more then anything other then a distant-but-dedicated priest/ess might alienate a viewer.
Other then those, it's a solid, good book.
December 10, 2019
I was surprised and delighted to realize recently that I had somehow missed this volume in one of my favorite mystery series, and it might just be my favorite of a very good series!
Who could not like a warmhearted mystery series set in ancient Greece with characters like Socrates (as a teen-aged boy who annoys his older brother, our protagonist) and Pericles and, in this installment, which centers around the Great Dionysia, the premier arts festival of the ancient world, includes cameo appearances by Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles?
One of my favorite little touches in this book were the many echoes of famous plays, both ancient and modern.
This book is good to read just for fun, but I love a historical mystery that teaches me about a society and an era, and there are wonderful details of life in ancient Greece and an extended Author Note at the back to assure us that some of the truly odd touches were historically accurate.
These characters may have lived in ancient times, but they seem very modern and human, so I enjoy the plot, the characters, and the setting. What more could I want in a mystery?
Who could not like a warmhearted mystery series set in ancient Greece with characters like Socrates (as a teen-aged boy who annoys his older brother, our protagonist) and Pericles and, in this installment, which centers around the Great Dionysia, the premier arts festival of the ancient world, includes cameo appearances by Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles?
One of my favorite little touches in this book were the many echoes of famous plays, both ancient and modern.
This book is good to read just for fun, but I love a historical mystery that teaches me about a society and an era, and there are wonderful details of life in ancient Greece and an extended Author Note at the back to assure us that some of the truly odd touches were historically accurate.
These characters may have lived in ancient times, but they seem very modern and human, so I enjoy the plot, the characters, and the setting. What more could I want in a mystery?
May 25, 2020
As I've mentioned previously, I really like mysteries set in the theater, so when I came across this book on sale, I was intrigued.
While I enjoy period pieces, this is the first mystery series I've read in ancient Athens, so I honestly didn't know what to expect.
I loved it. The dialogue was witty, the descriptions really fantastic, and it was a good mystery to boot.
As a medical historian (more medical nerd since I've never gotten paid for any of my medical history musings), I appreciated the fact that the author did his homework, so I am inclined to think that the rest of the book has some roots in actual history as well.
The plot is a simple one: our hero, a private detective in Athens and his wife, a high priestess of Athena are hired by a playwright during the great festival to get rid of a ghost who is thwarting the rehearsals. While Nico is able to get rid of the "ghost," unfortunately, he has a murder to contend with and we are off to the races.
I did manage to pick up another book in the series at a very good price. Unfortunately, the publisher prices the books above what I consider reasonable for an electronic book, so unless I win the lottery, I don't think I'll be reading many of the books (unless they are on sale).
Well worth your time and eyes. While this is a long book, it's totally worth it and I give it 5 stars up! for a delightful story that had me laughing out loud at several points.
While I enjoy period pieces, this is the first mystery series I've read in ancient Athens, so I honestly didn't know what to expect.
I loved it. The dialogue was witty, the descriptions really fantastic, and it was a good mystery to boot.
As a medical historian (more medical nerd since I've never gotten paid for any of my medical history musings), I appreciated the fact that the author did his homework, so I am inclined to think that the rest of the book has some roots in actual history as well.
The plot is a simple one: our hero, a private detective in Athens and his wife, a high priestess of Athena are hired by a playwright during the great festival to get rid of a ghost who is thwarting the rehearsals. While Nico is able to get rid of the "ghost," unfortunately, he has a murder to contend with and we are off to the races.
I did manage to pick up another book in the series at a very good price. Unfortunately, the publisher prices the books above what I consider reasonable for an electronic book, so unless I win the lottery, I don't think I'll be reading many of the books (unless they are on sale).
Well worth your time and eyes. While this is a long book, it's totally worth it and I give it 5 stars up! for a delightful story that had me laughing out loud at several points.
August 16, 2021
Corby gets better and better with these Athenian mysteries. This time, the now-married Nicolaos and Diotima get tangled up in a mystery involving Athens' grand theater, which includes accidents, a ghost, and a murder, all just days before the festival of the Great Dionysia, which draws thousands into the city. Efforts to exorcise the ghost fail, the festival is delayed, and the suspect list behind the violence grows. Nico and Diotima likeable, witty, and clever, Corby integrates classical Hellene theatrical history effortlessly, includes plenty of quirky characters and drama, and the story flows smoothly. Sophocles, Pericles, and Aeschylus are all on hand, along with other real figures like Socrates and Lysanius; there are even subplots that involve the young up and coming playwright Euripides, the introduction of beer into the city, and the problem of Diotima's house. It's a jolly good romp as time grows short, secrets are uncovered, and the true murderer unmasked.
September 10, 2022
I'm gonna give myself 1/2 points for figuring this one out. I had two people at the top of my list but second guessed myself and didn't commit to the true killer. That makes me 1.5/5. Don't really blame myself for this one though. This felt like a real investigation as opposed to a murder mystery book. I don't think it was actually possible to figure this one out early. There was just too much information being introduced that changed the outcome. It wasn't until the final announcement/accusation that I saw the bigger picture.
This one felt particularly informative about Greek history. It was a nice look into ancient Greek theater, though the author does admit he needs to take a few leaps to make the story work. I did enjoy the way Corby used Deus Ex Machina to solve his own story, which is a real theatrical term but in this particular case didn't feel cheap.
This one felt particularly informative about Greek history. It was a nice look into ancient Greek theater, though the author does admit he needs to take a few leaps to make the story work. I did enjoy the way Corby used Deus Ex Machina to solve his own story, which is a real theatrical term but in this particular case didn't feel cheap.
September 10, 2023
Set in 459 BC, Gary Corby’s “Death Ex Machina” (2015) is the fifth book in the series involving a young man, Nicolaos (Nico), who serves as a criminal investigator for Pericles. This book is set at the time of the Great Dyonysia, the primary arts festival of Athens. However, a ghost appears to be haunting the amphitheater where plays by Aeschylus and Sophocles are to be performed. Nico and his wife, Diotina (a priestess of Artemis), are hired to exorcise the ghost. Then one of the actors is found hanged from the machine that lifts actors into the air when they are playing the parts of gods. Who is trying to sabotage the plays and who murdered the actor? The plot of the book is excellent, and the discussions of the theater, funerals, and other topics are very interesting. There are also some very funny lines. Highly recommended.
January 19, 2018
Written in a light humorous style that may annoy some this book includes the 'first investigator' in Athens solving a case where the theatrical competition the Great Dionysius is threatened. The book gives an insight into greek society at the start of Athens being a democracy, the type of relationships between the city states of Greece, and the history of theatre, with playwrights that we have heard of, and looking at the different types of plays.
Well worth reading if you do not have knowledge of that time in Greece. Like many authors, Gary has the knack of being cruel to his protagonist, and also to allowing him to fumble his way to the end, but that adds to my enjoyment. The chance involved in his being successful is encouraging to those of us who are not top of our fields.
Well worth reading if you do not have knowledge of that time in Greece. Like many authors, Gary has the knack of being cruel to his protagonist, and also to allowing him to fumble his way to the end, but that adds to my enjoyment. The chance involved in his being successful is encouraging to those of us who are not top of our fields.
January 17, 2025
This series is just so much fun and I love the characters! By now, it's really come into its onw--the author knows the tone and masterfully balances humor and intrigue. I also must say, reading the afterward is as enjoyable as the book itself--I love the historical accuracy and the thought put into crafting and weaving this fantastical tale with actual fact. As always, there's characters in this book that I hope we see again, because returning to the characters doesn't make this world seem smaller but rather larger, and this series does a great job of returning characters whereas most other series I've read do not take advantage of the colorful cast~ Lovely book, and the theatre was such a meaty setting to sink teeth into and make references and jokes about~
August 4, 2017
The festival of the Great Dionysia is about to begin, but one of the plays has been hit with a series of mishaps. So much so that the actors believe the theater is haunted. Pericles asks Nico to investigate, so even though he does not believe in ghosts, he has the High Priest of Dionysos and his own wife Diotima perform an exorcism. But then one of the actors is murdered, and Nico and Diotima must not only search for the killer, but also determine why he was killed. Excellent mystery, with a fascinating cast of characters, and an intricate plot. Highly recommended.
January 14, 2018
Death Ex Machina kept me intrigued. It was so simple to follow through, and offered plenty of options to try and solve the mystery in my own mind, which is always entertaining to attempt while away from the book. Gary Corby delivered exactly what a mystery novel should, and in the end, even provided a bit of a history lesson on the Greek and their terms, which I truly appreciated. My only complaint is the lack of depth in many of the characters, but I will still be reading the other installments.
August 16, 2018
I enjoy the historical details of ancient Greece that the the author includes in his stories. I like the two main characters of Nico and Diotima as well as the minor ones that keep appearing in the series.
This was an interesting story centered on the world of theater in Athens, but I felt it moved a bit too slowly to get to the resolution of the mystery. Nonetheless, I look forward to the next bokk in The Athenian Mysteries series.
This was an interesting story centered on the world of theater in Athens, but I felt it moved a bit too slowly to get to the resolution of the mystery. Nonetheless, I look forward to the next bokk in The Athenian Mysteries series.
February 9, 2019
An enjoyable read with pleasant characters and some interesting twists and some fun insights into life in classical Athens and into the theatre.
One fun quibble - fans of Euripides (like me) may disagree with Corby's readings of his plays.
One more serious quibble - the investigation lacks momentum. That's a generic challenge. The sleuth is really just wandering from suspect to suspect, interview to interview, but this mystery feels like it hots the wall a few too many times.
One fun quibble - fans of Euripides (like me) may disagree with Corby's readings of his plays.
One more serious quibble - the investigation lacks momentum. That's a generic challenge. The sleuth is really just wandering from suspect to suspect, interview to interview, but this mystery feels like it hots the wall a few too many times.
January 6, 2022
This is the second book I've read in Gary Corby's series and I've been quite impressed with both of them. He uses the backdrop of ancient Athens so well with interesting characters and cameos of famous and soon-to-be-famous Greeks to add interest to his narrative. Embracing Corby's ability to combine his extensive knowledge of the period with entertaining plotlines is well worth the price of admission.
August 22, 2018
I love these books. The plots are a bit like Scooby doo mysteries but the real joy of these books are the little details and locations from Ancient Athens.
It also helps that Nico and Diotima have retained their ‘funness’ since the start of the series. I find the main characters of series, particularly historical fiction series, can become quite annoying over time but that hasn’t occur yet.
It also helps that Nico and Diotima have retained their ‘funness’ since the start of the series. I find the main characters of series, particularly historical fiction series, can become quite annoying over time but that hasn’t occur yet.
September 30, 2020
A fun mystery. I do think I've read an early entry in the series as the Nicolaos and Diotima characters seemed familiar but I can't place them? Probably read a book in this series before I joined GoodReads. I know a little of ancient Athenian society and history but I can always learn more. As I say, good fun.
September 19, 2019
Great fun!
I bought another in the series on the cheap, but paid the current Kindle price for this one. These give a great place start learning ancient Greek history and enjoy it.
I bought another in the series on the cheap, but paid the current Kindle price for this one. These give a great place start learning ancient Greek history and enjoy it.
August 3, 2023
The writing was a little rough around the edges, and there were a few things I didn’t love reading. Putting those aside, it was a great Greek and theatrical history lesson wrapped up in an entertaining story. Not bad.
June 27, 2025
Occasionally stretches suspension of disbelief, but, still a lot of fun. Good characters, good dialogue, the occasional easter egg for history nerds, and even a few (well-handled) parallels to modern day issues.
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