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Miriam and Simeon #1
Έγκλημα στη Μακεδονία
Beware of Greeks bearing knives...
In the summer of 336 B.C., Philip of Macedon has summoned all of Greece to join him in celebration in the old capital of Aegae. As he enters the arena filled with his loyal subjects, he is brutally stabbed by the cruel dagger of Pausanias, a young captain of his guard. Soon the palace corridors are awash in fear and chaos: Philip's ex-wife, the witch Olympias and mother of his son Alexander, plots the violent death of his young successor; Alexander, unconvinced that Pausanias is actually his father's executioner, scours the city for a killer amidst rumors of his own illegitimacy; and everyone, including Alexander himself, falls under the dark cloud of suspicion.
As Alexander struggles to fill his father's role as ruler of Greece, he calls on the help of his young Hebrew friends Miriam and Simeon to uncover not just Philip's assassin, but the mystery of his own origins. From the dark chambers of Olympia's lair to the sun-baked streets of ancient Greece, Anna Apostolou unfolds a magnificent tale of antiquity and intrigue in rich historical detail.
In the summer of 336 B.C., Philip of Macedon has summoned all of Greece to join him in celebration in the old capital of Aegae. As he enters the arena filled with his loyal subjects, he is brutally stabbed by the cruel dagger of Pausanias, a young captain of his guard. Soon the palace corridors are awash in fear and chaos: Philip's ex-wife, the witch Olympias and mother of his son Alexander, plots the violent death of his young successor; Alexander, unconvinced that Pausanias is actually his father's executioner, scours the city for a killer amidst rumors of his own illegitimacy; and everyone, including Alexander himself, falls under the dark cloud of suspicion.
As Alexander struggles to fill his father's role as ruler of Greece, he calls on the help of his young Hebrew friends Miriam and Simeon to uncover not just Philip's assassin, but the mystery of his own origins. From the dark chambers of Olympia's lair to the sun-baked streets of ancient Greece, Anna Apostolou unfolds a magnificent tale of antiquity and intrigue in rich historical detail.
309 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1997
96 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 30, 2021
Ένα μικρό διαμαντάκι πραγματικά. Δεν το πίστευα!!!Θέμα μας η δολοφονία του Φίλιππου. Ποιος τον σκότωσε; Τι κρυβόταν από πισω; Μήπως η αλήθεια δεν είναι αυτή που φαίνεται με την πρώτη ματιά; Ποιος ο συνεργός του δολοφόνου;Ποιος ο δολοφόνος του;Τι είχε πραγματικά στο μυαλό του ο Φίλιππος; Αλέξανδρος και Ολυμπιάδα ήταν αθώοι από το αίμα του ή ένοχοι;Πολύ καλή αναπαράσταση εποχής χωρίς να μπαίνει σε ανούσιες λεπτομέρειες. Ντετεκτιβ (;) μια Εβραιοπούλα, έμπιστη του Αλέξανδρου. Όλα σωστά τοποθετημένα. Τα συμπόσια, οι ερωτικές σχέσεις των αρχαίων Ελλήνων, οι χρόνοι, το έγκλημα, οι συνωμοσίες, οι εκστρατείες κατά της Ελλάδας ώστε αργότερα ο Αλέξανδρος να επιτεθεί στην Περσία...Ο χαρακτήρας του Αλέξανδρου χωρίς κορόνες και ωραιοποιήσεις ότι θα γίνει ο μεγαλύτερος ήρωας της αρχαιότητας. Όλα σωστά δοσμένα και με μέτρο. Και πίσω από ολα μια τεράστια διπλή συνωμοσία, με αρχηγό κάποιον πολύ κοντά στον Αλέξανδρο. Και το τέλος δε σε προετοιμάζει για την εκστρατεία του, θα πάει εκεί, θα κάνει αυτό...Ολοκληρώνεται η ιστορία της δολοφονίας, λύεται το δράμα των φόνων. That\'s all folks. Έμεινα άφωνος. Δεν απαιτεί κριτικές κορόνες αλλά δεν είναι και για πέταμα. Καλά κάνω και τα ψάχνω εγώ...
Στα ελληνικά από το Θεμέλιο το 2001 (Έγκλημα στη Μακεδονία).
Στα ελληνικά από το Θεμέλιο το 2001 (Έγκλημα στη Μακεδονία).
August 27, 2017
Έγκλημα στη Μακεδονία. Μυστήριο στην αρχαία Ελλάδα. Ενδιαφέρον, σκέφτηκα. Αλλά παρά το ότι διάβασα πάνω από 180 (εκ των 309) σελίδων, το εκσφενδόνισα τελικά στο υπερπέραν. Πρόκειται για την δολοφονία του Φιλίππου. Και ποιός αναλαμβάνει να λύσει τον φόνο; Δυο Εβραιόπουλα (οκ, πάει κι έρχεται αυτό) ηθοποιοί (εδώ γελάμε)! Η Εβραία που παίζει τον πρωταγωνιστικό ρόλο, μπαίνει όπου θέλει, μιλάει σε αξιωματούχους, στρατηγούς και βασιλιάδες με τρομερή άνεση και θράσος (ούτε στο χόλιγουντ να παιζαν). Επίσης να πούμε ότι διασκέδαζαν οι Μακεδόνες της εποχής (που σύμφωνα με το βιβλίο ήταν κάτι πανηδονιστές, άξεστοι, αγράμματοι, αγριάνθρωποι και πολλά άλλα, με μπροστάρη τον Φίλιππο) με θεατρικές παραστάσεις από την Βίβλο των Εβραίων. Σαφώς ένα ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα δεν είναι ιστορία αλλά ούτε και αχαλίνωτη φαντασία. Κατά τα άλλα αφελείς διάλογοι, αδύναμη υπόθεση, ετεροχρονισμοί, και ιστορική αμάθεια (ο Άμμων Διας για την/τον συγγραφέα είναι άγνωστος μάλλον). Αυτά.
January 16, 2016
The ancient whodunit we knew
the setting and people all true
A hypothesis is served
For what may have occurred
In the death of the Philip no. II
the setting and people all true
A hypothesis is served
For what may have occurred
In the death of the Philip no. II
November 21, 2019
Historical romances are always challenges for the novelists.
Differently of a personage created in a novel, a historical personage has to contain the personality characteristic by which it is known in history.
Dialogues and daily attitudes, even so not necessarily historical, must follow a standard based on the historical information that we know regarding that specific historical personage.
The murder of Philip of the Macedonian is a mystery still unsolved for which many possible hypotheses already had been ventilated. The historians speculate about what could have changed the behavior of Philip in relation to Alexander and Olympias after the battle of Chaeronea in which Alexander himself detached without even having had this recognition by his father.
Three main reasons are pointed and among those two of them offer much little consistency considering the previous attitudes of Philip with regard to his son.
Everything started from the announcement of the 5th marriage of Philip to be carried through with Cleopatra son of an aristocratic family of the Macedonian, niece of a brave and popular general named Attalus.
The first reason would be the fact of Philip to be really in love with Cleopatra and has been private of its directions by the wild passion. Let us agree that this argument has no consistency at all if we take into account that Philip was not a man to mix marriage with mere concupiscence and he did not have reasons to repudiate Olympias what he had not made when marries for the 4th time.
The second reason would be one strong pressure of the turbulent barony of the Macedonian who demanded an heir of pure Macedon blood. As it is known
Olympias was of the kingdom of Epiro.
The third most likely reason was Philip's belief, justified or not, that Alexander was involved in a plot about his overthrow helped by his mother. Without trust Alexander, it would be difficult for him living Macedon in Alexander's hand while out for the campaign against the Persians. Even without proves the risk was enormous and Alexander and Olympias would have to be moved away.
From this environment, some speculations can be made for the murder of Philip and in almost all Alexander is included as probably suspected.
Demosthenes and also Dario III are pointed as conspirators on the murder plot.
The version most accepted involves the exploitation by the conspirators of some tense previous facts between Pausanias, the Philip murder, and Philip himself. Pausanias, a former-lover of Philip, would have been got drunk and after that raped by groups of friends of Attalus one of Philip generals and whose niece Philip has married. Pausanias went after the facts straight to Philip making charges against Attalus but has not listened. Pausania's revenge would be an easy object for the exploitation of the conspirators.
I do not agree that a novelist is free to invent ends for any not decided historical event. Apparently, Apostolou chooses the Pausanias case presenting it as the definitive one but clearing Alexander of any participation. The author romanced the version including two fictitious personages Miriam and Simeon palace friends of Alexander that helps him to decipher the mystery and participating actively in it.
This type of attitude can mislead the readers with little knowledge of the characters or historical events portrayed making him believe that the historical outcome is proved.
Historical romances have my preference, but always making clear the non-historical facts and never to be presented as a historical document.
Differently of a personage created in a novel, a historical personage has to contain the personality characteristic by which it is known in history.
Dialogues and daily attitudes, even so not necessarily historical, must follow a standard based on the historical information that we know regarding that specific historical personage.
The murder of Philip of the Macedonian is a mystery still unsolved for which many possible hypotheses already had been ventilated. The historians speculate about what could have changed the behavior of Philip in relation to Alexander and Olympias after the battle of Chaeronea in which Alexander himself detached without even having had this recognition by his father.
Three main reasons are pointed and among those two of them offer much little consistency considering the previous attitudes of Philip with regard to his son.
Everything started from the announcement of the 5th marriage of Philip to be carried through with Cleopatra son of an aristocratic family of the Macedonian, niece of a brave and popular general named Attalus.
The first reason would be the fact of Philip to be really in love with Cleopatra and has been private of its directions by the wild passion. Let us agree that this argument has no consistency at all if we take into account that Philip was not a man to mix marriage with mere concupiscence and he did not have reasons to repudiate Olympias what he had not made when marries for the 4th time.
The second reason would be one strong pressure of the turbulent barony of the Macedonian who demanded an heir of pure Macedon blood. As it is known
Olympias was of the kingdom of Epiro.
The third most likely reason was Philip's belief, justified or not, that Alexander was involved in a plot about his overthrow helped by his mother. Without trust Alexander, it would be difficult for him living Macedon in Alexander's hand while out for the campaign against the Persians. Even without proves the risk was enormous and Alexander and Olympias would have to be moved away.
From this environment, some speculations can be made for the murder of Philip and in almost all Alexander is included as probably suspected.
Demosthenes and also Dario III are pointed as conspirators on the murder plot.
The version most accepted involves the exploitation by the conspirators of some tense previous facts between Pausanias, the Philip murder, and Philip himself. Pausanias, a former-lover of Philip, would have been got drunk and after that raped by groups of friends of Attalus one of Philip generals and whose niece Philip has married. Pausanias went after the facts straight to Philip making charges against Attalus but has not listened. Pausania's revenge would be an easy object for the exploitation of the conspirators.
I do not agree that a novelist is free to invent ends for any not decided historical event. Apparently, Apostolou chooses the Pausanias case presenting it as the definitive one but clearing Alexander of any participation. The author romanced the version including two fictitious personages Miriam and Simeon palace friends of Alexander that helps him to decipher the mystery and participating actively in it.
This type of attitude can mislead the readers with little knowledge of the characters or historical events portrayed making him believe that the historical outcome is proved.
Historical romances have my preference, but always making clear the non-historical facts and never to be presented as a historical document.
September 22, 2017
The story is about the murder of Alexander's father Phillip and is based on real events. The cast of characters and persons under suspicion are many, among them are Alexander himself (briefly) and ex-wife Olympias. Like many couples, they were very much in love when they first marry, but develop a strong hatred and distrust for one another. Phillip actually comes to fear her, for she is a jealous, ruthless, murderous woman. Alexander tasks friends Miriam and Simeon with the job of finding the truth about who killed Phillip, and why. It seems as though Phillip was a bit of a schemer himself. His plan was to murder his son Alexander and ex-wife Olympias during a great festival. Things obviously backfire as the tables are turned and he becomes the victim. Much of the book follows Miriam in her quest to unearth the truth of what happened. Miriam proves to be a good choice because she is a non-threatening investigator. People confide in her; she manages to break down barriers easily, perhaps too easily. Apostolou presents a viable hypothesis for what happened to Phillip. I will definitely read the next in her series because I'm interested in Alexander.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2018
3.5★ Me ha gustado la historia a pesar de la mala vibración del principio. Tiene diálogos algo forzados y poco distingibles entre personajes para mi gusto. El misterio me agradó y más los registros históricos que ha recogido la autora y cómo lo fue hilando. La personalidad de los personajes también están basados en teorías muy certeras. Es verdad que el final del libro fue muy precipitado: Al cierre mismo de un misterio acompañado de un diálogo nada intrigante y fin de la historia. No me gustó nada eso. Parece que la autora se cansó de escribir la historia en el mismo párrafo y no pensó seguir.
Sé que hay un segundo (y no sé si último) libro. Puede que lo lea si llego a encontrarme el ejemplar ya que este fue comprado de segunda mano.
Recomiendo este libro sobre todo a personas muy amantes de esta época.
Sé que hay un segundo (y no sé si último) libro. Puede que lo lea si llego a encontrarme el ejemplar ya que este fue comprado de segunda mano.
Recomiendo este libro sobre todo a personas muy amantes de esta época.
July 21, 2017
Narra un episodio de la historia antigua de una manera muy amena y con un estilo tan atrapante que no es difícil imaginarse a uno mismo caminar por aquellos palacios y mirar aquellas fastuosas fiestas donde al igual se compartía el vino como las traiciones.
Un libro donde no te enteras hasta el final de todos los hilos que se mueven, de quién dice mentiras que parecen verdades y viceversa. Donde se nos muestra a un Alejandro (que todavía no era "Magno") que podía ser o muy vulnerable o muy inteligente.
Me gustó, mucho. Ya lo había leído hace algunos años, pero no recordaba gran cosa así que haré como si esta fuera la primer vez que lo tuve entre mis manos.
Un libro donde no te enteras hasta el final de todos los hilos que se mueven, de quién dice mentiras que parecen verdades y viceversa. Donde se nos muestra a un Alejandro (que todavía no era "Magno") que podía ser o muy vulnerable o muy inteligente.
Me gustó, mucho. Ya lo había leído hace algunos años, pero no recordaba gran cosa así que haré como si esta fuera la primer vez que lo tuve entre mis manos.
February 17, 2021
I enjoyed this book very much. It gives a good look into Alexanders life. As other reviewers have pointed out this is not a factual account, there is not one. This story is as good as any and better than most. Well developed characters and a well written story what more can you ask for?
May 15, 2014
I can never resist a book featuring Alexander the Great, and I always enjoy a good murder mystery, so the concept of combining the two certainly has its appeal. While I couldn't quite warm up to the main character (she does seem rather a Mary Sue type, and frankly I'd have preferred it if the author had just stuck with the multitude of fascinating historical characters running around the place instead of inventing a couple of Jewish siblings as protagonists who weren't fleshed out enough to be all that interesting) and the author does take a few liberties with historical facts (but hey, it's fiction, so I can live with that), the story was quite entertaining all the way through. I'll probably read the second one of these at some point. 3.5/5
October 4, 2012
Not a bad historical fiction, but not a great one either. I did like the main character, she was very unique and her relationship with Alexander (and his father) is very interesting, although I'm not sure how authentic/plausible it would be during those times. The resolution was also very unpredictable and original. I'm not too sure what didn't sit well with me, but I wasn't really satisfied when i finished the novel. Was it too short? Was the identity of the accomplice the aspect that bothered me? Did I want the book to be through Alexander the Great's perspective? I don't know...
July 22, 2016
3.5* I thought the treatment of the historical events and personages was rather good, and the historical atmosphere wasn't bad at all. I couldn't quite connect with the main character or believe the freedom she had to solve the mystery and move around in general, but the mystery itself was handled fairly well, especially considering that it is a real unsolved mystery of history.
November 15, 2016
Good read - didn't pull me in as much as the Amerotke ones, but still glad I read it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews