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John the Eunuch #7
Seven for a Secret
Who killed the mosaic girl? As Lord Chamberlain, John spends his days counseling Emperor Justinian while passing the small hours of night in conversation with the solemn-eyed little girl depicted in a mosaic on his study wall. He never expected to meet her in a public square or afterwards find her red-dyed corpse in a subterranean cistern. Had the mysterious woman truly been the model for the mosaic years before as she claimed? Who was she? Why had she sought John out? Who wanted her dead -- and why?The answers seem to lie among the denizens of the smoky streets of that quarter of Constantinople known as the Copper Market, where artisans, beggars, prostitutes, pillar saints, and exiled aristocrats struggle to survive within sight of the Great Palace and yet worlds distant. John encounters a faded actress, a patriotic sausage maker, a sundial maker who fears the sun, a religious visionary, a man who lives in a treasure trove, and a beggar who owes his life to a cartload of melons. Before long he suspects he is attempting to unravel not just a murder but a plot against the empire. Or is John really on a personal quest, to find the reality behind the confidante he thought existed only in his own imagination? Is there such a thing as truth in a place where people live on memories, dreams, and illusions? Even if there is, can John push aside the shadows and find the truth in time?
296 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
6 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Mary Reed
36 books24 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Mary Reed and Eric Mayer began writing together in 1992. They have contributed to a number of anthologies such as Royal Whodunnits, MammothBook of Historical Whodunnits and Mammoth Book of Shakespearean Detectives, as well as to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. They have also published several short stories set in and around the 6th century Constantinople court of Emperor Justinian I as well as four (to date) novels about their protagonist John the Eunuch, Lord Chamberlain to the emperor. The series was listed as one of four Best Little-Known Series in Booklist Magazine in 2003, and a Greek edition of the first novel, One For Sorrow, appeared in late 2002. They live in Pennsylvania.
Mary Reed and Eric Mayer began writing together in 1992. They have contributed to a number of anthologies such as Royal Whodunnits, MammothBook of Historical Whodunnits and Mammoth Book of Shakespearean Detectives, as well as to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. They have also published several short stories set in and around the 6th century Constantinople court of Emperor Justinian I as well as four (to date) novels about their protagonist John the Eunuch, Lord Chamberlain to the emperor. The series was listed as one of four Best Little-Known Series in Booklist Magazine in 2003, and a Greek edition of the first novel, One For Sorrow, appeared in late 2002. They live in Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 1, 2015
More like 2.5 rounded up to 3. Another John the Eunuch mystery set in Justinian's Constantinople. Not as good as some others in this series; much was contrived, as you'd expect based on Procopius, the old gossip and rumormonger. This mystery brought together a woman who claims to be the model for the mosaic girl in John's study and who is murdered then thrown down a cistern and dyed red as an attempt to conceal her identity and to obliterate a tattoo on her wrist. John feels he must investigate the death, as in a way it touches him personally. There are several more bodies as the story progresses. The novel brings together a stylite, several eccentric shopkeepers [sundial maker, antiquities seller, dyer], the putative illegitimate son of Theodora, and a cabal planning a coup against the royal couple.
John's a fascinating character; the others felt as though they were merely foils who played off of him. The author's done her research, but the style was a bit arid and events were often implausible. You do get a good feel for Constantinopolitan life. The author is nothing if not original. NB: many series can be read in any order, but this particular one should definitely be read IN ORDER.
John's a fascinating character; the others felt as though they were merely foils who played off of him. The author's done her research, but the style was a bit arid and events were often implausible. You do get a good feel for Constantinopolitan life. The author is nothing if not original. NB: many series can be read in any order, but this particular one should definitely be read IN ORDER.
February 14, 2014
I am unreasonably sad that on the 7th book the publisher switched from printing on nice smooth white paper to pinching pennies by using public restroom paper towels.
September 21, 2017
The upside to this series:
It's an atmospheric time and a dangerous place and the main characters are quite likable.
The downside:
The plots. They are often, like in this installment, very weak indeed. What sets the ball rolling is soon forgotten. The "sleuthing" middle part consists of a lot of legwork in different directions without any feel of progression, and in the end, when all is revealed, far fetched is was sums it up best.
3 stars that could easily have been 2 if I'd felt less charitable.
It's an atmospheric time and a dangerous place and the main characters are quite likable.
The downside:
The plots. They are often, like in this installment, very weak indeed. What sets the ball rolling is soon forgotten. The "sleuthing" middle part consists of a lot of legwork in different directions without any feel of progression, and in the end, when all is revealed, far fetched is was sums it up best.
3 stars that could easily have been 2 if I'd felt less charitable.
June 14, 2020
Really great plot with lots of action.
John encounters the model of his mosaic Zoe and she appears to be killed before they can meet.
He repeatedly interviews the residents of the copper market to find out what happened and keeps hearing rumors of an illegitimate son of the Empress Theodora.
He is attacked and drawn to a meeting of the anti emperor rebels but turns the tables on them.
John encounters the model of his mosaic Zoe and she appears to be killed before they can meet.
He repeatedly interviews the residents of the copper market to find out what happened and keeps hearing rumors of an illegitimate son of the Empress Theodora.
He is attacked and drawn to a meeting of the anti emperor rebels but turns the tables on them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2019
finished 2019-08-02
February 24, 2013
One should not start this series on book seven. I found the historical information about sixth century Constantinople interesting, but sometime confusing. The author assumes that readers started with book one thus some character relationships are not fully explained. The main character was likeable. I will withhold my opinion until I read book one.
August 25, 2012
I had actually read this book before but couldn't remember some of the plot. Still goo second time around.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews