The Deadliest Thief: A Miriam bat Isaac Mystery in Ancient Alexandria

Miriam bat Isaac #5

by June Trop

Miriam bat Isaac, a budding alchemist and amateur sleuth in first-century CE Alexandria, becomes frantic when her best friend, Phoebe, is kidnapped. At the same time, a brute of a man is stalking Nathaniel ben Ruben, an itinerant potbellied dwarf. Could this brute, the last surviving jewel thief from the Temple of Artemis, be the same man who has kidnapped Phoebe?

Let THE DEADLIEST THIEF take you into the underbelly of first-century CE Roman-occupied Alexandria to help Miriam solve her most baffling case yet.

77 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2019

About the author

June Trop and her twin sister Gail wrote their first story, "The Steam Shavel [sic]," when they were six years old growing up in rural New Jersey. They sold it to their brother Everett for two cents.

"I don't remember how I spent my share," June says. "You could buy a fistful of candy for a penny in those days, but ever since then, I wanted to be a writer."

As an award-winning middle school science teacher, June used storytelling to capture her students' imagination and interest in scientific concepts. Years later as a professor of teacher education, she focused her research on the practical knowledge teachers construct and communicate through storytelling. Her first book, From Lesson Plans to Power Struggles (Corwin Press, 2009), is based on the stories new teachers told about their first classroom experiences.

Now associate professor emerita at the State University of New York at New Paltz, she devotes her time to writing historical mysteries with a connection to early science. Her heroine, Miriam bat Isaac, is based on the personage of Maria Hebrea, the legendary founder of Western alchemy, who developed the concepts and apparatus alchemists and chemists would use for 1500 years.

June lives with her husband Paul Zuckerman in New Paltz, where she is breathlessly recording her plucky heroine's next life-or-death exploit. The Deadliest Lie is her first novel. Her second novel, The Deadliest Hate has won Honorable Mention in the 2016 New York Book Festival.

Visit June on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/June-T... and on her website http://junetrop.com, click on her contact page, and enter her contest to win a free book.

Reviews

[M.K. McDaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Step Back in Time!
I took four years of Latin in high school and love stories from Ancient history. The author's use of Latin terms helped build a verbal bridge into the past. Her knowledge of the customs and history gave the story depth. A book of only 128 pages has to pack a lot of intrigue and action into a short space, and this story delivered! I tended to lose track of which character was doing what as the story raced along.

The unfamiliar antique names of the cast didn't always provide information as to their genders, so that added to the confusion for me. All in all, I enjoyed the adventures found in this book and understand how one could easily become a devoted fan of the series. I'm sure the characters are clearer in the reader's mind after enjoying all of the preceding books.

The author did a great job in setting up the continuation possibility for the next episode. It was a fun read with a great unexpected ending!

[Shomeret · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author and this is my honest review.

In this most recent Miriam Bat Isaac mystery, Miriam finds herself dealing with the aftermath of a major theft from one of the best known temples of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. There are murders associated with this crime and a tragic example of domestic abuse.

For almost the entire novel I thought I knew whodunit for all the murders, but there's a surprise in store at the end. This mystery has a sting in its tail.

I was saddened that Miriam's friend Nathaniel Ben Ruben turned out to be unscrupulous and a killer. This will probably cause Miriam to be less trusting in the future.

The Deadliest Thief is a dark narrative. I would categorize it as on the noir end of the spectrum.

[Charlotte Pawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miriam bat Isaac was an alchemist in Alexandria. This is the 5th book in her life as an amateur sleuth. Her best friend Phoebe has been kidnapped but how was she in two places at once can they be two Phoebe’s? It becomes more mysterious when her friend Nathaniel ( a potbellied dwarf) believes he is been followed by a brute with a fearsome reputation. He sends Miriam scrolls of his diaries for safekeeping. You are given a glimpse into underbelly of everyday life in Alexandria and the choices we make can change our future forever.

[Barbara Battisto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give The Deadliest Thief five stars. Reading this renewed my interest in first-century Roman history. It is intriguing and suspenseful. I was unable to put the book down, finding myself rooting for the character in turmoil. I plan on reading June’s past and future books. I am definitely a fan!

I definitely recommend The Deadliest Thief.

[Eleanor Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a mystery in a long time, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was a quick read. It's writing at it's best! The author puts you deep into the heart of Roman times. I never imagined a murder mystery story in Rome, but she pulls it off. The special attention to detail is amazing....

[Bobby Gallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely does an author make you forget what you are reading in fiction rather than a historical account, But that is exactly what Ms. Trop succeeds in doing. I felt as though I was there. The story is so well written and engageable that I wished it was a longer read!