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John the Eunuch #6
Six for Gold
Why are sheep in the remote Egyptian village of Mehenopolis cutting their own throats? That's the mystery Emperor Justinian inexplicably sends John, his Lord Chamberlain, to Egypt to solve. Mehenopolis is a pilgrim destination, thanks to its ancient shrine to a snake deity. Among the characters John encounters are a pretentious local landowner battling a self-styled magician for control of the lucrative shrine, an exiled heretical cleric, an itinerant beekeeper, and a disgraced charioteer. Will John uncover what is really happening to these sheep? Are these slayings somehow linked to the murder charge of which John has frantically tried to clear himself?
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Mary Reed
25 books25 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 13, 2017
Oh boy! This was a nice surprise!
The first ten pages contains more excitement than all the other five installments put together. Now this is a pace and tension that can not be maintained of course, but it's a flying and inspiring start and the short chapters cross cutting between Egypt and Constantinople keeps anything from feeling unnecessarily lengthy.
The excursion to The Land of the Nile (in pursuit of suicidal sheep!) is great fun, bringing our dear Lord Chamberlain somewhat out of his comfort zone. And Anatolius trying hard to do his bit back in the big city, helping to solve a murder, leaves the reader pleasantly concerned. His a likable fellow and a good friend, but chasing a murderer..? Oh, his gonna get into trouble for sure, you just know it, and it's kind of nice to realize you actually care.
Great entertainment. Finally the series reaches its (near) full potential.
The first ten pages contains more excitement than all the other five installments put together. Now this is a pace and tension that can not be maintained of course, but it's a flying and inspiring start and the short chapters cross cutting between Egypt and Constantinople keeps anything from feeling unnecessarily lengthy.
The excursion to The Land of the Nile (in pursuit of suicidal sheep!) is great fun, bringing our dear Lord Chamberlain somewhat out of his comfort zone. And Anatolius trying hard to do his bit back in the big city, helping to solve a murder, leaves the reader pleasantly concerned. His a likable fellow and a good friend, but chasing a murderer..? Oh, his gonna get into trouble for sure, you just know it, and it's kind of nice to realize you actually care.
Great entertainment. Finally the series reaches its (near) full potential.
June 14, 2020
John is exiled to Egypt to unciver any plot suspects and his wife and servant come with him.
Back home Felix and Anatolius investigate also until they uncover who really killed the Senator.
In Egypt John deals with the mystery of suicide sheep and a local magician fighting for the control of a shrine for pilgrims dedicated to snakes.
John uncovers the relic at the center of the maze and brings it back with the solution to who set Thomas up as the fall guy for the Senator's murder.
Well done but very complicated. May have been helpful to read the earlier books.
Back home Felix and Anatolius investigate also until they uncover who really killed the Senator.
In Egypt John deals with the mystery of suicide sheep and a local magician fighting for the control of a shrine for pilgrims dedicated to snakes.
John uncovers the relic at the center of the maze and brings it back with the solution to who set Thomas up as the fall guy for the Senator's murder.
Well done but very complicated. May have been helpful to read the earlier books.
February 23, 2009
John is in Egypt to solve a mystery of a sheep who committed suicide. The ongoing court plots are present and the book moves back and forth between Egypt and Constnanipole and the characters who remain there. As with teh rest of these, an enjoyable read, but not compelling. I like the tidbits about the time period and the glimpse into the life styles then.
June 7, 2013
What a plethora of odd characters in this book, which takes us out of Constantinople itself
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews