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Philocles #1
Shadows of Athens
443 BC, and, after decades of war with Persia, peace has finally come to Athens. The city is being rebuilt, and commerce and culture are flourishing.
Aspiring playwright Philocles has come home to find a man with his throat cut slumped against his front gate. Is it just a robbery gone wrong? But, if so, why didn't the thieves take the dead man's valuables? With the play that could make his name just days away, he must find out who this man is, why he has been murdered - and why the corpse was left in his doorway.
But Philocles soon realises he has been caught up in something far bigger, and there are those who don't want him looking any further . . .
Aspiring playwright Philocles has come home to find a man with his throat cut slumped against his front gate. Is it just a robbery gone wrong? But, if so, why didn't the thieves take the dead man's valuables? With the play that could make his name just days away, he must find out who this man is, why he has been murdered - and why the corpse was left in his doorway.
But Philocles soon realises he has been caught up in something far bigger, and there are those who don't want him looking any further . . .
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2019
56 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 18, 2025
I rate this mystery 4,5 rounded up to 5 stars.
It was a beautiful, engaging read, maybe even thanks to the setting so different from my usual choices.
Breaking away from my usual tracks could have been a great thing or a disaster, luckily it was the first, indeed I really enjoyed this book.
Before expressing my opinion, let me tell you a little about THE PLOT:
Ancient Greece Athens, 443 BC.
After decades of war with Persia, peace has finally come to Athens. The city is being rebuilt, and commerce and culture are flourishing.
Aspiring playwright Philocles has come home to find a man with his throat cut slumped against his front gate. Is it just a robbery gone wrong? But, if so, why didn't the thieves take the dead man's valuables? With the play that could make his name just days away, he must find out who this man is, why he has been murdered - and why the corpse was left in his doorway.
But Philocles soon realises he has been caught up in something far bigger, and there are those who don't want him looking any further.
-----------------------
___ ENTHRALLING PLOT ____
The reading was gripping from the first chapter, the author seamlessly and captivatingly blended a layer of mystery, one entirely imaginative, with the reality of politics, culture, and governance of Athens at the time.
She also inserted a layer of Greek mythology into this already well-crafted mix (obviously drawn from their beliefs and customs regarding the gods and from the mythological texts that recount the heroic deeds of their myths).
Through the unfolding of the story and the attempt to solve the mystery of the killing of a foreigner, a member of the Delian League, a league that united Athens and other cities against the Persians, the author tells us about the famous games dedicated to Dionysus, how comedies and tragedies were performed, what actors were employed, and how they were patronized by the city's wealthiest.
Along with this, we also are enlightened about rights and duties of Athenian citizens, the role of slaves (and how it was normal for them to have slaves), the role of women in general and wives in particular (only Athenian women could marry citizens of Athens and enjoy certain rights; foreigners could only be concubines).
____THE CHARACTERS ___
Although, in addition to the main character and a few close co-protagonists, the story features a myriad of other supporting characters (acquaintances, family members, friends, villains, friends of villains, people with brief appearances, and others only mentioned), the author has managed to comprehensively delineate the salient traits of their various personalities.
The descriptions of domestic scenes and the emotional relationships that bind Philocles to his closest family (primarily his companion and concubine and his slave, who was also his best friend) also allowed me to immediately empathize with the protagonist and his loved ones, despite the constant comings and goings of characters appearing throughout the book.
The only thing that could have been a challenge at first (and I admit, it scared me at first, but it easily resolved itself )was the sheer number of Greek names thrown around.
If I initially thought I'd get lost in that river of similar names, all ending in "es" and "tos/os" (Philocles, Menakles, Apollonides, etc., Aristarchos, Stratos, Dados, etc.), actually they entered my mind quite easily and I don't know by what magic or miracle, I managed to remember all the characters without getting confused (perhaps because each character introduced is associated with certain qualities/flaws/roles and actually has a purpose in the whole context).
__ MY ONLY WARNING__
Even if there are no gory scenes and the only sex scene isn't described in detail, it can't be considered a cozy mystery: the language isn't always the most delicate or polite.
There are some serious insults between the characters and a vulgar scene that is painted on Philocles's door to insult him. Plus it looks like in ancient comedy, the presence of fake penises on stage was a great thing to laugh, thus during the performances they will often be mentioned.
___WHY NOT 5 FULL STARS ? ___
The half star I removed is for the author's lack of historical notes at the end of the novel, and lack of single notes that could have been placed in each page at the same points in the book where history and mythology are cited.
Those who are unfamiliar with Greek history and mythology, in fact, is unable to realize what is truthful, what is the author's imagination and what comes from the imagination of the ancient Greek poets.
_____ CONCLUDING :
For me, it's a well-deserved 4.5 stars for the engaging plot, the fluid and light-hearted writing, the likable characters, the author's extensive historical research, and the perfect blend of mystery, history, mythology, investigation, action, and the characters' personal lives.
I want to know more about the adventures of Philocles and his friends, I will definitely read the other 2 books included in this series as well!!
Thanks for reading my opinion and please be lenient with my English for it's not my language.
It was a beautiful, engaging read, maybe even thanks to the setting so different from my usual choices.
Breaking away from my usual tracks could have been a great thing or a disaster, luckily it was the first, indeed I really enjoyed this book.
Before expressing my opinion, let me tell you a little about THE PLOT:
Ancient Greece Athens, 443 BC.
After decades of war with Persia, peace has finally come to Athens. The city is being rebuilt, and commerce and culture are flourishing.
Aspiring playwright Philocles has come home to find a man with his throat cut slumped against his front gate. Is it just a robbery gone wrong? But, if so, why didn't the thieves take the dead man's valuables? With the play that could make his name just days away, he must find out who this man is, why he has been murdered - and why the corpse was left in his doorway.
But Philocles soon realises he has been caught up in something far bigger, and there are those who don't want him looking any further.
-----------------------
___ ENTHRALLING PLOT ____
The reading was gripping from the first chapter, the author seamlessly and captivatingly blended a layer of mystery, one entirely imaginative, with the reality of politics, culture, and governance of Athens at the time.
She also inserted a layer of Greek mythology into this already well-crafted mix (obviously drawn from their beliefs and customs regarding the gods and from the mythological texts that recount the heroic deeds of their myths).
Through the unfolding of the story and the attempt to solve the mystery of the killing of a foreigner, a member of the Delian League, a league that united Athens and other cities against the Persians, the author tells us about the famous games dedicated to Dionysus, how comedies and tragedies were performed, what actors were employed, and how they were patronized by the city's wealthiest.
Along with this, we also are enlightened about rights and duties of Athenian citizens, the role of slaves (and how it was normal for them to have slaves), the role of women in general and wives in particular (only Athenian women could marry citizens of Athens and enjoy certain rights; foreigners could only be concubines).
____THE CHARACTERS ___
Although, in addition to the main character and a few close co-protagonists, the story features a myriad of other supporting characters (acquaintances, family members, friends, villains, friends of villains, people with brief appearances, and others only mentioned), the author has managed to comprehensively delineate the salient traits of their various personalities.
The descriptions of domestic scenes and the emotional relationships that bind Philocles to his closest family (primarily his companion and concubine and his slave, who was also his best friend) also allowed me to immediately empathize with the protagonist and his loved ones, despite the constant comings and goings of characters appearing throughout the book.
The only thing that could have been a challenge at first (and I admit, it scared me at first, but it easily resolved itself )was the sheer number of Greek names thrown around.
If I initially thought I'd get lost in that river of similar names, all ending in "es" and "tos/os" (Philocles, Menakles, Apollonides, etc., Aristarchos, Stratos, Dados, etc.), actually they entered my mind quite easily and I don't know by what magic or miracle, I managed to remember all the characters without getting confused (perhaps because each character introduced is associated with certain qualities/flaws/roles and actually has a purpose in the whole context).
__ MY ONLY WARNING__
Even if there are no gory scenes and the only sex scene isn't described in detail, it can't be considered a cozy mystery: the language isn't always the most delicate or polite.
There are some serious insults between the characters and a vulgar scene that is painted on Philocles's door to insult him. Plus it looks like in ancient comedy, the presence of fake penises on stage was a great thing to laugh, thus during the performances they will often be mentioned.
___WHY NOT 5 FULL STARS ? ___
The half star I removed is for the author's lack of historical notes at the end of the novel, and lack of single notes that could have been placed in each page at the same points in the book where history and mythology are cited.
Those who are unfamiliar with Greek history and mythology, in fact, is unable to realize what is truthful, what is the author's imagination and what comes from the imagination of the ancient Greek poets.
_____ CONCLUDING :
For me, it's a well-deserved 4.5 stars for the engaging plot, the fluid and light-hearted writing, the likable characters, the author's extensive historical research, and the perfect blend of mystery, history, mythology, investigation, action, and the characters' personal lives.
I want to know more about the adventures of Philocles and his friends, I will definitely read the other 2 books included in this series as well!!
Thanks for reading my opinion and please be lenient with my English for it's not my language.
March 1, 2019
A murder mystery set in the streets of Athens in the mid 5th century BC, in the time of the great Pericles. The Athenian setting is wonderful. I was fascinated by the depiction of society, particularly its attitudes towards women, slaves and outsiders. And it's this background and comment, rather than the mystery, that stands out in the novel. 3.5 stars rounded up. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
June 3, 2019
easy going read about a murder in ancient Greece (Athens) and has similar traits as sansoms shardlake. took a little while to get into the book but as soon as I did, interesting read
July 17, 2022
Really enjoyed reading this historical mystery set in ancient Greece. The secondary tale -- our Philocles is a playwright, vying for a prestigious award -- is as entertaining as the detecting drama unfolding itself, whereby Philocles and his wealthy patron must undercover a treasonous plot against their beloved Athens.
Be advised -- there's some rough language here. These boys don't mince words. If you're looking for a book to read to your Great Aunt Hilda, this ain't it. Unless Aunty Hilda was raised amongst a bunch of sailors. I was, so I had no problems with it, and I just ordered the second and third books in the series. Looking forward to seeing what else Philocles and his associates can get involved in.
Be advised -- there's some rough language here. These boys don't mince words. If you're looking for a book to read to your Great Aunt Hilda, this ain't it. Unless Aunty Hilda was raised amongst a bunch of sailors. I was, so I had no problems with it, and I just ordered the second and third books in the series. Looking forward to seeing what else Philocles and his associates can get involved in.
February 28, 2019
An Athenian Drama
The author is a Classics graduate and this who-dunnit set in democratic Athens of the Fifth Century BC shows accurate knowledge of the history and culture of ancient Greece as Athens begins to tighten grip on its allies and turn them into an empire. That is the highpoint of this review.
The body of a murdered man is dumped outside the house of an aspiring comic dramatist. He feels the need to investigate, while preparing himself and his troupe of actors to participate in the upcoming festival of Dionysus. Thus begins this rather nondescript and uninvolving mystery which refers to some of the main tensions between Athens and her allies of the time. The main problems are that the central character is almost entirely lacking in personality and that the mystery is never really resolved. This may be because the novel is clearly the opening teaser for a series, but my involvement ends here.
For an historically accurate and much more enjoyable crime series set in ancient Athens, try Margaret Doody’s Aristotle Detective novels.
The author is a Classics graduate and this who-dunnit set in democratic Athens of the Fifth Century BC shows accurate knowledge of the history and culture of ancient Greece as Athens begins to tighten grip on its allies and turn them into an empire. That is the highpoint of this review.
The body of a murdered man is dumped outside the house of an aspiring comic dramatist. He feels the need to investigate, while preparing himself and his troupe of actors to participate in the upcoming festival of Dionysus. Thus begins this rather nondescript and uninvolving mystery which refers to some of the main tensions between Athens and her allies of the time. The main problems are that the central character is almost entirely lacking in personality and that the mystery is never really resolved. This may be because the novel is clearly the opening teaser for a series, but my involvement ends here.
For an historically accurate and much more enjoyable crime series set in ancient Athens, try Margaret Doody’s Aristotle Detective novels.
June 9, 2025
An interesting hero living in an interesting time.
Ancient Greece several decades after the Battle of Thermopylae, (if I've got the math right) a young writer/playwright who earns his day to day living by writing eulogies and petitions from the court, has been fortunate enough to secure his big break by being chosen to write one of the five comedies performed at the festival of Dionysus. Justin then his shock when the night before the festival begins he discovers a corpse dumped outside his front gate. Then next day it gets worse, the dead man turns out to be a visitor to Athens, part of a delegation there to plead for worsening of the dues imposed on their town. Athens as their protectors, imposes the series to help.defray the cost of patrolling the seas between Greece and Persia, as well training their young men to fight in the army, all of these measures helping to keep the peace between the two nations. Our hero is a playwright such matters are beyond his ability to influence but luckily his patron (who is financing the play) is a member of one of Athens noblest families so hopefully with his status and influence they can work out why the man was murdered,.......................... This book has lots of twists and turns you don't see coming along with a good dose of humour on occasion, i really enjoyed it.
Ancient Greece several decades after the Battle of Thermopylae, (if I've got the math right) a young writer/playwright who earns his day to day living by writing eulogies and petitions from the court, has been fortunate enough to secure his big break by being chosen to write one of the five comedies performed at the festival of Dionysus. Justin then his shock when the night before the festival begins he discovers a corpse dumped outside his front gate. Then next day it gets worse, the dead man turns out to be a visitor to Athens, part of a delegation there to plead for worsening of the dues imposed on their town. Athens as their protectors, imposes the series to help.defray the cost of patrolling the seas between Greece and Persia, as well training their young men to fight in the army, all of these measures helping to keep the peace between the two nations. Our hero is a playwright such matters are beyond his ability to influence but luckily his patron (who is financing the play) is a member of one of Athens noblest families so hopefully with his status and influence they can work out why the man was murdered,.......................... This book has lots of twists and turns you don't see coming along with a good dose of humour on occasion, i really enjoyed it.
September 13, 2020
I bought this book while waiting to fly to Cyprus. I'm Greek and I was thrilled finding a book about a story in Ancient Athens. Though the story is not something important of a plot, I found quite intrigued that a non Greek writer has made effort to create the ambiance of the Greatest City during the Golden Age describing every day life, meals, customs, culture. For those who don't know anything about the ancient Greek culture the writer gives much information. However, I bet it would be difficult for someone non familiar with greek names of that time to keep up with the narration. To sum up I'd say that it's not the mystery that got me satisfied (that explains the 3 stars) but the background.
September 6, 2020
This one is a bit out of the mainstream for my usual reading but I know the author's writing from another genre. I found Shadows of Athens a bit slow to get going. Despite an interest in history I don't really know that much about classical Greece but I rather quickly found too much information about Greek theatre at the expense of plot advancement. I stuck with it and taht was worth it as the pacing picked up. It ended up quite a satisfying read.
December 25, 2019
"Shadows" is a solid, entertaining historical mystery set in the underbelly of Periclean Athens. I've read SO MANY historical mysteries set in the Roman Empire, I'm delighted to see something set during an earlier period, and where Pericles and Aspasia don't show up. There's some fun cl0ak-and-dagger intrigue, with Persia looming as a threat, and I like the fact that the hero is a playwright, so there's lots of stuff about the theatre.
The dialogue is pretty engaging without being overly anachronistic or relying on contemporary British or American slang, thank the gods, and everyone has pretty in-period attitudes as well. There's some violent action scenes and lots of yummy descriptions of food, so it definitely feels like the ancient Mediterranean!
I also liked how everything isn't wrapped up with a bow at the end, and how some threads will clearly carry over to the next book (which I am currently reading).
My only issue is that there's a fair amount of exposition dumping done through the dialogue (aka "As you know, Bob" dialogue), but it's hard to avoid that in a setting this unfamiliar to the average reader. It seems to get better as the series continues, I think.
So anyway, check this out if you like ancient settings or mysteries, or would like to read a historical mystery that doesn't use the tried and true Roman period.
The dialogue is pretty engaging without being overly anachronistic or relying on contemporary British or American slang, thank the gods, and everyone has pretty in-period attitudes as well. There's some violent action scenes and lots of yummy descriptions of food, so it definitely feels like the ancient Mediterranean!
I also liked how everything isn't wrapped up with a bow at the end, and how some threads will clearly carry over to the next book (which I am currently reading).
My only issue is that there's a fair amount of exposition dumping done through the dialogue (aka "As you know, Bob" dialogue), but it's hard to avoid that in a setting this unfamiliar to the average reader. It seems to get better as the series continues, I think.
So anyway, check this out if you like ancient settings or mysteries, or would like to read a historical mystery that doesn't use the tried and true Roman period.
February 2, 2020
Excellent historical crime novel set in Athens at the time of Pericles.
Great feel for time and place and great characters that you'll want to revisit.
Highly recommended.
Great feel for time and place and great characters that you'll want to revisit.
Highly recommended.
July 31, 2022
Not as good as I expected. Most of the plot is not about crime and there are no gripping plot twists. Like the detective part of the plot was just a little addition to the theatre festival plot.
March 14, 2019
I’m a fan of Lindsay Davies’ Falco novels set in Rome and in Philocles, J.M.Alvey has created a character who is just as engaging and equally as intrepid. Shadows of Athens is set in 443 B.C. After years of gruelling war with Persia, peace is flourishing and Athens is girding its loins to become the centre of glorious temples and cultural wonders it will be known for.
Athenians are preparing for the Festival of Dionysia; not least of them is Philocles, a writer and humourist who is penning a play for his patron, Aristarchos which will compete for the festival’s comedy prize. Frequent sacrifices are made to the Gods to ask for victory in the competition and Philocles is on hand at every rehearsal to school the actors and ensure his script is adhered to.
All is chaos, but no more so than usual when, on returning home from a rehearsal, Philocles finds a dead man lying outside the gates of his home. The man is unknown to Philocles, but has had his throat cut and it’s pretty clear from what was left on his body that this was no robbery gone wrong.
Philocles learns that the man was part of the influx of tourists from the Hellenic States who flock to the festival of Dionysus to enjoy the culture. But this man and his compatriots had another reason for coming to Athens. Someone is stirring up discontent amongst the dependent states and rumours of dissent are growing.
The Greek city-states had made peace with the Persian Empire and Athens now effectively controls all the Greek city states in Ionia. A great building plan has begun to re-fortify Athens main port and its long walls extending to Athens main city but also including the massive rebuilding program of Athenian temples. Dependent states and cities pay large contributions to Athens to keep them safe but, to all intents and purposes, it is easy for it to look as if all this money is being turned into marble temples, whilst the residents of the outlying states have given up all they have for their safety.
Philocles, finding the dead man at his home, has no option but to turn detective, assisted by the backing of his patron.
I really enjoyed this innovative approach to historical detective fiction. Alvey creates a fantastic picture of Athens and its people, the gossip, political intrigue and customs of the times.
In Philocles, too, we have a well-rounded protagonist. Learned but needing to work and thus reliant on patrons, he lives with his partner, Zosime, herself an artist. Zosime is not an Athenian and so they are not married, but Philocles loves her and is very protective of her. This is also the case for his brother in arms, Kadous,who lives as his slave in accordance with Athenian custom, but who is in reality much more his friend and sometimes bodyguard.
Thus Philocles is established as both an Athenian, able to visit the Agora with all his rights and privileges as an Athenian, but also something of an outsider with an unconventional household which lends him the right credentials to look into those whose outward appearance may be as good Athenians, but whose morals and motives may be more suspect.
Philocles has brothers involved in the tannery trade and a sub-plot running through the book deals with problems relating to supply, but is also a means of introducing us to Philocles wider family for future books, I imagine.
As our intrepid protagonist roams the festive streets of Athens looking for clues, he comes up against some pretty loathsome characters. Hired killers and aristocratic youth with more money than sense are entwined in a political play that combines intrigue, deception and murder but which, if successful, will net the instigators huge rewards.
As he investigates, Philocles comes up against some serious violence more than once and is lucky to come out alive.
I very much enjoyed this novel and hope it is the start of a series. Alvey has gifted us a new and exciting world of Grecian intrigue and in Philocles, a protagonist of wit and intelligence.
Verdict: An enjoyable and immersive journey into Athens’ past written with style and wit.
Athenians are preparing for the Festival of Dionysia; not least of them is Philocles, a writer and humourist who is penning a play for his patron, Aristarchos which will compete for the festival’s comedy prize. Frequent sacrifices are made to the Gods to ask for victory in the competition and Philocles is on hand at every rehearsal to school the actors and ensure his script is adhered to.
All is chaos, but no more so than usual when, on returning home from a rehearsal, Philocles finds a dead man lying outside the gates of his home. The man is unknown to Philocles, but has had his throat cut and it’s pretty clear from what was left on his body that this was no robbery gone wrong.
Philocles learns that the man was part of the influx of tourists from the Hellenic States who flock to the festival of Dionysus to enjoy the culture. But this man and his compatriots had another reason for coming to Athens. Someone is stirring up discontent amongst the dependent states and rumours of dissent are growing.
The Greek city-states had made peace with the Persian Empire and Athens now effectively controls all the Greek city states in Ionia. A great building plan has begun to re-fortify Athens main port and its long walls extending to Athens main city but also including the massive rebuilding program of Athenian temples. Dependent states and cities pay large contributions to Athens to keep them safe but, to all intents and purposes, it is easy for it to look as if all this money is being turned into marble temples, whilst the residents of the outlying states have given up all they have for their safety.
Philocles, finding the dead man at his home, has no option but to turn detective, assisted by the backing of his patron.
I really enjoyed this innovative approach to historical detective fiction. Alvey creates a fantastic picture of Athens and its people, the gossip, political intrigue and customs of the times.
In Philocles, too, we have a well-rounded protagonist. Learned but needing to work and thus reliant on patrons, he lives with his partner, Zosime, herself an artist. Zosime is not an Athenian and so they are not married, but Philocles loves her and is very protective of her. This is also the case for his brother in arms, Kadous,who lives as his slave in accordance with Athenian custom, but who is in reality much more his friend and sometimes bodyguard.
Thus Philocles is established as both an Athenian, able to visit the Agora with all his rights and privileges as an Athenian, but also something of an outsider with an unconventional household which lends him the right credentials to look into those whose outward appearance may be as good Athenians, but whose morals and motives may be more suspect.
Philocles has brothers involved in the tannery trade and a sub-plot running through the book deals with problems relating to supply, but is also a means of introducing us to Philocles wider family for future books, I imagine.
As our intrepid protagonist roams the festive streets of Athens looking for clues, he comes up against some pretty loathsome characters. Hired killers and aristocratic youth with more money than sense are entwined in a political play that combines intrigue, deception and murder but which, if successful, will net the instigators huge rewards.
As he investigates, Philocles comes up against some serious violence more than once and is lucky to come out alive.
I very much enjoyed this novel and hope it is the start of a series. Alvey has gifted us a new and exciting world of Grecian intrigue and in Philocles, a protagonist of wit and intelligence.
Verdict: An enjoyable and immersive journey into Athens’ past written with style and wit.
March 18, 2019
The story follows a playwright, Philocles, who is busy making final preparations for his new production, due to be shown as part of festival in post-war Athens. There's a sense of hustle and bustle, of commerce (wine, olives and a nice belt, anyone?) in the city centre, and a real sense of community rebuilding after the war.
Everyone has a place in the hierarchy, from the slaves who spend their days cutting skins, to the spice peddlars - and sat on high, the Furies - or, to you and me, the Gods who Philocles fears. And then he walks home to find a man, slumped against his gate with his throat slit. How bloody inconvenient. He's got a play to sort. His tannery order hasn't delivered, so his slaves are twiddling their thumbs. And it's the festival, where hoards of visitors will visit Athens and offer up produce to the priests (who cut a tidy profit on the leftovers). So a blood soaked stranger from out of town, who apparently wanted to procure Philocles' services, isn't helping matters.
The murder mystery shares centre stage in the novel, and wraps around other events - the play, the family business, relationships, politics, and so it never overwhelms you. Some pure mystery readers might take a humph at this, but I didn't mind it at all.. I enjoyed delving into the lives of these Athens' inhabitants.
Terrified of the Furies' reaction to the murder, Philocles sets out to find out who the deceased is, and who the hell killed him. Obviously I'm not telling who murdered who and why... But let me tell you what I loved about this book...
The setting
Alvey knows his Ancient Greece, it sings from the pages. The culture, smells and textures open up almost musically in parts for you - an example:
"There's olive oil, raisins and herbs for sale, and spices ranging from humble garlic to seasonings as exotic as silphium from Cyrene. There are dates and almonds from Paphlagonia, more often than not. When bells proclaim the day's fresh fish fetched up from the harbour at Piraeus, sometimes I honestly fear someone will get trampled in the rush."
What a glorious market scene.
The knowledge
What I like even more though, is that Alvey uses his knowledge to entertaining, rather than 'look at me and what I know' - and I appreciate that. The descriptions of the clothing, from the nailed shoes, to the stitched tunics, sing with authenticity.
The relationships feel authentic too. For example Philocles' partner, Zosime, isn't afraid to talk to strangers, particuarly men, because she's not Athenian - she doesn't have their more conservative culture at her heart. She has a freer spirit. She investigates the dead body and the man's clothing for clues. I like her for that!
There's also lots of humour dotted about - phrases such as 'Nymenios could go kiss a piglet' will be used by me at some point this week.
Thumbs up from me!
Everyone has a place in the hierarchy, from the slaves who spend their days cutting skins, to the spice peddlars - and sat on high, the Furies - or, to you and me, the Gods who Philocles fears. And then he walks home to find a man, slumped against his gate with his throat slit. How bloody inconvenient. He's got a play to sort. His tannery order hasn't delivered, so his slaves are twiddling their thumbs. And it's the festival, where hoards of visitors will visit Athens and offer up produce to the priests (who cut a tidy profit on the leftovers). So a blood soaked stranger from out of town, who apparently wanted to procure Philocles' services, isn't helping matters.
The murder mystery shares centre stage in the novel, and wraps around other events - the play, the family business, relationships, politics, and so it never overwhelms you. Some pure mystery readers might take a humph at this, but I didn't mind it at all.. I enjoyed delving into the lives of these Athens' inhabitants.
Terrified of the Furies' reaction to the murder, Philocles sets out to find out who the deceased is, and who the hell killed him. Obviously I'm not telling who murdered who and why... But let me tell you what I loved about this book...
The setting
Alvey knows his Ancient Greece, it sings from the pages. The culture, smells and textures open up almost musically in parts for you - an example:
"There's olive oil, raisins and herbs for sale, and spices ranging from humble garlic to seasonings as exotic as silphium from Cyrene. There are dates and almonds from Paphlagonia, more often than not. When bells proclaim the day's fresh fish fetched up from the harbour at Piraeus, sometimes I honestly fear someone will get trampled in the rush."
What a glorious market scene.
The knowledge
What I like even more though, is that Alvey uses his knowledge to entertaining, rather than 'look at me and what I know' - and I appreciate that. The descriptions of the clothing, from the nailed shoes, to the stitched tunics, sing with authenticity.
The relationships feel authentic too. For example Philocles' partner, Zosime, isn't afraid to talk to strangers, particuarly men, because she's not Athenian - she doesn't have their more conservative culture at her heart. She has a freer spirit. She investigates the dead body and the man's clothing for clues. I like her for that!
There's also lots of humour dotted about - phrases such as 'Nymenios could go kiss a piglet' will be used by me at some point this week.
Thumbs up from me!
March 12, 2019
When I was given the opportunity to read and review this book on behalf of Orion Books I have to say I was so intrigued that I jumped at the opportunity. I have read novels set in Ancient Rome, but have never read anything set in Ancient Greece before so it was a completely new experience for me.
JM Alvey’s academic background as a Classics graduate and comprehensive research has resulted in such exemplary world building that I could picture myself in Athens, alongside Philocles, his partner Zosime and his family and the players. Personally I would have loved a map to help picture where everything was, but notwithstanding this it was still easy to have a mental picture of the location and the culture. I really enjoyed the murder mystery aspect of the novel, which had me guessing throughout and it was really entertaining to see how it developed. I also particularly liked the way in which it drew on the political events of the period.
As far as the main characters were concerned, I found myself warming to Philocles throughout the story, but his feisty partner Zosime was such a wonderful character from the start, strong, opinionated, and not at all like the Athenian women around her. I found myself wanting to know more about the characters, including the players, which I think is perhaps the only minor weakness of the novel. However it made sense when I found that Shadows of Athens is the first in a series of murder mysteries set in Ancient Greece, and the second novel, Scorpions in Corinth, will be released in September 2019.
Shadows of Athens was an enjoyable romp through Ancient Greece, and having fully immersed myself in the world created by JM Alvey, I am filled with anticipation for how this series will develop. Shadows of Athens is out now.
Thank you to Orion Books, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Shadows of Athens.
JM Alvey’s academic background as a Classics graduate and comprehensive research has resulted in such exemplary world building that I could picture myself in Athens, alongside Philocles, his partner Zosime and his family and the players. Personally I would have loved a map to help picture where everything was, but notwithstanding this it was still easy to have a mental picture of the location and the culture. I really enjoyed the murder mystery aspect of the novel, which had me guessing throughout and it was really entertaining to see how it developed. I also particularly liked the way in which it drew on the political events of the period.
As far as the main characters were concerned, I found myself warming to Philocles throughout the story, but his feisty partner Zosime was such a wonderful character from the start, strong, opinionated, and not at all like the Athenian women around her. I found myself wanting to know more about the characters, including the players, which I think is perhaps the only minor weakness of the novel. However it made sense when I found that Shadows of Athens is the first in a series of murder mysteries set in Ancient Greece, and the second novel, Scorpions in Corinth, will be released in September 2019.
Shadows of Athens was an enjoyable romp through Ancient Greece, and having fully immersed myself in the world created by JM Alvey, I am filled with anticipation for how this series will develop. Shadows of Athens is out now.
Thank you to Orion Books, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Shadows of Athens.
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May 17, 2020Set in Athens in the 5th century BCE, this is a murder mystery featuring comic playwright Philocles. On arriving home one night after festival preparations, Philocles stumbles upon a man with a cut throat. Various clues suggests this isn't just a random murder, and that someone may be out to discredit Philocles and his patron. So, in addition to the stresses of competing in the city Dionysia, Philocles has to investigate the murder as well as keeping his friends and family safe.
The writing was clear and easy to read. Clues came along at a good rate. I enjoyed the integration of historical information, especially the "behind the scenes" theatrical practices. It's clear that society and life were very different in those days, and Philocles makes those details count without having a jarringly anachronistic attitude. The characters are interesting and distinctive, and everything moved on at a good pace.
In summary, an enjoyable historical murder mystery with careful attention to detail.
The writing was clear and easy to read. Clues came along at a good rate. I enjoyed the integration of historical information, especially the "behind the scenes" theatrical practices. It's clear that society and life were very different in those days, and Philocles makes those details count without having a jarringly anachronistic attitude. The characters are interesting and distinctive, and everything moved on at a good pace.
In summary, an enjoyable historical murder mystery with careful attention to detail.
December 15, 2019
A close friend suggested the book to me, and I noted two other people I know were thanked in the endnote, so I was particularly disappointed not to be drawn into the world of this playwright in Classical Athens at its height. It was full of detail, but that was part of the problem - so much about the position of foreigners or slaves or the history of the Persian war just got in the way. I wish I could rate this more highly, but I found it unengaging and full of infodumps. Typical example: "I glanced up at the Acropolis and silently begged gracious Athena to show me how to bring down these bastards who so blatantly scorned our democracy."
Highly relevant to me in the week of the catastrophic General Election, but typical of the style, clunky sentences allied to a determination to include as much cultural baggage as possible, even at moments that were supposed to be very tense. Reasonably accurate research as far as I could tell (steel knives, though? Not sure about that) but just way too much of what needs to be handled with a light touch. Historical whodunnits need plenty of context and period background, yes, but if you don't care all that much about the characters they aren't going to work.
July 14, 2021
I checker TWICE while reading this book if JM Alvey was a pen-name for Steven Saylor, that's how much it reminds me of the Roma Sub Rosa-series. Basically, if you enjoy those books, these are the almost the same but set a 450 years earlier and in Athens.
The only real difference in style is the Forrest Gump/Zelig-like quality of Roma Sub Rosa, where Gordianus works on the periphery of great men known to history. That is not the case here. Philocles seems inspired by a real-life playwright of the same name who lived a few hundred years later, but both him and his cases seem less grounded in real historical happenings. This can be seen as bot a positive and a negative, of course. The historical details are spot on and extremely interesting though.
The only real difference in style is the Forrest Gump/Zelig-like quality of Roma Sub Rosa, where Gordianus works on the periphery of great men known to history. That is not the case here. Philocles seems inspired by a real-life playwright of the same name who lived a few hundred years later, but both him and his cases seem less grounded in real historical happenings. This can be seen as bot a positive and a negative, of course. The historical details are spot on and extremely interesting though.
February 19, 2019
It's all Greek to me!
I did Latin at school for 4 years, so I'm reasonably well-versed in Roman history, but I only did a little Greek history nearly 40 years ago. As a consequence it took me a little while to get into the rhythm of this book - the Greek names took some getting used to.
That said, this is an intriguing historical setting for a murder mystery! And it's packed full of details about daily life in Ancient Athens, but never goes over the top. Too often authors who've really researched something for a book end up spoiling the reading experience for me because their research is showing. Alvey never does this.
A good read.
I did Latin at school for 4 years, so I'm reasonably well-versed in Roman history, but I only did a little Greek history nearly 40 years ago. As a consequence it took me a little while to get into the rhythm of this book - the Greek names took some getting used to.
That said, this is an intriguing historical setting for a murder mystery! And it's packed full of details about daily life in Ancient Athens, but never goes over the top. Too often authors who've really researched something for a book end up spoiling the reading experience for me because their research is showing. Alvey never does this.
A good read.
February 13, 2022
I got a huge kick out of this. It started a little slow but then it warmed up fast. Loved the characterizations and the political intrigue. I must acknowledge that I am a fan of mysteries with exotic settings and love historical fiction based in ancient Greece--so I might fallen into the intrigues more easily than other readers. The author does lead the reader which I think could work for those dipping their toes into this world for the first time as well. I definitely will be seeking out the author's other books in this series.
October 9, 2019
Thank Clio and Melpomene, a writer of historical mystery who both knows and loves the period he’s writing. I will never understand people who think they can write about history without learning it. (I’m still not over the woman who had fashionable London of 1920 drinking green apple martinis. That was 100 years ago you twit. Do some research.)
The mystery was serviceable but not earthshaking. The true glory is life in Athens in the time of Pericles. I’m so happy.
The mystery was serviceable but not earthshaking. The true glory is life in Athens in the time of Pericles. I’m so happy.
September 15, 2023
Another intriguing novel, a murder mystery in Ancient Greece, set in Athens. Having enjoyed other crime novels set in historical settings, I thought this was worth a go and this was a good read. The story centres on a Athenian playwright who discovers a body outside his home. The story contains lots of historical details but this doesn’t slow the pace of the novel and the main protagonists in the story are engaging and will be reading the rest of the books on the series
November 12, 2019
It was alright. Nicely written. Interesting characters. I felt quite immersed within the Athenian world and culture. The beauty, art and spirituality contrasted with dramatic effect against the violence and intrigue. I found the names hard to pronounce which was annoying, but that’s Greek for you. All in all a good fun read.
August 3, 2023
SHADOWS OF ATHENS is a unique, smooth flowing historical mystery set in Athens, 443 B.C. The plot is traditional , but includes the Athenian theatrical flavor, interesting Greek characters, and lots of references to Greek tragedy and comedy. Interesting, but not something I would normally pick off the shelf.
April 29, 2019
Enjoyable detective story set in Periclean Athens. One of those cultures may change but human nature is eternal things. Enjoyably twisty although a little slow in places, an excellent accompaniment to Lindsay Davis' Falco books.
July 6, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed. Good character development, nice use of historical setting. The author did a nice job of weaving the politics of the age into the mystery, causing me to look deeper into the period as I read. Hope to see many more in the series!!
August 17, 2021
A great plot with well defined characters. I really enjoyed how the author mixed fiction with fact. Athens and the City Dionysia was brought to life through a gripping well thought out plot which I throughly enjoyed!
March 6, 2023
An excellent adventure in ancient Athens
With a sure hand, the author leads you through the streets, the theater and the chambers of the first democracy in the company of a likable amateur investigator in Philocles.
With a sure hand, the author leads you through the streets, the theater and the chambers of the first democracy in the company of a likable amateur investigator in Philocles.
July 11, 2023
a very smart and interesting and unusual mystery. Starts a bit slow, with a lot of scholarship in the setting, but quickly picks up a great twisting and intricate mystery entirely in keeping with the setting of Ancient Athens. Can't wait for the next one!
October 2, 2019
Disappointing - little too much tell and not enough show.
November 29, 2020
Very enjoyable murder mystery.
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