Four for a Boy

John the Eunuch #4

by Mary Reed, Eric Mayer

Nominee, Bruce Alexander History Mystery Award

Best Little Known Series, Booklist

It's unnaturally cold in Constantinople this winter of 525. The Emperor Justin is dying, and Theodora, the ambitious former actress his gravely ill successor Justinian intends to marry, is making demands in the imperial court.
When a wealthy philanthropist is killed in broad daylight in the Great Church, it isn't entirely surprising that Justinian engages an anonymous young slave called John to investigate what many believe could be a conspiracy aimed at swaying the succession. Suspects are many among those whose lives might be touched by an senators, churchmen, wealthy businessmen, even laborers, beggars, and prostitutes.
In this prequel to the series, John takes his first dangerous steps along the path toward freedom from slavery and his eventual appointment as Lord Chamberlain.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery

292 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Anna Bergmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the last installment... What can I say? This might be a small step for humankind, but a huge leap forward for Reed and Mayer!

Story wise this is a prequel. John the Eunuch is fifteen years younger and still a slave. He feels angry, helpless and humiliated. Emotions that provides him with a stronger personality than his older, wealthier, more successful self, and his youthful strength makes for a lot more physical excitement. I mean, at the end of the book... That last home stretch action when Johnny boy runs for his life... It's so good time simply flies by when you read it. (And thinking about it, our eunuch hero actually flies by as well. Believe it or not.)

Adding all the smiles I got from John running into character after character from earlier installments, getting to know them for the first time, this sure was entertaining. 4,5 stars and a wish that the whole series could have been this fun. But no... I'm pretty sure that the "old" John will be back again in the next installment, the light whiff of a Marcus Didius Falco P.I. wit and grit-feel nothing but a distant melancholy memory. A sad thing that.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical mystery/thriller set in Constantinople curing Justin's era.

Plodding writing. No real tension. I guess you could say competently written, but I won't be reading any more.

[Mary MacKintosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book, and felt it brought forward some of the dangers of its time, when no one was truly safe, and many lived only at the pleasure of a more powerful personage. John is an interesting character, although I felt there was much in his past that was not revealed. I suppose the author plans other "prequels" to explore his earlier life.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives the backstory of how John became a detective. The mystery isn't quite as compelling as the previous three in the series, but the authors make 5th century Constantinople come to life so it was still a fun read.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story, but I felt that it dragged.

[Margareth8537 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable series