The Messenger of Athens (The Greek Detective #1) in Around the World in 80 Books

Sep 19, 2019 Pam rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-fiction, greece, 2019-books-read

AUTHOR Zouradi, Anne
TITLE The Messenger of Athens
DATE READ 09/19/19
RATING 4.5/B+
FIRST SENTENCE I Early morning, and a sombre sky, The sea, stirred to sand slurry by a bitter wind, had turned opague.
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF Crime Fiction/2007/kindle/336 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE #1 Hermes Diaktros/The Fat Man PI
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2019 Reading Goal 142/111; Around the World 2019-2021 80 Books in Diff Countries - Greece - 22/80; Author Alphabet Z 22/26
GROUP READ
TIME/PLACE 2007/ Greece -- ...more

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Aug 27, 2010 Tony rated it liked it

Shelves: own-loanable, novels

As an aficionado of foreign-set mysteries, and 1/4 Greek, I couldn't pass up this first book in the "Mysteries of the Greek Detective" series (since followed by The Taint of Midas, The Doctor of Thessaly, and The Lady of Sorrows). It takes place on the fictional Greek island of Thiminos, a small, unprepossessing island that lies dormant most of the year, until the tourists show up for the summer. And did I mention how bleak it is? Damp pervades the houses, the social mores are stifling, and life As an aficionado of foreign-set mysteries, and 1/4 Greek, I couldn't pass up this first book in the "Mysteries of the Greek Detective" series (since followed by The Taint of Midas, The Doctor of Thessaly, and The Lady of Sorrows). It takes place on the fictional Greek island of Thiminos, a small, unprepossessing island that lies dormant most of the year, until the tourists show up for the summer. And did I mention how bleak it is? Damp pervades the houses, the social mores are stifling, and life couldn't get much drabber. It reads like something from a century ago, as the women's lives are given entirely to tending to their men, and the men's lives are given entirely to doing as little as possible and indulging their stomachs (and other organs).

One day, a young wife is found dead at the base of a cliff, and the cops and locals rule it an accident. However, the next ferry from the mainland brings with it the stout but dapper Hermes Diaktoros, who airily informs one and all that he's been sent to look into the death. And so the story very slowly unfolds, as the interloper pokes his nose about the island, prying into private affairs, lending a sympathetic ear here, laying on the flattery there, and threatening the recalcitrant. The author writes exceptionally well about both the physical and psychological makeup of the island and its people. However, the pace of the story is very very slow, and there's no hint of danger or menace anywhere. In that sense, it's highly unlikely to appeal to the typical mystery reader. Which is not to say that it doesn't have its charms, just that anyone expected a gripping read should turn elsewhere.

Probably the most interesting thing about the book is its protagonist, the shrewd and mysterious Hermes Diaktoros. His name, of course, is that of the messenger of the Greek gods, the son of Zeus. Hermes many epithets, since he was the patron of many aspects of society (including thieves), but "Diaktoros" is the one that refers to his role as messenger from the gods to mortals. So, the author is playing a coy game of suggesting that the character is perhaps a supernatural being in human guise, sent to right wrongs. It's a cute conceit (perhaps too cute), but clues to the true origins of the character can be found in not only his distinctive name, but his rotund build, fastidious hygiene, and appreciation for good food. These are all traits he shares with two of the greatest European detectives ever known, and whom surely inspired the author: Hercule Poirot (Belgium) and Nero Wolfe (Montenegro). While the character is all set to be as memorable as those two predecessors, he'll first need some more challenging mysteries to untangle than are present in this debut. ...more

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May 22, 2016 Anna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Don't you just love it when you read the first book in a series and find that you really liked it? That is exactly what happened to me with this lovely book by Anne Zouroudi.

For my full review please visit my blog at: http://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogspo... ...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Windy rated it really liked it

Shelves: around-the-world

First of the Mysteries of the Greek Detective which, like most crime stories, begins with the discovery of a body. However as well as following the detective in his enquiries, this book goes on to give the story starting a year before giving the lead up to the death which makes it so much more than just a murder mystery. Very enjoyable

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