Barbara R. (Crop4Fun) reviewed A Murder in Macedon (Alexander the Great, Bk 1) on + 1217 more book reviews
In the summer of 336 B.C., Philip of Macedon has summoned all of Greece to join him in celebration in the old capital of Aegae. As he enters the arena filled with his loyal subjects, he is brutally stabbed by the cruel dagger of Pausanias, a young captain of his guard. Soon the palace corridors are awash in fear and chaos: Philip's ex-wife, the witch Olympias and mother of his son Alexander, plots the violent death of his young successor; Alexander, unconvinced that Pausanias is actually his father's executioner, scours the city for a killer amidst rumors of his own illegitimacy; and everyone, including Alexander himself, falls under the dark cloud of suspicion.As Alexander struggles to fill his father's role as ruler of Greece, he calls on the help of his young Hebrew friends Miriam and Simeon to uncover not just Philip's assassin, but the mystery of his own origins. From the dark chambers of Olympia's lair to the sun-baked streets of ancient Greece, Anna Apostolou unfolds a magnificent tale of antiquity and intrigue in rich historical detail.
In the summer of 336 B.C., Philip of Macedon, a master of ancient Greece, is about to celebrate his glorious reign. Philip, intent on his moment of glory, has summoned all of Greece to the great celebrations in the old capital of Aegae. At his crowning moment, Philip is murdered by Pausanias, the young captain of his guard. As the Macedonian court sinks into chaos, his son Alexander must fight for his rights against treachery both at home and abroad, all the while searching for those responsible for his father's death. Martin's Press.
Industry reviews
Larger-than-life events and characters crowd the stage as the young and comely Alexander takes power after the murder of his father, the one-eyed, lame, womanizing Philip of Macedon. Apparently innocent himself, Alexander asks his Jewish friends Miriam and Simeon to find out who was behind the murder. Suspects abound, including Alexander's resentful and witchlike mother. Plenty of blood, gore, battlefields, scheming, crumbling palaces, wenching, drinking, and famous names compensate for some rocky segues. An exciting glimpse into a turbulent time; Apostolou is the pseudonym of a noted writer of historical mysteries.
Palace intrigue, treachery and secret rites pervade the court of Philip of Macedon in this promising kickoff to a new series set in ancient Greece. In 336 B.C., Philip is at the height of his political power and is happy at home with his new wife and infant son. However, his first wife, the sorceress Olympias, also lives in the palace with her son, Alexander. Olympias is determined that Alexander will one day be king, despite the rumors that he is not Philip's son. At a great ceremony to celebrate the enforced unification of all Greece under his rule, Philip is murdered by the captain of his guards, Pausanias, who is quickly captured and killed. Amid whispers that he and Olympias arranged his father's death, Alexander assumes the throne and asks his trusted companions, the Jewish actors Miriam and Simeon, to investigate his father's murder. Eagerly assuming the role of detective, Miriam discovers that Pausanias, a homosexual and transvestite, had been Philip's lover, and that Olympias had wanted Pausanias to kill Philip's new wife. But gradually she learns that Philip himself was the architect of a labyrinthine plot designed to expose any traitors to him. With scrupulous attention to period detail, lively characters and an unusual detective, this is a fine addition to the ranks of historical mysteries.
In the summer of 336 B.C., Philip of Macedon, a master of ancient Greece, is about to celebrate his glorious reign. Philip, intent on his moment of glory, has summoned all of Greece to the great celebrations in the old capital of Aegae. At his crowning moment, Philip is murdered by Pausanias, the young captain of his guard. As the Macedonian court sinks into chaos, his son Alexander must fight for his rights against treachery both at home and abroad, all the while searching for those responsible for his father's death. Martin's Press.
Industry reviews
Larger-than-life events and characters crowd the stage as the young and comely Alexander takes power after the murder of his father, the one-eyed, lame, womanizing Philip of Macedon. Apparently innocent himself, Alexander asks his Jewish friends Miriam and Simeon to find out who was behind the murder. Suspects abound, including Alexander's resentful and witchlike mother. Plenty of blood, gore, battlefields, scheming, crumbling palaces, wenching, drinking, and famous names compensate for some rocky segues. An exciting glimpse into a turbulent time; Apostolou is the pseudonym of a noted writer of historical mysteries.
Palace intrigue, treachery and secret rites pervade the court of Philip of Macedon in this promising kickoff to a new series set in ancient Greece. In 336 B.C., Philip is at the height of his political power and is happy at home with his new wife and infant son. However, his first wife, the sorceress Olympias, also lives in the palace with her son, Alexander. Olympias is determined that Alexander will one day be king, despite the rumors that he is not Philip's son. At a great ceremony to celebrate the enforced unification of all Greece under his rule, Philip is murdered by the captain of his guards, Pausanias, who is quickly captured and killed. Amid whispers that he and Olympias arranged his father's death, Alexander assumes the throne and asks his trusted companions, the Jewish actors Miriam and Simeon, to investigate his father's murder. Eagerly assuming the role of detective, Miriam discovers that Pausanias, a homosexual and transvestite, had been Philip's lover, and that Olympias had wanted Pausanias to kill Philip's new wife. But gradually she learns that Philip himself was the architect of a labyrinthine plot designed to expose any traitors to him. With scrupulous attention to period detail, lively characters and an unusual detective, this is a fine addition to the ranks of historical mysteries.
