Murder at the Panionic Games

Rating:
Summary: amazing - in a negative sense
Review: I am sorry for a harsh judgment on this book that I have to deliver. This novel is indeed an amazing piece of incompetence.
It presents a remarkable mixture of dozens of the learned Greek words and total ignorance about certain basic things which constitute our knowledge of ancient Greece (it suffices to point out the reference to gladiators - and this is in the context of VI B.C. Hellenized Asia Minor, while the gladiatorial games were introduced, at least a centure later, in Rome by the Etruscans!). Even more astonishing is the author's onomastics: almost all the names (with the exception of the narrator Bias who was indeed a historical figure, one of the Seven Sages of Greece, and a couple of others) are notoriously un-Greek; in classical times, the Greek alphabet did not have a letter to connote the sound V, so a character called Valato is a sheer impossibility; no more possible were the names like Bilassa, Ossadia or Ustius. Why the author had not taken trouble to select for his characters any of hundreds Greek names historically attested? This is a magnificent example of sloppiness, increasingly characteristic of many present day practitioners who write historical fiction. Furthermore, I fear that a greater historical accuracy might have destroyed, or at least damaged, this novel's plot (in itself, neither inventive nor especially exciting). In any event, the author should have been advised, befor submiting it for publication to his, I fear to say, equally incompetent editors, at least to consult a professional classicist who could have helped him to remove numerous anachronisms, and only then perhaps make an a try at salvaging the book

Rating:
Summary: A historical delight and a great whodunit
Review: Michael Edwards presently teaches at Garinger High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was a career officer and retired as a Army Lieutenant Colonel. He traveled widely, thus inspiring this mystery written about the Ionic League. Murder At The Panionic Games is his debut mystery novel.

Set in Priene, Greece in 650 B.C., Murder at the Panionic Games opens with Bias, a minor priest assigned to solve a murder that is shadowing the Panionic Games and casting what is called a "miasma of death" on the proceedings. Priene's best athlete has been poisoned and died in Bias' arms. Because he touched the unfortunate man, it is up to Bias to set things straight. Having no investigative abilities, Bias decides to use his best tool...his logic. But he doesn't have much time, and other than a warrant to give him authority, he doesn't have backup:

"It is not whether you will obtain answers, but rather whether you will even be allowed to ask questions in many cases! Even with your so-called warrant, the citizens of this and the other League cities are under no obligation to cooperate with you.' He paused, and added quietly, All I am saying is that you need to conduct your inquiries in such a manner that the possible witnesses or suspects will either want to cooperate or will feel obligated to, at the very least.'"

Edwards uses Bias' point of view to share the world of ancient Greece to the reader. We are treated to a collection of sights and sounds which make up Bias' world, even as he works his way through his first investigative assignment...an assignment in which he must not fail, for the sake of his family and his standing in society. Edwards develops Bias' character in a subtle, understated way which speaks volumes in a society in which stronger men are sacrificed in silly games for the sake of pride and vanity.

The murder itself turns into a perplexing tangle of possibilities, with fair maidens who may not be so fair or innocent as they seem at first glance. Edwards succeeds in covering the trail until the final explosive chapter, which is an inversion of the first chapter. Murder At The Panionic Games is a historical delight and a great whodunit. Bias is a lovable, clever detective.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

Rating:
Summary: A Great Weekend Read!
Review: This book is an intriguing read, full of adventure and suspense. A great book to take with you to the beach or for your weekend getaway, it is easy to read, but that doesn't detract from the mystery. I highly recommend it as both a historical fiction and a mystery.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Weekend Read!
Review: This book is an intriguing read, full of adventure and suspense. A great book to take with you to the beach or for your weekend getaway, it is easy to read, but that doesn't detract from the mystery. I highly recommend it as both a historical fiction and a mystery.

Rating:
Summary: An Enjoyable Read, but not for historic veracity
Review: This book is enjoyable (and quick) to read, and did a good job of conveying the feeling of collecting information and drawing conclusions (which the hero isn't very good at) for someone who doesn't even understand the basic concept of detection. The ancient Greek setting is unusual, although the author needed to do some more homework. Generally a good start to a possible series; I only hope some of the historic details are researched a bit more thoroughly in the future.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: This mystery novel set in ancient Greece is a fun read and immensely enjoyable. While the whodunnit part is not as difficult to figure out as others in the genre, it was still a great ride due to the novelty of the setting. There are a few anachronisms but most readers will not feel the need to pore over the text to find them.
All in all, I heartily recommend this book and look forward to the next installment in this series.