A playwright turned amateur sleuth who is “the perfect protagonist” solves a murder at a celebration in this historical mystery set in ancient Greece (Financial Times).
 
It’s festival time in Athens, and Philocles is looking forward to the holiday. Visitors are coming from across the Hellenic world for eight days of sporting competitions, musical contests, and sacred rites to honor Athena, the city’s patron goddess.
Thousands will flock to the Pnyx to be enthralled by the dramatic three-day performance of Homer’s Iliad, an entertainment unique to the Great Panathenaea. Taking part is the highest honor and greatest challenge for an epic poet. Then one of the poets is brutally murdered.
Is this random misfortune, an old score being settled, or is someone trying to sabotage the festival? The authorities want this cleared up quickly and quietly. Philocles finds himself on the trail of a killer once more . . .
Longlisted for the 2021 CWA Sapere Books Historical Dagger
Praise for the writing of J. M. Alvey:
 
“Historical writing at its best. Riveting.” —Manda Scott, author of the Boudica series
 
“Superb . . . A fabulous read.” —The Irish Times
 
“If you like C J Sansom's Tudor sleuth Matthew Shardlake, you'll love this.” —James Wilde, author of Hereward and Pendragon
“Great sense of place, terrific characters and a cracking plot.” —Joanne Harris, New York Times–bestselling author of Chocolat
“As vivid and lively as a Greek wedding—but with rather more blood!” —Val McDermid, author of the Kate Brannigan Mysteries
“It's about time someone did for ancient Athens what Lindsey Davis’ Falco novels do for Ancient Rome.” —Jack Grimwood, author of Moskva