Death on Delos

I love this series even though I've never been a fan of ancient Greece. (Merely an admirer from afar.) Gary Corby has the knack of combining history, humor, and untimely death in a way that's so entertaining readers may never realize that they're learning something. When a man like Corby reads that no one was allowed to die or give birth on Delos, there's only one thing he can do: tell a story in which both may-- or may not-- happen.

Since the plot of Death on Delos involves banks and boatloads of money, all sorts of skullduggery take place. All that cash is just too tempting. Nicolaos and Diotima are an excellent investigative team, but even they need a bit of time to unravel everything. However, with Diotima's due date looming ever show more closer, time is the one commodity they don't have.

Like all the other books in the series, Death on Delos tells a fast-moving story involving the Nick and Nora Charles of ancient Athens. I love the humor, I love the mystery, and I love the history. I also enjoy the cast of characters, the glossary, and the Author's Note that are always included in each book. You can read the book without them, but you'll be missing out on some of the delightful humor. And... if you're like me and want to know just how much of the story is actually true, that Author's Note comes in very handy.

If you haven't picked up one of Gary Corby's Athenian mysteries because you think reading about ancient Greece is too boring and stuffy for words, think again. You will be very pleasantly surprised to find out how fresh and lively those old Athenians were! You may even wind up eagerly awaiting the next book in the series-- like me! show less

This exciting, funny and historically fascinating series continues with another excellent entry. This time Nicolaos and his heavily pregnant priestess wife Diotima arrive on the sacred island of Delos to witness the wiley Athenian leader Pericles attempt to remove the treasury of the Delian League, allegedly for reasons of safety. The island's inhabitants are less than impressed and threaten to riot, but the murder of the priest who had led the opposition drags Nicolaos and Diotima into a race against time to solve the mystery before Diotima gives birth, which is forbidden on the island. The historical background to the story is as fascinating as the fictional plot. The Delian League was set up, as the authors describes, as the NATO of show more the Aegean, with each state contributing money to a treasury for the mutual defence of all against the Persians. However, Athens under Pericles got greedy and decided to pilfer the treasury under the pretext of preserving it from Persian attack. This did not go down well with the rest of the league, and after Athens abandoned the principle of a League and formed the Athenian Empire, revolts weakened the Athenians and left them vulnerable to attack by their arch-enemy Sparta, and after a long and exceptionally bloody war, Athens was defeated and humiliated. In retrospect the taking of the Delian treasury was the first step on a disastrous slope for Athens. This is a great read and a fascinating piece of history as well as a good detective story. I cant wait for the next episode. show less

Again, a little out of my comfort zone with crime fiction set in Ancient Greece - and although this was my first read in this series (I began at book 7), I found it quite easy to follow the characters of Diotima and Nicholas. A few of the "real" characters were familiar to me through my cursory high school education in the Classical Era and the author does a great job in filling in the details.

So to the story itself - murder, of course, on a sacred island in the Aegean 545BC. Our detective duo are already in situ and are called upon to solve this mystery. However, this is not a straight-forward crime and the location itself is proving to be rather trying. Add into this mix a delicate political situation, religious tensions, a cast of show more questionable islanders, and you have all the makings of great cosy mystery.

The author injects humour and satire into this novel, which adds to its enjoyment. It is an easy to read novel that is not saturated in unnecessary details. Not only was my interest maintained, but the author also inspires the reader to explore more of this period in history - not only fiction but non-fiction as well. Love the author notes at the end! show less

Death on Delos is the 7th Athenian Mystery by Gary Corby. The story opens with a heavily pregnant Diotima, priestess of Artemis, and her husband Nicolaos arriving on the Island of Delos so that Diotima can dedicate the annual offerings from Athens to Delos. There are 2 laws on Delos. It is illegal to die there and it is illegal to be born there. Violating these laws results in the entire island and everything on it needing to be resanctified for it is a holy place.

When the couple arrive they are accompanied by many warships. The Persians are not far away and Athens believes the Delian Treasury is at risk. Athens wants to temporarily remove the Treasury to Athens for safety. However, the Delians feel betrayed by the plan and prefer to show more rely on their faith in their gods Artemis and Apollo to protect them. A Delian crowd gathers near the coast preventing the Athenians from moving forward without a fight. One Delian, Geros, gives a convincing speech to the crowd and gets them aroused against the Athenians and Pericles, their leader. A day later, Geros is found dead of multiple stab wounds. It will now take weeks, maybe months, to sanctify the island for Diotima to be able to make her sacred offering.

Diotima and Nicolaos are known for their sleuthing skills and are asked by the Delians to determine who killed Geros. I am always pleased when a murder mystery begins with the murder early in the plot. Here, the murder took place on page 47 so we have the rest of the book to enjoy figuring out whodunnit.

Another plus is the common English language that the author has the characters speaking. This is an ancient Greek mystery but aside from the character names, they are speaking English which makes the book a quick read. While the language is English, there is a ton of historical fact woven into the story which makes the book an authentic historical mystery.

Some of the historical facts are that the land of Delos has never been able to grow food. That is why for centuries Delians relied on gifts to their deities from other Greek islands in order to survive. Men used to urinate on vegetables in order to make them grow! This strategy did not work though. When a resident was about to die they were put on a boat and sent to another island. Pregnant women were sent to Mykonos.

I highly recommend this series. I have read every book in the series and all of them were fabulous. show less

Nicolaos accompanies a pregnant Diotoma to Delos with annual gift to the temple. Pericles plans to remove the treasury of the Delian league and an elderly priest who opposes the transfer is murdered. Death on Delos, birthplace of Artemis and Apollo, is sacrilege and Diotoma must investigate. However, nature has set her a deadline as giving birth on Delos is also forbidden.

Pericles and an Athenian delegation come to Delos to remove the Delian League's treasure to Athens for safekeeping. When the priest heading the Delian's resistance to the move is found dead, a heavily-pregnant Diotima is appointed to head the investigation as priestess of Artemis.

A worthy wrap-up to the series.

When dozens of Athenian warships arrive at Delos to remove the treasury of the Delian League to Athens, the citizens of Delos (led by an elderly priest of Apollo) set up a protest. When that same priest is found dead the next morning, suspicion falls upon the Athenians. Nicolaos and Diotima must solve the murder before Diotima gives birth, as births and deaths are forbidden on the island.