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Winner, Glyph Award for Best Book Series Nominee, Bruce Alexander History Mystery Award In 542, Peter, John the Lord Chamberlain's elderly servant, claims a heavenly visitor revealed a murder to him. It transpires that Peter's old army friend has indeed been stabbed, but then John discovers that Gregory was not what he appeared to be. John's quest for the truth leads him to churchmen and whores, lawyers and bear trainers. Suspects include a dealer in dubious antiquities, a resourceful show more bookseller, a court poet fixated on bereavement, and a holy fool who outrages the city by dancing with the dead and invading the empress' private bath.... show lessTags
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Member Reviews
The Justinian plague is ravaging Constantinople but it is by no means the only cause of death. When the body of Gregory, a friend of John's servant Peter, is found dead of a stab wound, John agrees to investigate. The investigation is complicated by the fact that Gregory was not at all as he made himself out to be to Peter.
Very atmospheric. The picture of life going on in these terrible circumstances was actually more interesting than the mystery.
Very atmospheric. The picture of life going on in these terrible circumstances was actually more interesting than the mystery.
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Author Information
23+ Works 694 Members
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Awards and Honors
Awards
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Five for Silver
- Original publication date
- 2004-03-01
- People/Characters
- John the Eunuch
- Important places
- Constantinople, Byzantine Empire; Byzantine Empire
- Dedication
- For our siblings
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 47
- Popularity
- 636,775
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.64)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 4
