The emperor Justinian orders John to find out who killed the empress Theodora even though everybody else believes she died of cancer.

Everybody is paranoid - but is it paranoia if the emperor may really be out to get you? The ending makes it sound like the end of the series, but apparently there are more out there. ( )

“Fresh Meat” by Victoria Janssen for Criminal Element

One of the reasons I love writing previews is that I get to check out so many different series. Nine for the Devil is the first novel I’ve read by the husband and wife team of Mary Reed and Eric Mayer, and the first mystery novel I’ve ever read that’s set in the sixth century.

Set in Constantinople, the series detective is Lord Chamberlain to the Emperor Justinian. He’s a character whose description immediately intrigued me, as I particularly like characters who are out of place in their milieu.

He’s the first eunuch detective I’ve ever encountered, as well as the first Mithras-worshipper. Because he is living in a world in which Christians are a majority, and because of his castration, John operates outside of society, and is somewhat of a loner, though not quite as extreme as, for instance, Philip Marlowe. Even in the distant past, the detective stands alone.

Read the rest at: http://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/2012/03/fresh-meat-nine-for-the-devil-by-ma...