The House Of Death: A Mystery Of Alexander The Great

The House of Death: A Mystery of Alexander the Great

From Publishers Weekly In 334 B.C. Alexander the Great has decided to add Persia to his conquests, but finds his inner circle beset with intrigue and his own divine personage in peril as spies and murderers stalk the tents of his army in this fast-paced page-turner. The young ruler summons his childhood friend, Telamon, to ferret out the identity of the mysterious Naihpat, suspected to be the force behind the wave of deaths. A physician who learned deductive reasoning studying with Aristotle, Telamon reluctantly accepts the duty. Freeing the spunky redhead Cassandra from the slave pens to act as his assistant, he quickly encounters killings accomplished by Celtic knife and club, poison and pushes from cliffs even two deaths that occur in "locked rooms," that is, tightly sewn tents with Alexander's guards posted at the only entrance. And with each victim is found a scrap of parchment bearing cryptic warnings taken from the Iliad and Euripides. The prolific Doherty, author of The Mask of the Ra and the sizable historical mystery series about Hugh Corbett and Brother Athelstan, deftly handles the period details, from day-to-day life in the camp to the inner courts of the Persian King of Kings, bringing in a vast cast (many soon to die) as Alexander moves across the Hellespont toward the epic battle of the Granicus. Fans of ancient historical mysteries will find themselves in superbly practiced hands. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. As Alexander the Great and his Macedonian army arrive at the Hellespont, intent on the conquest of Persia, anonymous death threats, Persian spies, the intrigues and machinations of his own generals, and demoralized troops could destroy the entire campaign. From Library Journal Anxious to dominate the Persian empire in 334 B.C.E., Alexander the Great awaits a sign from the gods. He instead finds intrigue, secret agendas, spies, and murder. The appearance of boyhood friend Telamon gives him a trusted ear he hopes. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist Renowned for his authentically detailed medieval mysteries, Doherty first turned his attention to antiquity in The Mask of Ra (1998).Continuing to mine the ancient world for intriguing historical characters and settings, he looks to the magnetic Alexander the Great. Poised to invade Persia after a string of dramatic victories, Alexander is the target of a devious plot to demoralize and discredit him in the eyes of his own troops. Trusting no one, including his own mother, the devious Olympias, he summons his boyhood friend, Telamon, a physician with remarkable skills of perception and detection. After a number of Alexander' guides are assassinated, Telamon begins to suspect that one of the king's closest associates may be guilty of treason. Doherty, a true master of the historical mystery, provides another superbly crafted whodunit that will keep readers guessing until the stunning climax. Margaret FlanaganCopyright