A John the Eunuch Mystery
by Mary and Eric Mayer Reed
Who killed the mosaic girl? As Lord Chamberlain, John spends his days counseling Emperor Justinian while passing the small hours of night in conversation with the solemn-eyed little girl depicted in a mosaic on his study wall. He never expected to meet her in a public square or afterwards find her red-dyed corpse in a subterranean cistern. Had the mysterious woman truly been the model for the mosaic years before as she claimed? Who was she? Why had she sought John out? Who wanted her dead -- and why?
Painting an enticing picture of sixth-century Byzantium, Reed and Mayer ably evoke court intrigue and the conflict of religious beliefs in the Christian capital of Constantinople through the eyes of sleuth John the Eunuch, lord chamberlain to Emperor Justinian.
"[An] engrossing seventh mystery set in sixth-century Constantinople .... Once again convincing historical detail and strong characterization help drive a riveting plot." - Publishers Weekly.
"Starred Review. The story is fast paced, the tensions between characters well portrayed; the ending leaves the reader clamoring for more." - Library Journal.
"Meanders from brothels to copper markets to public baths and poetry readings, each rife with all the gossip, rumor, deceit and lewdness you'd expect from one of the Lord Chamberlain's cases." - Kirkus Reviews.
This information about Seven for a Secret was first featured
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
The husband and wife team of Mary Reed and Eric Mayer began writing together in 1992. After publishing several short stories in anthologies and in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, One For Sorrow, their first full length novel about John, Lord Chamberlain to Emperor Justinian I, appeared in 1999. They were honored with the 2005 Glyph Award for Best Book Series. The novels have been nominated for both the IPPY Best Mystery Award and the Bruce Alexander Historical Mystery Award. In 2003 the American Library Association's Booklist Magazine named the John the Eunuch novels as one of its four Best Little Known Series.

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