June 23, 2014
The beautiful but ominous setting of this impressive debut, a series opener, overcomes its occasional carelessness. The discovery of a severed hand lying in a pool of blood brings Yiannis Patronas, the chief police officer on the island of Chios, to an archeological dig near a remote and almost deserted monastery. After a young worker at the site gets his throat cut, more violent assaults follow. The ensuing police procedural is improvised and uncertain because Yiannis is a troubled, bumbling hero who has had no experience with murder cases or sadistic criminals. He’s also burdened with incompetent subordinates, and his only real assistant is an elderly priest who’s watched too many American detective TV shows. Serafim has a good eye for people and places, and sheds light on the centuries of violent passion that have created an oppressive atmosphere hanging over the sunny Greek landscape. Agent: Jeannie Loiacono, Loiacono Literary Agency.
In this auspicious series opener, the chief of police investigates a grisly discovery at a remote archaeological site on the Greek island of Chios.As authentic as skordalia, as potent as ouzo, and as satisfying as briam, Serafim's debut novel introduces Chief of Police Yiannis Patronas, who, in his more than 20 years as an officer, has never investigated a murder. This changes when Eleni Argentis' body parts are found in a blood-filled trench at an archaeological dig site. Was the archaeologist murdered because she unearthed something of historical value? Soon after the discovery of her murder, her teenage assistant is found dead. A hidden cave holds more secrets and horrors for Patronas, as Papa Michalis, an elderly priest living at a nearby monastery, encourages his investigation. Amusingly, Michalis is a devoted fan of American police procedurals, like Law & Order and CSI. An unraveling marriage, inexperience, and an inexpert staff (whom the chief calls, among other things, the Keystone Cops) hampers Patronas. But as the growing list of suspects learns, he is not to be underestimated. "You assumed because I was from Chios, not London, I was second-rate, a backward peasant from a backwater town," he tells one archaeologist-a little too on-the-nose but satisfying just the same. Whether it's police procedural genre convention, the exotic island landscape, or the passionate Greek character, Serafim knows the lay of the land, and she confidently guides the reader. Armchair adventurers will get a solid grounding in Greece's violent and tumultuous past. The quirky pairing of Patronas and Michalis has the makings of an unorthodox investigative team and the beginnings of a beautiful friendship.This immersive escapist mystery should put Serafim on the map.
Starred review from July 1, 2014
One of Greece's most far-flung islands, Chios has struggled through the centuries with Turkish invasions and natural disasters. In short, it is a potential treasure trove for archaeologists, and there are rumors of great riches to be found. One such archaeologist, Eleni Argentis, has been working for the past two years in the shadow of a remote monastery administered by an old priest, Papa Michalis. When Eleni's assistant, teenager Petros, is found bludgeoned to death on the site, and random body parts belonging to Eleni are also discovered, police officer Yiannis Patronas is brought in to investigate. The suspect list is diverse: Eleni's former lover; a competing professor; Petros's mother and her boyfriend; and Eleni's greedy stepmother all make the short list. Patronas and Michalis latch on to this academic puzzle with a vengeance. At times dealing with horrific violence, Patronas's dedication to his people and his country's heritage is heroic. VERDICT Serafim's dense prose is perfect for lovers of literary and scholarly mysteries. Her plotting is methodical and traditional, with subtle nods to Sherlock Holmes, Greek mythology, and historical events.
Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
May 15, 2015
In this auspicious series opener, the chief of police investigates a grisly discovery at a remote archaeological site on the Greek island of Chios.As authentic as skordalia, as potent as ouzo, and as satisfying as briam, Serafim's debut novel introduces Chief of Police Yiannis Patronas, who, in his more than 20 years as an officer, has never investigated a murder. This changes when Eleni Argentis' body parts are found in a blood-filled trench at an archaeological dig site. Was the archaeologist murdered because she unearthed something of historical value? Soon after the discovery of her murder, her teenage assistant is found dead. A hidden cave holds more secrets and horrors for Patronas, as Papa Michalis, an elderly priest living at a nearby monastery, encourages his investigation. Amusingly, Michalis is a devoted fan of American police procedurals, like Law & Order and CSI. An unraveling marriage, inexperience, and an inexpert staff (whom the chief calls, among other things, the Keystone Cops) hamper Patronas. But as the growing list of suspects learns, he is not to be underestimated. "You assumed because I was from Chios, not London, I was second-rate, a backward peasant from a backwater town," he tells one archaeologist-a little too on-the-nose but satisfying just the same. Whether it's police procedural genre convention, the exotic island landscape, or the passionate Greek character, Serafim knows the lay of the land, and she confidently guides the reader. Armchair adventurers will get a solid grounding in Greece's violent and tumultuous past. The quirky pairing of Patronas and Michalis has the makings of an unorthodox investigative team and the beginnings of a beautiful friendship.This immersive escapist mystery should put Serafim on the map.
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