Byzantium, the heart of
the Roman Empire in the 6th century, contains a rich mixture of old gods,
deadly rituals and Christian doctrine. Justinian rules the land as a
Christian Emperor, yet The Lord Chamberlain, one of the most honored in
his court, holds fast the traditions of Mithra, an ancient religion that
honors the great bull god.
The Lord Chamberlain, also known as John
the Eunuch, is a man of loyalty, to his Caesar and to his faith. When his
friend is murdered, the quest to discover his killer leads John down a
trail full of twists and turns that challenge him to examine his beliefs,
his past and even his deepest fears.One for
Sorrowcaptures the horror of the mutilation
of John’s body as well as the maiming of his soul. When he once again
faces the woman he loved long ago, and the daughter he never knew he had,
John also has to face his own deeply buried desires. At the same time, he
cannot forget that a murderer is walking the streets of Byzantium. Who is
the killer? Who will be next? And what part does a peculiar ancient
soothsayer play in the strange events that swirl around John like a
troubled sea of confusion and death?
The authors weave an intricate
tapestry of characters and plot along with a fascinating look into the day
to day life of the Byzantine Empire. There is even a mysterious knight who
claims to have been dispatched from King Arthur to search for the Holy
Grail of Christ, making this a mesmerizing mix of fact and fantasy that
serves to make the story even more absorbing.
Mary Reed and Eric
Mayer originally introduced John the Eunuch through several short
stories, and have now brought him out as a full-time ancient sleuth. One
for Sorrow is a novel that is hard to put down. The authors are superb
artists who paint a well-presented mystery with the colors of a
civilization that seemed shrouded in history until viewed on their
life-like canvas.
I whole-heartedly recommend this novel for any
mystery fan. A second novel Two for
Joy is set to be released by Poisoned
Pen Press in October 2000, with the paperback edition of One For
Sorrow. I can hardly wait.