MOSAIC OF SHADOWS_THE. (T.Harper)

The title's shadowy mosaic is an apt metaphor for the myriad puzzle pieces Demetrios Askiates must fit together to capture a would-be assassin and prevent a disastrous war in this historical thriller set in eleventh-century Constantinople. When a sniper attempts to fell Emperor Alexios, the court eunuch, Krysaphios, engages Askiates' sleuthing talents to uncover the twisted plot that would unseat a king and unsettle the eastern Roman Empire with an ensuing power shift. As he tackles the long list of those who would benefit from the emperor's demise, Demetrios must also skirt the overzealous and interfering Varangians and test his newfound diplomatic skills with an army of Crusaders camped outside the city walls. In this series opener, the scene is set with exquisite detail--royal palaces dripping with gold and jewels, mincing courtiers vying for power, back alleys paved in poverty and the harsh realities of Byzantine life. Harper introduces likable characters whose humorous foibles keep the story alive, and he hints at future romance and intrigue--all of which bodes well for Demetrios' career as a series sleuth.