The Mosaic of Shadows: An Epic Tale of Murder and Betrayal, Bloodshed and Romance

After the disaster at Manzikert, the great Byzantine Empire calls for help from the 'barbarian' west. Emperor Alexios Komnenos appeals for mercenaries to help him re-capture his Asian province (modern-day Turkey). Instead, the west responds with the First Crusade. The Crusaders are anxious to confront the Turks who occupy Jerusalem, but they have no interest in helping Alexios regain his lost province. When Alexios demands their oath that any conquests within his former territory be returned to him, they refuse. Political hardball? Perhaps. But when an assassin's bolt nearly kills the Emperor, the Emperor's eunuch hires ex-mercenary and now detective Demetrios Askiates to uncover the truth. Pieces of the truth are easy enough to discover. The bolt could only have been fired from a western crossbow, the kind the Franks outside the city carry. And a monk who seems to follow the western rites is clearly responsible. But the eunuch knows that a foreign monk cannot be the center of the plot. Some 'Roman' must be involved--one with enough power that he would be in a position to have himself proclaimed Emperor if the current Emperor falls. Author Tom Harper does a fine job describing the city of Constantinople under siege, the Greek intrigues that so frustrated the western Crusaders, and the various groups of mercenaries who defended the Empire while the mob often controlled its fate. Demetrios Askiates makes an intriguing sleuth, with his concern for his daughters and his ambivalent feelings toward the beautiful doctor, Anna. We can, perhaps, forgive 26-year-old author Harper for believing that a man in his mid-thirties is over the hill and unable to carry weapons effectively. Fans of historical mystery will want to pick up MOSAIC OF SHADOWS--and hope that we soon see more by Tom Harper.

It's about time someone used the Byzantine Empire for a GREAT mystery / historical fiction tale, this one, ranks a head above the other historical fiction tales set in the Byzantine Empire. Don't get me wrong, you don't have to be a history buff to enjoy this story, it's just that Mr. Harper is able to bring the past alive in a way that very few can really do, he's able to keep it believable and entertaining at the same time. If you have any interest in the Medieval period this book is a must have. Its a fun read, it captures the time period, and the attention to detail is just right, as a 20 year 'Byzantine History Buff' I felt like I was looking through a window directly into the past. The story itself moves very well, the cast of characters are believable and I found the protagonist to be a hard working stiff that keeps his cool and tries to follow the leads just like we would, he's not super powered, a genius, or `inventor' of some new form of investigation, he's a man that 'sticks to his guns' and uses the a lot of common sense, sometimes it gets him in trouble, but it suits the story perfectly. Great book, I'm very glad to see that the story continues. I already put his next book on my wish list.

In 'Mosaic of Shadows', Tom Harper has drawn on meticulous research and all the latest scholarship to bring to life the magnificent city of Constantinople in all its eleventh-century splendour. Following the detective Demetrios as he unravels dark plots within the Empire, we are taken on an evocative tour through secret palace gardens, dense forests on the outskirts of the city, bustling markets and deep into the labrynthine sewers. Harper's plot is full of twists, and the mystery Demetrios unravels stretches all the way to the French cathedral city of Rheims and the English battlefield of Hastings, with a stark denouement during the Orthodox Good Friday liturgy. European publishers have already compared this medieval Greek sleuth with Peter Ellis' hugely successful Brother Cadfael.

A millennium has past since the west fell, but Byzantium still keeps alive the tradition of the Roman Empire. However, by 1096, corruption amongst the royal family and their retinue has weakened the leadership and subsequently the Byzantium Empire. Only the icon of the Emperor keeps the country from collapse. However, someone using a much more powerful arrow than ever seen before tried to assassinate the serene majesty Emperor Akexios and killed an armored guard with this weapon. Concerned for his ruler and his empire, Chamberlain Krysaphios hires Demetrios, unveiler of mysteries, who found the Eparch's daughter when everyone thought she was dead. Adding to Krysaphios worries is the great army just in from the west to help battle the Turks resides outside the city with no one knowing where their loyalty lies. The Chamberlain wants Demetrios to uncover the identity of the assassin and who this killer works for before any other incident occurs. Demetrios makes inquiries inside the hedonistic palace, pleasure brothels, and the military camp, but at each point he finds a very complex seditious conspiracy that if successful could leave the Byzantium Empire flowing in a bloody civil war with Turkish invaders waiting to pick apart the remains. THE MOSAIC OF SHADOWS is a an exciting historical mystery that uses late eleventh century Byzantium as the backdrop to the tale. The story line reflects a teetering society seemingly in trouble from its excessive indulgences at a time when threats are coming from the east for sure and probably the west too. Reminding readers of Saylor's Gordanius and Roberts' Decius, Demetrios is an interesting protagonist who escorts readers on a terrific tour during his dangerous investigation. Harriet Klausner