Blood Moon (High Priestess Iliona Greek Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Marilyn Todd (Author)

Book Description

Series: High Priestess Iliona Greek Mysteries | Publication Date: April 1, 2009

A High Priestess Iliona Ancient Greek Mystery - When three bodies are found in bizarre circumstances, for the rulers of Sparta, hosting an important trade delegation, the timing is terrible. Convinced it is the work of Athenian agents, they call in Lysander, head of Sparta's hated Secret Police, to settle the matter quickly and cleanly. Lysander in turn enlists High Priestess Iliona using bribery and blackmail. Iliona soon uncovers conspiracy, murder, kidnap and adultery and she hasn't yet found the culprit . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Todd's second mystery set in ancient Greece (after 2007's Blind Eye) offers an ingenious premise but only routine prose and characterization. At a time of great political peril, a delegation of Scythians arrives in Sparta to negotiate a trade agreement that would bolster the city-state's economy. Meanwhile, tensions between citizens and helots (slaves pressed into hard labor or the army) as well as the hovering threat of the Krypteia (the secret police) make daily life difficult. When three people fall victim to an unknown killer, the Krypteia commander recruits Iliona, recently appointed the high priestess of the Temple of Eurotas, to solve the murders, which the rulers of Sparta have concluded are the work of an Athenian agent bent on destabilizing the regime. Readers emotionally invested in the first book in the series will likely find the big reveal at the end shocking, but the motivation for the slaughter may strike others as weak. (Apr.)
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About the Author

Marilyn Todd was born in Harrow, but now lives in West Sussex with her husband and two cats. Dark Horse is the eighth Roman mystery to feature the beautiful but formidable Claudia Seferius.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 215 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727867296
• ISBN-13: 978-0727867292
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,510,952 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Murder in Sparta, June 30, 2010

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HHK "Fantasy/History Fan" (Plano, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Blood Moon (High Priestess Iliona Greek Mysteries) (Paperback)

Blood Moon is the second in the Priestess Ilona mystery series. I would recommend reading the first book: Blind Eye (High Priestess Iliona Greek Mysteries).

Ilona is the High Priestess of the River God Eurates. She is periodically coerced into helping the Sparta secret police by Lysander the head of the Kryptaei. This time the mystery involves the scalping of young women by a ritual killer.

Ilona is a wonderfully engaging character. We get to know her background as the story evolves. The series is somewhat on the dark side, but I really enjoyed it. She and Lysander have a wonderful love- hate relationship. I am hopeful that the two of them will get together over the course of this series. The background characters like Jocasta, the slave/physician flesh out the story.

I have already ordered book three in the series-Still Waters (High Priestess Iliona Greek Mysteries)