In January 532 mobs ruled Constantinople, capital of the Roman Empire. Against a murderous backdrop lit by raging fires, John, Chamberlain to Emperor Justinian, must find those seeking to use the Nika Riots to dethrone the emperor. But are the ringleaders still in the city -- or even alive? Porphyrius, the most famous charioteer of his time, may know more than he tells about the mysterious disappearance of two men under imperial guard. What roles are a pair of brothers with a distant claim on the throne playing? Does a headstrong young girl hold the key to the mystery? With the fate of the empire at stake, will General Belisarius and his armed troops side with the rioters or remain loyal to Justinian? To some the riots portend the end of the empire, to others the end of the world itself. John must untangle a web of intrigue in a city where death holds court at every corner before the escalating violence in the streets removes all hope of finding those he seeks.
Eight for Eternity (John, the Lord Chamberlain Series)
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle.
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Reed and Mayer's excellent eighth John the Chamberlain mystery (after 2008's Seven for a Secret) centers on the real-life Nika riots, which nearly destroyed Constantinople in A.D. 532. When two prisoners escape police custody, each a member of the two main factions who supported the opposing chariot teams at the races in the Hippodrome, Emperor Justinian sends John, his trusted chamberlain, to investigate. John soon finds the young men's bodies in the chilly waters of a cistern. Meanwhile, two nephews of a former ruler may provide a rallying point for General Belisarius should he opt to stage a coup as rival political factions wreak havoc throughout the city. Subtle, well-drawn characters, from the ascetic John to the capricious and enigmatic Justinian; deft descriptive detail revealing life in the late Roman Empire; and sharp dialogue make this another winner in this outstanding historical series. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
John, Lord Chamberlain to Emperor Justinian in 532 Constantinople, investigates when followers of two opposing chariot teams (the Green and the Blue) are murdered after their executions are botched, and they are rescued by monks. Constantinople is in flames as the masses riot in the streets hoping to depose the emperor, making John’s task exceedingly difficult. John is also charged with protecting two brothers, nephews of the former emperor, and the daughter of one of them. Who murdered the two men, and who is inciting the rioters? Is it one of the nephews (who would like to be emperor himself), or revered charioteer Porphyrius, or John’s good friend Haik? Reed and Mayer bring the time of the Nika Riots in Constantinople to vivid life in this eighth installment in their series, capturing the burning city, the mob mentality, the panic in the castle as the rioters come ever closer, and the effort to convince Justinian to use whatever methods are necessary to keep his throne. A must for followers of the series. --Sue O'Brien
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vivid History, Compelling Fiction,
This review is from: Eight for Eternity: A John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery (John the Lord Chamberlain Mysteries) (Hardcover)
Eric Mayer and Mary Reed bring sixth century Constantinople alive in their latest mystery, Eight for Eternity. The violent and volatile Nika riots of Constantinople make the most gripping setting for this mystery series yet. The two factions are furious when two men--one Blue and one Green--are hanged, but survive. They are hung again, but this time they not only survive, but they escape--only to be murdered. As Chamberlain for Emperor Justinian, John must solve the mystery of two men in warring factions. When those factions unite to bring down the Emperor's reign, the fate of the Byzantine empire could be at stake.
This mystery series is perfect for the intellectually curious who enjoy a little history in their mysteries.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Back to Nika Riots and the Early Days of John's Time as Chamberlain,
By
This review is from: Eight for Eternity: A John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery (John the Lord Chamberlain Mysteries) (Hardcover)
This mystery takes place earlier in John's life, when he was more newly one of the chamberlains of the Emperor Justinian. In 532, when the Nika Riots are about to break out in Constantinople, two men, one of the Blues and one of the Green faction, miraculously escape death by execution. They are twice hanged and twice the ropes break. John is sent to bring them to the Emperor, but he finds the guards in chaos and the prisoners missing. One is found dead in the nearby cisterns. And John is then directed to unravel the mystery of their deaths--which may or may not add to the furor of the riots and may or may not point to plots that may be behind the riots. Solving the mystery could weigh with history and decide whether Justinian's reign survives.
For long-time readers of these books, it is interesting to see John and his friend Felix in the early days of their association. However, this period is not so different from that depicted in the first books in the series. It is still a welcome addition to the John the Lord Chamberlain Mysteries.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
great ancient historical mystery,
This review is from: Eight for Eternity: A John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery (John the Lord Chamberlain Mysteries) (Hardcover)
In Constantinople in A.D. 532, two criminals escape custody. Emperor Justinian is informed and is very concerned as each supported rival chariot racing teams at the Hippodrome and he knows how sports fans are insanely fanatics. He orders his loyal Lord Chamberlain, John to investigate.
John quickly finds the corpses of both men in a cistern. Meanwhile, as the city is torn by rioting that impedes his investigation, two influential nephews of a former ruler declare their support of General Belisarius encouraging him to lead a rebellion; they want to rule. This is a great ancient historical mystery series that ironically uses numerals in the titles (see Seven for a Secret), but never goes by the numbers in telling the story. The current entry is a strong period piece that highlights the riots of 532 AD and the rivalry to snatch the throne from Justinian. John's inquiry provides fans a deep look at Constantinople in the sixth century wrapped inside a strong investigation. Sub-genre fans will believe Mary Reed and Eric Mayer are eight for eight and want nine for reading soonest. Harriet Klausner
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
