An Empire for Ravens
Page 1
AN EMPIRE FOR RAVENS
The Twelfth John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery
“The 12th franchise entry places the reader in the middle of the turmoil of sixth-century Rome and into a tense historical mystery.”
—Kirkus Reviews
MURDER IN MEGARA
The Eleventh John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery
“Meticulous research makes this historical series set in the Byzantine Empire a joy to read. Admirers of Steven Saylor and Lindsey Davis will enjoy exploring this ancient world.”
—Library Journal
“...John, who’s solved many mysteries for the emperor in Constantinople, finds that digging into corruption, past secrets, and misdeeds in a small town is every bit as dangerous as the intrigue of the emperor’s court. John’s 11th case combines historical detail with a cerebral mystery full of surprises.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“If you are unfamiliar with this engaging series, where have you been? You are lucky. It is easy to get caught up with the story. The authors’ wonderful research and writing skills clue you in with no trouble at all.”
—BookLoons
“Their narrative is barbed with questions about every motive, about every danger and about every possibility, and with each question the screw is tightened once again but (as if for counterbalance) the dialogue often has a poetry of its own.”
—Eric Barraclough, The Reluctant Famulus
TEN FOR DYING
The Tenth John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery
“Reed and Mayer mix things up a bit with their tenth whodunit set in Constantinople during the reign of Emperor Justinian... [T]he chamberlain has been dismissed from his position, and decides to start a new life in Greece. That decision leaves his friend Felix, a captain of the palace guard, to solve a series of crimes. Bizarre circumstances surround the theft of a relic kept in the Church of the Holy Apostles: the thief left behind 30 frogs, sacred to an Egyptian god, and a scarab beetle on top of Theodora’s sarcophagus. The case is complicated by witness reports of demons and Felix’s discovery of a corpse, under potentially compromising circumstances.”
—Publishers Weekly
NINE FOR THE DEVIL
The Ninth John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery
“More complex and colorful than any Byzantine mosaic, Nine for the Devil by Mary Reed and Eric Mayer, will sweep you back into the cruel intrigue-ridden court of the Emperor Justinian, where treachery and murder linger behind every shadowed column of the imperial palace in Constantinople.”
—Robin Burcell, New York Times bestselling author
“Twisty plotting, fabulous dialogue, and aristocratic backstabbing drew me into this clever plot (Who killed an Empress who showed no signs of being murdered?) and I could not stop reading until I watched master problem-solver John dance his way out of the deadly wrath of his grieving emperor.”
—Jerrilyn Farmer, bestselling author of
the Madeline Bean mysteries
“The puzzle is challenging enough to keep readers searching for clues, but the triumph of the authors lies in their spot-on recreation of the political and bureaucratic climate of the times.”
—Publishers Weekly Starred Review
“The authors once again make the Byzantine Empire vibrant and nuanced.”
—Library Journal
EIGHT FOR ETERNITY
The Eighth John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery
“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’Brian, Booklist
“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.”
—Publishers Weekly Starred Review
“Historicals have a proven track record of presenting unforgettable protagonists like John the Lord Chamberlain. His military background gives him that unflappable air, and his high intellect provides him with the means to solve whatever Justinian needs. For readers who can’t wait for the next Laura Joh Rowland or P.C. Doherty mystery.”
—Library Journal
SEVEN FOR A SECRET
The Seventh John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery
“Solving the crime involves navigating the mean streets of Constantinople, and as always in this series, the authors bring those streets to vivid life. This isn’t one of those superficial mysteries that use historical trappings to cover up a weak story; it’s a compelling crime novel that happens to be set in another time and place.”
—David Pitt, Booklist
“Once again convincing historical detail and strong characterization help drive a riveting plot. Fans will be pleased to know that while the title is based on the last line of the verse on which the series is based, the authors plan to send John to Italy in an eighth volume.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The authors get everything right in their latest historical. The story is fast paced, the tensions between characters well portrayed; the ending leaves the reader clamoring for more.”
—Library Journal
SIX FOR GOLD
The Sixth John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery
“As usual the authors write precisely and gracefully, maintaining a perfect balance between historical atmosphere and old-fashioned mystery. The setting, sixth-century Byzantium, is still fresh, still full of wonders and weirdness. And, like Lindsey Davis’ Falco series, there’s an agreeable mixture of drama and comedy. Fans of the series will be overjoyed.”
—Booklist
“Set in plague-ridden sixth-century Constantinople, Reed and Mayer’s captivating sixth John the Eunuch novel opens dramatically as John, lord chamberlain to Emperor Justinian, flees “excubitors” (i.e., palace guards) in the Hippodrome...Filled with quirky characters, including a bee seller and a magician, this fresh entry with its intriguing details of Egyptian culture reveals further depths to the most clever John and his family members. A helpful glossary rounds out the book.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A busy historical mystery with an engagingly wry tone. Many detours, but getting there is most of the fun.”
—Kirkus Reviews
FIVE FOR SILVER
The Fifth John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery
Winner, Glyph Award for Best Book Series
Nominee, Bruce Alexander History Mystery Award
“In a John the Lord Chamberlain novel, the mystery is only half the fun. The other half comes from the delightful supporting characters (in this case, a shady antiques dealer, a bookseller, and a poet, among others) and the crafty way in which the authors discreetly sneak in little nuggets of historical information. The historical-mystery series that stand the test of time are those that put story first and research second. This is one of those series.”
—Booklist
“Not just a chilling backdrop, the plague that runs rampant through the city, afflicting rich and poor alike, is linked to the murder. The conflict between Christians and pagans adds further weight to this sterling historical page-turner.”
—Publishers Weekly Starred Review
FOUR FOR A BOY
The Fourth John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery
Nominee, Bruce Alexander History Mystery Aw
ard
Best Little Known Series, Booklist
“The authors aren’t professional historians, but their historical mysteries are sharper, more realistic, and certainly more enjoyable than many written by professionals...This installment of the series is as devilishly convoluted as its predecessors, and fans will relish the extra thrill of seeing how John was launched on the career that eventually finds him working as Justinian’s Lord Chamberlain. At some point, every great series needs an “origin story,” and this one’s a real corker.”
—Booklist Starred Review
“Written with humor and pathos, this superior historical is sure to please existing fans and send new ones in search of the rest of the series.”
—Publishers Weekly Starred Review
THREE FOR A LETTER
The Third John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery
“Return with us now to sixth-century Constantinople (A.D. 539, to be precise), where two politically important, eight-year-old twins are key players in Emperor Justinian’s plans to resurrect the crumbling Roman Empire...Characters in the John the Lord Chamberlain novels don’t spend time telling each other things they already know, for the benefit of the reader: Reed and Mayer educate us in more subtle ways, and we’re having so much fun following the story that we don’t even realize we’re learning things. An excellent entry in an excellent series.”
—Booklist Starred Review
“The details of daily life, from food and food preparation to the care and writing of manuscripts, enhance the action. And the ongoing struggle between Christianity (Justinian’s state religion) and the pagan rites that play a central role in the plot is particularly well drawn...those who appreciate strong historical backgrounds and solid plotting will get their money’s worth. The Byzantine mosaic art on the jacket is a real plus.”
—Publishers Weekly
TWO FOR JOY
The Second John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery
Winner, the Glyph Award - Best Mystery
Honorable Mention - Glyph Best Book Award list
IPPY Best Mystery Award finalist
“This is a very intelligent novel; its examination of the nature of belief and faith (and deception) is as insightful and well reasoned as some book-length nonfiction treatments of the same subjects. Add to that a rich and fascinating setting, a solid mystery, and a few surprises, and you have a novel that will capture the interest of anyone who picks it up. If the perfect historical mystery is one that uses the past to let us see the present from a new angle, then this is darned close to being the perfect historical mystery.”
—Booklist Starred Review
“A fascinating historical, with glimpses of eunuchs, slaves, politicians, and prostitutes, this sweeping adventure is suitable for all collections.”
—Library Journal
ONE FOR SORROW
The First John the Lord Chamberlain Mystery
“The twists and turns of the plot are skillfully constructed, and the writing is highly readable. Fans of Lindsay Davis and Stephen Saylor in particular are in for a treat when they discover the work of this talented husband and wife team.”
—Martin Edwards, award-winning author and editor of the
British Library Crime Classics
“Rich in period detail, expertly paced with compelling, complex characters, One For Sorrow is one of the most resonant, pleasing novels I’ve read in a long time.”
—Mark Terry, author of Blood Secrets
“Painting an enticing picture of sixth-century Byzantium, Reed and Mayer ably evoke court intrigue and the conflict of religious beliefs in the Christian capital of Constantinople...the authors gracefully intertwine John’s personal history and the traffic in holy artifacts with the early history of Christianity.”
—Publishers Weekly
An Empire
for Ravens
A John the Lord Chamberlain
Mystery
Mary Reed & Eric Mayer
Poisoned Pen Press
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 by Mary Reed and Eric Mayer
First Edition 2018
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018940612
ISBN: 9781464211102 Hardcover
ISBN: 9781464210655 Trade Paperback
ISBN: 9781464210662 Ebook
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book.
Poisoned Pen Press
4014 N. Goldwater Blvd., #201
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com
info@poisonedpenpress.com
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
An Empire for Ravens
Copyright
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Epilogue
Afterword
Glossary
More from this Author
Contact Us
Prologue
“Praise Mithra, Lord of Light. Mithra the unconquerable. Mithra the ineffable.”
As the man in the lion mask reached the end of the roughly hewn passage and turned the corner, the chants from the mithraeum faded. He pulled up the mask. His wild beard made his broad face look only slightly less ferocious than a lion’s.
The man drew a deep breath. It was easier to fill his lungs with the cool air than it had been behind the mask. An oil lamp in a wall niche dimly illuminated burial recesses in the tunnel’s walls, each sealed with a slab bearing the name of the deceased. Beyond this spot the lamps were not maintained but the catacombs snaked on interminably, a Stygian maze.
The man turned another corner, paused, and listened. There was only the utter stillness and silence of a place where time has turned to dust. Satisfied no one had followed him away from the ceremony, he walked through the trembling light of another lamp into deepening darkness.
He would not like to spend eternity down here, wrapped in a shroud, locked away in a compartment chiseled from solid rock. He tugged his beard, as if to reassure himself of his own corporeal existence.
“Felix.”
At first he thought the voice was in his imagination. A thin, dry rasp, the shifting of bones. Then as his eyes adjusted a robed and hooded figure coalesced from the inky blackness where the tunnel intersected another. For all Felix could make out, the hood of the speaker might as well have been empty. The figure was bent, as if with age. It matched the ancient voice. Yet there was something else about the voice, something unnatural. Had, in fact, someone seen him slip away from the mithraeum and taken another route to intercept him?
“How do you know me?”
“Everyone in Rome knows about you.”
“What are you doing down here?”
There was a faint, distant rattle—a rat nosing through old, brittle grave wrappings, or perhaps a dry laugh. “I often wander Hades.”
“This isn’t Hades.”
“Are you certain of that?”
Chapter One
The mounted Goth soldiers spotted the mule-drawn wagon just outside Rome. Staying on back roads, John and Marius, disguised as farmers on the way to market, had hoped to get closer to Rome and then find a way to slip into the besieged city.
That was not going to happen now.
John pulled his sword from under the seat as Marius got the mules turned around. The swine they were hauling milled around or stared out over the wagon gate. One of them let out a weirdly human shriek. Blood spurted from the spear in its neck. The rest of the pigs went wild with terror.
The Goths were gaining ground fast.
Without a word, Marius thrust the reins at John and scrambled over the seat into the back of the wagon. He slipped in its filth, fell, and crashed through the panicked swine. Risking a glance behind, John saw Marius open the gate.