Mystery Book Review: Assassins of Athens by Jeffrey Siger

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Assassins of Athens by Jeffrey Siger. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Assassins of Athens by Jeffrey Siger
An Andreas Kaldis Mystery

Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-689-1 (1590586891)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-689-1 (9781590586891)
Publication Date: January 2010
List Price: $24.95

Review: Andreas Kaldis, Chief Inspector of the Special Crimes Division, returns to Athens from his "exile" on Mykonos to investigate the murder of a teenage boy in Assassins of Athens, the second mystery in this series by Jeffrey Siger.

Though originally found with no identification on him and found in a squalid area of Athens, the dead boy is Sotiris Kostopoulos, the son of one of Greece's most wealthy and prominent families. The boy's father, Zanni Kostopoulos, owns "The Athenian", possibly the most respected and influential newspaper in the country. But his acquisition of the paper from the Linardos family, which owned it previously, was at the time not without controversy and a little "leverage". Was Sotiris' murder some sort of corporate strategy, forcing the Kostopoulos family to flee the country, and leaving the powerful newspaper available to be acquired by someone else?

Kaldis has far more questions than answers. Someone was obviously hired to kill Sotiris, but that someone was also obviously far removed -- organizationally -- from the person who ordered the hit. No one wants to talk to the police, and Kaldis' search takes him through the forbidding streets of Athens and ultimately back to Mykonos where he reaches out to Sotiris' father to help him find the men who humiliate, disfigure, and kill for profit.

The rapid pacing of Assassins of Athens sets the tone for this thrilling mystery. The author provides a stunning contrast between the breathtaking vistas of Greece and its islands that serve as the backdrop for the thriving tourist trade, and the boarded up buildings, grimy bars, and dope dens that house an equally thriving criminal trade. There is even a bit of Greek history interspersed here and there that adds an element of tragedy to the story. At the center of it all, however, is Inspector Kaldis, who provides both an anchor to and a balance within the story. He's a strong character that readers will readily take to.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Assassins of Athens and to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2010 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

If you are interested in purchasing Assassins of Athens from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): When the body of a boy from one of Greece’s most prominent families turns up in a dumpster in one of Athens’ worst neighborhoods, Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis of the Greek Police’s Special Crimes Division is certain there’s a message in the murder. But who sent it and why? Andreas’ politically incorrect search for answers takes him deep into the sordid, criminal side of Athens nightlife and on to the glittering world of Athens society where age-old frictions between old money and new breed jealousy, murder, revenge, revolutionaries, and some very dangerous truths.

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eHarlequin Silhouette Romantic Suspense Titles for March 2010

Sparked by danger, fueled by passion, eHarlequin.com has released the March 2010 titles in their Silhouette Romantic Suspense series. Let yourself be swept away with characters who fall in love under larger-than-life circumstances. In Silhouette Romantic Suspense, suspense, emotion and glamour combine to create these highly charged books! For more information or to purchase any of the books below, click on the book title or book cover. (Previous months titles can be found on the backlist page.)

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His Woman in Command by Lindsay McKenna

Captain Nike Alexander is in Afghanistan for one reason only—to use her pilot skills. She doesn't have time for men, especially military men. Playing hard to get with Captain Gavin Jackson comes as naturally to Nike as flying one of her Apaches. But Gavin's sexy-as-sin smile is making it harder and harder to say no.

Captain Gavin Jackson loves a challenge, but has never encountered one as stunning as Nike. Just as the ice between them thaws, Nike finds herself in a dangerous situation. Now Gavin will have to use his expertise as a special ops soldier to rescue the woman he can't live without …

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The Royal Affair by Gail Barrett

"I left you once. I won't let you out of my sight again."

Undercover mercenary Deven Kapur hadn't been able to save his family from the mafia that ruled the kingdom of Romanistan. To protect the woman he loved he'd abandoned her and infiltrated the evil organization. His priority was revenge—until Maya walked back into his life.

Maya Chaudry, aka the Leopard, rescues victims of human trafficking. Nothing will ruin her mission. Not Deven. Not the renewed passion between them. Not the danger that forces them to work together. But as they rush to solve the mystery of an ancient artifact, a secret is revealed that could tear them apart—forever.

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The Forbidden Bride by Debra Cowan

"We have some unfinished business."

Jilted. Betrayed. Hurt. Detective Robin Daly would never forget what being left at the altar felt like. Nor would she forget the part Nate Houston had played in it all. One word from him had caused everything to crumble: her wedding, her trust in men…and the respect she'd once had for him.

A string of arson-murders brings fire marshal Nate Houston back to Presley, Oklahoma—and back into Robin's life. To end the crime spree, he and Robin must work together. But to handle the desire between them, they must settle the past …

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His Case, Her Baby by Carla Cassidy

"The crib is empty."

Peyton Wilkerson's world is shattered when her baby is taken from her very own home. Distraught, she finds comfort—and a growing attraction—in Sheriff Tom Grayson's arms. But knocking down the wall that Tom has erected around his heart will be tough …

Tom knows the heartbreak of losing a child. He aches for Peyton, but refuses to give in to desires he thought long dead. When her life is threatened, Tom discovers that resistance is futile—he'd move mountains to keep mother and baby safe.

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Keep up to date by subscribing to eHarlequin.com's free newsletter that contains the latest information about their series of books as well as informing you about subscriber-only special offers and new products. Click on the banner below to subscribe for free:

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The Mystery Bookshelf: The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer

The Mystery Bookshelf, where you can discover a library of new mysteries, is pleased to feature a new mystery title we recently received from the publisher.

The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer
Non-series
St. Martin's Minotaur (Trade Paperback)
Publication Date: February 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-37487-7

About The Tourist (from the publisher): Milo Weaver used to be a “tourist” for the CIA—an undercover agent with no home, no identity—but he’s since retired from the field to become a middle-level manager at the CIA’s New York headquarters. He’s acquired a wife, a daughter, and a brownstone in Brooklyn, and he’s tried to leave his old life of secrets and lies behind. However, when the arrest of a long-sought-after assassin sets off an investigation into one of Milo’s oldest colleagues and exposes new layers of intrigue in his old cases, he has no choice but to go back undercover and find out who’s holding the strings once and for all.

About Olen Steinhauer: The author’s widely acclaimed Yalta Boulevard crime series set in Eastern Europe, which he was inspired to write while on a Fullbright fellowship, is a two-time Edgar Award finalist and has been shortlisted for the Anthony, the Macavity, the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, and the Barry awards.

Film rights to The Tourist have been optioned by Warner Brothers for George Clooney.

Raised in Virginia, Steinhauer currently lives in Germany, where he is teaching a spy fiction course at the University of Leipzig. His website is OlenSteinhauer.com.

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Harlan Coben's Long Lost To Be Filmed

Variety is reporting that French producer Gaumont has acquired the rights to Harlan Coben's 2009 thriller Long Lost, the 9th book featuring sports and entertainment agent Myron Bolitar.

Gaumont's last adaptation of a Coben novel, the stand-alone thriller Tell No One, was filmed in French, though it is reported that Long Lost will be shot in English. Long Lost is set largely in Paris.

About Long Lost (from the publisher): Myron Bolitar hasn't heard from Terese Collins since their torrid affair ended ten years ago, so her desperate phone call from Paris catches him completely off guard. In a shattering admission, Terese reveals the tragic story behind her disappearance-her struggles to get pregnant, the greatest moment of her life when her baby was born ... and the fatal accident that robbed her of it all: her marriage, her happiness and her beloved only daughter.

Now a suspect in the murder of her ex-husband in Paris, Terese has nowhere else to turn for help. Myron heeds the call. But then a startling piece of evidence turns the entire case upside down, laying bare Terese's long-buried family secrets ... and the very real possibility that her daughter may still be alive.

In grave danger from unknown assailants in a country where nothing is as it seems, Myron and Terese race to stay a step ahead of Homeland Security, Interpol, and Mossad. Soon they are working at breakneck pace, not only to learn what really happened to Terese's long-lost little girl-but to uncover a sinister plot with shocking global implications.

In our review of Long Lost, we stated that readers would be tempted to finish it in one setting, adding "the narrative is taut, the pace relentless."

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IDW Announces Exclusive Partnership with James Patterson to Publish Original and Adapted Graphic Novels

In a press release today, IDW Publishing announced an exclusive partnership with James Patterson to publish original comic stories and graphic novel adaptations of his books.

First up will be a 5-part story adapted from his young adult novel Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland, to be published this May. This will be followed in June by an adaptation of Patterson's non-fiction thriller, The Murder of King Tut (2005), to be written by Alexander Irvine (Daredevil: Noir).

About Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland (from the publisher): The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they'd never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world?

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Film Rights Optioned for Dean Koontz's Frankenstein Series of Thrillers

Variety is reporting that 1019 Entertainment has acquired the film rights to Dean Koontz's series of Frankenstein thrillers. The first novel in the series, Prodigal Son, was published in 2005 and co-written with Kevin Anderson (though Anderson's name disappeared from the covers of later editions, such as that shown to the right). Subsequent titles in the series are City of Night (2005 with Ed Gorman), Dead and Alive (2009), and Lost Souls (to be published this year). Koontz's reimagining of the Mary Shelly classic is set in modern day New Orleans.

A graphic novel based on the first book in the series was published last year.

About Prodigal Son (from the publisher): Every city has secrets. But none as terrible as this. His name is Deucalion, a tattooed man of mysterious origin, a sleight-of-reality artist who’s traveled the centuries with a secret worse than death. He arrives as a serial killer stalks the streets, a killer who carefully selects his victims for the humanity that is missing in himself. Detective Carson O’Connor is cool, cynical, and every bit as tough as she looks. Her partner Michael Maddison would back her up all the way to Hell itself—and that just may be where this case ends up. For the no-nonsense O’Connor is suddenly talking about an ages-old conspiracy, a near immortal race of beings, and killers that are more—and less—than human. Soon it will be clear that as crazy as she sounds, the truth is even more ominous. For their quarry isn’t merely a homicidal maniac—but his deranged maker.

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Harlequin Intrigue Titles for March 2010

eHarlequin.com has released the March 2010 titles in their Intrigue, breathtaking romantic suspense series. Get these edge-of-your-seat reads today with characters who conquer everything from kidnappings to murder mysteries, only to find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another! For more information or to purchase any of the books below, click on the book title or book cover. (Previous months titles can be found on the backlist page.)

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Under the Gun by HelenKay Dimon

A good agent never lets the job become personal …

Who wanted her dead? That's what Claire Samson wanted to know. On the run and alone, there was only one man she trusted to find her. Recovery agent Luke Hathaway was the best at locating and saving, and she needed the best if she wanted to live. But the handsome agent who promised salvation had some conditions of his own. If he were to help, she needed to stick close by his side. Very close. And the only thing more dangerous than her current situation was the way Luke made her feel. From the protective look in his green eyes, she could tell he felt the same. But every second that brought them closer together was also ticking toward an explosive confrontation that might tear them apart …

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Colby Justice by Debra Webb

With the deadline for his demands fast approaching, Victoria Colby-Camp's captor starts to exact the revenge he deems justice. Now in session: a mock trial sure to end in a death sentence for Victoria…unless Equalizer Ben Steele and Colby rookie Penny Alexander can pull off a daring, nearly impossible rescue.

The only problem is some serious friction between the two. Loner Steele travels with so much emotional baggage that he can't trust a woman partner. Alexander, new to the job and insecure, harbors a secret that could fatally jeopardize the mission. And once Steele finds her out, anger, resentment, lies and accusations trail their every heart-stopping move. Can this risk-all rescue operation—and The Colby Agency—be saved?

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Killer Body by Elle James

Texas was ablaze with murder and corruption, but Dawson Gray was used to the heat. High-pressure situations couldn't shake the ex-army heavy hitter; he was forged in them. Having no fear for his own life, he signed on with the Lone Star Agency.

Assigned as a bodyguard, Dawson was all over Savvy Jones—if that was her real name. Caught in a frame-up, Savvy didn't remember who she was, and his first task as her bodyguard was to jog her memory. His second? To make sure that the drug cartel targeting her didn't harm a hair on her sweet head.

But as Savvy began to mean more to him than just a case, Dawson found that there was one thing he did fear—losing her forever. And that wasn't going to happen on his watch.

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Rawhide Ranger by Rita Herron

Texas Ranger Cabe Navarro was full-blooded Comanche—his ripped frame even recalled history's greatest warriors. Raven haired and eagle-eyed, Cabe trespassed on sacred land to investigate ritual murders, only to fix his full attention on the daughter of a local rancher.

They were on opposite sides of the law, and their initial attraction could have killed the case dead. But when Jessie Becker became a prime target for foul play, all bets were off. Knee-deep in dangerous territory, Cabe made quick decisions to keep her alive—and almost at arm's length. He knew she needed his brand of protection, as a Texas Ranger and as a man. And that he was helpless to fight it when the line between the two started to blur …

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Indestructible by Cassie Miles

Drew Kincaid had always been in someone's crosshairs, and once again it was time to move on before his elusive tracker got too close. Only this time, he'd be leaving behind Melinda Winston. From the moment they met, Drew and Melinda shared a connection he'd never thought possible, thanks to his extraordinary—and secret—ability to self-heal. Now, with a baby on the way, Melinda needed protection, not a man trying to stay one step ahead. But after barely rescuing her from the hands of his enemies, Drew was ready to admit to his troubled past and its effect on their future. He knew self-healing was a powerful gift … but the damage would be irreparable if he lost Melinda and his baby.

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Cowboy Delirium by Joanna Wayne

He was a cowboy first, a former navy SEAL second … and a red-blooded male third …

Until he was forced to kidnap Jaime Collingsworth.

The sexy spitfire almost made Rio Hernandez forget his undercover assignment in a major cartel that threatened to destroy south Texas. Rio didn't know what the cartel wanted with Jaime; he only knew he had to protect her.

Keeping her alive was easy compared to keeping his hands off her. Each moment with Jaime brought him closer to temptation, just as the cartel moved relentlessly closer to its evil plan. With time running out, Rio had no choice but to put Jaime in danger. But at the last second which would he choose—sworn duty or the woman he'd come to love?

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If you enjoy the romantic suspense books in this series, you can get 2 free Harlequin Intrigue books plus 2 free gifts just for giving the automatic program a try. Accepting your two free Intrigue books and mystery gifts places you under no obligation to buy anything. You may keep the books and gifts and return the shipping statement marked cancel. If you do not cancel, about two months later, and then every other month, eHarlequin will send you four additional Intrigue books.

Keep up to date by subscribing to eHarlequin.com's free newsletter that contains the latest information about their series of books as well as informing you about subscriber-only special offers and new products. Click on the banner below to subscribe for free:

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