Death Comes by Amphora Roger Hudson
Customer Rating
€9.34 (RRP €9.83)
You save: €0.49
Book Details
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 276
- Dimensions: 216 x 140
- Publication: September 2007
- Publisher: Twenty First Century Publishers Ltd
- ISBN: 9781904433682
- ISBN (Ten digit): 1904433685
- Country of Publication: United Kingdom
- Readership: General (Us: Trade)
Customer Reviews
A complex and textured read
Lysanias, just 18, arrives in ancient Athens in response to a request from his uncle, to find that same uncle has died quite suddenly and violently. Because this is a murder mystery, the young man is suspicious of this untimely death and will spend the rest of the novel, assisted by his older and wiser slave Sindron, trying to find the murderer and avenge his uncle. If this was all there was to this novel, it would be a fine read. But, just as there is more to the death of Lysanias' uncle than meets the eye, there is also more to this novel than the mere solving of a murder. The authenticity of the world created by Hudson in this novel gives it a credibility—and a depth—found in historical novels. The transformation of Lysanias from naive teenager to self-confident young man is a subtle coming of age story that is well earned. The evolution of Lysanias' relationship with his slave, and the growing respect within that relationship, adds texture to the tale. And, to add even a little more spice, Hudson has thrown in a bit of a love interest for Lysanias, in the person of his uncle’s young widow. While you may at first be daunted by the array of characters. Hudson provides a synopsis of characters and events, along with a detailed map of Athens and the marketplace, which will help to ground you in the details of this wonderfully complex read. DEATH COMES BY AMPHORA is layered and textured in ways that will constantly surprise you. As you travel with Lysanias and Sindron through the streets of ancient Athens, you will meet a rich mixture of real and fictional characters that will involve you in Athenian politics, intrigue, corruption—and, sometimes, even, good old fashioned political gossip. You'll learn about ancient Athens and solve mysteries. You'll meet and develop your own relationships with the characters he creates. And, quite simply, you'll enjoy a good read.
Good Classical Read 
I would recommend this novel to all classical students without hesitation,as well as to crime fiction enthusiasts.There is much erudition behind the entirely believable descriptions of the city,customs,businesses,politics,public and private characters.There is a vitality in the writing which engages the reader and makes learning painless.DEATH COMES BY AMPHORA isan excellent read for anyone who has an interest in the classical world,or has not-for anyone who likes a tale well told and one which leaves us at the end just a little wiser.I look forward to a sequel.
Greek tragedy meets whodunnit
'DEATH COMES BY AMPHORA', an epic read and it is soon quite evident the epic amount of research that went into creating this book. From the opening pages you are transported into an ancient and mysterious world where nothing is as it seems. As the main character arrives by boat and gazes upon the ancient city of Athens for the first time you feel as though you yourself could be standing beside him on the deck. What follows is a classic murder mystery in which our two amateur sleuths slowly unravel the truth behind the murder of a prominent city patron and family member, set against a backdrop of political upheaval where democracy and tyranny clash for the very first time. One thing you do realise is that, human nature being what it is, people back then probably weren't so different to us now- an interesting parallel to our present times
