As the second in the series, this book sets out to develop the characters of Aristotle and his friend/protege Stephanos even further. Aristotle is no longer a peripheral character which means that many conversations reflect his philosophy and rhetoric. The mystery tackled in this volume is much more complicated than the one in the first and the story is more thought provoking. Still, the purpose continues to be interweaving mystery and history to create a compelling story.

As with the first book in the series, those mystery readers with an interest in ancient history and philosophy would find this story particularly enjoyable, but the general reader should find it more than satisfying. Reading the first book would definitely be helpful but not necessarily required in order to enjoy this one. Some type of literature class on historical fiction or a book club would have a lot to discuss with this book. The writing gives one the feeling of learning while being presented with a story that is easy to grasp even with a somewhat complicated mystery. The author continues to write authentic seeming characters and settings in such a way as to make them seem currently relevant and accessible.

Whereas the mystery in the first book was pretty easy to figure out–with only the how of it being difficult to figure out–the mystery in this book is much more complicated. I really had no idea what was going on until the end, though in retrospect there were of course hints thorughout the story. The tale and the setting evoke a feeling of cleverness and learning; Perhaps this is due to Aristotles philosophicle ponderings throughout, and the historical details of the setting. Even though there is an original feel to the stories due to their setting, Aristotle and Stephanos seem like an ancient version of Sherlock and Watson or Hercule Poirot and Captain Hastings, though Aristotle is much more willing to teach and has less of a smug air than the others. The similarities pique my interest because I enjoy both of those pairs as well. This story is fun and puzzling while also educating the reader on Aristotle and ancient Athens and would be a good addition to any fiction collection. I look forward to reading more in the series.

© 2015 Natalie Kelley-Wilson

Natalie Kelley-Wilson graduated from Allegheny College with a BA in English Lit. and from Clarion University with a Masters in Library Science. Currently she works at her town’s public library and the county historical society. Email: nataliekelleywilson82@gmail.com