Scorpions in Corinth

There is a new star in the classical firmament. Philocles is engaging, inspiring and feels absolutely real. This is historical writing at its best and crime writing worthy of prizes. RivetingIt's about time . . . Alvey sets the scene perfectly, with easy brushstrokes and lightly worn learning. In Philocles we have an aspiring playwright, man of the people and reluctant detective. I look forward to his next case...Historical sleuthing finally gets its grown-up trousers . . . It shows a thorough understanding of time and place, and has a dark heart. Finally, someone has taken on Saylor and Davis and brought us out of Rome at last!I loved it; great sense of place, terrific characters and a cracking plotAs vivid and lively as a Greek wedding - but with rather more blood! -If you like C J Sansom's Tudor sleuth Matthew Shardlake, you'll love this - a gripping murder mystery set in a fantastically fully-realised ancient Athens, which will keep you guessing to the very end