Prey on Patmos by Jeffrey Siger

What can be worse than Greek politics?  Maybe Greek politics involving the church, and that's what Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis is caught up in with the latest pageturner by Jeffrey Siger, Prey on Patmos.

Patmos is the eastern Greek island on which Saint John lived when he wrote the Book of Revelation.  When a beloved monk from the thousand year old monastery is murdered in the town square one morning during Easter Week, Andreas is sent to the scene of the crime.  When he and his assistant, Kouros, discover that the body was moved, the townspeople trampled all over the crime scene, and no one wants to cooperate, it feels as if the "Police chief, the mayor, and the head of the monastery are working together to screw up the investigation."  But, it's only going to get worse for Andreas' case in this tense political drama. 

Who is actually behind the murder?  Andreas knows it isn't a random mugging, but rumors abound.  There are stories of Russians, political infighting in the Orthodox Church, and mysterious monks.  And, Vassilas, the dead monk, was a scholar, a researcher who had uncovered secrets someone wanted to hide.  As Kouros said, their investigation involving stories of the Antichrist and Russians was "Beginning to sound like one of those books by that American, Dan Brown."

Poor Andreas.  Siger traps him in Greek politics and church politics, and even his personal life is not exempt.  This son of an policeman who killed himself, is now a father-to-be, afraid to propose to his baby's mother, Lila, daughter of one of Greece's oldest, wealthiest families, and a socially prominent widow.  Fortunately, Andreas is a cynical, powerful cop himself, with a sense of humor.  Siger surrounds him with wonderful characters, his assistant, Kouros, an intelligent man who provides comic relief, Tassos, Andreas' mentor, who knows where all the bodies are buried, and Maggie, who runs Andreas' office, and probably the entire Athens General Police Headquarters.  Then there's Lila herself, a wonderful loving woman, but a force to be reckoned with. 

Jeffrey Siger's mysteries are complicated, entrancing stories, wrapped up in politics.  This one adds church politics and family pressure.  Siger skillfully adds the wonderful Greek settings and intriguing, realistic characters to the mix for a book that appeals in so many ways.  The books immerse the reader in the Greek culture, with all of its traps and dangers.  Prey on Patmos is a powerful mystery of pride and temptation and politics played out on the Greek stage.

Jeffrey Siger's website is http://www.jeffreysiger.com/

Prey on Patmos by Jeffrey Siger.  Poisoned Pen Press, ©2011. ISBN 9781590587669 (hardcover), 250p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure - The publisher sent me a copy for my Kindle so I could review it.