Assassins of Athens

Jeffrey Siger
Poisoned Pen Press (2010)
ISBN 9781590587072
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (10/09)

Jeffrey Siger did it again!  After his debuted “Murder in Mykonos,” Siger follows up with “Assassins of Athens” where Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis of the Special Crimes Division continues the lead role in solving the murder of a young boy of a prominent family in Athens that was found in a seedy neighborhood dumpster.  After considering the case, Kaldis concludes the killing was done to give a message.

Kaldis, usually being politically incorrect, follows clues into the Athenian criminal nightlife while uncovering more than he bargained for.  The page-turning sequel brings in old Athenian societal money gods, as well as a new wanna-be as they tangle in a power struggle.  Jealousy, revenge, rebellion, vengeance, and distrust reveal themselves as the investigation continues to find the message behind the mysterious and brutal murder.

Mix in a little romance and sex, and you have a well-rounded, character-driven plot.  Jeffrey Siger, using the Greek landscape of Athens and Mykonos, successfully weaves in characters from his previous book and effectively brings in new individuals while his main character, Kaldis, untangles the plot.  Siger’s writing is superb,  drawing the reader’s emotions into the storyline and always wanting to know what happens next.

I would assume there is a third book coming into the series because the ending certainly warrants another book.  It certainly was unexpected, yet one that puts a smile on the reader’s face.

If you like a well-written murder mystery, this is it. I can easily compare “Assassins of Athens” by Jeffrey Siger to Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code” or “Angels and Demons” and can honestly say the fast-paced excitement and drama is on the same level.

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