The Devil Takes Half

June 23, 2014
The beautiful but ominous setting of this impressive debut, a series opener, overcomes its occasional carelessness. The discovery of a severed hand lying in a pool of blood brings Yiannis Patronas, the chief police officer on the island of Chios, to an archeological dig near a remote and almost deserted monastery. After a young worker at the site gets his throat cut, more violent assaults follow. The ensuing police procedural is improvised and uncertain because Yiannis is a troubled, bumbling hero who has had no experience with murder cases or sadistic criminals. He’s also burdened with incompetent subordinates, and his only real assistant is an elderly priest who’s watched too many American detective TV shows. Serafim has a good eye for people and places, and sheds light on the centuries of violent passion that have created an oppressive atmosphere hanging over the sunny Greek landscape. Agent: Jeannie Loiacono, Loiacono Literary Agency.

July 1, 2014

One of Greece's most far-flung islands, Chios has struggled through the centuries with Turkish invasions and natural disasters. In short, it is a potential treasure trove for archaeologists, and there are rumors of great riches to be found. One such archaeologist, Eleni Argentis, has been working for the past two years in the shadow of a remote monastery administered by an old priest, Papa Michalis. When Eleni's assistant, teenager Petros, is found bludgeoned to death on the site, and random body parts belonging to Eleni are also discovered, police officer Yiannis Patronas is brought in to investigate. The suspect list is diverse: Eleni's former lover; a competing professor; Petros's mother and her boyfriend; and Eleni's greedy stepmother all make the short list. Patronas and Michalis latch on to this academic puzzle with a vengeance. At times dealing with horrific violence, Patronas's dedication to his people and his country's heritage is heroic. VERDICT Serafim's dense prose is perfect for lovers of literary and scholarly mysteries. Her plotting is methodical and traditional, with subtle nods to Sherlock Holmes, Greek mythology, and historical events.

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