Death Ex Machina

Starred review from March 30, 2015
In Australian author Corby’s superior fifth whodunit set in ancient Greece (after 2014’s The Marathon Conspiracy), the city of Athens is preparing to host the Great Dionysia, “the largest and most important arts festival in the world.” But the success of the event is in doubt after a series of accidents on the set of Sophocles’s play Sisyphus. The cast members believe this is the work of a ghost. Pericles, the city’s most powerful man, asks Nicolaos, his inquiry agent, to get rid of the ghost. Unfortunately, not long after Nico arranges for an exorcism ritual, one of the actors is murdered, suspended from the machine designed to hold the character of Thanatos, the god of death, in midair during the performance. Under pressure to find the killer quickly as the festival start date looms, Nico resorts to a clever and amusing ploy to buy more time. Corby again manages to effortlessly integrate laugh-out-loud humor into a fairly clued puzzle. Agent: Janet Reid, FinePrint Literary.

The fifth Nicolaos and Diotima mystery takes place during the largest arts festival of the ancient world, the Great Dionysia. Erik Davies does a serviceable narration, although his energy lags when author Corby explains or defines some piece of Greek minutiae. A series of mishaps has befallen the acting company that is preparing to present SISYPHUS, by Sophocles. The superstitious actors believe a ghost is responsible, but Nicolaos and Diotima are convinced that the culprit is more flesh than phantom. Theokritos, high priest of Dionysos, Nicolaos, and Diotima publicly undertake a fake exorcism. Their efforts fail, however, when one of the actors is found hanged. Davies's characters are credible--and with suspects galore, a clever puzzle, and well-researched ancient history, prepare to learn while you listen. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine