Just Finished Reading: The Mosaic of Shadows by Tom Harper (FP: 2003)

Constantinople in 1095. When one of the Emperor’s bodyguards is killed by a mysterious and powerful weapon the leaders of his elite Varangian guard are at a loss to explain things. So his chief Minister turns to Demetrios Askiates, a former mercenary who has developed a reputation within the burgeoning middle-class as something of a solver of mysteries, to aid them in their investigations. Within hours of being assigned to the case Demetrios has already proven his worth by locating the spot where a would be assassin stood to fire his mysterious weapon and has managed to gain a fair description of the boy involved. But before he can investigate further it becomes obvious that powerful forces are ranged against him. Intrigue within the palace itself seems to be involved with fingers increasingly pointing to the Emperor’s younger brother. But with forces like these how would it be possible for Demetrios to gain enough evidence without putting himself and his family in mortal danger. If this was not enough to put the fear of the gods in him an army of Christian knights is approaching from the west – their intention to gain access to the Holy Land with or without the co-operation of Constantinople. Demetrios cannot but wonder if their arrival is a coincidence of if something much bigger that a simple palace coup is happening around him. With only weeks to provide answers Demetrios must find a killer in a city of thousands and increasingly watch his own back.

As a first novel this was very impressive indeed. The character of Demitrios is well drawn with depth, history and real motivations. Likewise the men and women (or more accurately woman) he needs to deal with during his investigation are rounded characters (in the main) if a little stereotypical. The plot is a little too clever and convoluted, and a little too long to be honest, but this is a common failing of first novels as the author tries to cram as much as possible into what might end up as their only book deal rather than the first of many. I have learnt to forgive such examples of over exuberance. Overall, cutting the author a modicum of slack, this is a solid example of historical political/crime thriller. Without the use of forensics, except for the very crudest kind, Demetrios is forced back on questioning witnesses (and suspects) and determining where the stories overlap and where they conflict – thereby hopefully arriving at what really happened. This he does very well and the progress is logical and honestly impressive. The protagonist wasn’t clear (at least to me) until the last quarter of the book and wasn’t really revealed until very late indeed which I enjoyed. He certainly kept me guessing, and turning pages, until the very end. Recommended.