Death Ex Machina (The Athenian Mysteries Book 5) Kindle Edition

As I've mentioned previously, I really like mysteries set in the theater, so when I came across this book on sale, I was intrigued.While I enjoy period pieces, this is the first mystery series I've read in ancient Athens, so I honestly didn't know what to expect.I loved it. The dialogue was witty, the descriptions really fantastic, and it was a good mystery to boot.As a medical historian (more medical nerd since I've never gotten paid for any of my medical history musings), I appreciated the fact that the author did his homework, so I am inclined to think that the rest of the book has some roots in actual history as well.The plot is a simple one: our hero, a private detective in Athens and his wife, a high priestess of Athena are hired by a playwright during the great festival to get rid of a ghost who is thwarting the rehearsals. While Nico is able to get rid of the "ghost," unfortunately, he has a murder to contend with and we are off to the races.I did manage to pick up another book in the series at a very good price. Unfortunately, the publisher prices the books above what I consider reasonable for an electronic book, so unless I win the lottery, I don't think I'll be reading many of the books (unless they are on sale).Well worth your time and eyes. While this is a long book, it's totally worth it and I give it <b>5 stars up!</b> for a delightful story that had me laughing out loud at several points.

I was surprised and delighted to realize recently that I had somehow missed this volume in one of my favorite mystery series, and it might just be my favorite of a very good series!Who could not like a warmhearted mystery series set in ancient Greece with characters like Socrates (as a teen-aged boy who annoys his older brother, our protagonist) and Pericles and, in this installment, which centers around the Great Dionysia, the premier arts festival of the ancient world, includes cameo appearances by Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles?One of my favorite little touches in this book were the many echoes of famous plays, both ancient and modern.This book is good to read just for fun, but I love a historical mystery that teaches me about a society and an era, and there are wonderful details of life in ancient Greece and an extended Author Note at the back to assure us that some of the truly odd touches were historically accurate.These characters may have lived in ancient times, but they seem very modern and human, so I enjoy the plot, the characters, and the setting. What more could I want in a mystery?

I'm very pleased to have discovered this series and my only concern is that I am coming to the end of the current available titles. It's a fun read that manages to entertain and inform you of the historical context and well known figures at the same time. The author sets each book in a different aspect of Ancient Greece which ensures a freshness each book. If you are a fan of not to heavy, well researched historical who-dun-its then I certainly suggest you give this author a go.

Read his first several years ago. Glad to find this one. Having been involved with local theater years ago (and later my son was a professional actor - now he's in a monastery), I enjoyed the history of the theater

Wow! I want to go to the parties the author researches!Seriously, as a fan of Gary Corby but wary of some series, I was apprehensive when I started. It seemed to begin rather slowly, but then the twists began, and as usual Corby's description of ancient Athens and its people keeps drawing me in. Great and fun read, and I am looking forward to the next one.If you are a history buff as I am, you also learn quite a bit in a very easy fashion.

It's hard to find good historical murder mysteries that take place in ancient Greece, as opposed to Rome. As a Classics major, I really appreciated the author's attention to historical detail, as well as his very likable protagonists. Start at the beginning of the series (The Pericles Commission), if you haven't already.

I bought another in the series on the cheap, but paid the current Kindle price for this one. These give a great place start learning ancient Greek history and enjoy it.

It is festival time and Sophocles play appears cursed which is bad news for Athens image because the play must go on. Pericles has Nico look into it. Lots of cool stuff not just about theater in Athens but into modern times because the roots still hold. Did not even suspect the evil doer. Good mystery and good background. Really like this series.

This splendid book by Gary Corby is already the 5th outing of this Athenian mystery series.The historical details about this Classical Greek period are very well researched by the author, for the book has been included with a very informative Authors Note and Glossary.The story is set in the year 458 BC and it was done so especially to get three very imporant historical men within this book and thus making this tale more noticable, and those men are, Aeschylus in his final year, Sophocles in his prime and last but not least Euripides, who is three years away from his really first outing.The tale itself is about Nicolaos and Diotima, now as man and wife in sleuthing, at the time of the Great Dionysia, which is the largest art festival of the ancient world that is held in honour of Dionysos, the God of Wine.At this festival there's a ghost who's haunting Athens's great theater and Nicolaos and Diotima with the help of Theokritos, the High Priest of Dionysos, exorcise the ghost publicly while knowing already that there's a human saboteur at work who will finally commit murder by hanging a man on the machine that is situated within the theater.Time for Nicolaos and Diotima to dig deep into this puzzle with all the people involved, and they will have to use and show all their cleverness and determination to unravel this murder mystery and finally catch the culprit.Recommended, for this is a very "Exciting Athenian mystery" from an author who's absolutely worthy of following!

Another clever, brilliantly funny trip to Ancient Athens. Nico, the only private investigator in Athens, and his wife Diotima have to stop the 'ghost' that is haunting the theatre before it disrupts the Great Dionysia, the festival to honour the god Dionysos. If they fail the god will be offended and Athens will be shamed in front of its neighbours. Actors are injured and killed and time is, quite literally, running out, Nico has to create a unique entertainment of his own to avert disaster. This is the fifth in the series and as enjoyable as the preceding books. Corby shows remarkable skill in mixing fictional and historical characters. Great fun and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

fun read. with lots of ancient historical facts added.

Great next installment of this curiously informative little series. Am so enjoying the journey. Can't wait for Nico & Diotima's adventures with the twins to evolve...