Rave reviews for The Devil Takes Half by Leta
Serafim!
www.coffeetwonpress.com
www.letaserafim.com
“[An]
impressive debut …. 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.”
—Publishers
Weekly
“The
Greeks have a word for it, and in this fast-paced, delightful mystery, that
word is murder. A cop with a nagging wife and an old priest with an addiction
to American TV are spurred to investigate the homicide of a beautiful
anthropologist who may have dug up more than shards of an ancient urn. The real
buried treasure is pure pleasure in Serafim’s debut novel.”
—Mary
Daheim, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Alpine and Bed
& Breakfast mystery series
“Leta
Seraphim’s deftly crafted descriptions of people, places and action quickly
transports the reader into the midst of the seemingly tranquil and spiritual
setting of a remote ancient monastery on the island of Chios where, alas (!)
sinister and gruesome events are taking place. The mystical element of the
monastic setting quickly turns to an unholy mystery as this suspenseful and
fast paced tale of unspeakable murders draws you into its setting: an
archeological site, the quest to discover a Minoan settlement and an unlikely
assemblage of intriguing characters who become tangled together as the story
unfolds. A determined Chief Police Officer, several Archeologists, a young and
impoverished assistant and a priest all come to life in this beautifully
rendered mystery. Intelligently written, with keenly observed characters and
places and ever mindful of the rich history of this Greek island, Leta Serafim's
narrative delivers an enjoyable and skillfully developed story that holds your
interest from start to finish.”
—Argie
Tiliakos, Neuropsychologist, Massachusetts General Hospital (retired)
“In
The Devil Takes Half, Leta Serafim has done an excellent job capturing
the nuances and mentality of the Greek people: young, middle age and old. As
the child of Greek immigrants who were careful to pass on a thorough knowledge
of their language, culture, and tradition, I am delighted to find an American
who has not only taken the time to do her research but also understands the
sacrifice and beauty of a proud people and country. Her humor and use of the
Greek language help to paint a vivid literary portrait of a group of characters
who are only too real. I can actually see this riveting mystery novel being
made into a wonderful motion picture. What fun!”
—Margaret
P. Carayannopoulos, Board Member, the Harvard University Retiree Association
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