Sacred Games: the cover!

The third book of the Athenian Mysteries is...



This one's a race against time.  Here's the jacket copy:

It's the Olympics of 460 BC. Nico's best friend, Timodemus, is a competitor in the pankration, the deadly martial art of ancient Greece. Timo is hot favorite to win. His only serious rival is Arakos from Sparta. When Arakos is found beaten to death, it's obvious Timodemus must be the killer. Who else could have killed the second-best fighter in all Hellas but the very best? The Judges of the Games sentence Timodemus to be executed in four days' time, as soon as the Sacred Games have finished.

Complicating everything is the fact that Athens and Sparta are already at each other's throats, in the opening stages of a power struggle for control of Hellas. If an Athenian is found to have cheated at the Games by murdering a Spartan, it will be everything the hawks in Sparta need to declare open war the moment the Sacred Truce is over. And that's a war Athens cannot hope to win.

Nico and his partner in sleuthing, the annoyingly clever priestess Diotima, have four days to save their friend and avert a war that would tear their world apart.

7 comments:

Colin Smith said...

Goes without saying, this is on my TBR. Very much looking forward to it. :)

Amalia Dillin said...

I love the setting for this one! Sounds awesome!

Sarah W said...

I love it!

I'm really excited about this one! I can't wait to see how Diotima and Nico are doing--and how their respective families react to their relationship as it stands now (if they aren't keeping it a secret?).

Is Euterpe in this one? Is Pythax?

I know, I know. Wait and read.

Unknown said...

Yay! I've been waiting for the third book in this series forever. I can't wait to read it! ^_^

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Everyone!

I had a lovely time researching and writing this one.

No spoilers, I'm afraid, but to answer Sarah, Pythax does indeed make an appearance, and Socrates rejoins the team. As to how Nico & Diotima's relationship pans out...you'll have to wait and see.

As I write this, I have a terminal case of bloodshot eyes. I just checked the copyedits non-stop over three days.

Anneke said...

I loved it, and that's the only spoiler I'll give. No, another one: it's another entertaining book. I'm convinced readers will love it.

Good luck Gary, looking forward to number 4!

Gary Corby said...

Thanks Anneke! It wouldn't be the book it is without your help.