The Devil Takes Half: A Greek Islands Mystery

One of Greece's most far-flung islands, Chios has struggled through the centuries with Turkish invasions and natural disasters. In short, it is a potential treasure trove for archaeologists, and there are rumors of great riches to be found. One such archaeologist, Eleni Argentis, has been working for the past two years in the shadow of a remote monastery administered by an old priest, Papa Michalis. When Eleni's assistant, teenager Petros, is found bludgeoned to death on the site, and random body parts belonging to Eleni are also discovered, police officer Yiannis Patronas is brought in to investigate. The suspect list is diverse: Eleni's former lover; a competing professor; Petros's mother and her boyfriend; and Eleni's greedy stepmother all make the short list. Patronas and Michalis latch on to this academic puzzle with a vengeance. At times dealing with horrific violence, Patronas's dedication to his people and his country's heritage is heroic.