The Taint of Midas

This is the second book I have read in the Greek Detective series by Anne Zouroudi and am looking forward to the rest of the series. The books all feature the enigmatic character Hermes Diaktoros, usually described as in the narrative as simply “the fat man”, who involves himself in resolving crimes in unusual ways and has a fetish about keeping his shoes white.

Visiting a Greek island from Athens, the fat man is the first on the scene of a hit-and-run only to discover that the victim is an old friend. Although at first considered a suspect by the local police, they soon realise the fat man has his own agenda to discover the truth and punish the guilty; that he represents some unknown higher crime fighting authority that is never revealed.

Greed and corruption lie behind the death of the elderly victim, who owned land of interest to a trio of property developers. Justice is meted out in unexpected ways and for one individual who nearly succumbed there is redemption.

There is something truly magical about these books that is very difficult to describe. The characters, the settings, the moral complexities, all combine to provide a unique, rich and rewarding reading experience. Most excellent.

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