Review of One for Sorrow, a John the Eunuch Mystery by Mary Reed and Eric Mayer

Mystery authors give their sleuths some interesting handicaps. C. J. Sansom’s Matthew Shardlake is a hunchback. Bruce Alexander’s Sir John Fielding and Caroline roe’s Isaac of Girona are both blind. Candace Robb’s Owen Archer is missing an eye from a failed attempt on his life. Lord Chamberlain John in One for Sorrow by Mary Reed and Eric Mayer is a eunuch, cruelly castrated by his abductors from an enemy country and then sold as a slave to Emperor Justinian I. Despite his austere introduction to the court, John has climbed the career ladder to Lord Chamberlain to the emperor, making him one of the most powerful men in Constantinople, the capitol of the Byzantium Empire.


I wondered at Reed’s and Mayer’s choice of injury for John, since his condition had no bearing on the mystery nor did it give him insight and skills that other men might not have. It did give him a distinct advantage in a fight at close quarters during the climatic solution. A knee to the groin, which would incapacitate any normal man, does little to a man who has no genitals. Interesting twist and bad news for John’s attacker. However, John lives life to the fullest he can with an injury many men would consider a fate worse than death. For the reader, John is a very intriguing sleuth. He’s still a soldier and still in love with the woman he lost years ago when he was captured.

In One for Sorrow, the Emperor’s Keeper of the Plate and good friend of John, Leukos, is stabbed to death in an alley one night. Many write it off as an unfortunate circumstance befalling one who ventures into the dark, dangerous places of Constantinople. John isn’t convinced and the Emperor charges him to uncover the mystery of Leukos’ murder.

One of the last men Leukos met with was Thomas, a red-headed soldier from the distant land of Britain sent by King Arthur. He’s in Constantinople on a quest for the Holy Grail. As if the mystery isn’t convoluted enough, John’s former lover Cornelia shows up in the city with Europa, the daughter John never knew he had.

Somehow, all of these events are connected and John must unravel the mystery to protect his family.

The political environment of Constantinople in the sixth century reminds me of seventh century Ireland in Peter Tremayne’s Sister Fidelma series. Christianity is becoming the official religion but many still hold onto their pagan beliefs in a changing religious climate. John remains pagan but loyally serves his Christian emperor. The clash of cultures is relatively minor in this depiction of Byzantium even though pagan temples have been banned. There is an interesting scene of a ritual and promotion of a follower of the god Mithra. Gruesome but it does take the story to another level.

It’s also what helps set this mystery series apart from other ancient settings, a glimpse into another time and place. One for Sorrow is definitely required reading for mystery lovers.