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Product Description
Tetzcoco, the second city of the Aztec realm, is a bustling, cosmopolitan town; a city of poets, artists and legendary kings. It's also a place torn by unrest, as rival claimants fight over the throne, and spies and assassins stalk each other through the streets. It is here that Yaotl seeks refuge from his master, the Aztec Chief Minister. Lord Feathered-in-Black has decided to rid himself of his disobedient slave, and plans to have Yaotl sacrificed in the most gruesome manner possible - provided he can catch him first. Yaotl's former lover Lily is in Tetzcoco too, on a mission of her own. A mission that goes badly wrong, with the discovery of a bloodsoaked corpse - and Lily's arrest for murder. Yaotl faces a desperate race against time to find the evidence that will prove Lily's innocence - and save her from execution. But the wily slave's search for the truth will lead him into a lethal trap, laid for him by his most pitiless and implacable enemy ...
About the Author
Simon Levack trained as a solicitor and still works in the legal profession. He lives in east London with his wife and son. He is the author of three Aztec murder mysteries: A DEMON OF THE AIR, which won the Crime Writers' Association's Debut Dagger Award; SHADOW OF THE LORDS and A CITY OF SPIES. Visit www.simonlevack.co.uk
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great stuff (yet again)!,
By
This review is from: City of Spies (Aztec 3) (Paperback)
This is the third book (so far) in the series beginning with 'Demon of the air' and having Yaotl, slave to the Aztec chief minister, as protagonist. It picks up exactly where the 2nd book (Shadow of the Lords) ended but this time the setting is different.
Yaotl finds himself in Tetzcoco, second city of the Aztec empire, accompanied by some familiar friends and allies (Lily, Kindly and Nimble), and pursued by another set of equally familiar enemies (and some new ones too). Tetzcoco's King Maize-Ear is in conflict with his brother Black Flower, and the capital is a hotbed of spies and counter-spies where the mere fact of falling under suspicion usually suffices to get yourself executed (slowly). Yaotl finds himself caught in the middle of all this when Lily is accused of having murdered a merchant. I found this book as good as the previous two: very well plotted, entirely believable characters, lots of black humour and lots of action. I wish someone would chain Simon Levack to his desk until he finishes part four!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to Read, Light hearted Entertainment,
By
This review is from: City of Spies (Aztec 3) (Paperback)
City of Spies is an old fashioned murder mystery story, set in the dying days of the Aztec Empire. This is apparently the third outing for this series and its investigator hero, the slave Yaotl, but this is the first I have caught.
The tone is generally light-hearted and amusing - in spite of the threats of bloody sacrifice and cruelty that the ancient Mesoamerican culture brings with it. The setting provides an entertaining and colourful backdrop for the story to unfold against, rather than one which is entirely convincing. We do not feel entirely drawn into the world of strange gods and odd beliefs. The characters are closer in attitude to the protagonists of other detective fiction than, I suspect, real Aztecs would have been: part of the solution relies on modern attitudes, in fact, rather than those that might be prevalent in a mainly pre-literate society. In this, however, it is no different to most historical mysteries and crime stories and rather better than some, whilst the background itself is more than unusual enough to be engaging and fresh. As for the mystery itself, it is more than good enough, with sufficient twists and turns, to keep the story rattling along. I might well hunt out the previous books in this series.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review) 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great Yaotl adventure!,
By Amy Nimmo "Nimmonster" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: City of Spies (Aztec 3) (Paperback)
Levack again draws us into the Aztec world flawlessly. Having specialized in Meso-American archaeology, I find his interpretations of the Aztec culture highly entertaining. With the introduction of a little Mayan presence in this novel, I can only hope that Levack heads in that direction soon!
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