The Mosaic Of Shadows [Paperback]

This is a thriller set in the time of the Byzantine Empire. After an assassination attempt on the emperor, ex soldier Demetrios is brought in to investigate amid the politics and hierarchy of the Empire. Matters do not improve when a Barbarian army turn up and camp on the doorstep. Is this linked to the assassination attempt? Demetrios does not have much time to find out...
This is a good first novel, an engaging main character, an interesting period of history and it is written in a very readable manner.

Harper's first novel concerns the activities of one Demetrios Askiades, Constantinople's Didius Falco, to whom we receive no background introduction (until his conversation with Dr Anna a quarter way into the book), but are immediately plunged into his commission to locate a date-loving foreign mercenary who fired an arrow from an Genoese tzangra in an attempt to assassinate the Emperor Alexius.
After being commissioned by the imperial representative, Krysaphios, at a rate of three gold pieces per diem, he swiftly locates the method then the identity of the would be assassin. At his side is the zealously-loyal Vangrian captain, Sigurd for whom tact and diplomacy are an alien concept, preferring the fist and the sword to obtain his information. At times it is remarkably effective. Skipping at some speed from scene to scene we first trace the details behind the attempt, meet Dr Anna at the monastery of Saint Andrew (with whom our sleuth immediately feels stirrings for and a jealousy of) and then unmask the youthful would-be killer.
Money earned, Askiades is promptly goaded into unveiling the greater mystery and finds himself in front of the emperor's odd colour boot wearing brother. The mysteries continue to deepen as Askiades relationship with the young Thomas and Dr Anna develops. In the meantime the ever-growing rumoured threat of an attacking Frankish army grows ever larger as Constantinople prepares itself for a siege. At this point the novel lifts as we deal the arrival of the Frankish army on the First Crusade, headed by Godwin and Baldwin. Askiades is instructed to focus his efforts there after a near miss in the sewers with the mysterious monk who is behind the assassination attempts. After getting trapped in the ever belligerent Frankish camp in Galata, Sigurd and Askiades learn of impending treachery to allow the crusaders into Constantinople and of the undoubted link between the assassin monk and Baldwin.
After escaping the Frankish army attacks Constantinople and the denouement races towards its climax as Alexius is nearly assassinated for good and the true conspirator is unmasked by Askiades who saves not only his emperor but his city before retiring to a well earned evening with the ever present Anna.
Unfortunately, Tom Harper's opening novel reads like a first attempt. It does, at times, show immense promise, but, at others, shows technical weakness in characterisation. This is particularly evident in Askiates relationships with all personages imperial in Constantinople. From the outset his attitude is aggressive, inexplicably so, and he goes from informative to angry in the blink of an eye to such an extent that the prose does not flow during these scenes. In fact, most of the characters are two dimensional in their personalities, capable of only two emotions of which the second is always that of anger. It is as though the author has decided that we need one fierce character, one beset-upon character, one sarcastic character, one gentle character, one empathic character, one sympathetic character and so on. It's almost programmatic: if the single personality trait doesn't fit the scene then aggression is the only other emotional response - bizarrely so in some scenes. Another flaw is the sense of haste throughout the novel is as though Harper is keen to get to the next key scene, whereas more `fill' would actually serve to produce a better novel.
Nevertheless, whereas the characterisation needs considerable improvement, the plot does not and offers exciting sleuthing in mid twelfth century Constantinople where the twists and turns as our hero unravels the intricacies of imperial politics are well executed. The action accelerates throughout out the novel and the complexities of plot are unraveled with effortless ease causing a roaring end to the first novel.
So, for a first effort from this oxford medieval scholar, it does show sufficient promise to mean the second Askiates mystery will be bought for by this reader and I have no doubt Harper will improve with each offering.

I read this book when it was first published (and did the same with its sequels). I loved it but didn't bother writting a review to explain why, at the time. Having come across what other reviewers have to say about it - and it's rather negative - I felt compelled to explain what I liked so much about it.

First, there is the historical context: the First Crusade, and more precisely the winter of 1096-1097 with the various armies of Crusaders camped before the walls of Constantinople and requesting food and passage across the Bosphoros from Alexios I, the Byzantine Emperor. Now Alexios had initially called on the Pope to send him a few thousands mercenaries knights with which he could reconquer Asia Minor for the Empire; Instead, he got several armies of tens of thousands which invaded, poured across the Balkans, campred before the walls of the City, and didn't want to recognize him as the natural leader (since he was the Emperor) of the Crusade. Needless to say, Alexios doesn't feel inclined to feed potential ennemies and even less inclined to let them into his capital. This is the book's background, full of tension and where any incident could lead to war with the Frankish armies growing both larger and hungrier as new contingents arrive. Historically, it is perfectly accurate.

Second, there is the plot to assassinate the Emperor Alexios and this is where our byzantine detective "truth-teller" Askiades comes in: he is commissioned by Krysaphios, a high ranking official from the palace, to uncover the truth. The attempts to kill the Emperor are particularly interesting: one using a crossbow, another by black mailing one of his Varanguards into trying to kill him with his battle axe. Of course, our hero uncovers the truth. However, throughout the novel, nothing is exactly what it seems (hence the book's title).

So, I can understand and appreciate that this may not be the best of all thrillers and I would also agree that, at times, Askiates' family life, relationship with Anna, the byzantine doctor and supposed big secret from his past (which we never learn about in fact) feel a bit tedious. Also, the plot fits in very well with the historical background, contrary to what other reviewers have mentioned. Moreover, what some have presented as "cliches": Barbarian crusadeers = bad and Byzantines = good is simply disingeneous: Just read the book and you will see that it is a bit more suttle than that, and therefore Asliates' inquiry gets that much more dangerous for his own personal safety.

Anyway, I very much liked this book, if only because it is one of the rare ones that precisely does not always paint the Byzantines in a bad light and tends, for a change, to also show the Byzantine point of view and not only the Franks' one. How would you have felt if, one fine morning, you had woken up to find several armies camping in front of your city and requesting food and passage as "fellow christians"? Rather unconfortable and weary, I suspect...