Murder in Megara (John, the Lord Chamberlain Mysteries Book 11)

"John, former Lord Chamberlain to Emperor Justinian, has been exiled from Constantinople to a rustic estate John has long-owned in Greece, not far from where he grew up. But exile proves no escape from mystery and mayhem. The residents of nearby Megara make it plain John and his family are unwelcome intruders. His overseer proves corrupt. What of the other staff--and his neighbors? Before long, John finds himself accused of blasphemy and murder. Now a powerless outsider, he's on his own, investigating and annoyingly hampered by the ruthless and antagonistic City Defender who serves Megara as both law enforcer and judge. Plus there's that corrupt estate overseer, a shady pig farmer, a servant's unwelcome suitor, a wealthy merchant who spends part of his time as a cave-dwelling hermit, and the criminals and cutthroats populating such a seedy port as Megara. Complicating matters further are two childhood friends whose lives have taken very different paths, plus the stepfather John hated. John realizes that in Megara, the solution to murder does not lie in the dark alleys where previous investigations have taken him, but in a far more dangerous place--his own past. Can he find his way out of the labyrinth of lies and danger into which he has been thrust before disaster strikes and exile turns into execution?"-- Amazon.com John, Former Lord Chamberlain To Emperor Justinian, Has Been Exiled From Constantinople To A Rustic Estate John Has Long Owned In Greece, Not Far From Where He Grew Up. But Exile Proves No Escape From Mystery And Mayhem. The Residents Of Nearby Megara Make It Plain John And His Family Are Unwelcome Intruders. His Overseer Proves Corrupt. What Of The Other Staff - And His Neighbors? Before Long, John Finds Himself Accused Of Blasphemy And Murder. Now A Powerless Outsider, He's On His Own, Investigating And Annoyingly Hampered By The Ruthless And Antagonistic City Defender Who Serves Megara As Both Law Enforcer And Judge. Plus There's That Corrupt Estate Overseer, A Shady Pig Farmer, A Servant's Unwelcome Suitor, A Wealthy Merchant Who Spends Part Of His Time As A Cave-dwelling Hermit, And The Criminals And Cutthroats Populating Such A Seedy Port As Megara. Complicating Matters Further Are Two Childhood Friends Whose Lives Have Taken Very Different Paths, Plus The Stepfather John Hated. John Realizes That In Megara, The Solution To Murder Does Not Lie In The Dark Alleys Where Previous Investigations Have Taken Him, But In A Far More Dangerous Place - His Own Past. Can He Find His Way Out Of The Labyrinth Of Lies And Danger Into Which He Has Been Thrust Before Disaster Strikes And Exile Turns Into Execution? He will take seventeen to the match - how many will he bring back? In Cibola football is a matter of life and death. Sir Tristram must reunite his Blood City teammates - Knights, Pirates and Westerners - to win the prestigious Seskie tournament against their oldest rivals. Behind the match is a bigger power play, a king's mission to bring down his greatest rival by persuasion, trickery or force. Needing a squad of soldiers as well as footballers, Sir Tristram must also find a place on tour and in his heart for the teenage child he has not addressed by name since infancy...