Set on the Greek island of Chios, Serafim’s noir mystery explores the European migrant crisis through the eyes of a world-weary but tenacious police inspector.

Chief Inspector Yiannis Patronas embodies the contradictions of modern Greece. He mourns his country’s culturally vibrant and racially homogeneous past while rejecting the racist, anti-immigrant sentiments of his community. When a Syrian woman is discovered with her throat slit, Patronas’ investigation penetrates a dark network of human traffickers operating around Chios’ large refugee camp. Despite pressure from his superiors, who consider the deaths of immigrants insignificant, Patronas is dogged in his pursuit of justice. His investigation leads him through the island’s stark contrasts and into increasingly dangerous territory as he uncovers the systematic exploitation of desperate refugees. The setting serves as both character and backdrop. The island’s idyllic beauty—its “miraculous light and endless sea”—is skillfully juxtaposed against the appalling poverty and degradation of the camp. Serafim’s protagonist, Patronas, emerges as a compelling figure whose internal contradictions feel authentic and whose noble but begrudging determination makes him an effective noir hero. His cynicism is balanced with a romantic side that reveals his ambivalent attitude toward Greece’s complex social and political landscape. His investigation unfolds at a brisk, engaging pace that propels readers forward, though seasoned mystery readers will likely anticipate several plot developments before they occur. (The twists and turns of the story include extremely violent and disturbing episodes, which are justified by the narrative but may upset some readers.) Supporting characters—namely, a gluttonous priest and an alcoholic but courageous officer—enrich the narrative, providing both comic relief and emotional depth. There are some structural weaknesses: The relationship between Patronas’ gritty investigative work and the more sentimental aspects of his family life creates tonal inconsistencies that occasionally dilute the story’s noirish atmosphere. Nonetheless, the book remains an engaging and thought-provoking read.

An engrossing mystery that illuminates contemporary immigration issues through traditional crime fiction.

The horrific slaughter of a child refugee will put Chief Officer Yianis Patronas’ sworn duty to uphold the law to the supreme test.

In this timely third Greek Islands Mystery, Patronas has by now “learned far more about forensics than he wanted to know” and has earned the nickname “Poirot” from colleagues. But Patronas knows better. In solving two previous murders, “he’d been lucky; that was all.” That’s a little harsh, and in future books it would be nice to see him gain in expertise and become worthy of his nickname. Until then, he has been brought to Sifnos along with octogenarian priest Papa Michalis, now on leave from the church to work with the police department (“he was especially good at ferreting out the truth, even from the worst offenders”); bumbling Evangelos Demos (“who squealed like a pig at the sight of blood”); and Giorgos Tembelos. Patronas refers to them as “the three stooges in uniform.” But this case is no laughing matter. The young Pakistani boy—7 or 8 years old—was found by a beautiful ceramicist trussed up, drained of blood, and hung over a pit in a remote excavation site whose name, chillingly, translates in Greek to “death.” Further complicating the case is the rise of anti-refugee sentiment as embodied by Chrisi Avgi (the Golden Dawn), a violent group that may be out for revenge for the rape and murder of a Greek girl by a Pakistani. Other suspects are a visiting American professor and his three callow students who are studying ancient religions. Another chilling prospect is that the boy’s ritualistic murder could be the work of an “ena teras,” a monster reviving pagan practices. As in the first two books in the series, Serafim (When the Devil’s Idle, 2015, etc.) deftly weaves police procedural with a visceral sense of place and a deeply rooted knowledge of Greek history and culture, which is often more compelling than the actual mystery. Atheist Patronas’ interplay with Papa Michalis (“the old fellow who thinks he’s Sherlock Holmes”) and the ethical dilemmas faced in dispensing justice are richly rewarding. The case weighs heavily on Patronas, who resists calls to abandon it. “Mark my words,” he is warned, “it’s going to break your heart.”

Another epitychia (success) in this Greek mystery series.

In this auspicious series opener, the chief of police investigates a grisly discovery at a remote archaeological site on the Greek island of Chios.

As authentic as skordalia, as potent as ouzo, and as satisfying as briam, Serafim’s debut novel introduces Chief of Police Yiannis Patronas, who, in his more than 20 years as an officer, has never investigated a murder. This changes when Eleni Argentis’ body parts are found in a blood-filled trench at an archaeological dig site. Was the archaeologist murdered because she unearthed something of historical value? Soon after the discovery of her murder, her teenage assistant is found dead. A hidden cave holds more secrets and horrors for Patronas, as Papa Michalis, an elderly priest living at a nearby monastery, encourages his investigation. Amusingly, Michalis is a devoted fan of American police procedurals, like Law & Order and CSI. An unraveling marriage, inexperience, and an inexpert staff (whom the chief calls, among other things, the Keystone Cops) hamper Patronas. But as the growing list of suspects learns, he is not to be underestimated. “You assumed because I was from Chios, not London, I was second-rate, a backward peasant from a backwater town,” he tells one archaeologist—a little too on-the-nose but satisfying just the same. Whether it’s police procedural genre convention, the exotic island landscape, or the passionate Greek character, Serafim knows the lay of the land, and she confidently guides the reader. Armchair adventurers will get a solid grounding in Greece’s violent and tumultuous past. The quirky pairing of Patronas and Michalis has the makings of an unorthodox investigative team and the beginnings of a beautiful friendship.

This immersive escapist mystery should put Serafim on the map.