The author deserts 14th-century England and Ancient Egypt (The Mask of Ra, 1999, etc.) to focus on the rivalry between Greece’s Alexander the Great and Persia’s King Darius in 334 b.c. The son of Olympias and the late, unlamented King Philip, Alexander is deeply engrossed in planning a war expedition across the Hellespont and into the Persian territory. There seem to be as many Persian spies in Alexander’s camp as he has friendly advisors. Among the latter are the physician Telamon, an old friend who lends Alexander a willing ear and some much-needed common sense, and Antigone, a priestess of Athena. Before long, Critias, a guide and mapmaker, is found dead, the first of several murder victims who may be linked to the master spy in the camp—an undercover Persian operative whose real name, Naihpat, is a lot less mysterious than his alias. Eventually, Alexander makes his move against Darius’s forces and wins, big time. Back on home ground, Telamon manages to flush out all the enemy spies, even the one closest to Alexander.
Doherty lingers over every detail of food, drink, dress, and weaponry, and over every bloody battle encounter. His many fans, especially Greek history buffs, will doubtless enjoy this excursion.
