Focus on Freading: Mysteries in 6th Century Rome

A series that has caught my eye is the mysteries of John the Eunuch. John is chamberlain to Emperor Justinian in 6^th century Rome. In a series of ten books—nine of which are available through Freading—John must struggle through political machinations to solve murder after murder. (It is a mystery series, after all.)

One for Sorrow is set in Byzantium, capitol of the 6^th century Roman Empire. There simmers a rich stew of creeds, cultures, and citizens with a sprinkling of cutthroats and crimes. John the Eunuch, Emperor Justinian’s Lord Chamberlain, orders a Christian court while himself observing the rites of Mithra. Thomas, a knight from Britain, Ahasuerus, a soothsayer, and two ladies from Crete stir up events and old memories for John, who must ask how the visitors link to the death of Leukos, Keeper of the Plate. An Egyptian brothel keeper and a Christian stylite know more than they are telling…

In due course, John gets his man—and a love scene…

Focus on Freading: World Travel

Where do you want to travel? The Freading book catalog now contains several hundred guide books from Lonely Planet. These include eBooks across the entire Lonely Planet range including Country guides, Region guides, City guides, Discover country guides, and even the Pocket guides. Started in 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel guide publisher with guidebooks to every destination on the planet, as well as an award-winning website, a suite of mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet's mission is to enable curious travellers to experience the world and to truly get to the heart of the places they find themselves in.

Lonely Planet Africa provides up-to-date information on where to go, what to see, and what to do if you're planning a trip to Africa. Or take a virtual trip without leaving your home. In this book you can take a refreshing dip at Victoria Falls, explore the ancient pyramids of Egypt, or take a walking safari in South Luangwa National Park; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Africa and begin your journey now!

Focus on Freading: Sister Joan Mysteries

For this week, I want to tell you all about a lovely series of mysteries set in a small village in Cornwall. As the series begins, Sister Joan of the Order of the Daughters of Compassion is being sent to the order's convent in Cornwall. She's just completed her fifth year as a nun. The order has a policy of keeping each household rather small and her home convent has been growing while the Conwall convent has lost a couple of elderly sisters. But, the Prioress of her home convent cautions Sister Joan and asks her to keep her eyes open after she arrives—something seems to be very wrong in Cornwall.

In book after book, Sister Joan gets involved in murders. She winds up assisting Detective Sergeant Alan Mill solve murders in the small Cornwall community. And, in each volume, Sister Joan must struggle between her rebellious streak and the vows she took when she joined this cloistered order.

Freading offers all 11 books in the Sister Joan mystery series. Get started with A Vow of Silence and read straight through to A Vow of Evil. Sister Joan is an interesting character.

Focus on Freading: Ellery Queen

As I was browsing the newest entries in the Freading catalog, I knew immediately which books I wanted to bring to your attention in this first Focus on Freading post. I saw that a number of books by Ellery Queen were showing up on the New Arrivals page. “Ellery Queen” is the name of a famous fictional detective and the pen name of Fredric Dannay and Manfred Lee, cousins who wrote over 30 novels and myriad short stories starring their eponymous character. In addition to the novels written by and featuring Ellery Queen, they also lent the name as a house name for novels by other writers and published under the pseudonym of “Ellery Queen”.

Now, through Freading, libraries and their patrons have access to 39 novels and 5 short story collections by Ellery Queen. These are recent reprints by Mysterious Press, distributed by Open Road Media. Start at the beginning with The Roman Hat Mystery, originally published in 1929, and read through to the detective's last appearance in A Fine and Private Place from 1971.

Book descriptions below provided by the publisher.