And to solve the crime, Nico must uncover a secret that could not only destroy Athens, but will force him to choose between love, ambition, and his own life.

The case takes Nico, in the company of a beautiful slave girl, to the land of Ionia within the Persian Empire. The Persians will execute him on the spot if they think he's a spy. Beyond that, there are only a few minor problems: He's being chased by brigands who are only waiting for the right price before they kill him; somehow he has to placate his girlfriend, who is very angry about that slave girl; he must meet Themistocles, the military genius who saved Greece during the Persian Wars, and then defected to the hated enemy.

Athens, 460 B.C. Life's tough for Nicolaos, the only investigating agent in ancient Athens. His girlfriend's left him and his boss wants to fire him. But when an Athenian official is murdered, the brilliant statesman Pericles has no choice but to put Nico on the job.

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Praise for Gary Corby:

"Full of real historical figures and fascinating insights into Greek and Persian culture, The Ionia Sanction is a delightful romp."
—Shelf Awareness

"Corby has not only made Greek history accessible—he's made it first-rate entertainment."
—Kelli Stanley, award-winning author of Nox Dormienda and City of Dragons

"Those who like their historicals with a touch of humor will welcome Australian author Corby's promising debut... Corby displays a real gift for pacing and plotting."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Details of culture, politics and history are so deftly woven into the threads of the story that life in ancient Athens comes vividly alive."
—Historical Novel Review

"Energetic.... Very entertaining."
—Kirkus Reviews

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Gary Corby lives in Sydney, Australia, with his wife and two daughters. He blogs at A Dead Man Fell from the Sky, on all things ancient, Athenian, and mysterious.

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