187-22021-01-29

El anciano filósofo Pitágoras, uno de los personajes con más poder de su época, está a punto de elegir un sucesor entre los grandes maestros cuando en su comunidad se inicia una serie de asesinatos. Tras los crímenes se atisba una mente oscura y poderosa que parece superar al mismísimo Pitágoras. La enigmática Ariadna y e l investigador egipcio Akenón tratarán de descubrir quién es el asesino a la vez que resuelven sus propios sentimientos. Un reto en el que los fantasmas del pasado se unen a las oscuras amenazas del presente.

Fun read, pure escapism and completely OTT. Nonstop action and fast-paced. Set in 510 BC for four months. Pythagoras is running his School of Mathematics and Philosophy. He, his family, and disciples live in a special compound near the town of Croton on the Italian Peninsula. To solve the murder of one of his closest disciples, the so-called "grand masters", he calls in the Egyptian, Akenon, who has come highly recommended. Akenon and Ariadne, the younger daughter of Pythagoras, investigate: he for his general investigative ability and she for any explanations of the Pythagorean doctrine he might need. Several more "grand masters" are killed: two by poison, one by his own hand; and another accused of breaking the Oath of Secrecy is torn limb from limb by his Pythagorean brethren. It is determined a certain masked man [full face mask] is the perpetrator and novel portrays how he is caught and the motives for his crimes, drawing in some of the most totally evil figures at the highest levels of power. I agree with Akenon when some of the mathematics is explained and its importance: "From the beginning, I am lost."

Villains were pure evil. Violence was grisly. Akenon and Ariadne were appealing. Don't read the book as something serious, but think of it, as I did, an exaggeration or caricature of the mystery-adventure genres. Style seemed a bit clunky, possibly because it was a translation--in this case, from the Spanish. From what I know of ancient Greek clothing, I think sometimes when a tunic is mentioned, the author often means a himation: a type of cloak, since he mentions characters wrapping it around their left arm.

Apparently, there will be a sequel. When the mood strikes me for a escapist OTT romp, I may read it. ( )

Despite the off-putting title, Killing Pythagoras is an enjoyable, nerdtastic little romp through a world where mathematics, morality, and money are all mashed together. The idea of using mathematics as part of the plot is intriguing - and I would argue that the author does a rather nice job of creating and exploring a world wherein mathematical principles are treated the way we treat religion and ethics today. I was invested in the fates of the three lead characters and intrigued by the auxiliary villain. The anachronistic use of decimals (which weren't available at the time of Pythagoras) will bother math nerds but might make the mathematics more accessible to the everyday reader. Significant flaws in the formatting are a significant distraction that will affect everyone - I hope that Amazon or the publisher will correct those in the near future. ( )

A pesar de ser de fácil lectura y mantener un ritmo dinámico gracias a la brevedad de los capítulos, su lectura resulta insípida y con una profundidad de personajes poco elaborada y, por tanto, creíble.
Se aprecia el esfuerzo del autor por documentar bien los sucesos y costumbres de la época así como la concepción pitagórica del mundo, su forma de vida y enseñanzas, y cómo trata de aunar todo ese trabajo de investigación con su trama de misterio. Pero tal vez eso vaya en detrimento de la evolución de los personajes y conferirles una tercera dimensión que llegue al lector. ( )