Jeff's writing praised in Athens as honoring Greece.
2009-10-15 11:46:24

On October 14, 2009 the Greek-language version of Assassins of Athens was presented to the Athenians.

The day began with Athens’ most prestigious daily newspaper (Ekathimerini) running an extraordinary page two article by its most distinguished columnist, Mrs. Eleni Bistika, announcing that evening’s event, quoting extensively from the book, heaping praise on those who give books as gifts, and suggesting everyone meet its lead character, Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis, by reading the book “before we see him in a TV series.

In the evening, 150 of Athens' elite gathered in the stunning Lalaounis Jewelry Museum at the base of the Acropolis for the presentation, including the US ambassador, the British ambassador, two Greek ambassadors, four members of Greece's Parliament from parties spanning the political spectrum (including a former deputy foreign minister), two television commentators (one a former soccer star), full TV coverage, a radio interview, print and paparazzi journalists.

The highlight was the presentation of AOA by Nikos Karahalios, who is founder of Forum2020, one of Greece's acknowledged political gurus, among the most articulate, smartest people on the planet, and--unknown until that night--an avid student of the mystery genre.  He spoke for twenty minutes and when through was met with overwhelming applause.

Mr. Karahalios described the origins of the mystery novel, discussed its development in Europe and "the Americas," and explored dimensions of Assassins of Athens (and Murder in Mykonos) which took the work "beyond great mystery writing" to a level where "Jeffrey honors Greece" by his grasp and expression of "the political and societal nuances of our country" and "uncanny predictions of events."

Yes, Jeffrey is still blushing.