This review is based on my audiobook experience, which was wonderful. The narrator, Simon Prebble, perfectly embodied Stevens and all of his very human characteristics and behaviors: the elitism, loyalty, restraint, and love. This is a quiet study of one man and how he chooses to tell his story, and it slowly builds upon each anecdote to build a complete picture. I think this would be a great book club pick, and I’m glad that the Novel Pairings podcast encouraged me to pick it up.

There’s just something about Greek mythology that makes it timeless. I loved Circe by Madeline Miller, as well as Mythos by Stephen Fry. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed those two books as well. There’s a cast of characters that’s really helpful too.

One minor critique I have is that Penelope’s chapters came across more like exposition. I especially enjoyed the chapters with the deities.

I’d heard this book compared to Louise Penny, and I think there are some similarities (setting, iconoclast detective, and fleshed out motives behind the crimes). However, I didn’t find the writing similar, and the theme was overall much darker than I expected. Some parts of this book were difficult to read, because it deals with the real ramifications of war crimes and crimes against humanity. But it’s an important read, and a good one.