I learned more about the refugee and political crisis in Europe from Jeffrey Siger’s latest Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis mystery than I did from all the news I read or watch. At the same time,An Aegean April was a compelling story with a wonderful twist at the end. It still has all the black humor and wonderful relationships that make this series so appealing.

On the Greek island of Lesvos, a wealthy shipowner, one of the Greek elite, has a practical plan to deal with the refugees passing through the island, preyed on by human traffickers. Of course, no one will listen to him, so he’s working with one of the NGOs, the non-governmental organizations dealing with the refugee operations. And, of course, the people profiting from the trafficking don’t want Mihalis Volandes’ ideas to spoil their income. It’s easy to kill him, while placing the blame on a refugee who happens to work for SafePassage, a NGO.

No one counted on Dana McLaughlin, an American, who works for SafePassage, and knows her co-worker didn’t kill Volandes by slicing him down the middle with a sword. Somehow, she is able to reach Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis in Athens. As head of the Special Crime Unit for the Greek Police, he has the ability to investigate murder on Lesvos. And, Dana McLaughlin is willing to make a spectacle of herself, calling attention to the jailing of her co-worker. Her press conferences become a headache for Kaldis, the police commander on Lesvos, and human traffickers in Greece and Turkey.  When men with ill-gotten profits get antsy, it’s easy for them to turn on each other. How soon will they turn on Dana McLaughlin?

An Aegean April is the ninth book in Siger’s series, but readers can start with this one. All of the characters are carefully introduced so it’s easy for a newcomer to pick up on the relationships. This book is one of the most powerful, and important, books in the series.

Jeffrey Siger’s mysteries are always intricately plotted stories that reveal the politics and greed and corruption behind the economic issues that affect Greece. Each atmospheric crime novel focuses on a current issue. While the violence is dramatic, the tone is alleviated by that humor that comes when people know and love each other – Kaldis and his wife, Lila; Kaldis and his assistant, Yianni; Kaldis’ secretary, the all-powerful and all-knowing Maggie and her police officer lover from Mykonos, Tassos. Come for the wonderful characters in Siger’s books. Stay for the beautifully constructed stories that explain our world.

Jeffrey Siger’s website is www.jeffreysiger.com

An Aegean April by Jeffrey Siger. Poisoned Pen Press, 2018. ISBN 9781464209475 (paperback), 318p.

*****
FTC Full Disclosure – I received the book to review for a journal.