At Any Cost

December 1, 2023
While unraveling a sinister environmental crime, an avuncular investigator outmaneuvers his imperious sister. Athens-based chief inspector Andreas Kaldis receives a hysterical phone call from his sister, Gavriella, with the distressing news that her daughter, Anna, who's been a college student in horrific New York for only a month, is getting married! Her fiance, nine years Anna's senior, is software engineer Jacob "Jack" Diamantopoulos, born in Greece but now living in Brooklyn. At the request of Kaldis, who's Anna's godfather, Anna and Jack agree to a Greek visit before the wedding that Gavi hopes will give her an opportunity to convince Anna to break off the engagement. On the criminal front, Kaldis' complex and politically sensitive investigation of a series of fires destroying national forests opens the door for the rich, entrancing local color that has become a trademark of Siger's series. When Kaldis learns of an AI link to the fires, he enlists Jack as a consultant and, when Anna's arrival is delayed due to an important interview, he and his wife, Lila, invite Jack to stay with them. But how can they tell Gavi that they actually like the guy? Kaldis' 13th case is a bit of a departure from his first 12, giving center stage to a seemingly benign marriage plot rather than a murder or three, although there will be a kidnapping. Series fans will likely be pleased with Lila's larger role; detective sidekicks Yianni and Tassos again add texture and a bit of comic relief. A timely mystery with an engaging cast and a sublime setting.

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January 1, 2024

It's never a simple investigation for Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis's Special Crimes Unit. This time, the Greek team is assigned to investigate the wildfires that raged on the islands of the Aegean Sea last summer. The team discovers that it's not just a matter of arsonists burning down forests. Someone is buying up property on the islands, and police interviews reveal that there may be several nations working together to profit off the land development. Also, there is gossip about hungry technology giants hoping to use wind power and marine cables to build a world presence on Syros. As no one on his team has the technological know-how to fill him in, Kaldis turns to his niece's fianc�, a teacher and software engineer whose knowledge might be just what Kaldis needs, or it could put everyone on the team--and Andreas's family--in danger. VERDICT The sequel to One Last Chance has scenes of breakneck action along with long technological discussions of the metaverse and AI. Fans of Siger's gorgeous descriptions of Greece and the returning cast of supporting characters are the best audience for the latest in this atmospheric series.--Lesa Holstine

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Starred review from February 15, 2024
Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis (last seen in One Last Chance, 2022) is worried when his boss in Athens asks him to investigate the recent series of wildfires that have destroyed land on the island of Syros. The remains of three men were found there. Are the events related? As they begin their investigation, Andreas and his team find evidence of corruption, not uncommon in Greece. Someone is setting the fires and then buying the land, possibly for use by a group of foreign powers who want to set up a power farm for a huge digital project. In addition to this, his sister-in-law calls, upset because her daughter, a student in New York, has announced her engagement to a Greek American computer scientist. Andreas' potential newest family member can assist with his technological skills, but the group running the scheme will put his family in danger. Andreas and his team will have to move fast to save family members, reputations, and jobs. A new Kaldis case is always a treat, and this one is no exception. The combination of high-speed action, ethical issues, and the politics of the metaverse will keep readers engaged.

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