Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar is a historical fiction set in ancient Greece during the time of the apostle Paul. The story is about a young woman, Ariadne, who flees Athens and an arranged marriage to an abusive young man chosen for her by her oppressive grandfather. She and her foster brother escape to the home of their father in Corinth.
As Ariadne settles in to life in Corinth, she also finds that learning where she belongs in this society is not as easy as it appears. It becomes compounded when she discovers that her father is a thief with a reputation of stealing from the corrupt and calling them out for their misdeeds. In the midst of trying to protect her father, stay connected with her brother, and temper her feelings for the love of her life, she encounters Paul the apostle.
These stories that he shares with their family intrigue her and ultimately, Christ enters her story and helps Ariadne to find peace in the midst of her troubles.

Afshar does an excellent job of placing the reader in the midst of the bustling culture of ancient Corinth. From the sporting events to dinner parties to home life. She also does a great job of weaving in the story of Paul and some of his cohorts to the story. My only complaint was that the first two parts of the book appeared labored and unneeded. The real adventure and connection to the characters for me occurred in Part Three. Overall, it's a wonderful historical fiction. A fun read for anyone that would like to take a trip through time.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers for the purpose of review. I'm never required to share a positive review but I'm always thankful when I can.

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