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Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML: In a brilliant homage to Agatha Christie, critically acclaimed author Tasha Alexander sends Lady Emily to Egypt during British colonial rule to investigate a crime that leads back to the era of the Pharaohs. In Secrets of the Nile, Lady Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, have joined his formidable mother on a holiday to visit the exotic treasures of Egypt. Their host, Lord Bertram Deeley, is a renowned amateur British collector of antiquities, who has invited his closest friends on a lavish cruise up the Nile to his home at Luxor. But on the first night of their journey, he suddenly collapses after offering a welcome toast, a victim of the lethal poison cyanide. Who amongst this group of his nearest and dearest would want to kill their generous host? Emily and Colin's investigation soon reveals that even his closest friends had reasons to want him dead: was it the archeologist whose dig Deeley was poised to fund until he suddenly withdrew support? The powerful politician whose career Deeley had secretly destroyed? The dyspeptic aristocratic English spinster whose hired travelling companion seems determined to protect her employer? Or could it be Mrs. Hargreaves herself, who may have spurned the advances of Lord Deeley when they were both younger? A key clue may lie with several ancient ushabtis, exquisite three-thousand-year-old sculptures that played a role in a hidden story from the time of Ancient Egypt, one of a sister's unshakeable loyalty to her brother, a tale of betrayal and revenge. In an unforgettable finale, Emily and Colin gather their fellow travelers together to unmask a killer whose motive is as shocking as it is brilliant. A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books..… (more)
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Lord Deeley had gathered quite an assortment of guests beyond the Hargreaves party, and it soon becomes apparent that all of them, including Mrs. Hargreaves, could have motives to murder him. There is a political colleague who blocked Lord Deeley's path to power, There's an archaeologist who dig he first agreed to fund but then reneged. There's his "best friend" who once had an affair with Lord Deeley's deceased wife. There's Mrs. Hargreaves who spurned his marital advances.
Winding around this story is the story of a young woman who lived in the village of artists that the archaeologist is excavating and who was having problems with mysterious break-ins at her sculpture studio and who was also having trouble with her new sister-in-law.
While the blurb cites a homage to Agatha Christie, I see a homage to Elizabeth Peters and her wonderful Amelia Peabody. In fact, both Kat and Lady Emily have brief encounters with Amelia Peabody and her family. And Colin and Emily's young son Henry reminds me forcibly of Ramses Emerson.
The mystery was well done, and the ending came as a surprise to me. Looking back, the clues were there but I missed them. Fans of this series won't want to miss this engaging new episode.
It’s 1904. Colin Hargreaves and Lady Emily find themselves accompanying Colin’s mother, Mrs Hargreaves, on a journey to Luxor in Egypt.
An old friend of Mrs Hargreaves had been inviting her for years to accompany him. This year she’s decided to go.
Unfortunately at the end of a scrumptious meal their host takes a sip of his nightly tisane—and dies, poisoned by cyanide.
Now it falls to Lady Emily and Colin to solve the mystery. As their quest continues it seems every guest has a reason to be at odds with their host. As they assemble their facts someone else is sending them clues.
I freely admit to being seduced by the romantic descriptions of Egypt.
The other story is set in ancient times, in Regnal Year Two, in area in what is now an archeological dig called, “Pa Demi—the village—although it was officially known as Set-Ma’at—the Place of Truth.” It was a village near to the Valley of the Kings, for the artisans and craftsman who built the Pharaoh’s tombs. We meet a young sculptress, Meryt, who is sculpting ushabtis, things of everyday life, for the tomb of the Pharaohs. She is being harassed by someone in the village. Her carvings have brought charges of evil magic from many villagers. This builds to an unexpected crescendo for Meryt and her family members.
One of the points in common—the ushabtis sculptures, roll through both stories.
A thoroughly enjoyable historical mystery!
A St Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
Lady Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, are on a holiday to visit Lord Bertram Deeley and visit the ancient tombs and view the treasures of Egypt. Along with other family and friends, they join Lord
In the alternate story line, a family of artisans tasked with decorating the Pharaoh's tomb experience personal betrayals. Some ancient sculptures belonging now to Lord Bertram prove to be a way to help Lady Emily connect the dots and solve the crime.
Although this is the 16th in a series that I have never read, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I love historical fiction and am particularly partial to ancient times and Egypt. I liked what I learned of the main character, Lady Emily, definitely a forward thinking woman of her time. Now I really want to go back and start this series with all of the previous installments read in order. I like a cozy mystery with period details and descriptions of everything from food to clothes to social mores.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read, review, and recommend this book.
I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.