Valley of the Kings: A Novel of Tutankhamun by Cecelia Holland

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1978

Length:

231 pages

Summary:

I have heard about Holland's books for years and finally have read one. I love all things Egypt, pyramids, etc. so this was the place to start. Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon's unearthing of King Tut's tomb in 1922 is a fascinating story and I have read Holland stays true to history when writing her historical fiction. That is a must for me as I read these kinds of novels.

I know there are already many reviews for this book over the years. It is interesting that you don't know going in the book is divided into two parts: Howard Carter's story and King Tut's time period story. The first half details Carter's search for the tomb. Carter is an experienced archaeologist drawn to Egypt and its history and the search for the elusive tomb of King Tut. His frustration with the Egyptian government's slow pace and bureaucracy in allowing for the digs he wishes to conduct, not to mention the lack of funding leads to constant frustration. He teams up with a British aristocrat, Lord Carnarvon who shares an interest, although he is not obsessed to the degree Carter is. But willing to finance Carter's dream and work alongside him is enough to make the reality come true. Carter accepts the assistance and dodging local government regulations and resistance he doggedly pursues the tomb. 

Stacking the Shelves #38

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!

On sale this week for Kindle: $1.99 

I ran across this in my Early Bird Books daily email I get listing on sale books I might like. The premise looked unique and it won the Edgar Award in 1965. A Rabbi from Boston is the actual author so he will definitely know his background for this story. The main character lives in a small New England town and although he wants nothing more than to lay low and minister to his flock, he is often involved in helping with the typical cozy mystery small town murders that seem to just pop up everywhere in these books! It says it's a lot like Father Brown, one of my favorites. 

Kindle price: $2.99

I have already started this novella and am loving it! I started to read Death Below Stairs by this author, the first mystery novel in the Below Stairs Mysteries. Then I discovered this book is the prequel to the series so I bought it and decided to stop and read it first. It definitely was the right choice....much more is making sense in Book 1 of the actual series. I am loving this author's historical knowledge of the time period. It is set in a Downton Abbey type house and the characters are well drawn. Looking forward to more from these books. 

Kindle audiobook:  Waiting on it to arrive in Libby (second in line!)

This is the October Read Christie book. I put it in for audiobook on Libby over a month ago and am still waiting. I have found I really enjoy listening to the Christie books in the car. It is so relaxing to do this on my way to work. But I may have to cave and actually get this book somewhere because apparently it is very popular right now! I'm hoping to get it this week and be able to finish in October right on time. And it's Miss Marple, I have grown fond of her :) 

The Pyramid Murders by Fiona Veitch Smith (The Miss Clara Vale Mysteries Book Three)

 

Publication Date:

June 13, 2024

Length:

293 pages

Summary:

This was the first book in the series that I have read. I skipped to book three because I liked the premise and location. It worked as a stand alone just fine, although starting at the beginning is usually better I agree. 

Clara Vale is an independent woman for 1930. She studied chemistry but began working as a detective of sorts which is unusual for women in her time. She attends a party at the Hancock Museum's opening exhibit of Egyptian artifacts and her good friend Daphne is counting on her support as it is her job to display and present the show. When the mummy inside the grand display sarcophagus turns out to be a fake, obviously replaced and the real mummy stolen, everyone is shocked and wonders where the real mummy might be. Clara wants to help, knowing her friend's reputation is on the line as well as wanting to catch the person who committed this theft. 

As she begins to investigate further, Clara finds that the mummy in the case is a person who has not been dead long. And she starts to suspect this is connected with a secret society and artifact smuggling ring. Traveling many miles across England and eventually led to Cairo in her search, Clara plays detective and walks a line between trying to find out the identify of the corpse without alerting the murderer and thieves. She is joined in her search by dashing men and her sidekick Bella who keeps her secrets well and is always there for her support and sleuthing. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: A Measure of Menace by Jennifer Ashley (A Kat Holloway Mystery)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm  featuring, A Measure of Menace by Jennifer Ashley. It is a continuation novella of her popular series Below Stairs Mysteries. Set in 1883 with a Downton Abbey vibe it is a murder mystery involving Lords and Ladies and their loyal staff. This author also writes as Allyson James and Ashley Gardiner. Her list of published works is impressive: fantasy, historical fiction, mysteries. She does it all! This is due out end of the month and looks like a great historical mystery. I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week :) 

September 30, 2024

Historical Mysteries/Historical Fiction

Description courtesy of Amazon

October 1883

When cook Kat Holloway and the kitchen staff maintain the empty Mayfair house while the family resides in the country, Lord Clifford, Lady Cynthia’s confidence-trickster father, arrives in London and asks Kat and Daniel McAdam for help. Lord Clifford has might be accused of murder but won't go to the police because his involvement with the victim will implicate him in another crime.

Kat and Daniel must pool their resources and unravel this tricky situation before Lord Clifford is arrested. Kat will do anything to spare her friend Lady Cynthia disgrace and ruin, even when the investigation leads her into grave peril.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Plan To Read This Fall 2024

 

This week's Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl is books on your to be read pile this fall. I chose to title it "books I plan to read this fall." Call me obsessive but the word "plan" lets me off the hook if I don't get to them! And ten books by December 21st is a tall order for me right now. But here is what I'd read if I had all day to do it! No links as I didn't have time but at least I got a list out. Happy Fall ya'll :) 

1. The Virgin in the Ice by Ellis Peters- I am working my way through the Cadfael Chronicles over the years and this is the next in line. I am excited to to catch up and see what is going on with the monks of Shrewsbury.

2. The Agincourt King by Mercedes Rochelle- This is a new to me author I just discovered and I'm enjoying her topics. This one is of course about Henry V.

3. The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side by Agatha Christie- This is the October Read Christie choice. I am waiting for the Libby copy to arrive!

4. Valley of the Kings by Cecilia Holland- This one is started already and I am loving it. It is the story of Howard Carter's discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922. Holland is an author I've been meaning to read for a long time now. So far I'm loving her style of writing.

5. The Castle Abductions by David Field- This is the first book in his Tudor era mystery series. I've reviewed several of his historical fiction books on my blog. He is always informative and entertaining.

6. Henry V by Dan Jones- This seems to be very popular now even though it has yet to be released in the U.S. It will be out October 1st.  I love Jones' narrative style and have read many of his books. Looking forward to this one.

7. Death Down the Aisle by Verity Bright- I read these each season they are set in. This is one for fall. My favorite cozy mystery series.

8. Betrayal at Ravenswick by Kelly Oliver - I read and reviewed this author's mystery Covert in Cairo recently and enjoyed it. Having jumped into the series without knowing the beginning backstory made me want to go back and get the very first book with these characters in it. I am trying not to do this again but it's hard when I like a certain setting and the covers suck me in too.

9. We Three Queens by Rhys Bowen- I received this book as an ARC from Net Galley. I plan to read and review it soon as it is being published in November. 

10. A Christmas Vanishing by Anne Perry- This is the last Perry Christmas novel. I am planning to read and review it early in November. It will be sad to see them end as she passed away recently. I just love these books each year at the holidays.