Nick Drake Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows

Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows

Nick Drake

Harper, Jul 1 2010, $24.99

ISBN 9780060765927

As the Thebes Medjay Chief Detective, Rahotep has seen his fill of gruesome crime scenes. However, in Year 10 of the Reign of King Tutankhamun, a ritual homicide may be the worst yet. A young male was mutilated with his eyes removed.

A second killing identical to the first concerns Rahotep, who fears someone is using murder to pressure the nineteen years old Pharaoh Tutankhamun and the two men who run the Kingdom in his name, Ay the regent and Horemheb the army commander. Rahotep knows the culprit is clever and probably has high level backing if his premise of testing the leaders is valid. He conducts his investigation discreetly to keep his beloved wife Tanefert and their three daughters and baby son safe while also performing his duty.

This is a superb Ancient Egypt serial killer investigation that brings to life Thebes in the 14the century BC. The inquiry is terrific as Rahotep tries to balance his duties with his fears for his family from vicious insidious killers. Fast-paced, readers will appreciate this strong whodunit wrapped inside a great historical (see Nefertiti for Rahotep's previous case).

Harriet Klausner