P.C. Doherty, The Assassins of Isis

The Assassins of Isis

P.C. Doherty

St. Martin's, December 2006, $23.95

ISBN: 0312359608

In 1478 BC Egypt's XVIII Dynasty, Pharaoh Queen Hatusu assigns the Hall of Two Truths Chief Judge Lord Amerotke to investigate the stealing of artifacts from the "Houses of a Million Years" in the Valley of the Nobles. The intruders obviously have insider information, as they knew precisely where to go and much about the guards. This makes it easy to kill the patrol and plunder the tombs. Lord Amerotke, his wife Norfret, their two sons (Ahmase and Curfayhas), and his servant Shufoy capture most of the thieves, members of the Sebaus sect; but the leader remains hidden amidst the shadows of the affluent just out of sight.

Mercenaries try to assassinate Amerotke, but he survives their attempt to kill him. Instead he switches inquires from finding the Sebaus leader to investigating the murder of retired General Suten, killed by horned vipers. Evidence points towards the macho military man having released the snakes to prove his courage, but Amerotke finds flaws with that logic and wonders if the victim's wife Lupherna, his scribe Menna and or his valet Heby killed him. Amerotke has another case to investigate, involving four young women who have vanished from the Temple of Isis. He finds the connection tying the three cases together, but if he is not extremely careful his efforts will lead to a fourth inquiry, headed by someone else, to solve who killed the Chief Judge.

THE ASSASSINS OF ISIS is a fantastic entry in the Ancient Egypt mystery series. The fast-paced storyline grips readers from the onset of the Sebaus sect when members begin their looting, and it never slows down until the final twist. The cast is strong, especially the hero, but the novel, as with the predecessors (see THE MASK OF RA, HORUS KILLING and THE SLAYERS OF SETH), belongs to the background. P.C. Doherty paints a powerful vivid look at Ancient Egypt within a strong police procedural.