- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Press; 1st edition (27 Mar 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0593054024
- ISBN-13: 978-0593054024
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.6 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 511,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Tutankhamun
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Product Description
Review
In the best tradition of C. J. Sansom's Shardlake mysteries, Nick Drake has woven a bright, luminous tapestry. This is brilliant; make sure you read every line.
--MANDA SCOTT, author of The Crystal Skull
--MANDA SCOTT, author of The Crystal Skull
Review
Nick Drake has painted an authentic picture of a lost civilisation, and brings alive the ill-fated boy-king who still fascinates to this day.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I finished my review on Nick Drake's first Egyptian mystery "Nefertiti" with the line that I was looking forward to the next book by Nick Drake.
This is now his second book featuring Rahotep, the seeker of mysteries. And it is just fantastic. Nick Drake has delivered a second page turner of first order. The story develops further from "Nefertiti" and takes the reader straigt into the court of Tutankhamun and his royal consort Ankhesenamun and the power struggles of the time. But one does not have to read "Nefertiti" first to understand the story. This novel stands on its own.
Like in "Nefertiti" it is strong plot,gruelsome murder, bold of characterisation, adventure and dazzling evocation of the past. The description of the ceremonies is again brilliant. It is excellently plotted and superbly entertaining. Fact and fiction are merged to a great story, giving even an explanation what could have happened. This is a page turner of first order. The twist and turns of the story keep the reader enthralled till the very last page. I feel it is even better than "Nefertiti" as it is not all predictable, the characters are deeper and rounder. However, sometimes the language is a bit too modern or even certain aspects of our lives are discussed in ancient Egyptians settings. Eventough this is a bit odd it does not distract from the story and its great impact. The story told is intensely human.
In short: these are 53 chapters and 376 pages of delightful, entertaining and gripping reading or just all one wants from a mystery set in ancient Egypt.
I am finishing this review with the line used for the review on Nick Drake's first book: I am looking forward to the next, the third book by Nick Drake!!
This is now his second book featuring Rahotep, the seeker of mysteries. And it is just fantastic. Nick Drake has delivered a second page turner of first order. The story develops further from "Nefertiti" and takes the reader straigt into the court of Tutankhamun and his royal consort Ankhesenamun and the power struggles of the time. But one does not have to read "Nefertiti" first to understand the story. This novel stands on its own.
Like in "Nefertiti" it is strong plot,gruelsome murder, bold of characterisation, adventure and dazzling evocation of the past. The description of the ceremonies is again brilliant. It is excellently plotted and superbly entertaining. Fact and fiction are merged to a great story, giving even an explanation what could have happened. This is a page turner of first order. The twist and turns of the story keep the reader enthralled till the very last page. I feel it is even better than "Nefertiti" as it is not all predictable, the characters are deeper and rounder. However, sometimes the language is a bit too modern or even certain aspects of our lives are discussed in ancient Egyptians settings. Eventough this is a bit odd it does not distract from the story and its great impact. The story told is intensely human.
In short: these are 53 chapters and 376 pages of delightful, entertaining and gripping reading or just all one wants from a mystery set in ancient Egypt.
I am finishing this review with the line used for the review on Nick Drake's first book: I am looking forward to the next, the third book by Nick Drake!!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"Tutankhamun, The Book of Shadows," Nick Drake's much anticipated second episode featuring Medjay policeman Rahotep, is well worth the wait. Drake's foray into a familiar historical period (18th Dynasty of ancient Egypt) with the first, "Nefertiti, The Book of the Dead," clearly established himself as a viable--and worthwhile--author of historical police procedurals.
In this episode, the young King Tut is relatively new as the leader of the Two Lands. Having ascended at around the age of eight, it is now some eight or nine years later. The government has been ruled by Ay, the regent, but a fierce struggle for power with the general of the armies, Horemheb, makes this novel indeed a relevant political novel as well. The intrigues mount, the pressure builds, and, alas, as this is a murder mystery, the bodies begin to pile up.
Rahotep, officially the Seeker of Mysteries and chief detective of the Thebes Medjay (police), is called to investigate a particularly gruesome murder of a young boy. The clues left behind are not only puzzling but mysterious. Not long after, another body is found with additional clues. Rahotep sees a pattern and that pattern leads him to the royal family. Both the King and his Queen request his special help and attention, owing to his successes in the first book.
From this point on, politics provides the foundation, as bitter--and deadly--rivalries begin to focus. The country has a young, untried, king and there are enemies within and without. It is a time of great confusion and frustration.
Still, Drake sidesteps the obvious political sermons and concentrates on presenting an exciting story line, one filled with excellent characterization, historically-based plot developments, and a style of writing that moves well. He seems to capture the atmosphere of the time and place (his research seems well-founded). Students of history certainly know the time-line--the young king doesn't live forever (at least not in Egypt) and there seems to be enough "mystery" historically to provide Rahotep and Drake with follow up stories. We hope so.
In this episode, the young King Tut is relatively new as the leader of the Two Lands. Having ascended at around the age of eight, it is now some eight or nine years later. The government has been ruled by Ay, the regent, but a fierce struggle for power with the general of the armies, Horemheb, makes this novel indeed a relevant political novel as well. The intrigues mount, the pressure builds, and, alas, as this is a murder mystery, the bodies begin to pile up.
Rahotep, officially the Seeker of Mysteries and chief detective of the Thebes Medjay (police), is called to investigate a particularly gruesome murder of a young boy. The clues left behind are not only puzzling but mysterious. Not long after, another body is found with additional clues. Rahotep sees a pattern and that pattern leads him to the royal family. Both the King and his Queen request his special help and attention, owing to his successes in the first book.
From this point on, politics provides the foundation, as bitter--and deadly--rivalries begin to focus. The country has a young, untried, king and there are enemies within and without. It is a time of great confusion and frustration.
Still, Drake sidesteps the obvious political sermons and concentrates on presenting an exciting story line, one filled with excellent characterization, historically-based plot developments, and a style of writing that moves well. He seems to capture the atmosphere of the time and place (his research seems well-founded). Students of history certainly know the time-line--the young king doesn't live forever (at least not in Egypt) and there seems to be enough "mystery" historically to provide Rahotep and Drake with follow up stories. We hope so.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Drake's Egyptian Mystery Is A Winner!
5 July 2009
Format:Hardcover
"Tutankhamun, The Book of Shadows," Nick Drake's much anticipated second episode featuring Medjay policeman Rahotep, is well worth the wait. Drake's foray into a familiar historical period (18th Dynasty of ancient Egypt) with the first, "Nefertiti, The Book of the Dead," clearly established himself as a viable--and worthwhile--author of historical police procedurals.
In this episode, the young King Tut is relatively new as the leader of the Two Lands. Having ascended at around the age of eight, it is now some eight or nine years later. The government has been ruled by Ay, the regent, but a fierce struggle for power with the general of the armies, Horemheb, makes this novel indeed a relevant political novel as well. The intrigues mount, the pressure builds, and, alas, as this is a murder mystery, the bodies begin to pile up.
Rahotep, officially the Seeker of Mysteries and chief detective of the Thebes Medjay (police), is called to investigate a particularly gruesome murder of a young boy. The clues left behind are not only puzzling but mysterious. Not long after, another body is found with additional clues. Rahotep sees a pattern and that pattern leads him to the royal family. Both the King and his Queen request his special help and attention, owing to his successes in the first book.
From this point on, politics provides the foundation, as bitter--and deadly--rivalries begin to focus. The country has a young, untried, king and there are enemies within and without. It is a time of great confusion and frustration.
Still, Drake sidesteps the obvious political sermons and concentrates on presenting an exciting story line, one filled with excellent characterization, historically-based plot developments, and a style of writing that moves well. He seems to capture the atmosphere of the time and place (his research seems well-founded). Students of history certainly know the time-line--the young king doesn't live forever (at least not in Egypt) and there seems to be enough "mystery" historically to provide Rahotep and Drake with follow up stories. We hope so.
In this episode, the young King Tut is relatively new as the leader of the Two Lands. Having ascended at around the age of eight, it is now some eight or nine years later. The government has been ruled by Ay, the regent, but a fierce struggle for power with the general of the armies, Horemheb, makes this novel indeed a relevant political novel as well. The intrigues mount, the pressure builds, and, alas, as this is a murder mystery, the bodies begin to pile up.
Rahotep, officially the Seeker of Mysteries and chief detective of the Thebes Medjay (police), is called to investigate a particularly gruesome murder of a young boy. The clues left behind are not only puzzling but mysterious. Not long after, another body is found with additional clues. Rahotep sees a pattern and that pattern leads him to the royal family. Both the King and his Queen request his special help and attention, owing to his successes in the first book.
From this point on, politics provides the foundation, as bitter--and deadly--rivalries begin to focus. The country has a young, untried, king and there are enemies within and without. It is a time of great confusion and frustration.
Still, Drake sidesteps the obvious political sermons and concentrates on presenting an exciting story line, one filled with excellent characterization, historically-based plot developments, and a style of writing that moves well. He seems to capture the atmosphere of the time and place (his research seems well-founded). Students of history certainly know the time-line--the young king doesn't live forever (at least not in Egypt) and there seems to be enough "mystery" historically to provide Rahotep and Drake with follow up stories. We hope so.
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