Tutankhamun by Nick Drake

Release: March 27th 2009
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Bantam Press
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, TBD

Tutankhamun, son of Akhenaten, has inherited an empire at the height of its power and international glory. But the young King, just eighteen years old faces political and personal intrigues and conspiracies of the Court. There his godfather Ay, and the General Horemheb are locked in a bitter struggle for ascendancy. Hence, Tutankhamun must steer the empire back from the brink of disaster and dissent .He must restore the legacy of his father Akhenaten’s rule of the Two Lands of Egypt. He has to re-assert the stability and authority of his famous dynasty.

Rahotep, chief detective of the Thebes division, has his own worries. His daughters are growing up in a changing world of danger and instability, while out on the streets of Thebes things are falling apart. Also, poverty and dissent are breaking out into a nightmare of violence, gold and corruption seem all-powerful.. The city’s shadowy underworld is itself witnessing mysterious acts of shocking brutality.

Yet when he receives a mysterious invitation to the secret halls of the Royal Palace, he cannot refuse. What he finds there, and the quest on which he embarks, will change his life, and put everything he thought he believed, and everything he loves, at risk.

About the Author:

Born in 1961,Nick Drake lives and works in London. He won the Forward Prize for Best First Collection in 1999 for The Man in the White Suit , a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. Bloodaxe Books published his From The Word Go n 2007.

Nefertiti, his first book in the Rahotep detective trilogy, was short-listed by the Crime Writers Association for Best Historical Crime novel.

He is a screenwriter. Besides, he was part of Cape Farewell’s trip to the Arctic to explore climate change.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Tutankhamun Review:

Rahotep returns and finds himself in another mystery where the stake are higher.

The author did a wonderful job in incorporating Tutankhamun’s history in a detailed manner with the plot. In some ways this story was even better than the first book because of its multiple plots. While the main mystery is about the dead boy, Rahotep finds himself involved in other mysteries like the shocking incident that happens to the King and Queen at the Opet festival, and the figurine that Ankhesenamun shows him.

Moreover, I liked that Rahotep is more confident and self-assured in this novel. Similarly, Tutankhamun is wonderful in the role and the author wrote him in a complex way. I loved the philosophical dialogues between Rahotep and Tutankhamun as they embark their political trip and hunt. Ay and Horemheb are interesting as the darker character. However, I missed seeing few memorable characters like Mahu and Ramose from Nefetiti . But, we do get some new characters in the canvas like Khay and Simut, who are equally interesting.

However, while the story is very nice, it was not as compelling as the first book. Mainly, the story seemed to shift focus in between from the murders to the trip they take for the hunt. The book felt disconnected from the previous book Nefertiti. This is good in a way as it you can read it as a standalone. However, I had hoped there was some continuation from the previous book.

The climax is gripping at the catacombs, and sets pace for the next book in the series. Overall, this was very entertaining and a good addition to the series.