The Anubis Slayings [Hardcover]

P. C. Doherty (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 9, 2001

A series of grisly slayings ignite passions in Pharaoh's Egypt. Is it the work of humans or has the god Anubis himself come to earth intent on sabotaging peace negotiations with the dreaded Mitanni? Only Amerotke, wise and trusted judge of the powerful female Pharaoh, Hatusu, can sort through the tangle of intrigue that surrounds the killings and discover the truth. It began in the temple of Anubis. With the hated but humbled Mitanni camped outside Thebes, preparing to prostrate themselves before Pharaoh, few things could be worse for Egypt's bargaining position than a series of sensational murders right in the inner sanctum of its most heavily guarded temple. Except perhaps the daring theft of its most cherished national treasure. Or maybe the mysterious deaths of several Mitanni ambassadors who'd been assured Pharaoh's divine protection . . . Now Amerotke is up to his ears in intrigue. As the body count grows, it becomes apparent that someone-or something-wants his name added to it. But is the jackal-headed god, Anubis, really stalking his enemies? Or is there a logical explanation? It will take all of Amerotke's powers of reason to find the answer before Egypt's enemies move the strong and seductive Pharaoh into checkmate.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1478 B.C., in the Egyptian capital of Thebes, the judge Amerotke confronts a fascinating maze of puzzles, death and knife-edged political intrigue. Envoys from the defeated Mitanni nation have come to beg for a peace settlement by kissing the painted toes of the Divine Pharaoh-Queen Hatusu, but seem to nurture more sinister purposes. A priest on vigil in the Temple of Anubis, locked inside a chamber with a large amethyst sacred to the jackal god, is found fatally stabbed the jewel missing, the lock secure. A dancing girl lies dead in a temple garden, with no signs of violence. Fish float lifeless in an ornamental pool. Amerotke must discover how these incidents are related, and uncover the identity of the shadowy figure glimpsed garbed as the divine Anubis, while other murders occur and the judge himself faces peril in the lion-haunted desert outside the city. It is difficult, after all, to notice minor wounds among the flea bites everyone bears, and priests cannot be tortured to extract confessions. The fecund Doherty (The Mask of Ra; The Horus Killings) brings in (and wraps up as tight as a shroud) several subplots evoking the Egyptian culture of death, where "Powerful Theban nobles and merchants even arranged dinner parties and invited guests to come and inspect their latest caskets." This is another fine performance from this prolific author, sure to pass inspection by his many fans. (June 11)reviewed in Forecasts, Jan. 22; his new Alexander the Great mystery, The House of Death, in Forecasts, Apr. 30.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Historical fiction specialist Doherty returns to ancient Egypt (The Mask of Ra, The Horus Killings), where principal judge Amertoke must solve a series of gruesome murders. It is 1497 B.C.E and the Pharaoh Queen Hatusu (Hatshepsut) is in the process of consolidating power and taking over as ruler after her husband's death. She has just defeated the Mitanni, and formal peace negotiations are in progress. Someone wearing a jackal mask that resembles the god Anubis is poisoning people. Valuable treasures and manuscripts disappear from the temple of Anubis, too. Is it political intrigue? Amertoke must find out who is trying to sabotage the delicate negotiations before he becomes the next victim. Doherty's attention to historical detail and his well-crafted plot will delight readers fascinated by ancient Egypt. Barbara Bibel
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (June 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312276583
• ISBN-13: 978-0312276584
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,740,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good mystery but the author should do his homework, August 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Anubis Slayings (Hardcover)

Doherty knows how to plot a mystery and convey his setting but as a reader familiar with the history and culture of ancient Egypt, and particularly with the period of Hatshepsut, I found myself constantly distracted by inaccuracies. There's a carelessness with names and titles of historical figures. I can live with his use of Hatasu instead of the more usual Hatshepsut, however Hatshepsut's favorite, Senenmut, who figures prominently in the series, held over the course of his long and extravagently honored life something like 80 titles. He was never, however, Hatshepsut's Vizier, his principle title in the series. For another example there is a climactic scene in which the hero, Chief Judge Amerotke, confronts and captures a group of tomb robbers--the problem is the tomb robbers are riding camels. The camel was not introduced into Egypt until several hundred years after the time this story takes place. A bronze key plays a major role in the plot but (and I could be wrong on this) the Egyptians in the 18th dynasty relied on seals to keep their valuables safe. Locks as we know them hadn't been invented.

This is a shame because on the whole this is a good story in a fun series complete with an interesting take on the historical events and characters. I hate to sound like a pendantic prig--I really like historical mysteries and am willing to overlook a few howlers and anachronisms if the story's good, but in this case the factual errors really distracted from my enjoyment of the book.

I hope the author's listening.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent historical mystey, May 15, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Anubis Slayings (Hardcover)

Pharaoh-Queen Hatusu and her lover Grand Vizier Senenmut rule over a united Egypt. The Priests and the Army support Hatusu mostly because of her great victory against the Mitanni, Northern people led by King Tushratta and his sister Wanef who are now suing for peace.

While the negotiations occur, strange deaths begin happenign in the royal circle. In the Temple of Anubis, someone steals the Glory of Anubis, a large amethyst gem even with the guard in the chamber holding the key to the locked door. A person wearing the mask of Anubis kills a dancing girl. Also murdered are the Pharaoh's advisor in the treaty negotiations and two Mitanni envoys. The Pharaoh orders Egypt's Principal Judge Amerotke to uncover the truth so that Hatusus can apply her brand of justice to the culprit.

The glory of Ancient Egypt comes alive once again in THE ANUBIS SLAYINGS as the historical background makes the who-done-it that much more exciting. Especially entertaining are the chariot scenes (though a different time, place, and media think Ben Hur). The Principal Judge is a clever sleuth who seems like an Ancient era Holmes as he leaves no stone unturned in his quest for truth, justice, and the Egyptian way. P.C. Doherty is a wonderful storyteller whose historical mysteries include the awesome Anubis series and crafty Corbett medieval tales among others are all worth reading.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When's the next one out?, May 27, 2002

By 

"co-ord" (Aspendale Gardens, Vic, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Anubis Slayings (Hardcover)

As an enthusiast (not archeologist) of Ancient Egypt, I find that all of his books make Ancient Egypt come alive, as if you are really there. I don't particularly care if camels weren't introduced at that time or locks hadn't been invented yet. I don't want a history lesson, I want a book/story which you can picture yourself being alongside the characters. Paul's books have done that.
His mediaeval series with Brother Athlestan are also fantastic too. I always eagerly await the next one.....