Customer Reviews

Assassins of Isis (Ancient Egyptian Mysteries 5)

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3 star:		(3)
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Paul Doherty is the consummate professional when it comes to writing historical mystery novels. I for one do not know how he can be so prolific with his offering of books and yet make sure that each of them is well researched. Whether they be 13th, 14th, or fifteenth century they are always true to the period. He has also written books about Alexander the Great and is now turning his hand to novels of Ancient Egypt at the time of the most influential period in its long history.

The tomb of Rahimere, his house of eternity filled with all the things he may need to cross to the other side has been hidden for many years, somewhere deep in the desert. The location of the tomb has long been kept a closely guarded secret. But now a sect know as the Sebaus, who take their name from the demons have not only found the tomb, but plundered it for the powerful secret it holds . . .

These book on Egypt just get better and better and long may Paul Doherty continue to write them. They are both entertaining and also give a wonderful insight into the life of the Ancient Egyptians.

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 releasedthe 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 story line grips readers from the onset of the Sebaus sect members begin their looting and 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.

Harriet Klausner

I love reading about ancient Egypt, and when I saw this book I had to get it. I found it used, online, for a very cheap price. It was quite entertaining and the details about ancient Egypt were excellent. The overall thrust of the novel is that tomb robbers have been breaking into the tombs of the noble Egyptians, and also, a powerful general has been murdered. The pharaoh calls in her chief judge, a good man named, Amerotke. He is a cool character and investigates the murder of the general and the tomb robberies--which all seem to lead back to the Temple of Isis.

The plot is very complicated and the author kept me guessing throughout. I don't read a lot of mysteries, and found the mystery part of this almost superfluous to enjoying the ancient Egyptian setting. That said, I didn't feel like the author captured the mind set of the ancient Egyptians. I've read some other ancient Egyptian novels, especially by Wilbur Smith, that really captured my idea of what those ancient people would be like, psychologically, emotionally, spiritually.

I'm not saying P.C. Doherty did a poor job, just not a great job. The research that he did was top notch, and the description of the world was fantastic. It just wasn't as tense and engaging as other novels that I've read. Overall, it was a fun book, easy to enjoy, and well-researched. If you want to get a description of what ancient Egypt looked like, this is the book for you. If you're interested in a epic story that is very tense, read Wilbur Smith, who wrote Warlock and Rivergod. Both are very cool.

If any of you have any ancient Egyptian books you'd like to recommend, please let me know.

Happy reading,

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
[...]

Author has a grasp on the politics of Ancient Egypt. He puts the historical record together with interesting fiction to create a quick and easy, educational read.

I really enjoy all of PC Doherty's works, this one especially because it's set in the 18th Dynasty, which is one of my favorites. The book centers around Queen Hatusu and her detective Lord Amerotke who is supposed to investigate the disappearance of precious artifacts. Murders abound, an attempted assassination takes place, and all the while the readr is learing about Egyptian life and culture.

Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction, ancient Egyptian fiction, mysteries, and good fiction.

Anyone who liked Linda Robinson's Lord Meren books would love P.C. Doherty's series about the Chief Judge Amerotke. This is also placed during Egypt's 18th dynasty, but several generations earlier than Robinson's books placed during the short reign of Tutankhamen. Amerotke serves the controversial woman pharoh Hatusu (more usually described as Hatshepsut).

There is no lack of intrigue here, with a series of bold tomb robberies, the kidnapping of four temple maidens, several murders, arson, and more. Doherty has done his homework about ancient Egypt. The descriptions of the business world of the various temples and the commerce of the Necropolis are fascinating. You're also kept guessing until the end how all the puzzle pieces actually fit together to point to the source of the crime wave.

This is the fifth book in this series, and if it is anything to go by, the others must be worth reading as well.

For those who like to read Elizabeth Peters, they will also like Doherty's ancient Egyptian mysteries.

A worthy effort and commendable addition to the Egyptian series by an author that always manages to deliver excitement in a realistic setting. I have watched for the next segment in this series and was pleased with the well realized characters and believable events. This book held the suspense until the very end. A great read.

I really wanted to like this book, because I'm a sucker for anything about Egypt. However, the mystery of "The Assassins of Isis" was not that difficult to figure out, and the police procedures were a bore. The characters are good, especially the dwarf who amuses the judge and finds clues almost by accident. I never did understand why Doherty insists on calling the famous female Pharaoh Hatshepsut "Hutusu," because I have never heard that name used anywhere. With all the odd names that abound in this book, there's little reason to change a well-known historical figure's name.
I'm going to try another Doherty mystery and see if they get any better. But this one was only passable.

Pretty run of the mill Egyptian whodonnit. None of these compare to Paul's Alexander the Great books.