Customer Reviews

The Horus Killings

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In 1478 BC, Hatusu solidifies her position as Pharaoh-Queen by defeating her country's enemies and supporters of the Grand Vizier Rahimere. His successor is Senenmut, Hatusu's lover and first minister. Though the people, the army, and the government support her, she wants more, needing the High Priests to sanctify her rule. The priests refuse unless they find proof in their library that a woman once ruled the country in the past.

They launch an investigation to see if the scholars can prove that Hatusu's rule as Pharaoh-Queen has a precedent. However, someone murders two of the sleuths. The Chief Judge of Egypt, Amerotke goes to the Temple of Horus to ferret out the identity of a killer. He is almost killed too, which leads him to conclude a record exists but someone wants it to remain hidden.

The magic, lures, and glory of Ancient Egypt come vividly alive in the masterly storytelling skills of Paul Doherty. THE HORUS KILLINGS takes readers on an exotic journey into the heart of a Pharaoh's reign. Readers learn the mindset, customs, and daily intrigues of those who hold power. The who-done-it is cleverly designed so that the killer is in plain sight, but still difficult to detect amidst a large number of viable suspects. Though the enlightened Amerotke feels like an anachronism when compared to those surrounding him, he and the other characters appear genuine and provide the audience insight into the era. Ancient historical fiction/mystery readers, especially Egyptologists, will cherish this novel.

Harriet Klausner

Hatusu, better known to many "Egyptologists" as Hatshepsut, had a compelling reign in Egypt. The emotions she stirred as one of Egypt's few female rulers did not subside after her death, as her successor ordered virtually every image and mention of her obliterated. A passionate but intelligent woman ruling in a rigid society, she evoked feelings that can still stir us today.

It is precisely that passion that is lacking in The Horus Killings, unfortunately. The premise is sound: one of Hatusu's enemies wants to repress historical information that would lend support to her hold on the throne, and is willing to kill to achieve that goal. Amerotke, Chief Judge of the land, is charged with finding the killer.

The author never succeeds in bringing his characters to life. A few minor characters are endowed with mannerisms instead of given complex feelings and thoughts; the major actors are given one-dimensional attitudes. Episodes unfold and we are told how characters react, but the scenes are never brought to life. 20 minutes after reading the book, you will struggle to remember the names of the characters and why they mattered.

Finally, the publisher (and author) of this book was terribly sloppy. You'll frequently find sentence fragments, odd punctuation, and oddly disjointed phrases ... things a good editor would have cleaned up.

If you love to read about ancient Egypt, there are far better books to curl up with than this one.

Amazing is the word I would use to describe this book. The Horus Killings continues on after Mask of Ra and is a strong sequel that had me all the way through. Well researched, you would never guess that this is a work of fiction. Do not pass this book by!

This book is beautifully written and you will probably travel to the time when egypt was very glorious and beautiful when you read it. The plot however is not very good but still fine. If you like descriptive books than don't get this one as Paul Doherty is not as descriptive as some authors. This book is great although i would actually give 3.5 stars.

The Horus Killings is a quick read. Unlike the work of Pauline Gedge, I found the work somewhat devoid of detailed setting and character study. If you are seeking to read a book involving Ancient Egypt and are quite focused on plot, you will enjoy this book. It's an enjoyable mystery, full of suspense. Do not look for more than this because I fear you will not find it.

Pharoah Tuthmosis II is dead and his widow, Hatusu (or Hatshepsut) has assumed the role of Pharoah. Although she has achieved significant military victories, the priests have not yet accepted her. To force the priesthood to either accept her or come out against her, she asks them to convene to reach a decision. After a suspicious murder occurs in the temple, the Pharoah asks her Chief Judge, Amerotke, to investigate and to attend the meetings. It is well known that the priests have hired a researcher to find evidence that there has never been a woman on the throne. As more murders occur, there is suspicion that the victims have found evidence that either there has been a woman Pharoah or there has been no woman Pharoah - depending on whether the person speculating on the murders supports Hatusu or not. Amerotke slowly pieces together the evidence that leads him to accuse the perpetrator of the foul deeds.

Egyptian history is one of my favorite historical periods, and I looked forward to reading Doherty's take on it. I wish now that I had waited for Lynda S. Robinson's next Lord Meren book. The reader can not fault Doherty on his history, but he is unable not to confuse his readers with a plethora of characters all introduced in rapid succession - so that keeping track of who was who and who was doing what to whom became a mystery in itself.

There was not much of a story line here. Doherty tried to hide the paucity of his mystery with sub-plots, but the fact remains that the premise on which this already thin book (had the publisher printed it in standard book form, I doubt it would have made 125 pages) rests was not enough to carry the book.

Any reader who loves Egyptian history and wants a good mystery thrown in should read Robinson's books instead.

Set in the early years of the rule of Hatchepsut (Egyptian New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty), this is a good tale filled with a wealth of historical information. P.C. Doherty is one of the most respected (and most prolific) writers of historical mysteries. He has a masterful talent for bringing accurate historical details to life for the 21st century reader--and creating memorable characters that you either love or hate. The plot here is rather thin, but the resolution is ultimately satisfying.

If you are looking for a non-fiction reference to the historical period covered in this novel, you might want to see "Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh" by Joyce Tyldesley. It is a very accessible biography and analysis of this fascinating woman.

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.

When Pharaoh Tuthmosis II fell dead before Amun, the sun god, the land of Egypt was thrown into chaos. It's close neighbours looked hungrily at the land that was like a ship without a sail, moving one way and then another, with no guiding hand to steer a straight course.

The land of Egypt is shortly to have its first ever Pharaoh-Queen, but first she and her close advisor must solve a spate of murders that is threatening to jeopardise her claim to the throne . . .

I read many of the reviews...... after I read the book. In fact I agree with many of them, but I still give the book 5 stars ..... because I thought it was a very enjoyable book. I didn't buy it to learn Egyptian History. If I wanted that I'd get a textbook or documentary. I bought it because it seemed like a good mystery with lots of vibrant twists and turns. I don't doubt there could have been more development, but I consider it a 'light' thriller with lots of interesting characters and events. So, if you want light entertainment, then give it a read. If you truly want to read about Ancient Egpyt, then give it a miss.

The Horus Killings is the second book in Doherty's sequence set in ancient Egypt circa 1480 B.C and having as its protagonist the Chief Judge of the time Amerotke.Like the novel immediately preceding it ,The Mask of Ra ,it is proclaimed on the cover to be a "novel of intrigue and murdrer in Ancient Egypt"and once again this is a fair description .There are murders-several in fact-but the author seems more interested in the court and dynastic politics than in the elements of detection .

Queen Hatusu rules Egypt and is having a hard time persuading the reactionary elements that a woman is entitled to rule the land .She summons the chief scholars and priests to a conference at Thebes to settle the matter and soon the place is awash in corpses-those known to be favourable to her cause are murdered and Amerotke aided by his dwarfish deformed servant Shufoy set out to trace the culprits and prevent more deaths .
The solution is perfectly "fair" and abides by the tenets of the classic whodunnit but tension is vitiated by two subplots -a case of possibly bigamous marriage ,and the deaths of two courtiers in a desert labyrinth both of whic are mere padding.

Well written and helped by some lively action scenes ,this still does not above the sturdily functional .Mr Doherty delivers competence rather than excellence in this series and it falls short of the standards he established with the period mysteries set in his naative England.