The Mask of Ra [Hardcover]

P. C. Doherty (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 1999

His great battles against the sea raiders in the Nile Delta have left Pharaoh Tuthmosis II weak and frail, but he finds solace in victory and the welcome he is sure to receive on his return to Thebes. Across the river from the Egyptian capital, however, not all take pleasure in his homecoming.

Reunited with his wife, Hatusu, and his people, Tuthmosis stands before the statue of Amun-Ra, the roar of the crowd and the fanfare of the trumpets ringing in his ears. But within an hour the Pharaoh is dead, and his unfinished tomb ritually polluted by a witch.

The people of Thebes cannot forget the murder and the desecration any more easily than they can forget the frightful omen of wounded doves flying overhead. Rumor runs rife, speculation sweeps the royal city, and Hatusu vows to uncover the truth. With the aid of Amerotke, a respected judge of Thebes, she embarks on a path destined to reveal the great secrets of Egypt.

The Mask of Ra is a compelling and dramatic novel set against the background of Egypt's eighteenth dynasty--a time of great change, as warlike Pharaohs fought to control not only the tribes on their western and southern borders, but to bring their subjects firmly under their rule.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1479 B.C., Pharaoh Tuthmosis II returns in triumph to the city of Thebes after a series of victorious battles in the Nile Delta. But soon after his homecoming, he dies in the arms of his wife, at the foot of a statue of his patron god, Amun-Ra. Tuthmosis's untimely death, apparently caused by a snake bite, results in political chaos as the forces surrounding the throne coalesce into two camps: one supports the ascension of the pharaoh's illegitimate young son; the other, that of his widow and half-sister, Hatusu. Meanwhile, the chief judge of Thebes, Amerotke, must try the captain of the guard for the pharaoh's death, since he failed to remove the deadly snake from the royal barge. When Hatusu tries to claim his loyalty, Amerotke is forced into the conflict surrounding the succession. Several murders ensue, raising questions about the true nature of Tuthmosis's demise. Doherty (Ghostly Murders, etc.) excels at historical detail, bringing ancient Egypt to life in his descriptions of daily life and characters drawn from every caste. This novel launches a seriesAand that's good news.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Into the power vacuum created by the sudden death of Pharoah Tuthmosis II in Thebes step the greedy grand vizier, several ambitious generals, and the pharaoh's stunning young widow Hatusu (a.k.a. Hatshepsut). Chief judge Amerotke, investigating the death, suspects that an accused guard is merely a political scapegoat and that the pharaoh's death has some connection to a series of tomb desecrations, robberies, and related murders. This new series marks a sharp departure from Doherty's usual medieval milieus (e.g., The Devil's Hunt, LJ 2/1/98), but he covers Egypt's ancient pageantry, splendor, and corruption with equal authenticity. Certain to capture historical fans.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (March 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312205600
• ISBN-13: 978-0312205607
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #392,379 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Murders Most Foul on the Nile, January 7, 2000

By 

Douglas J. Bielan - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mask of Ra (Hardcover)

Mr. P.C. Doherty, an accomplished mystery writer, has smoothly transitioned from his previous medieval novels to Ancient Egypt. The reading is easy and the plot line so good that you do not want to put this book down. Just when you think you have figured it out, a new element is deftly woven into the story. What really impressed me about the book, however, is the well researched period and the way the author is able to impart what life was like in Ancient Egypt. A good plot is essential, but without a good believable backdrop to the story, any book will falter. Mr. Doherty makes one believe that you are in the Egypt at 1497 BC. He holds the readers intrest not just with a terrific story, but with a well researched look into life and customs of that period. I would compare this novel favorably with Linda Robinson's "Lord Meren's Mystery" Series. The charcters in this novel are well thought out and developed becoming more that one dimensional. If one is facinated by, or intrested in, Ancient Egypt you will find the book a good read. The story, a tightly woven plot, and a facinating ending are a wonderful bonus. I hope that Mr. Doherty will continue the adventures of Chief Judge Amerotke. I would recommed this book to any mystery fan who enjoys a facinating well thought out story or to any history buff who would like to dream a little about an extraordinary period in Egyptian History.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Egypt and chess, August 31, 2001

By 

Albert Elfes (Pasadena, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mask of Ra (Paperback)

I found the book "The Mask of Ra", by P. C. Doherty, to be mildly enjoyable. The historical background against which the story plays, namely the ascension of queen Hatshepsut (Hatusu) to the throne of Egypt, is a fascinating period of Egyptian history, and Doherty uses this background quite well. The plot, involving several deaths that have to be investigated by Amerotke, Pharao's Chief Judge, is also well thought out. Three aspects weaken the quality of the tale. Firstly, the writing has at times an amateurish quality to it, with weak dialogues or conceptual errors (for example, the political maneuvering at the court is equated by Hatusu with a game of chess, a pastime unknown in Egypt at the time). Secondly, the interplay between some of the characters is hard to conceive as representing social mores at the time; to illustrate, the level of familiarity between the Chief Judge and his servant Shufoy, or between the Queen and the Chief Judge, would seem to be totally out of place in a formal society such as Egypt's. Thirdly and expanding on the previous point, other aspects of daily life are presented with similar carelessness: again, and just to cite one example, it is difficult to imagine the Chief Judge moving around Thebes without a formal escort, including armed guards or charioteers. A more careful and believable presentation of social interactions in ancient Egypt can be found, among other places, in Robinson's Lord Meren tales (which in turn have, however, suffered from weak plots in more recent installments).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well told tale, June 23, 2003

By 

Heather H. "Heather H." (New Jersey, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mask of Ra (Paperback)

You know you are reading a great book when you are torn between not wanting the story to end and reading it through the night to find out what will happen next.
6 stars!