Customer Reviews

Nefertiti - Book Of The Dead

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a wonderful read. I am so looking forward to the author's second book of what will apparently be a trilogy.

I am a history nut and ancient Egypt is a particular interest of mine, and the Amarna years a particular interest besides that. I also love historical mysteries So, you'd think this book would be a natural for me, and you'd be right. But it was so much more than "just" an enjoyable historical mystery.

The author, Nick Drake, is British, Cambridge-educated, and a multiple prize-winning playwright, screenwriter and poet, and it all shows in this book. This is his first novel, and - wow.

It's definitely not the typical "series" historical mystery, which is pretty formulaic and usually if not always reads like a history text or your junior high history teacher when it comes to the historical aspects. I can honestly say that not once was I aware of being 'taught' or 'informed' about any aspect of Egyptian or specific Amarna history as I read, it was so seamlessly and interestingly integrated.

The book's protagonist is its First Person narrator, and the author's writing style is smooth, rich, poetic and philosophic - so very not your typical mass market mystery.

Mysteries abound in Nefertiti: Book of the Dead, but rather than being the typical 'whodunnit' ones they are mostly philosophical, and circle round what might have happened during Akhenaten's reign, the Amarna years and after. It's actually speculation based on the the latest archaeological knowledge, but very skillfully done indeed, IMO.

Most impressive of all, to me, is how the author brought Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Horemheb, Ay and Tiy, as well as lesser characters, to life in a very believable way, as well as giving a personal feel to the way Aketaten might have operated as a city...or a tribute. I could 'buy' the personalities and moods wholeheartedly.

I can't wait for the next book, which is titled Tutankhamum: The Book of Shadows. Not only for the 'mystery', and more about the protagonist, a happily married Chief of Detectives from Thebes, father of three daughters, but for the author's musings on chaos, the breakdown of a civilization, and the trade-offs which must be made to insure a more stable future for Egypt.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, which is a historical mystery that takes history seriously. Unlike the silly "Nefertiti: The Novel," which is full of inaccuracies, this book really shows the skills of scholarship. Drake's writing style is wonderful and his descriptions add to the suspense while giving the reader the feeling that they are in ancient Egypt. I personally would have left out a bit of the gore, and I certainly think the ending is a disappointment. It doesn't answer the question of what happened when Nefertiti disappeared from the historical record. But it does examine her appeal and the madness of Akhenaten quite well.

I really enjoyed the detective Rahotep. I hope this becomes a series, because I could could become hooked quite easily.

Queen Nefertiti has gone missing and King Akhenaten has hired Rai Rahotep, a member of the Thebes Medjay police, to investigate her disappearance. Although I did enjoy this debut and would certainly try another book by the author, I can only give it three stars because I felt there were a few things that could have been improved on. If the author decides to continue this story as a series there might be room for growth. I felt the first half of the book was much more engaging, intriguing and had more suspense. The second half seemed to peter out and had a different feel to it. Without spoiling it for others, part of the mystery gets solved too early in the book in my opinion, leaving the remaining part of the book sort of anticlimactic. Also, I felt there were some confusing and unanswered pieces left unresolved that I felt could have been cleared up even though they might not have been overly critical to the story. The book is a good one, the author's writing style is accomplished, and I felt he was talented in the sense that he was able to allow the reader to really feel the atmosphere and culture of ancient egypt. The character of Rahotep is wonderful, as well as his sidekick Khety. Those two main characters could become interesting if the story continues to other books. I can say I enjoyed it and it was a good read, but just not fabulous. I do hope the author continues with other novels and could become more polished with experience and feedback.