Slayer of Gods [Hardcover]

Lynda S. Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2001

In the sixth novel of the celebrated series set during the reign of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Armed with the certainty that Queen Nefertiti did not die of the plague but was murdered, Lord Meren is hot on the trail of her killer. His investigation leads him from the Egyptian countryside to the mysterious tombs of the dead, entangling him in a conspiracy so treacherous he fears for his life.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ancient Egypt during the reign of the pharaohs is once again the setting for Lynda S. Robinson's masterfully detailed series featuring Lord Meren, the god-king's chief protector and investigator. Here the author takes a little-known incident from the 14th century B.C., when Pharaoh Akhenhaten, husband of Nefertiti, commanded the disestablishment of Amun, Egypt's chief deity, and his powerful priesthood. Meren is commanded by the young Pharaoh Tutankhamun--who undid Akhenhaten's work and revived the worship of Amun--to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding Nefertiti's untimely demise.

Aided by the beautiful Anath, Meren sets out to discover who poisoned the beautiful queen, beloved by her stepson Tutankhamun. But uncovering the conspiracy behind Nefertiti's death leads Meren to discover treachery much closer to home than he ever imagined and imperils this complex and compassionate investigator's own beloved son and daughter. This is Meren's sixth outing, and like Robinson's previous Meren books, it brings ancient history to breathtaking life, bolstered as it is by solid research, intelligent writing, and a command of the craft of storytelling. --Jane Adams

From Publishers Weekly

In her sixth masterful historical mystery set in ancient Egypt (Murder in the Place of Anubis; Murder at the God's Gate; etc.), Robinson presents a tantalizing what-if scenario. The story opens in the fifth year of the reign of the pharaoh Tutankhamun. The previous pharaoh, Akhenaten, the heretic king, forced the people of Egypt to abandon the worship of their ancient gods, especially Amun, in favor of a minor sun god, Aten. He moved the royal court from Memphis and Thebes to found a new city, Horizon of Aten. Tutankhamun, in an attempt to restore the old ways, once again worships Amun and has moved the court back to Memphis. Historically, Akhenaten's wife, the beautiful Nefertiti, mysteriously disappeared from the monuments and royal correspondence after the 12th year of Akhenaten's reign. In an imaginative twist, royal adviser Lord Meren discovers that, contrary to rumor, Queen Nefertiti died not of the plague but was poisoned. To give the pharaoh peace of mind, Meren determines to discover the murderer. Enlisting the help of Anath, a seductive female spy known as the Eyes of Babylon, he sets out on a dangerous quest for the truth that will threaten not only his life but also the lives of his family. With a seamless blend of fact and fiction, the author makes ancient places and historical figures seem extraordinarily real. A compelling story does the rest to keep the reader hooked. (June

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 306 pages
• Publisher: Mysterious Press; First Edition edition (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892967056
• ISBN-13: 978-0892967056
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,552,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great historical mystey, June 5, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: Slayer of Gods (Hardcover)

Now in his fifth year as the pharaoh, Tutankhamun continues his efforts to restore the ancient ways that his predecessor Akhenaten disdained. Tutankhamun somewhat finds success in returning to the old capital of Memphis and worshipping the ancient gods instead of just Aten. However, Tutankhamun has never fully recovered from the sudden disappearance of Akhenaten's Queen Nefertiti, who acted like a mother towards him.

Detective Lord Meren learns who poisoned Nefertiti, but not the identity of the high-ranking instigator of the dastardly act. To provide some closure for his King, Meren begins a dangerous journey to uncover a truth cloaked in a deadly conspiracy that could prove quite deadly to him, his enlisted partner the Babylonian spy Anath, and even his family.

The sixth Lord Meren Ancient Egypt mystery is the best of a powerful series as Lynda S. Robinson combines fact with conjecture and turns it into a wonderful historical fiction novel. The story line is clever and fourteenth century BC Egypt appears thriving today. The cast, including real persona, adds to the feel of authenticity and plausibility. Historical fiction and mystery aficionados will derive joy from SLAYER OF GODS.

Harriet Klausner

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars deteriorating, October 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Slayer of Gods (Hardcover)

I agree with both the reviewer from Guatemala and the reviewer from Georgetown Texas. The series started out splendidly, but the modernization of the characters (particularly the Nancy Drewization of Bener) leaves a great deal to be desired. The reason I read historical mysteries is to immerse myself in a culture that is as alien to contemporary life as any Star Trek episode. I also would give it a 3.5 were that possible-it's better than a 3, but doesn't deserve a 4. Ms. Robinson, please return to the cultural norms of 1300 B.C!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An impressive history mystery., August 17, 2001

By 

Brenda "MYSHELFDOTCOM" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Slayer of Gods (Hardcover)

Slayer of Gods is the sixth title in Robinson's Lord Meren series, which takes place in the mid 1300s BC. This one takes place during year five of the boy king Tutankhamun's reign.

King Tut has assigned Lord Meren to an 11-year-old mystery. They are both sure the King's foster mother, Nefertiti, did not die of the plague, but of foul play. Lord Meren, god-king's chief protector and investigator, his adopted son Kysen, and daughter Bener are put in danger as they search for the evil that murdered a queen and continues to lurk in the heart of Egypt. Also helping Meren is the woman warrior known as the Eyes of Babylon, Anath. As the story moves from place to place, traps turn foul, unclear clues surface, and the list of suspects grow.

Ms. Robinson's characters are intriguing to say the least. Her passion for Egypt's history is unmistakable as it merges effortlessly with her gift for writing mysteries.