Customer Reviews

A Vile Justice (Mystery of Ancient Egypt)

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

 

 

Lt. Bak of the Medjay police has been sent to Abu to investigate a series of murders, spaced ten days apart, each victim higher in importance than the last. Now Bak must discover the slayer before Abu governor Djehuty becomes the next victim. In a strange land, filled with fiercely held secrets, Bak must find the slayer without himself becoming a victim.

Reading a Lt. Bak mystery is a journey through time. You walk beside an intelligent, interesting servant of the Lady Maat, dispenser of justice, experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of Ancient Egypt, brought to life through Haney's excellent use of language. I may have realized who the slayer was long before Bak, but it didn't detract from the wonderful story.

I just bought the 4th book in Lauren Haney's series because I absolutely loved the first three! This one has an interesting twist that keeps you guessing to the very end! They are intelligent, full of life, and make me feel as if I'm right there following Bak on all his Ancient police investigations!

I've read several Elizabeth Peters books and they are good, but I enjoy these even more!

My only complaint is that I can only find Lauren Haney's books in paperback. I'd love to have her books in Hardcover!

This is the third book in the Lt. Bak series I've read and it is definitely more interesting than the other 2. While the author's information is researched, the plots dwell on the minute & seem to drag on. It took 200 pages of descriptions to get to the core of the story. Unfortunately her writing ability & expertise does not compare with Gedge, Robinson or Jacq on this favorite subject of anicent Egypt.

With each book in this series, I have become enamored of Lauren Haney's skill at creating some very memorable settings in Ancient Egypt. Each book reveals new facets of daily life in the world of Lieutenant Bak, the Medjay police officer who is the central character of this series. As a faithful servant of Lady Maat, the goddess who is the dispenser of justice, Bak works with his colorful staff to solve riddles that are totally convincing.

Articulate, entertaining, and highly recommended.

With this third book in the "Lt. Bak" series, I would place Haney on the same level as Lynda Robinson. The historic setting is fascinating, and Lt. Bak is an engaging, believable character.

Lieutenant Bak is turning into as interesting a detective as could be found in the 20th/21st Century. It is especially interesting to watch characters solve crimes when they don't have all the complicated forensics of today. This is good-oldfashion detective reading at its best.

I'm a fan of this series and enjoyed this one every bit as much as the previous books. The main character, Lt. Bak, is well rounded and likeable, as are the other "regulars" in the series cast (although we don't get to see too much of his right hand man, Imsiba, in this one).

Some people said they found this book slow, but I'm not sure that's such a terrible thing. After all, this IS a police procedural, although set in ancient Egypt. You aren't going to have high speed chariot chases or shoot outs. It's more intellectual than that, but I still found it fast reading.

I'm not enough of a historian to know how accurate the book is, but it has the "ring of truth" which adds to the pleasure of the novel.

All in all, a good read!

I like ancient Egypt and mysteries. This book is both but the style of writing is a little heavy handed and the plotting is a little slow. It picks up pace in the second third so is worth the read.