The Horus Killing (Ancient Egypt Mysteries) (Hardcover)

~ P. C. Doherty (Author) "The sand-wanderer climbed down from his dromedary; its yellow and red saddle and harness were covered in fine dust, rather tattered and battered since the..." (more)
Key Phrases: river wanderer, royal prosecutor, chief scribe, Temple of Horus, Father Prem, Lord Amerotke (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A rash of murders taxes the sharp mind of Amerotke, the chief judge of Egypt at the start of the turbulent reign of Hatusu, some 3,500 years ago, when the ancient Egyptian empire was at its peak. The killings, beginning at the Hall of the Underworld, a desert maze with an evil reputation, seem intended to disrupt Hatusu's reign as possibly the first woman to become Pharaoh Queen of Egypt. Because Hatusu is both young and beautiful, many in the royal circle are jealous of her rise to power. Amerotke, aided by his loyal and lecherous servant Shufoy, must stay alive and find a killer whose favored means are poisoned wines, burning oils and crocodile-infested waters. Doherty does a fine job of splicing together rich period detail and vivid storytelling, while a subtle sense of menace permeates the text. Despite a slightly unwieldy cast suffering from too many treacherous court toadies and kohl-eyed courtesans, this second installment (after Mask of Ra) in Doherty's ancient Egypt mystery series represents a rare example of historical crime fiction that isn't overloaded with history and doesn't give suspense short shrift.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Doherty continues his newest historical series (Mask of Ra) with another visit to the complicated justice and constant court turmoil of ancient Egypt. Hatusu, the widow of Tuthmose II, attempts to become pharaoh as well as queen, but murder and intrigue surround her. Solid and dependable work.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur; 1St Edition edition (March 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312242638
• ISBN-13: 978-0312242633
• Product Dimensions: 21.9 x 13.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #942,459 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I hope there's a sequal, February 17, 2000

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Egypt Lite, July 20, 2000

By A Customer

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Horus Killings Is a Disappointment, November 30, 2000

By A Customer

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.