Last (and first) seen in the series debut Nefertiti (also reviewed on this site), Rahotep is now a happy family man and chief detective of the Thebes division.  But there is somebody out there murdering people in various horrible ways, and they all seem to have something in common.   Rahotep is determined to find out who is behind the killings, particularly as he has been charged to do so by Tutankhamun’s young queen Ankhesenamun.  But sinister minister Ay lurks in the shadows, and General Horemheb also seems to have his eye on the throne.  Rahotep could lose everything he holds dear if he puts a foot wrong.

Set at a turbulent time in Egypt’s history, some time after the first book, in this follow-up, Drake manages to convey a sense of great unrest where there are no hiding places.  The subject of Tutankhamun’s reign is perennially fascinating for many reasons, and this is an account of what might have happened during one short period.  Many contrasts are made between life both at the lavish court and in the mean streets, as well as in the domestic calm of Rahotep’s own home contrasted with the palace.  If you don’t like plenty of gore you won’t care for this, as there are some grisly moments, although these are not gratuitous.  They seem to serve both to heighten the tension of the pursuit of a truly evil murderer, and to symbolize what is rotten in the state of Egypt.  I enjoyed the way in which an insignificant short reign over three thousand years ago has been pieced together by Drake and many other people into elaborate stories such as this one, replete with theories as to what happened and why.  If you also feel this way then this ought to please.