In Secrets of the Nile, Lady Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, have joined his formidable mother on a holiday to visit the exotic treasures of Egypt. Their host, Lord Bertram Deeley, is a renowned amateur British collector of antiquities, who has invited his closest friends on a lavish cruise up the Nile to his home at Luxor. But on the first night of their journey, he suddenly collapses after offering a welcome toast, a victim of the lethal poison cyanide. Who amongst this group of his nearest and dearest would want to kill their generous host?
Emily and Colin’s investigation soon reveals that even his closest friends had reasons to want him dead: was it the archeologist whose dig Deeley was poised to fund until he suddenly withdrew support? The powerful politician whose career Deeley had secretly destroyed? The dyspeptic aristocratic English spinster whose hired travelling companion seems determined to protect her employer? Or could it be Mrs. Hargreaves herself, who may have spurned the advances of Lord Deeley when they were both younger?
A key clue may lie with several ancient ushabtis, exquisite three-thousand-year-old sculptures that played a role in a hidden story from the time of Ancient Egypt, one of a sister’s unshakeable loyalty to her brother, a tale of betrayal and revenge. In an unforgettable finale, Emily and Colin gather their fellow travelers together to unmask a killer whose motive is as shocking as it is brilliant. (NetGalley synopsis)
I have not read any of Tasha Alexander’s novels prior to this one. This did not stop me at all, nor did it make anything confusing. I always suggest reading from the beginning of a series, but it is not necessary with this novel.
It is a bit of a stretch to compare this to Agatha Christie simply because it’s based on Egypt. Christie’s novels were about the human-psychological connection, and how things are similar to everyday activities. I will say this came close to that idea, but it was just shy of the mark. I believe that the Ancient Egyptian storyline was interesting but, outside of the ushabtis back story, there wasn’t a connection between the modern mystery and the Ancient Egyptian. In fact, it felt like two stories being told in one, and Christie’s novels are all about weaving the back stories into the main story.
All of that said, this novel can stand strongly on its own without comparison to Agatha Christie. Lady Emily was quite the amateur detective, finding the connections after full discussions with her family. I thoroughly enjoyed that she was never in any immediate danger, because she always included her family in every thought process and discussed the next course of action. But I also liked that she didn’t back down or force her way through others disagreement. Instead she was clever and simply had conversations. It showed an intelligence that even Hercule Poirot would have appreciated.
The mysteries were well written, and there were plenty of suspects. Red herrings were littered throughout, and the clues were obvious if the reader knew what to look for. I hope the writer keeps the characters in Egypt, because I very much want to know what happens with the family with the new surprises.
Overall I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
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