The Mask of Ra

Rating:
Summary: I won't be looking for the next volume
Review: I was really looking forward to a book with Hatshepsut in it, but this was a disappointment, both in its portrayal of her and the feeble plot. Hatshepsut remains pretty controversial, even today, and Doherty's character just doesn't strike me as a plausible imagining of the woman. Worse, I simply cannot understand how she could be so easily blackmailed. How on earth could the blackmailer prove the charge? Who (that could hurt her) would believe it anyway, particularly since the threats begin while her husband is still alive? It wouldn't have been in Thutmosis' interest to to believe it, whatever evidence was offered. This isn't a society where the blackmailer can go on a talk show. In Egypt at this time, would it have mattered that much even if it was true? O.K. for passing time, but not a great addition to the genre.

Rating:
Summary: I won't be looking for the next volume
Review: I was really looking forward to a book with Hatshepsut in it, but this was a disappointment, both in its portrayal of her and the feeble plot. Hatshepsut remains pretty controversial, even today, and Doherty's character just doesn't strike me as a plausible imagining of the woman. Worse, I simply cannot understand how she could be so easily blackmailed. How on earth could the blackmailer prove the charge? Who (that could hurt her) would believe it anyway, particularly since the threats begin while her husband is still alive? It wouldn't have been in Thutmosis' interest to to believe it, whatever evidence was offered. This isn't a society where the blackmailer can go on a talk show. In Egypt at this time, would it have mattered that much even if it was true? O.K. for passing time, but not a great addition to the genre.

Rating:
Summary: Very Good!
Review: Just finished this book last night and I really enjoyed it. The story was well written and the charactors interesting and believable - I will definitly look for more books by P C Doherty!

Rating:
Summary: Murders Most Foul on the Nile
Review: Mr. P.C. Doherty, an accomplished mystery writer, has smoothly transitioned from his previous medieval novels to Ancient Egypt. The reading is easy and the plot line so good that you do not want to put this book down. Just when you think you have figured it out, a new element is deftly woven into the story. What really impressed me about the book, however, is the well researched period and the way the author is able to impart what life was like in Ancient Egypt. A good plot is essential, but without a good believable backdrop to the story, any book will falter. Mr. Doherty makes one believe that you are in the Egypt at 1497 BC. He holds the readers intrest not just with a terrific story, but with a well researched look into life and customs of that period. I would compare this novel favorably with Linda Robinson's "Lord Meren's Mystery" Series. The charcters in this novel are well thought out and developed becoming more that one dimensional. If one is facinated by, or intrested in, Ancient Egypt you will find the book a good read. The story, a tightly woven plot, and a facinating ending are a wonderful bonus. I hope that Mr. Doherty will continue the adventures of Chief Judge Amerotke. I would recommed this book to any mystery fan who enjoys a facinating well thought out story or to any history buff who would like to dream a little about an extraordinary period in Egyptian History.

Rating:
Summary: Intrigue and Murder
Review: Paul Doherty is one of my favourite authors and I am always delighted to find one of his books that I have not read before. This one has been a change of direction for the author and he seems to have pulled it off, although for me personally it was not one of my favourites.
The book is set in Ancient Egypt at the time of Pharaoh Tuthmosis II. The Pharaoh is returning to Thebes after successfully doing battle with the sea raiders in the Nile Delta. However there are factions who are less than happy to seem him return. Reunited with his wife and people Tuthmosis celebrates his homecoming, but within an hour he is dead. With the aid of Amerotke, a respected judge his wife Hatusu sets out to find the perpetrators of the crime and embarks on a path destined to reveal many secrets.

Rating:
Summary: Exotic Tale of Detection set in Ancient Egypt
Review: The compelling plot and surreal scenes of the Egypian Kingdom are the chief merits of this detective story. Some ideas, however, are quite controversial: a)The battle scene, much like Kadesh of a later era. b)Hatsheput as a warrior queen. (Thuthmosis III, the boy pharaoh in the story, was the real 'Napoleon of Ancient Egypt'.) c)Theology of the Akhenaten age. d)Occult beliefs on the Great Pyramid. Those ideas look familiar and appear to have been borrowed from elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Anna of Byzanitum
Review: This book is I think very interesting and very easy to understand for anybody, even for people which english is as their second language. The presentation of this book is very formal way. I think the authour must be very famous because ofthis book. I'ver read many historical fiction books, but this is the first book that I found it very interesting and easy. I encourage people to read this book. I don't want to give them the summery of the book, because I want everyone to read this very interesting book.

Rating:
Summary: The Mask of Ra
Review: This book is what I would term an outline. No character development, sketchy plot, very little dialogue and when there is it's
trite, hackneyed, and wooden. There's a superficial veneer of
Egyptian culture and history...again no depth.
This book rates 0 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Doherty's Egyptian murder series
Review: Though I enjoy this series very much, I would be happier if Doherty had admitted that his stories very much distort the actual history of Hatusu's reign (as we know it). It actually took Hatusu 6-7 years to declare herself pharoah, and she did it through political maneuvering, not conquest. Tushratta, the Mitanni king Hatusu is supposed to have defeated, didn't rule until the time of Amenhotep III, and, in fact, Hatusu's regime is noted for its inattention to military control of areas east of Egypt. Doherty claims Hatusu learned military tactics from her father, but if the chronology he uses is correct, her father died when she was about 3 years old. Also, where in the stories is Nefrure, Hatusu's daughter by Thutmosis II? She should be around somewhere, as Senenmut was responsible for her care. However, I must say that the series has inspired me to read up on the history of the period, about which I previously knew nothing, so I suppose that is a plus. If you are a new reader, though, please don't take this as an accurate depiction of the events of the time.

Rating:
Summary: ......
Review: Well, I suppose I should be as cordial as possible about this book. Considering the fact that this P.C. Doherty fellow did spend enough time writing it. Although I hated it I don't want anyone to feel discouraged to read it because reading is reading, whether the novel was good or not.
After that being said, I'll now proceed to bash Doherty for his persistant focus on describing the clothing rather than the actual plot. The over use of descriptions of what the characters in the book are wearing, or where they happen to be standing do get rather boring after the first chapter. Expecially considering the bland dialogue between the characters.
The plot in itself was not uniteresting yet it was sloppy. It does hold a sort of suspense for a while, then you turn the page to chapter 3. If this novel was written with more dialogue from each character rather than narrative it would've probably earned more stars and a heck of a lot more of my attention.