Drinker of Blood

Rating:
Summary: A mystic trip into the court of the "Boy King" Tutankhamun
Review: I thought that this wonderful novel by Lynda Robinson was the greatest of the Lord Meren series. She has taken us back into an era long since gone, but not forgotten. At least by those of us who cherish any insight into Ancient Egypt. I felt as if I was right in the middle of the royal court in Thebes, looking at the "Living God" and all the courtiers. I found her re-use of characters from the previous novels most refreshing. It made me go back and read those books again just to make sure I missed nothing. I have studied Ancient Egypt since I saw King Tutankhamun's treasure in New York City in 1978 and I was 8 years old. I'll never be able to forget what I saw at that exhibit and Lynda Robinson has helped me relive it again through her very descriptive plot lines. I can not wait for the next Lord Meren book to come out, as I look forward to all the plot turns and twists.

Rating:
Summary: The weakest of the series
Review: I'm an avid Lord Meren fan, but this book is definitely the worst of the series. The book started out slowly, and I had to force myself through the first 100 pages. Also, I didn't like the narrative device of switching between the past and the present. It was too difficult to follow. The book had a great ending, and I find myself waiting for the next in the series, but I hope it is more compelling than "Drinker of Blood."

Rating:
Summary: Robinson makes us feel Ancient Egypt
Review: In ancient Egypt, the Eyes and Ears of Pharaoh, Lord Meren, begins to investigate who murdered Queen Nefertiti. Meren, a close friend and advisor to King Tutankhamun knows that Nefertiti was poisoned, but who would do this dastardly deed to the very popular queen? To find out, Meren needs to keep this investigation quiet as he stealthily searches for clues.

Based on information he receives from a pirate, Meren hones in on three suspects: Dilalu the horse breeder, Tamen the soldier, and Zulaya the merchant. Clues lead no where and witnesses die before Meren can obtain what they know. Worse yet, his efforts to secretly uncover the killer leads to Tut questioning his friend's behavior and ultimately his loyalty. Soon, Meren finds himself seeking out the villain who has set him up for the crime of treason, forcing his other investigation to be placed on hold.

DRINKER OF BLOOD, the fifth novel in the Lord Meren ancient historical mysteries, is a great who-done-it that ingeniously brings to life Egypt during the reigns of Akhentaten (via flashbacks) and Tut. The story line is vivid and wonderful as Lynda S. Robinson displays her incredible talent to paint ancient Egypt as if the reader was on a visit. All the characters are warm and remain fresh. This series continues to be one of the best historical mystery collections on the market today and worth reading the back issues.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Nefertiti - Mudered?
Review: Lord Meren has always been suspicious about the deaths of the Pharoah Akhenaten and The Great Royal Wife, Nefertiti. He becomes convinced that Nefertitis death was caused by ingestion of poison, not the plague as originally assumed. Her death occurred years before, and the killer has had some time to cover their tracks. Meren must dig deep to find the real cause of Nefertitis death.

The killer becomes aware of Merens inquiries, and makes a bold move. King Tutankhamun is attacked and Meren is suspected of the crime. As a reader, this is the weak spot in the plot for me. After years of loyal service, one would think Meren was beyond reproach, and the King would insist on his innocence. Perhaps Robinson is making a statement about Tutankhamuns youth and immaturity, or that rulers can truly trust no one.

Robinson takes a different path with this novel, alternating between time periods with each chapter. We learn a great deal more about the reign of Ahkenaten and Nefertiti. What happened in their time is so important, as it sets the stage for the motivation behind Meren and King Tutankhamuns actions in the three previous novels.

I am especially excited about the manner Robinson portrays Queen Nefertiti. She was queen in name and in fact - she took on many royal tasks that Akhenaten found distasteful or difficult. His reign might have been even more disastrous if it were not for her influence on the king, and her diplomacy in politics and religion.

Rating:
Summary: Robinson takes the 'fifth' in her latest Meren mystery!
Review: Lynda S. Robinson continues her Lord Meren series, this is thefifth episode, in which the "eyes and ears of Pharaoh" seeks themurderer of Queen Nefertiti.

And while each installment is superblywritten and enthralling, it is high time we find out WHO DID IT! How long can an author keep this thing going!

In "Drinker of Blood," we seem to move one step closer--actually, I thought we were going to see this revelation!--to a solution. It appears the villain has been narrowed down to three, but still the suspense lingers on. And as "Drinker of Blood" was published in 1998, will there be another episode? Let's hope so.

That being said, Dr. Robinson's research and knowledge of the Amarna period is well documented. She is able to carry us on her literary barge with sufficient interest as she continues to explore all the possibilities of the Queen's death. There are enough enemies about--and Meren is not always certain as to who is who!--that he must tread carefully. Meren's investigations seem thwarted at every move. However, he feels he is making some progress and this frightens his enemies. And such enemies abound that early on, Meren is framed for an assault on the young King Tutankhaten and is on the run for his very life. Fortunately, he has the loyalty and love of his family, especially his adopted son Kysen and daughter Bener; together they work diligently to assist Meren.

Needless to say, Meren is redeemed before the book is finished and his relationship with the young Pharaoh seems cemented once again. Now, the responsibility is placed upon the author's shoulders. It is she who must enlighten us and we await eagerly her next episode, which, perhaps, will present us with the real culprit.

([e-mail]) END

Rating:
Summary: A Good Book (Ms.Hall)
Review: The mystery novel Drinker of Blood by Lynda S Robinson has many fine qualties although the confusing story line is hard to follow. The nove takes place in acient egypt, laws are scarcely inforced and the kings power is absolute. The main character, Loard Meren, is investiagating the death of Nefertiti. This is one of the reasons why this book is so hard to follow. In one chapter Nefertiti is alive and in the next she is dead. Another case is when in one chapter she is a child and in the next Meren is investigating her death.
As the nove continuse it actually becomes quite enjoyable. Meren is framed in the process of his investigation. He must now find the drinker of blood while he is hiding from the kings guards. Through the novel there are twists backstabs and betryals. The climax is left to the end keeping you guessing.
I would recomend this book to anyone with an adventurious mind and the curiosity to solve crimes. If you are looking for a book to stimulate the mind and keep you searching for answers, this is you book. I have enjoyed this book and i am sure that anyone with a love for reading and an intrest in suspence novels will feel the same. Being one of the best mystery novels I have ever read it gets my vote for a great book to read.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Book (Ms.Hall)
Review: The mystery novel Drinker of Blood by Lynda S Robinson has many fine qualties although the confusing story line is hard to follow. The nove takes place in acient egypt, laws are scarcely inforced and the kings power is absolute. The main character, Loard Meren, is investiagating the death of Nefertiti. This is one of the reasons why this book is so hard to follow. In one chapter Nefertiti is alive and in the next she is dead. Another case is when in one chapter she is a child and in the next Meren is investigating her death.
As the nove continuse it actually becomes quite enjoyable. Meren is framed in the process of his investigation. He must now find the drinker of blood while he is hiding from the kings guards. Through the novel there are twists backstabs and betryals. The climax is left to the end keeping you guessing.
I would recomend this book to anyone with an adventurious mind and the curiosity to solve crimes. If you are looking for a book to stimulate the mind and keep you searching for answers, this is you book. I have enjoyed this book and i am sure that anyone with a love for reading and an intrest in suspence novels will feel the same. Being one of the best mystery novels I have ever read it gets my vote for a great book to read.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Egyptian Mystery
Review: This book is wonderful. I have been fascinated with Ancient Egypt for a long time and this book was great! Lord Meren, his son Kysen, and all the other characters are believable. The action is very quick and exciting; the switches between The Heretic's reign and that of Pharaoh Tuntankhamun are well placed. 5 stars for this book!

Rating:
Summary: I wasn't impressed!
Review: This picks up the inquiry begun at the end of MURDER AT THE FEAST OF REJOICING, for which groundwork was laid in EATER OF SOULS. The title comes from Kysen's observation on the nature of the quarry, as lead after lead is snuffed by the murder of witnesses. The conclusion is in the next book, SLAYER OF GODS. I'll be assuming for the rest of this review that the reader already knows the series characters and the long-term investigation being pursued by Lord Meren, the Eyes and Ears of Pharaoh, and his adopted son Kysen.

The first Meren novel to be told in a non-linear braided format, the first thread of the narrative follows Nefertiti, beginning on the day in the reign of Amunhotep the Magnificent that Pharaoh and Queen Tiye selected this minor princess to be groomed as the consort of Pharaoh's weird younger son: Akhenaten. Almost supernaturally ugly himself, Akhenaten's appreciation for Nefertiti's beauty is one of the few normal facets of his character. Scorned by his father in favor of his older, more satisfactory brother Thutmose, Akhenaten turned to religion and theology; Egypt was to reap the harvest of Amunhotep's neglect when Thutmose's sudden death marked Akhenaten as the next pharaoh - a heretic who believed in only one member of Egypt's pantheon of gods, despite the power of the priesthoods and their pivotal role in Egypt's economy.

The second thread follows Meren's 'present', in year 5 of the reign of Tutankamun, Akhenaten's youngest brother - so much younger that he remembers Akhenaten only as a kindly, if distant, guardian. However, Tutankamun adored Nefertiti - and Meren, having seen enough damage done to the country, is protecting him from the knowledge that his beloved foster mother was murdered. If nothing else, the stability of Nefertiti's father, the vizier Ay, must not be risked in the face of an impending war with Hatti. His excuses having finally run out, Meren must finally take the king on a raid, letting him gain battlefield experience against bandits before he must face Hittite armies.

Not knowing that he's diverting resources from a far deeper inquiry, the king (who finds Meren's investigations a fascinating diversion) assigns Meren an unrelated task: to investigate the death of Bahkt: a minor royal guard, to be sure, but one who always had fascinating stories for a boy prince. Tutankamun knows that Bahkt *hated* baboons, and doesn't believe he'd accidentally fall into their cage in the royal menagerie. Meren's distraction from the king's tasks draws the wrong sort of attention...

Kysen's criminal informants in the Caverns - the slum around the Memphis docks - are deployed: Tcha the housebreaker is happy to be *ordered* to rob a merchant's house in search of information - but less than happy to find that the suspect has 8 Nubian guards, being a clandestine arms dealer. :) Examination of the government's accounts on another suspect reveals a pattern suggesting corrupt manipulation of foreign aid. (The equivalent, anyway - financial aid from pharaoh to a vassal state.)

The Nefertiti narrative isn't a mystery at all, but an unfolding tragedy - the wonder isn't that Nefertiti was murdered, but that *any* of her family - or the country - survived Akhenaten's reign. The 'present' narrative, following Meren, is a suspense story studded with some investigative trappings. Evidence *is* being presented fairly to the reader, but the manner of presentation isn't that of a normal investigation. For those reasons, the book isn't as appealing as its predecessors - not a nice, detached investigation. The feel is more like that of MURDER AT THE GOD'S GATE than the other books.

Rating:
Summary: Dead men tell no tales
Review: This picks up the inquiry begun at the end of _Murder at the Feast of Rejoicing_, for which groundwork was laid in _Eater of Souls_. The title comes from Kysen's observation on the nature of the quarry, as lead after lead is snuffed by the murder of witnesses. The conclusion is in the next book, _Slayer of Gods_. I'll be assuming for the rest of this review that the reader already knows the series characters and the long-term investigation being pursued by Lord Meren, the Eyes and Ears of Pharaoh, and his adopted son Kysen.

The first Meren novel to be told in a non-linear braided format, the first thread of the narrative follows Nefertiti, beginning on the day in the reign of Amunhotep the Magnificent that Pharaoh and Queen Tiye selected this minor princess to be groomed as the consort of Pharaoh's weird younger son: Akhenaten. Almost supernaturally ugly himself, Akhenaten's appreciation for Nefertiti's beauty is one of the few normal facets of his character. Scorned by his father in favor of his older, more satisfactory brother Thutmose, Akhenaten turned to religion and theology; Egypt was to reap the harvest of Amunhotep's neglect when Thutmose's sudden death marked Akhenaten as the next pharaoh - a heretic who believed in only one member of Egypt's pantheon of gods, despite the power of the priesthoods and their pivotal role in Egypt's economy.

The second thread follows Meren's 'present', in year 5 of the reign of Tutankamun, Akhenaten's youngest brother - so much younger that he remembers Akhenaten only as a kindly, if distant, guardian. However, Tutankamun adored Nefertiti - and Meren, having seen enough damage done to the country, is protecting him from the knowledge that his beloved foster mother was murdered. If nothing else, the stability of Nefertiti's father, the vizier Ay, must not be risked in the face of an impending war with Hatti. His excuses having finally run out, Meren must finally take the king on a raid, letting him gain battlefield experience against bandits before he must face Hittite armies.

Not knowing that he's diverting resources from a far deeper inquiry, the king (who finds Meren's investigations a fascinating diversion) assigns Meren an unrelated task: to investigate the death of Bahkt: a minor royal guard, to be sure, but one who always had fascinating stories for a boy prince. Tutankamun knows that Bahkt *hated* baboons, and doesn't believe he'd accidentally fall into their cage in the royal menagerie. Meren's distraction from the king's tasks draws the wrong sort of attention...

Kysen's criminal informants in the Caverns - the slum around the Memphis docks - are deployed: Tcha the housebreaker is happy to be *ordered* to rob a merchant's house in search of information - but less than happy to find that the suspect has 8 Nubian guards, being a clandestine arms dealer. :) Examination of the government's accounts on another suspect reveals a pattern suggesting corrupt manipulation of foreign aid. (The equivalent, anyway - financial aid from pharaoh to a vassal state.)

The Nefertiti narrative isn't a mystery at all, but an unfolding tragedy - the wonder isn't that Nefertiti was murdered, but that *any* of her family - or the country - survived Akhenaten's reign. The 'present' narrative, following Meren, is a suspense story studded with some investigative trappings. Evidence *is* being presented fairly to the reader, but the manner of presentation isn't that of a normal investigation. For those reasons, the book isn't as appealing as its predecessors - not a nice, detached investigation. The feel is more like that of _Murder at the God's Gate_ than the other books.