Fiona Davis invites readers to tour The Met Museum and Egypt in her latest!
Fiona Davis is one of my favorite historical fiction writers. I love her books, and this is another fantastic read!
Davis sets her books in iconic buildings in NYC, bringing beautiful landmarks to life. This time, it's The Met Museum, where Davis paints a richly atmospheric portrait behind the scenes at the museum. But she also takes us to Egypt and mixes in archaeology, missing artifacts, mystery, friendship, loss, and personal tragedy. The story has a lot of interesting historical details surrounding antiquities and women breaking into the field of archaeology.
We meet anthropology student Charlotte, who, in 1936, achieved her dream of joining an archeological dig, but tragedy sends her back home to New York. In 1970, working at The Met, her path crosses with 18-year-old Annie, who is helping organize The Met Gala. During the Gala, a valuable Egyptian artifact is stolen, and the two work together to try to retrieve it. The investigation will take them to Egypt, where Charlotte will face her painful past.
Both timelines are compelling, and I felt immersed in time and place. The characters are memorable and vividly depicted, especially the two strong female protagonists, Charlotte and Annie. I love reading about inter-generational friendships, and theirs was endearing. Supporting character Diana Vreeland, who was a real-life Vogue editor and columnist, leaps off the page in her fun cameo scenes. The mystery was intriguing, and I was invested in both the plot and the characters.
Linda Jones does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook! She brought the different characters, sights, and sounds to life. Her voice is easy to listen to, and I chose the audio version frequently, particularly as the action ramped up. Very entertaining!
Thank you to Dutton Books, Penguin Random House Audio, and Netgalley for the gifted book and audiobook!
My steep was Caramel Rose Black Tea from Harney & Sons
PUBLISHER'S SYNOPSIS
From New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis, an utterly addictive new novel that will transport you from New York City’s most glamorous party to the labyrinth streets of Cairo and back.
Egypt, 1936: When anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, she leaps at the opportunity. That is until an unbearable tragedy strikes.
New York City, 1978: Nineteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the “party of the year.”
Meanwhile, Charlotte is now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met’s celebrated Department of Egyptian Art. She’s consumed by her research on Hathorkare—a rare female pharaoh dismissed by most other Egyptologists as unimportant.
The night of the gala: One of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing, and there are signs Hathorkare’s legendary curse might be reawakening. Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, and a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo to one place Charlotte swore she’d never return: Egypt. But if they have any hope of finding the artifact, Charlotte will need to confront the demons of her past—which may mean leading them both directly into danger.
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