Murder in the Place of Anubis

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Summary: a thrilling historical mystery
Review: This series is excellent. I'm a huge fan of mysteries and ancient Egypt, so I was delighted to find this book. Her character development, literary style, and plotlines are superb. I truly enjoyed this book, and the others. I hope she writes many more.

Rating:
Summary: Wow! What a story!
Review: This was the first real historical mystery I have ever read and I must say that I am now hooked! I also liked the fact that Ms. Robinson dosen't kill us with the historical facts of the crazy Pharaoh Akhenaten and his "untimely death" and the struggle for controll with Tut. She does a wonderfull job of keeping these facts in the story but at the same time moves on with the mystery. Kept me guessing till the end.

Rating:
Summary: Historical Mystery with A Wonderful Background
Review: What a wonderful vacation read. I've read and enjoyed historical mysteries, but the vast majority seem to be stuck in Middle Ages Europe. Although Christie had done an Egyptian mystery, it was written in the 40s. Now Ms Robinson comes along with a series set in the reign of young King Tut. Due to the upheavals caused by Pharoah Ankhnetan (spelling?) turning to a new religion, the court atmosphere is one of intrigue as the ancient priests re-assert their power. The 'detective' Lord Meren is a man who was tortured and forced to admit allegiance to the god Aton and now wears a brand with the sun god's symbol. Meren and his son are called in by the pharoah to solve a murder in the Place of Anubis, where the dead are sent for mummification. Robinson does an excellent job of conveying the atmosphere without slipping into anachronism. All in all, an excellent book for fans of the historical mystery looking to get out of the Middle Ages.

Rating:
Summary: Trite, trite, trite!
Review: With all due respect to those who have reviewed this book favorably, I was greatly disappointed. The characters are flat and predictable, almost caracatures. How many times do hysterical woman have to throw around pottery? The plot is pretty good, but is also predictable--I figured out most of it half way through. The final scene was almost gratuitous as well as being poorly set up. Even historically it seems questionable--most sources I know would not place the famous letter to the Hittite king during Tutahnkaman's reign. The more logical place for this event is after Tutahnkaman's death when the now twice widowed queen would be faced with a marriage to non-royalty (presumably Ay or Horemheb).