The Murder of Tutankhamen: A True Story

Rating:
Summary: Much ado about little evidence
Review: The first thing I have to take exception to is the description of Bob Brier as a "respected Egyptologist". He is not, despite the various blurbs, an actual Egyptologist. Egyptology as a profession usually requires some kind of course of study in Egyptian archaeology, Egyptian art, or Egyptian language and literature. Dr. Brier's degrees are in psychology and parapsychology. Apart from his television shows and popular books, he does not participate in academic conferences or write scholarly articles. Few professors teaching ancient Egyptian history, art, language or archaeology will refer to his works.
However, he is very popular for his folksy style. This book reveals his knack for creating much from little. In this case, rather than writing on the entire history of the Amarna period, Brier has chosen to write an entire book about the supposed murder of Tutankhamen. This book was the first in a series about the topic (the others are "The Mysterious Death of Tutankhamun" by P. C. Doherty and "Who Killed King Tut?: Using Modern Forensics to Solve a 3300-Year-Old Mystery" by Michael R. King, et al) and pretty well set the template for the rest. The problem with this book, and those that follow, is the lack of new evidence and/or direct access to the mummy of Tutankhamen. When Brier wrote this book he was using somewhat old x-rays which revealed a blurry spot on the back of the king's skull. This blob could be interpreted as the result of blunt force trauma. However, more recent x-rays don't show the same detail and any damage to the back of the skull can be explained in various ways, including the fact that the body was dismembered for photographing many years ago and a dowel was forced under the back of the skull to prop it up.

Rating:
Summary: A Great And Informative As Well As Intriguing Work.
Review: "The Murder Of Tutankhamen" is a very well-written book that never bores you and keeps you reading. Brier presents not only the facts and evidence about Tut's murder, but also gives an interesting lesson on Egypt's history and he makes clear how the factors that killed Tut came to be. This is a book that is incredibly packed with information, fatcs, and evidence. It feels more like an exotic detective novel. I was totally thrilled! Never has a book based on fact interested me so much. Books like these should be read in schools and studied by all interested in great, epic history. Brier is a fantastic investigator who puts together a puzzle full of betrayal, intrigue, romance, murder and conspiracy. I was also surprised to find out thing I never imagined, like the murder of the Haitit prince. "The Murder Of Tutankhamen" is a lush, informative work that deserves wonderous praise. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: A Great And Informative As Well As Intriguing Work.
Review: "The Murder Of Tutankhamen" is a very well-written book that never bores you and keeps you reading. Brier presents not only the facts and evidence about Tut's murder, but also gives an interesting lesson on Egypt's history and he makes clear how the factors that killed Tut came to be. This is a book that is incredibly packed with information, fatcs, and evidence. It feels more like an exotic detective novel. I was totally thrilled! Never has a book based on fact interested me so much. Books like these should be read in schools and studied by all interested in great, epic history. Brier is a fantastic investigator who puts together a puzzle full of betrayal, intrigue, romance, murder and conspiracy. I was also surprised to find out thing I never imagined, like the murder of the Haitit prince. "The Murder Of Tutankhamen" is a lush, informative work that deserves wonderous praise. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: A good read with lots of info about royal life at the time
Review: A compulsory case, if one accepts the belief that the skull shows evidence of trauma. Even if this is not true, the book is still packed with info about life and death, traditions and beliefs, and love and intrigue in the royal family. Makes these "name only" individuals come to life in full color. Amazing how much the Egyptologists know about these people from rings, drawings, few writings, and artifacts.

Rating:
Summary: A GREAT Who-Done-It from the past
Review: A very enjoyable book that does not focus on the crime itself of the murder of Tutankhamen, but the facts that surround the event to make the case for the murder of the egyptian king. We also get a good deal of information about life in Egypt and explorers of the past.

Rating:
Summary: Great reading with some interesting theories.
Review: A very interesting theory on the death of Tutankhamun and overall a great summary of the time. I would however query the motive of the supposed murderer although the evidence would appear to point to that person. A good read and thought provoking story.

Rating:
Summary: A book that brings ancient Egypt to life by way of murder.
Review: As a complete amateur, I was thrilled to discover that this book was not only written in such a way that even I could understand it, it also gave me a picture of the history of Egypt before Tutankhamen's time which I wasn't expecting. On the book jacket, I read that I would 'risk coming to care a good deal about the young Pharaoh's fate' and I scoffed. After all, it's history. It's a difficult task to make characters from three thousand years ago live and breathe in the minds of modern youth, but I found myself almost in tears over King Tut and poor Ankhesenamen. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable story. I always find with a really good book, that I rush through the first three quarters because I can't put it down, then slow down to a snails pace for the rest of it because I never want it to end and that's exactly what happened here.

Rating:
Summary: I think Aye done it.
Review: Before reading this book I thought that Horemheb was the guilty party, but after the evidence provided in this book, I feel bad about accusing Mr. Law-and-Order when it seems pretty clear that Aye was the only one who had both the means and the motive. And it took some real nerve to have yourself painted as pharoah on the wall of the poor guy's tomb even before he most likely passed away. I really hate to think what must have happened to Mrs. Tut.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Dynastic Drama
Review: Bob Brier certainly has the credentials and acuumen to investigate the possibile murder of Tutankhamen. The circumstancial evidence is indeed compelling, and his indictment of the supposed perpetrator follows a logical flow of facts gleaned from history and supported by modern medical anayltical techniques. Many unanswered questions remain however. The recovery of the tomb or remains of Ankhesenamun is pivital to solving this ancient mystery. On the whole, I would recommend this book to any interested in Egyptology, especially XVIIIth Dynastic devotees.

Rating:
Summary: A riveting investigation, a fascinating theory
Review: Bob Brier has a remarkable knack for speaking about things such as putrified parts, smashed skulls and mummified babies with a lively detached clinical fascination. It's as entertaining as wathcing The X-Files. Yet Brier also brings to life these human beings from 3,000 years ago with real tenderness and affection. You come to know and care for the family, and to understand why history unfolded as it did. I thought I had read everything there was to read on the subject of King Tut, but I learned much more from Brier's intensive investigation, fueled by insatiable curiosity.