Nefertiti - (Rahotep) by Nick Drake (Paperback)

About the Book

A thrilling novel set in ancient Egypt in which a savvy detective is secretly assigned to unravel the mysterious disappearance of the world's most enigmatic queen.

From the Back Cover

She is Nefertiti--beautiful and revered. With her husband, Akhenaten, she rules over Egypt, the most affluent, formidable, sophisticated empire in the ancient world. But an epic power struggle is afoot, brought on by the royal couple's inauguration of an enlightened new religion and the construction of a magnificent new capital. The priests are stunned by the abrupt forfeiture of their traditional wealth and influence; the people resent the loss of their gods--and the army is enraged by the growing turbulence around them. Then, just days before the festival that will celebrate the new capital, Nefertiti vanishes.

Rahotep, the youngest chief detective in the Thebes division, has earned a reputation for his unorthodox yet effective methods. Entrusted by great Akhenaten himself with a most secret investigation, Rahotep has but ten days to find the missing Queen. If he succeeds, he will bask in the warmth of Akhenaten's favor. But if Rahotep fails, he and his entire family will die.

Review Quotes

"Full of surprises from the very first line. It takes the reader on a spectacular mystery tour through palaces, secret passages, tombs and torture chambers while portraying an Egypt at war with itself...An exciting and atmospheric adventure." - Evening Standard
"[A] richly written and historically intriguing evocation of Ancient Egypt...This a genuinely ripping yarn." - The Times of London
"This debut novel by award-winning poet Drake...begins a proposed Rahotep trilogy with clean, elegant prose and a pervasive aura of suspense." - Kirkus Reviews
"A colorful background will entice readers into the adventures of detective Rai Rahotep, whose beat is ancient Egypt." - Booklist
"[an] excellent mystery debut...Drake displays a great mastery of period detail" - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
[It] is full of surprises and brings a whole new meaning to pyramid selling. - The Evening Standard (London)