Book Review: The Eye of Horus

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Eye of Horus     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Carol Thurston
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical   Archaeology   Amateur Sleuth   Forensics
Morrow, Aug 2000, $24.00, 388 pp.

In 1359 BC in only the second year in the reign of Tut, former Queen Nefertiti gives birth to a girl. The father is Ramose, a powerful priest soon to become high priest of Amon. With that type of heritage, one would expect a silver spoon existence, but instead the child even as an adult struggles to survive the political backstabbing at the Pharaoh’s court. She reluctantly trusts only her physician husband.

In modern Denver, medical illustrator Kate McKinnon uncovers a puzzler involving a mummy Tashat. X-rays reveal that inside the wrappings exist a young woman with broken bones and the skull of a male between her legs. No known mummy contained body parts from two people. Accompanied by her radiologist Max Cavanaugh, Kate tries to unravel a mystery over three thousand years old.

THE EYE OF HORUS is an extraordinary mystery that keeps the audience riveted on what happened in the past and what is happening in the present. The dual plots intertwine as the past and present rotate chapters until they converge in the brilliant climax. The stories contain parallel paths and characters as modern forensic science uncovers a crime from Ancient Egypt. Carol Thurston has written a great what happened mystery that combines historical elements with contemporary forensic science. Egyptologists and amateur sleuth fans will devour this tale that spans the millenniums and demand sequels.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner