‘The Egyptian Antiquities Murder’ by Sara Rosett

Published by McGuffin Ink,
12 April 2019.
ISBN: 978-0-9988431-8-6 (PB)

Sara Rosett is a prolific author. There are seven books in her ‘Murder on Location’ series, six in the ‘On the Run’ series, ten ‘Ellie Avery’ novels and three in the ‘High Society Lady Detective’ series.

 Having read and enjoyed several of Sara’s early novels, I was delighted to review her latest book, The Egyptian Antiquities Murder. As an ardent fan of Elizabeth Peters, 1920s cosy crime novels with an Egyptian background have an added appeal for me. This is the third novel in Sara’s High Society Lady Detective series although Amazon is already taking pre-orders for a fourth – Murder in Black Tie.

Set in 1923, Olive Belgrave is making a name for herself as a detective. She is hired by Lady Agnes Mulvern to investigate the death of her uncle, Lord Mulvern. Lady Agnes refuses to accept the police verdict that he committed suicide despite the note found with his body. Neither does she believe his death has anything to do with the curse of the mummy as the Press are trying to make out. An exhibit of Lord Mulvern’s Egyptian antiquities is scheduled in the near future and Lady Agnes is keen that Olive solve the mystery as soon as possible to enable the planned event to go ahead.

Olive quickly decides that Lord Mulvern was murdered but tracking down the murderer becomes trickier when Lady Agnes decides to take Olive off the case in order to prevent further family secrets from being exposed.

I enjoyed the book immensely. The historical background is finely balanced – enough to set the scene and satisfy the reader’s interest in a fascinating period but not too much to slow down the pace. There are plenty of red herrings and twists and turns to keep the pages turning. The characters are engaging and well rounded. Sara Rosett has a light touch and the gentle humour is never so bland as to deprive the novel of moments of high tension. A true ‘good read’ that I have no hesitation in recommending.

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Reviewer: Judith Cranswick

Sara Rosett was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas and has always loved to curl up with a good book. The recipient of several scholarships, Sara attended Amarillo College. In 1989, she was named the Outstanding English Major. Sara completed her English degree at Texas Tech University, graduating summa cum laude. Her marriage to an Air Force pilot has taken her to central and southern California, Texas, Washington state, Alabama, Oklahoma, Geo rgia, and Maryland. Sara has worked as a credit processor, a staff reporter for two Air Force base newspapers, and a researcher and writer for the Citizen Ambassador Program of People to People International. She and her family have moved over ten times--giving her plenty of expertise to write the Mom Zone mysteries.

https://www.sararosett.com/

Judith Cranswick was born and brought up in Norwich. She wrote her first novel (now languishing in the back of a drawer somewhere) when her two children were toddlers, but there was little time for writing when she returned to work teaching Geography in a large comprehensive. It was only after leaving her headship that she was able to take up writing again in earnest. Judith teaches Tai Chi, and line dancing, yoga, Pilates and Zumba. Her other hobbies include reading and travelling. She is lucky enough to be a cruise lecturer. You can read some of her adventures – the Ups and Downs of Being a Cruise Lecturer on her September 2014 blog on her home page. Judith’s latest book is Blood Flows South to read a review click on the title

http://judithcranswick.co.uk/