Grace and Freddie are back with more mysteries to solve!  This time they made a side trip to Cairo before going on their honeymoon, and once again they find their sleuthing skills are put to the test.  Good thing Grace packed her detective book!

Reading The Cairo Curse was a bit like riding the tallest roller coaster at an amusement park.  Pepper Basham methodically laid the framework for this mystery like the "click, click, click" of the coaster as it reaches the summit of the first death defying drop.  Then, hold on tight because from there the danger, mishaps and mayhem never stop! 

There were a lot of new characters that were introduced early on,  it took me a few chapters before I could keep them straight.  Grace Percy is still Grace.  Full of whimsy and loveliness.  You can't help but love her sweet fiction loving character as she is always running to the aid of others and testing the fortitude of her husband's heart!

The Cairo Curse could be read as a stand alone, but I think you would enjoy it more if you read The Mistletoe Countess first.  Of the two, The Mistletoe Countess is my favorite.  If you are looking for a fun, light hearted mystery with a faith based message then this book/series is for you!

Thank you Pepper Basham, Barbour Books and Net Galley for the free DRC of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

What a fun follow-up to The Mistletoe Countess!
This book starts a couple of weeks after The Mistletoe Countess ends. Freddy and Grace are ready for a honeymoon and Freddy surprises her with a trip to Egypt to visit a dear family member before they make their way to Italy. What ensues is typical of Grace and Freddy’s first adventure together – only this time add in mummies, jewellery thefts, murder, kidnapping and Grace’s witty personality.
Readers who loved the first book will certainly enjoy the continuing story. Family secrets, intrigue and adventure. Familiar characters from book one make appearances and readers get to learn more about these people.
Vivid descriptions help the reader “see and smell” Cairo as characters run through the marketplace and explore the pyramids. A great cast of new characters make figuring out the mystery a challenge.
This can be read as a standalone, however I highly recommend reading The Mistletoe Countess first in order to understand Grace better and her relationship with Freddy.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Cairo Curse is the second book in the Frederick & Grace Mysteries series by Pepper Basham. The adventures started from the get-go and didn't let up until the last page. The same goes for the romance and what a sweet romance it is. The main heroine, Grace, is an exceptional character that the author really brought to life. From the exotic location of Cairo to The Great Pyramids of Giza, the story allows the reader to escape into a world of lavish opulence, interrupted by jewel thieves, tomb robbers and a murder. Possibly more. No spoilers here. I had not read the first book, The Mistletoe Countess, before reading this one but now I'm determined to snatch it up ASAP.

This was such a fun read! It's the first Pepper Basham book for me, so I could tell that there was back story from previous books that I was missing. That being said, I loved the blend of mystery, suspense, and romance! It was so fun getting to know Frederick and Grace's characters. I will definitely be checking out the other books in the series.

The Cairo Curse is another fun, lighthearted mystery from Pepper Basham who has created some endearing characters in Frederick, Grace and Elliott too. The storyline for this second book in the Frederick and Grace Mystery series moves along quickly and kept me wanting to turn pages to follow the next unpredictable and oft times humorous, sticky situation Grace finds herself in and/or Frederick must rescue her from. The book is an easy, fun read. I hope we’ll see more books in this highly enjoyable series.

Oh, it's so good to reunite with this adventurous couple from The Mistletoe Countess. Now newlyweds, Frederick and Grace are invited on an unexpected detour before the honeymoon. Mysteries, danger, intrigue and comical situations abound in The Cairo Curse. Expertly crafted, there are strong themes of mercy, grace, redemption and forgiveness.

Reminiscent of the ground-breaking works of suspense queen Agatha Christie, readers will delight in Pepper Basham's offering. I eagerly await more journeys with Lord and Lady Astley.

This book is a solid stand-alone, yet readers will enjoy the backstory in Mistletoe Countless if desired.

I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.

Freddie and Grace (Lord and Lady Astley) are two of my favorite characters in all of fiction. Pepper Basham has done it again, creating an awesome adventure in Cairo. I loved the setting of abandoned tombs. The description of the social rankings in 1900 Cairo were fascinating. Pepper's dedication to detail make reading her her books delightful.

So brew up some chai tea to enjoy while you read The Cairo Curse!

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

I was hooked from the start of this delightful story as the author brings readers to 1914, Havenbrook. “Gunfire erupted from outside, sending Frederick Percy, Earl of Ashley, leaping from his chair.”

The fun doesn’t stop there. Frederick and Grace Percy set out on a grand adventure to Egypt. Frederick loved watching his lovely bride and listening to all the things that excited her. One of the thrilling events she looked forward to was going into one of the tombs. This was a dream come true, that is until trouble erupted.

Grace made a list to show her husband, “a series of events that had all transpired within an hour, and Grace was certain she had many more hours to wait for Frederick’s return.” One could only imagine how long her list would be then.

Here’s a peek at Grace’s list. 1. Possible Crimes, 2. A Murder, 3 Attempted murder, 4 Disappearance, 5. Mysterious tomb, 6. Missing jewelry. The list was getting long….“A few more crimes were involved than she was used to reading about in books, but she preferred rising to a challenge instead of being undervalued.”

I adored this couple, the way Grace Percy views life and how much she loved fiction. This novel is the second book in the series. I didn’t read the first novel and I didn’t feel lost. I will be reading book one, The Mistletoe Countess, because I’m curious about how these two met and married.

I loved going on this exhilarating adventure that leads to the tombs and all the above on Grace’s list. All the clues lead up a climatic, satisfying ending as readers learn about the answer to this remarkable mystery. This is a great escape and one that is perfect for a book club pick.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

The Cairo Curse
by Pepper Basham
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2023
Barbour
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
The Cairo’s Curse is a delightful sequel to The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham in the Freddie and Grace Mystery series.
In the second installment in Grace and Frederick's amazing adventures, I felt like I had been transported around the globe to England and then Egypt.
I highly recommend this book! I enjoyed every page! Readers of Agatha Christie-type stories would enjoy this book.
5 stars

It was a lovely story about Fredrick and Grace as they continue from The Mistletoe Countess, It was intriguing and humourous.
It flowed well and you could imagine being in Cairo and experiencing it.
Pepper is a great author and loking forward to the next book!

More Freddie and Grace! Another delightful, lighthearted and fun read. Pepper Basham's characters are always loveable with laugh-out-loud moments and sweet, tender romance. I has great fun reading about these characters again.

Archeology and Mummies and Mysteries Oh My! Looking for a archeology/treasure hunting adventure? Look no further! The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham is astounding and I can't get enough, it's quickly becoming one of my favorite series and definitely my favorite in the Indiana Jones genre! Get yours today!

While I enjoyed this book and revisiting these favorite characters, for some reason, this book wasn't quite as good for me as the first one. The best part was Fredrick's valet's storyline, and it was thoroughly enjoyable! He reminds me so much of Elliot from the TV show Leverage. I will definitely happily enjoy further installments of Fredrick and Grace's adventures so even though I didn't love this one quite as much as the first, it was still lots of fun and worth the read.

I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from NetGalley.

WE LOVE PEPPER BASHAM! Yes, we do! I loved this couple in the Mistletoe Countess and now to get to go along with them on another mystery/adventure/shenanigans? Um, yes please! They are adorable and hilarious, and the mystery is just enough to keep you wondering but not so much that it scares you and keeps you up at night. I hope this series continues and they solve mysteries across the globe!

When I first met Freddie and Grace, Lord and Lady Ashley, in The Mistletoe Countess, I knew I wanted more of them. Well, Pepper Basham has indeed given me more. Their adventures are absolutely grand. Off on their way to a belated honeymoon, Freddie and Grace are set to spend sone time in Egypt. You know that pyramids, old pharaohs and antiquities are just fascinating. And throw in some nefarious (Grace lives that word!) goings on and even worse, Grace is determined to use her sleuthing skills to discover what is going on. And she has been teaching Freddie some of those skills. And let’s not forget that wonderful valet, Elliott.

I loved the previous book so much that I have read it twice and will again. Grace is a most delightful character and I love how much in love she and her new husband are. I am already hankering for another one in this series. Well done!!

My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion here is my own.

Cairo Curse is a great read. I thought with the title it might he a little dark but not all. Lady Astley is very unconventional and keeps things hopping right along in unexpected and sometimes amusing ways as she gets herself and her husband involved in a mystery in Egypt. There are a lot of suspects or is it really a curse from the dead? It is difficult to know who can ge trusted as they explore the ancient tombs and perhaps discover a deeper mystery among them. This a great, busy novel that will keep the reader enthralled by all the mysterious happenings. I enjoyed all the characters and the logical conclusion. It was impossible to tell who was to be trusted throughout the story; great writing. I give it 5 stars, I enjoyed the adventure!

I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

#TheCairoCurse #NetGalley

I enjoyed the Mistletoe Countess so much, and to have the story continue in the Cario Curse, was a bonus.
Grace, is an optomist and looks for solutions, her character is so enduring. Grace and Freddie together are unstoppable. Off on their honeymoon in Egypt, where of course, danger finds them at every turn. There's some sound advice from Grace, I just love her character.

The Cairo Curse was so much fun! I didn't realize it was book 2 when I started, but there was enough backstory references without overwhelming the current story, that I wasn't lost or bored at all. I will be going back and reading book one asap.

The fun loving and curious American turned British Countess, off on an adventure in Egypt, loaded with mystery and a bit of danger.

But the amount of wisdom packed in between the laughs and suspense is impressive.

"Perhaps Frederick and Grace had come to Egypt on a whim, but just as Frederick had been learning since Grace entered his life, God meant their plans as something very different indeed."

"Lord Astley may have cleaned up Elliott’s cuts and set him right with upstanding employment, but Christ had gone to Elliott’s heart. He’d cleaned up the sin stains and set Elliott’s broken life right before a holy God."

I received a copy of this book from #Netgalley, and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

“I would make certain to live each
moment then,” the woman in the pith hat said, her large brown eyes holding Grace’s gaze. “Especially in Egypt. Nothing is ever certain here.”
What sage advice! A brief honeymoon detour to see twin cousins turns dangerous as Grace and Freddie become entangled in some questionable archeological ventures. No one is exactly who they seem, and very soon, the body count begins to grow. I was a bit put off by all the violence in this adventure, plus the obvious unhappiness that seemed to permeate the whole Egyptian party. Grace alone remained her imperturbable self, and Freddie’s love for her and their fairytale marriage was the only lifeline I could see leading to a happy ending. I confess I liked the first book in this series a bit better; maybe a third book in this interesting series will recover some of the endearing playfulness and fiction memes that made Lord and Lady Ashley so fun? Several loose ends make me eager to see how life at Havensbrook changes the next time I visit! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was not required to post a review.

I enjoyed The Mistletoe Countess, so I was excited to read another installment of Fredrick & Grace mysteries. This time, Fredrick and Grace are off to exotic Egypt for a wedding trip. Troubling events begin as they’re visiting an archeological site.

This book was a slow start for me, but the action picked up and trouble started happening left and right. This was a fun story, and I enjoyed the adventure. I like Grace’s fun, whimsical personality, but she sometimes borders too close to juvenile. Other than that, it was a good read.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion .