A rather unusual and interesting story about a researcher of egyptology and a young woman trying to succeed in the world of ancient things. They meet at the Met. The stolen queen turns out to be a small statue of a misunderstood Queen of Egypt many millenia ago. Meanwhile, we learn that Charlotte lost her husband and baby during an ill advised flight from Egypt decades ago.
The story moves at a nice pace. The ending is surprising. I really enjoyed this book. Fiola Davis is a favorite author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC e-copy of The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis. Everyone knows that I love this author, so I was ecstatic to be approved for the ARC of her latest venture.

Part Egyptian art heist thriller and part “The Devil Wears Prada,” this dual-timeline novel follows two women—Charlotte and Annie—and explores how an ancient Egyptian Queen briefly, yet fatefully, intertwines their lives. At its heart a story of mothers and daughters and the complicated relationships that blossom between them, “The Stolen Queen” is feminist, action-packed, and eye-opening.

I enjoyed most of this book, until the end, when the final plot twists were explained rather than shown. Despite that gripe, though, I was pleased that the story never dragged unecessarily, and that there was always something interesting happening, enough to make me want to read on.

Fans of Fiona Davis will find two more complicated, flawed, and realistic female leads to love in this novel. Like always, it’s impossible not to root for them all the way up until the ultimate resolution—which, like always, made me cry.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ - GREAT

CW: drug use, overdose, period sexism and racism, tragic death, violence

Why has it taken me so long to read another book by Fiona Davis? I started with her debut, "The Dollhouse", and read another but had not picked anything up by her in quite a few years. This one did not disappoint. I love the characters evolution and experiences in two timelines. This is a great tale with a lot of passion and just the right amount of mystery.

If you love Egyptian history, mummies, legendary curses, The Met, Met Gala, stories about stolen art, and learning about the inner workings of a museum, you have to pre-order this one! It comes out Jan 7!!! Because friends, this book is phenomenal!

Lovers of both historical fiction and mystery will eat this book up!! Fans of Fiona Davis will not be disappointed with this one. In fact, I think this is my new favorite of hers!! Every page is just chef’s kiss!! Her writing is so good here!!

If you’re new to Fiona Davis and would want to try her out (you definitely should), she writes stories highlighting a specific NYC landmark, for this book she chose The Met. So museum and art lovers, this is honestly for you!!

Okay, the plot. I suggest going in blind, really. But here it is if you want a plot:
1. Charlotte, an archaeologist and our main lead gets invited to a “dig” in Egypt in the 1930s. Lots of fun stuff will happen here so I dont want to spoil you lol
2. Some tragedy happened on her way back to New York that will haunt her forever
3. Fast forward to 1978, She becomes a curator for The Met where she meets Annie, a newly hired assistant for the Vogue fashion editor
4. A heist will happen at The Met Gala
5. The two women go on a trip to Egypt to solve the mystery of the stolen art
Phew. It’s hard to summarize a plot without giving anything away 😂

Seriously friends, read this one! You would love it!!!

Thank you @duttonbooks for sending me a copy!! ❤️

💭 Have you been to The Met?
☕️ I am horrified of museums so even if I walked by The Met a couple of times already, Ive never been inside it. But reading this book made me so curious about what’s inside so I did a Youtube walkthrough. Still a terrifying experience but worth it 😂

Fans of Davis know that she's got a real knack for historical fiction and this latest is no exception. She brings to life Charlotte and Annie and moves between 1936 and 1978 to tell a fascinating tale of Egypt, love, and determination. Charlotte in 1936 was the only woman on a dig in Egypt-and she's the one to find a previously unexplored tomb. She also found love with Harry and they shared in the success of her find and their lives. But then....flash forward to 1978 and she's working as a curator at the Metropolitan Museum and prepping for the King Tut exhibit at the same time that young Annie is working for Diana Vreeland who is prepping for the Met gala. The night of the gala - no spoilers- but Charlotte and Annie find themselves on a quest which has some major twists. This has all the atmospherics of both time frames (I loved the sections behind the scenes at the museum as much as those in Egypt) and two terrific characters. Best of all, though is Davis' storytelling which made this a real page turner for me. Thanks to the publisher for the ArC. This is a terrific read.

Crossing continents, decades, and perspectives, The Stolen Queen transposes readers to the world of Egyptian artifacts. The story alternates between Charlotte Cross’ life in Egypt in 1936 as a college-student participating in an archaeological dig. When she simultaneously falls in love and makes an incredible discovery, the trajectory of her life is forever altered. Fast forward to 1978, Cross is an associate curator at the Met and encounters Annie Jenkins, a young museum assistant. When a favorite museum piece is stolen, Jenkins and Cross must work together to track it down while digging up a tragic and concealed part of Cross’ past. The Stolen Queen was an entertaining and quick read for me. I was intrigued by the mystery and enjoyed the setting. I highly recommend it to those interested in the workings of museums, whodunits, and stories of loss and finding one’s identity.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Fiona Davis’ The Stolen Queen.

A huge thanks to Dutton for an advanced copy of The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis. I'm a huge Fiona Davis fan and her historical fiction books are always my favorite. I love that she sets her books at iconic NYC locations and the Met is the inspiration for this amazing book!

I loved that this was a dual timeline in 1936 Egypt and 1978 NYC - and that the main character Charlotte was in both times, so we were getting her past on her first archeological dig in Egypt along with the 1978 timeline when she is the associate curator at the Met's Department of Egyptian Art. Annie in the more modern timeline was a great addition and I loved the Met Gala aspect that really set up the more mystery part of the book. They were such an unlikely duo, but they really were a great team.

While Egypt isn't a go-to of mine usually, Fiona Davis's amazing writing and characters immersed me in this book! I loved the mystery aspect of the missing artifact and what happened to it. I loved the friendship between Charlotte and Annie too!

The author's note at the end about her inspiration and the research she did were fascinating. Along with questions on where should these artifacts be displayed.

This was easily a 5-star book and now I need to take another visit to the Met!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Stolen Queen, a captivating historical fiction novel that intertwines the story of an Egyptian queen with the life of the woman who discovered her burial site. The narrative seamlessly moves from the 1930s, when the protagonist was part of the excavation, to her work at the MET in the 1970s, where the lingering shadow of a supposed curse adds an intriguing layer of suspense. The book masterfully blends history, mystery, and personal drama, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read.

A very enjoyable read that hascl really peaked my interest into the Egyptians. I loved the dual timeline for Charlotte 's story. It really set the stage for the current story line. Loved Annie. She provided a character that gets to grow and come into herself. A really good read!

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review.

In 1936 Charlotte Cross, an anthropology student, was given the opportunity to work in the famous Valley of the Kings. All was going very well with some amazing discoveries until Charlotte’s life is turned upside down by a devastating tragedy. Going forward to 1978, Charlotte is an assistant curator in the famous New York Metropolitan Museum’s Dept of Egyptian Art, which is all aflutter preparing for the loaned out King Tut exhibit. This story is told in dual timelines as well as POVs.

The second protagonist is Annie Jenkins, who at the age of eighteen stumbles into the opportunity to work for the fashion maven, Diana Vreeland; thw woman putting together the star-studded Met Gala. Annie has spent most of her young years taking care of a feckless mother while working menial jobs cleaning for their wealthy landlady. This opportunity has the potential to turn Annie’s life around affording her a step up to the world of glitz and glamour which she has long adored.

Charlotte, at age sixty, has kept her life firmly in control after that harrowing early time; however, she has never forgotten her love for all things Egyptian antiquities nor time as an archeologist. Related to one of the 1936 finds, she has continued to study a somewhat obscure royal, Hathorkare, who for a time was a rare female Pharaoh. Charlotte wants to prove her theory that the ancient was not who she was portrayed to be by previous experts, including her boss.

The story is told back and forth between Charlotte’s early years as well as with Annie's part in the present. Annie becomes an assistant mainly by the force of her character. Each woman has something to prove and when a theft occurs, Charlotte determines to return to the place that broke her heart but never left it, tracking down a personal mystery as well. This book has quite a bit of high drama, emotional angst, and is also part thriller and mystery plus a little magical realism. It is not a historical fiction although the author used a version of some real characters and events to frame the story.

This is a character driven novel with a well paced plot. Told over two timelines from two different perspectives, it includes stolen antiquities, lost loves, family relationships, and unexpected twists. The well developed characters were engaging, and the plot moved along at a brisk pace, I read it straight through in one setting. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for an advanced reader copy.

This was one of the first books I have read set in Egypt, and I enjoyed learning about this period in time in this setting! I enjoyed reading it and felt engaged in the storyline, however it was not very memorable and didn't resonate on a deeper level.

4.25/5

Told from 2 different timelines, The Stolen Queen follows Charlotte Cross, an anthropology student on a dig in the Valley of the Kings in 1936. Charlotte starts to hone her research on Hathorkare, a female pharaoh that other Egyptologists have dismissed as unimportant. After she becomes involved with fellow archeologist, Henry Smith, Charlotte becomes pregnant and marries him instead of returning to New York. But tragedy strikes and Charlotte is set adrift.
In 1978, Charlotte is the assistant curator of the Egyptian collection at the Met. She has worked tirelessly to prove her Hathorkare theory. Meanwhile, 19 year-old Annie Jenkins has just landed a job working the Met Gala, assisting Dianna Vreeland. Annie and Charlotte's paths cross and Annie becomes instrumental in helping Charlotte once the statue of Hathorkare becomes stolen, along with her research. Is the curse of Hathorkare after Charlotte once again?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for this e-arc.*

One of the best books yet by one of my favorite authors utilizing the dual timeline to create this fantastic read. Charlotte is a young woman, and in the 1930’s, her place on an archeological dig was almost secretarial. When Charlotte makes a huge discovery, it is attributed to the men around her. Annie is a young woman in 1978, finding solace at the Met when her emotionally unstable mother was entertaining men in their apartment. Annie and Charlotte’s stories come together at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where Charlotte works as an assistant curator. I could not out the book down, in anticipation of solving the many questions, as to what happened to Charlotte’s husband and daughter, whether Charlotte’s lifelong research into a female Egyptian pharaoh is recognized. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

Thank you to the publisher for a Netgalley.

Giving this 3.5 stars. I LOVED Charlotte. Both of her storylines. I did not like Alice much. Her storyline was not my favorite and I felt she was always in the way.

What did I love was the Egyptian history aspect. It was interesting to read about and that whole plot line was intriguing. The author's note of course was also fabulous.

I DO recommend this book because it was really good. I just could not get over my dislike for Alice.

My kind of book! Dual timeline historical fiction - with part set in Manhattan! I grew up going to the Met almost weekly so this one had a bit of personal nostalgia for me. I really enjoy Fiona Davis’ writing and I liked all the details about the Met, the art, the fashion & Egypt. The archeological side of this one was super interesting too! Solid 4.5!

This is my second book by Fiona Davis and I loved it! Historical mysteries are quickly becoming one of my favorite genre mash-ups because of The Stolen Queen and The Magnolia Palace. Thank you for sharing the early copy with me!

The Stolen Queen is told from two perspectives and 2 timelines (Charlotte 1936, Charlotte 1978 and Annie 1978). Both female characters were strong, smart and resilient, and I enjoyed how their friendship grew and changed throughout the book. I also learned a lot about Egyptian history, including new words having to do with mummification, and it was really interesting. I highly recommend this one to any historical fiction fans!

I am a true fan of Fiona Davis and love the way she introduces and develops her characters. This one lives up to the hype and it going to be a favorite of many book clubs.

The story is told in two timelines. One is in Egypt in 1936 and introduces a young student, Charlotte Cross, as she works in the Valley of the Kings. The second timeline is in 1978 in New York where Charlotte is now working in the Metropolitan Museum as curator of the Dept of Egyptian Art. She is preparing for the famous Met Gala which is highly anticipated by the City. She meets Annie Jenkins and they work together. During the party one of the most prized Museum antiquities is stolen and the hunt begins to find and return it to the museum. Once again Charlotte must return to Egypt in search of it and she also has to revisit a very painful part of her life. There is danger, intrigue, family loss and rediscovery of self all carefully woven into the fabric of the story. If I am honest I must admit the ending is all tied up in a neat little bow and life rarely does that but heck this is a historical fiction and anything can happen and as you will see it does.

I do recommend this book as I have all of her works. You will not be disappointed.

I wish to thank Net Galley and Penguin Dutton Publishing Group for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book definitely had a lot more emotional impact than I had originally expected. Our two main characters went through so much in their lives and it was a great read.

I would give it maybe a 3.5 rounded up to a 4. I think my main issue with the book is how quickly clues were figured out and hidden secrets were found. We didn't really spend any time looking for clues with the characters as much as we had a "here's a super obscure clue" and then a character immediately figuring it out. Or how one of our main characters was given a dig site and immediately found important things without the proper training and after someone else had been looking for so long. I think that this is my biggest problem with this book. For a historical fiction, a lot of that didn't feel very realistic and I think it definitely took away from my engagement.

Overall, though, the book was very intriguing and I would want to pick up more books from this author.

Title:  The Stolen Queen  
Author:  Fiona Davis        
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery        
Rating:  4 out of 5

Egypt, 1936: When anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, she leaps at the opportunity. But after an unbearable tragedy strikes, Charlotte knows her future will never be the same.

New York City, 1978: Eighteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for iconic former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the “party of the year.” Though Annie soon realizes she’ll have her work cut out for her, scrambling to meet Diana’s capricious demands and exacting standards.

Meanwhile, Charlotte, now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met’s celebrated Department of Egyptian Art, wants little to do with the upcoming gala. She’s consumed with her research on Hathorkare—a rare female pharaoh dismissed by most other Egyptologists as unimportant.

That is, until the night of the gala. When one of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing . . . and there are signs Hathorkare’s legendary curse might be reawakening.

As Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo to one place Charlotte swore she’d never return: Egypt. But if they’re to have any hope of finding the artifact, Charlotte will need to confront the demons of her past—which may mean leading them both directly into danger.

This was a fascinating read! I loved both timelines. The 1930s storyline was so interesting to me, showing the history of the field of archaeology and what a struggle it was to be a woman in the field. The 1970s storyline was also intriguing. Still a struggle to be a woman in the field of archeology, but also showing the behind-the-scenes details of the Met. Charlotte was a great character, and I loved seeing her story come full circle.

Fiona Davis is a best-selling author. The Stolen Queen is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Penguin Group Dutton in exchange for an honest review.)

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