Fiona Davis tackles another Manhattan institution with a behind the scenes look at the. metropolitan museum of art. Antiquities expert Charlotte Cross and young Annie Jenkins cross paths at the intersection of the 1978 MET Gala and the opening of the King Tut exhibition. Together they must manage an international art heist while dealing with the ghosts of the past and make peace with those in their lives. Engaging, tense, and exciting this is another wonderful story that pulls back the curtain of a NYC landmark.

This book started a bit slow for me but I enjoyed it once I got into the story. It had very interesting facts about some history I didn’t know too much about. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my opinion.

If you are a fan of Fiona Davis, this book does not disappoint. Her latest book takes place in both Egypt and New York City. The story is split between the 1930s and 1978. As always, Fiona Davis brings light to New York City settings that you think you know, but she goes in depth and brings forward hidden places in these settings. Charlotte Cross is a student on an archaeology dig in Egypt in 1936. She returns to NY after a series of unfortunate events and in 1978, she is working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Also in New York in 1978 is eighteen year old Annie Jenkins. On one of the lowest days of her life, Annie ends up with a job working for Diana Vreeland who is organizing the annual Met Gala. Charlotte and Annie's paths cross at the Met and they work together to find a stolen piece of art that has both of them traveling to Egypt and back again to New York. Along with this mystery is the mystery of what happened to Charlotte back in the 1930s.

The time period is essential to this story since much of this storyline would be impossible in a world with instant communication and social media. The story moves very quickly towards the end and everything is tied up with a bow, but enjoy the ride along the way. Any scene with Diana Vreeland is a treasure. I wouldn't mind a follow up book focusing on Annie as her story left me wanting more.

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance ecopy. My opinion is my own.

Unlike the other books I've read by Fiona Davis, this one isn't fully set in New York City- and it's really interesting to see what the author does with a new setting! This has a tense, sweeping arc that I was engrossed by, and characters that are absolutely fascinating, with deeply hidden secrets and family issues that add to a story that already has a great plot and well developed atmosphere. This may be Fiona Davis's best yet.

Egypt. The Met. The 1930’s and 1970’s. Intricate characters. Fiona writes in such a way that I’m instantly drawn in and don’t want to put the book down. My heartstrings, how she plays at them so delicately. This is a beautifully written adventure. The details, divine. The complex relationships, believable. Everything flows, you don’t even know how you just read 50 pages so quickly. Painstaking and action packed. Another triumph. Bravo & thank you!!

The Metropolitan Musuem of Art is the NYC landmark at the focus of this dual timeline novel from Fiona Davis.

The story is part history, part mystery, part art heist thriller with some archeological information.

We are introduced to Charlotte, a curator of Egyptian Art at the Met. Charlotte meets Annie, an assistant to the editor of Vogue who is working on the Met Gala.

During the gala, an Egyptian artifact is stolen and the story the shifts Charlotte and Annie to Egypt where they search for information about the artifact and eventually find clues to part of Charlotte's past.

This is a must read!

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy.

ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Fiona Davis, and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I LOVED this!! This was my first read by Fiona Davis and will certainly not be my last. I love any historical fiction that is women-centered, and I felt that The Stolen Queen was extremely unique. Part historical fiction and part mystery, Davis's writing kept me engaged the entire time reading. Eyptian history and art is not my primary interest, so I did not know much going into this read; I found that I ended the book with a good amount of knowledge about both subjects! I appreciated Davis's author's note at the end that clarified Hathorkare was based on an actual Eyptian ruler with a very similar story and how she clarified other changes in the novel that were also based on real people/events/things. I liked reading Charlotte's chapters the most over Annie's, as I felt she had an extremely compelling story. The structure helped to tell the story well with some flashbacks throughout to tell what tragedy happened to her. I thought the mystery definitely drove the story and kept a great pace throughout. There were a couple of twists and big reveals that I honestly did not predict! I was thrilled that Davis kept me on my toes and didn't go the easier (and more obvious route, in my opinion) with the reveal of certain characters. The Stolen Queen was an extremely entertaining read that gave a bit to ponder on and learn about, which made it a success for me.

Fiona Davis is a must read author for historical fiction lovers. This book beautifully combines art, fashion and history. Read it if you like dual timelines, Metropolitan Museum history and ancient Egypt.

Thank you NetGalley for my early e-arc of this book.

To say that this book did not disappoint would be an understatement. After reading Davis' The Magnolia Palace published in 2022 (but it feels like yesterday!) I was excited to get my hands on an early copy of her latest novel, The Stolen Queen.

It's female lead character driven, involves archeology (something I've always been fascinated by) and features a dual timeline and an heist at the Met during the 'party of the year'. What's not to love!

Fiona is one of the best. She always takes us to a place in NYC and gives us some kind of big story around it. This time she takes us to The Met, where an antique has been stolen. The question then comes up, how did that work get to the met? The work had been thought to be lost at sea. The book is set in 2 time periods and is excellently executed.

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.