I liked the Egyptian history woven into the book, but I didn't like how Charlotte treated Annie. She was just...not nice.

THE STOLEN QUEEN follows two women — Charlotte and Annie — across two timelines in the 1900s. From when Charlotte is a rising Egyptologist in the ‘30s to coordinator at The Met in 1978 and meets Annie, a young woman struck by the fashion and history in the walls of the museum.

There’s mystery, there’s romance, there’s heartbreak — and there’s of course fantastic storytelling!! Fiona gave the #BigBookBuddyReads crew a taste of what she was working on when she joined us last year and it absolutely delivered on our expectations! I love that I know exactly what to expect from a Fiona Davis novel and they ALWAYS make me want to plan a trip to NYC!

This one is also really great on audio! All the action and intrigue had me flying through it!

I really enjoyed this book that had obviously been very well researched and I felt that from the descriptions I could just jump into the page. Loved it

The Stolen Queen is a historical novel told in two timelines. In 1936 Charlotte Cross is a young archeology student on a dig in Egypt, where she finds love and an important discovery of a female pharaoh. In 1978 Charlotte is an archivist at the Met museum in NYC, still fascinated by this same pharaoh and researching her life. She becomes friends with a younger woman, Annie Jenkins, who is working with Diana Vreeland for the Met Gala - which plans to use some of the Egyptian pieces. When an important artifact goes missing, both their lives change.

I wanted to read The Stolen Queen because I love Fiona Davis's books; she is one of my favorite authors. I enjoy historical fiction and historic NYC. I don't know a lot about Egyptian history, so was intrigued by that aspect of this novel too.

This was a fascinating book! I was, of course, particularly interested in the archeology and art history aspects of the story. The novel raises some thought provoking questions about repatriation of art and artifacts. The story of the pharaoh Hathorkare made for particularly interesting reading, especially learning in the book's afterward that she was based on a real pharaoh, Hatshepsut.

The stolen queen mystery really begins midway through the book and the pace of storytelling becomes fast at that point too. The denouement of the story comes very quickly and I actually wish there had been a few more chapters for the story to unfold and wrap up at a more leisurely pace.

The Stolen Queen was a compelling read and one I am still thinking about. I recommend it highly to other fans of historical fiction!

I have loved all previous novels by this author and this was another book that I enjoyed! I liked how this took place in the Met in 1978 and I learned so much about exhibits and working in the museum, but I also love the time in Egypt in 1936! Both storylines are fantastic and I really liked Charolotte's character overall. The author is so good at writing characters that I feel connected to and invested in their story! I guess I would categorize this as Historical Fiction because I learned a lot, but I also like that it is not WWII Historical Fiction!

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis is an adventurous tale about a woman searching for the truth about a misunderstood female pharaoh.

Wonderful novel all around. This is quite a vivid story, and you really do feel like you’re swept to an archeological dig in Egypt to the Met Gala in 1978. The Stolen Queen is a transportive story, and makes you think about so much, including art, ancient artifacts, and repatriation. It also focuses on strong feminist themes, as well as some art, and fashion.

The historical details are quite intriguing as well as the two great protagonists on their own individual journeys. There’s quite a bit of depth with relationships, and past mistakes, and overcoming tragedy. Plus, there’s also some mystery and adventure in this tale. And the discussion of repatriation is one that will generate discussion for sure.

First line: The staff meeting of the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Egyptian Art was supposed to start at ten, which meant associate curator Charlotte Cross arrived at nine to prepare her colleagues for battle.

Summary: In 1936, in Egypt, Charlotte Cross is studying anthropology when she is offered a job to work on an archaeological dig in the Valley of the Kings. This opportunity is one that can lead to great jobs in the field but then tragedy strikes and her life is forever changed.

Annie Jenkins, in 1978 New York City, somehow lands the chance to work with Vogue fashion editor on preparing for the MET Gala. It seems to be a dream job until she realizes her boss has very high standards and outrageous demands.

At the Gala, Annie and Charlotte are thrown together due to a robbery of a highly valuable Egyptian artifact. The pair fly to Egypt in hopes of finding the missing piece before it is lost forever to a private collector on the black market.

My Thoughts: Each one of Fiona Davis’ books are fantastic. She finds a piece of history and builds an engaging story around it. In her newest book she centered on the 1978 MET Gala and the ancient historical figure of Hatshepsut (in the book she is called Hathorkare).

One of the main reasons, other than it’s a Fiona Davis book, was the topic of the Egyptian queen. Ancient Egypt is a fascinating history that spans millennia which we are learning more about each and every day. Hatshepsut is one of my favorites because she was the second ruling female pharaoh. She built some amazing structures and proved that a woman could rule effectively.

While dealing with the history and drama, the author also presents one of the most contentious current debates, the repatriation of artifacts to their homelands. It is something that people feel very strongly about but the author shows points of view from both sides without actually settling on an opinion, leaving it open to the reader to decide.

One of my favorite parts about many of Davis’ works are the dual timelines which end up meeting at the climax. Her descriptions of each woman’s lives were written very vividly from the sands of Egypt to the glistening halls of the Metropolitan Museum. This is a great story for book clubs to discuss the history and the controversies involved with its themes.

This two-timeline novel covers some lesser known ancient Egyptian history, the legend of Hathorkare and incorporates some action and mystery in the more modern (1978) timeline. While I enjoyed the legend of Hathorkare (actually a pharaoh known as Hatshepsut) and the information about ancient Egyptian burial practices, this book was mostly a disappointment for me. I have really enjoyed past books by this author but this one fell flat. The uncovering of the mysteries surrounding Charlotte’s loss of her family seemed really contrived. The character of Annie was so unrealistic especially in the ways that she “coincidentally” stumbled into going to Egypt with Charlotte and finding clues by being clumsy, etc. I enjoy historical fiction with some embellishment but this story was too predictable and unrealistic overall with everything just wrapped up too neatly and “happily ever after”. I’m rounding up my rating based on the author’s historical research but did not enjoy the story.

First and foremost I was disappointed that Davis did not use the actual names of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III in this story. While she explains why in the author's note at the end, I feel that that information should have been disclosed in the beginning. That being said, I love all things Egypt and was gratified that Davis did her due diligence with this book. Having been to Egypt, I can attest that Davis's descriptions of the landscape and the monuments are spot on. Hatshepsut was an amazing ruler and her mummy was identified via a tooth found in a box in her ransacked tomb. I loved the character Charlotte and how she was used as a bridge between the two timelines. The storyline focusing on the Met Gala was equally enjoyable as that has truly become a who's who of fashion. I am so grateful to Davis for highlighting the ancient Egyptians in this latest novel.

I've been a fan of Fiona's books since The Dollhouse and she gets better w/ea one! The Stolen Queen is everything I love about historical fiction plus l've been fascinated with Ancient Egypt for ages now. The Met setting brought me back to the first time I went there & fell in love with Ancient Egypt (and The Impressionists). Plus with turning the big 5oh! in 4 months, this midlife coming of age story was just
what I needed right now.

Fiona Davis is my go-to author for historical fiction and I was beyond thrilled when I heard she released a new book. "The Stolen Queen" certainly did not disappoint and, once again, history came alive through Davis's words. Charlotte Cross is a character who you can't help but cheer for; she is highly intelligent, brave, and strong enough to rebel all of the expectations society placed upon women in the 1930s. Her determination to finally place a forgotten female pharaoh back on the throne where she belonged, the reader follows Charlotte from Egypt to New York City and back to Egypt again, all the while facing great danger and having to come to terms with unspeakable loss. I loved the emotional depth the author brought to this story, adding an extra layer to the history and intrigue one expects from a historical mystery. I was so immersed in Charlotte's world that I didn't want the story to end!

Once again Fiona Davis cements herself as one of my favorite authors and I am already looking forward to her next book. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this fabulous book.

This was an enjoyable duo timeline story that takes place partly in Egypt and partly at the Met in NYC. My favorite part revolved around the mystery of what happened to a female pharaoh’s pictures. Why were they defaced? And did she deserve more respect than modern Egyptologists gave her?

There are two main female characters, Charlotte and Annie. Charlotte is an older Egyptologist who refuses to go back to Egypt for unknown reasons. Annie is a young woman who is set adrift in the world by her careless mother. Their stories weave around each other through their jobs at the Met.

Annie is interested in fashion and has an opportunity to be an assistant during the days leading up to the Met Gala. I’d love a book just about this because it was fascinating.

I found the mystery of Charlotte to be less compelling than the other storylines and didn’t love the way it resolved. However, the other parts of the story kept me engaged.

Best-selling author Fiona Davis is known for historical fiction mysteries set in iconic New York City buildings. The Stolen Queen is no different, taking us to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the late 1970s and to Egypt in the 1970s and the 1930s.

It’s a fun ride—told in two different time periods with two strong female main characters who are complex, flawed, and honest.

We follow Charlotte, an Egyptologist fighting misogyny in 1930s Europe and later an associate curator at the Museum fighting misogyny in 1970s New York. We also follow Annie, a young woman with a challenging life in 1970s New York trying to figure out what to do with herself.

They are linked when they meet in the Met and bond over their interest in The Cerulean Queen, believed to be an ancient Egyptian artifact depicting the maligned female pharaoh Hathorkare, and a beautiful Egyptian collar believed to have belonged to Hathorkare. Charlotte knows the artifact’s troubled—possibly cursed—past.

The story is a bit slow to start, but once it gets going and you learn of Charlotte’s tragic history and the multiple mysteries surrounding Hathorkare and the artifacts, readers are immediately drawn in. It becomes a fast-paced read that I stayed up way too late finishing.

There are also lots of great pieces to it that make it a perfect book club selection—so I made a Book Club Guide for the book!

Book: The Stolen Queen
Author: Fiona Davis
Format: Digital
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Places Featured: Metropolitan Museum of Art/New York City, Egypt
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Although the character plot developments are predictable and contrived, the historical aspects of the novel are top notch. As long as Fiona Davis sticks to archeology, Egypt and the Met Museum she is in top form. You can't put down these parts of the book.. They are also very informative. I look forward to visiting again the Egyptian rooms of the Met Museum.. I also look forward to the next Fiona Davis book where she visits the history of various NYC historical landmarks and supplies us with interesting historical information.

In 1936, a young Charlotte Cross is working as an archeologist at a dig in Egypt. She discovers an ancient tomb with mummies. She suspects the tomb is that of an Eqyptian queen, based on the things found in the tomb with the mummies. Those discoveries lead to great tragedy for Charlotte and she leaves Egypt heartbroken and in despair, never planning to return. In 1978, Charlotte now works at the Metropolitan Museum in New York in the Department of Egyptian Art as associate curator. As she prepares for the upcoming King Tut exhibit, an important work of Egyptian art is stolen from the museum. Charlotte feels she must go to Egypt to find the thief and recover the stolen work. While she is there, she must also confront some of the pain and sorrow from the past.
The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis is an interesting work of historical fiction. It kept me up reading very late! I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and to those interested in ancient Eqypt.
I was given an ARC of The Stolen Queen by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#ancientegyptianart
#thestolenqueen
#fionadavis
#netgalley
#histroricalfiction
#goodreads
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#randomhouse
#barnesandnoble

This historical fiction novel has two alternating timelines and mainly set in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and an archaeological dig in Egypt. The stories of Charlotte and Annie involved mystery, stolen art, history, family relationships, and friendship. I enjoyed learning more about Egyptian history and the Met Gala. Thank you Dutton for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

There must have been a great deal of research into the subject. The author seemed quite well educated on the subject. As well as finding the story exciting, I learned a lot. The story alternates between Egypt and New York city. I really liked that the main character was a 60 year old woman.

The Stolen Queen involves stolen antiquities, mistaken identity, Egypt's Valley of the Kings, the Metropolitan Museum of New York, Diana Vreeland, and a female pharaoh! Once again, Fiona Davis has written a multigenerational story around a New York City landmark (the Met). I loved the depth of the two main characters, Charlotte and Annie, and the fact that Charlotte's research is based on Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh. A delightful story.

Fiona Davis is an auto buy author for me! The Stolen Queen is a captivating historical novel that intertwines two timelines: 1936 Egypt and 1978 New York City. It follows Charlotte, and American anthropology student who participates in an archaeological dig in Egypt, and Annie, a young assistant involved in organizing the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Their lives converge when a valuable Egyptian artifact disappears during the gala, prompting a journey that delves into ancient mysteries and personal histories.

Charlotte and Annie are such well written characters. The research behind this novel is incredible!

I'm always amazed by Fiona's ability to blend historical detail with compelling storytelling. The rich descriptions always make me feel like I'm there.

Told in two timeframes, this story of ancient Egyptian tombs and pharoahs kept my attention and I couldn't put it down!

In 1936 Egypt, anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, so she leaps at the opportunity. But while she learns so much during that time, she also falls in love and is devastated by the tragedy that eventually unfolds. Charlotte returns to her home in New York, vowing to never return to Egypt.

In 1978 New York City, at only 19, Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she coincidentally is able to get an opportunity to work for iconic former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland. They are working on organizing the famous Met Gala, which involves portions of the famed Egyptian displays of the museum.

On the night of the gala, Charlotte and Annie's paths cross when one of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing. As Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo back to where the story began - Egypt. The story had wonderful twists and I loved seeing both characters grow and learn from each other.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.