Although I’m a huge fantasy reader, my obsession with historical fiction runs just as deep—probably why historical fantasy is my sweet spot! That said, I’ll read anything Fiona Davis writes, and The Stolen Queen only reinforced my obsession. I’m utterly in awe!

From the bustling streets of New York to the rich and vivid landscapes of Cairo, this book was an unforgettable journey. Fiona Davis masterfully transports readers between Egypt in 1936 and New York in 1978, weaving together a lush tapestry of history, mystery, and deeply emotional storytelling.

The story takes off with a missing art piece during a dazzling gala, setting in motion a thrilling quest to uncover its secrets. Davis’s ability to blend historical depth with an intricate mystery kept me riveted—I couldn’t put this book down! Her characters are so nuanced and compelling, each thread adding emotional weight to a plot rich with layers and meaning.

One of the standout aspects for me was how gracefully the book navigates the ethical debate around art ownership: who truly owns these cultural treasures, and how should history remember them? It’s a topic that lingers long after the final page, giving readers much to reflect on.

This novel’s layers are mesmerizing. I found myself bouncing between my love for the evocative settings, the pulse-pounding mystery, the unforgettable characters, and the poignant themes explored throughout. It’s rare for a book to balance all these elements so effortlessly, but The Stolen Queen absolutely does.

I think it’s safe to say this is my new favorite Fiona Davis novel! If you love historical fiction (or even if you don’t yet), The Stolen Queen is a must-read. Fiona Davis continues to prove she’s a master of her craft, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

This is another fascinating historical fiction by Fiona Davis. The dual timeline set in the 1970s NYC at the Met and in 1930s Cairo was a creative, but seemless transition. The characters in the book are intersting and likable. The mystery kept me wanting to read all the way until the end. I had a hard time putting this one down. It was a very quick read because I wanted to keep finding out what was going to happen next. I enjoyed reading more about the Met Gala and what goes into the preparations. Mentioning Diana Vreeland was a fun touch. It added a bit of authenticity. This was probably my favorite book of hers because of the locations. Egypt isn't one that has been taken on much in historical fiction, but it's such a fascinating and mysterious place. It makes for an amazing setting. And I love the Met, so having not only it as a backdrop but also the Met Gala as a setting was a lot of fun. If you're a fan of historical fiction, do not miss this one!

Fiona Davis never disappoints. This takes place in another historic NYC landmark, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1978, as well the archeological digs of Egypt of the 1930s. Charlotte Cross, an associate curator at the Met, is focused on her research of Hatorkare, a rare female pharaoah that has been largely ignored by history. Meanwhile, young Annie Jenkins has been hired to assist iconic former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland with the Met Gala. On the night of the gala, there's a robbery that draws the two women together to solve the crime and also takes them back to Egypt and to a mystery that has been haunting Charlotte her entire life. Fiona Davis brings to life the locations as well as the characters. Highly recommended.

Author Fiona Davis has the amazing ability to take landmarks, based in NYC, and craft entire books about the people who engaged with them at different points in time. And these books are, without a doubt, compelling page-turners that remain in readers’ imaginations long after the book has been finished. I always look forward to new books by Davis; I am never disappointed. THE STOLEN QUEEN manages to create multiple mysteries across 2 historic periods related to Egyptian artifacts: the mid-1930s and 1978. The characters are believable and engaging but the real star of the book is The Met and its contents. While I thought the beginning a bit slow, I suddenly found myself fully immersed in the plot and read until late into the night to finish it. Now, I wish I hadn’t finished it yet. I really wanted to spend more time with the characters and the location. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis is exactly the type of book I’ve been searching for and unable to find. It’s a true action-adventure mystery full of unexpected surprises, unique characters, well-written settings, a cursed ancient object, and heartbreaking tragedy.

This book is actually exciting! It transports the reader from 1938 Egypt Valley of The Kings, to the Met Gala in 1978, the halls of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and back to the seedy streets of Cairo.

The Stolen Queen hooked me right away from the first few chapters. I’m fascinated with ancient Egypt and needed to know the truth about the female Pharaoh Hathorkare, the Valley of the Kings dig, her priceless stolen and cursed broad collar that was discovered by our main character Charlotte, and if Charlotte’s research about Hathorkare was true.

The book is told in third person alternating between two female main characters Charlotte and struggling, young Annie. Extremely different, they still connect over their deep love for The Met and are brought together when the broad collar is stolen during the Met Gala.

Charlotte, an Egyptologist and associate curator at Metropolitan Museum of Art is an outspoken person for her time. She lived an extraordinary life when women’s rights didn’t exist yet. Readers learn about her story, her struggles as a female in her field, her tragic loss, and how hard she is on herself. Unfortunately, we also see her history-changing research and discoveries get dismissed over and over again. because women’s contributions to ancient history and culture were mostly erased and credited to male archaeologists.

Fiona Davis focuses on the theme of women not getting the recognition they deserved during that time period. Charlotte is on a mission to change this. Themes of female friendships, mother/daughter relationships, and artifact theft and replication are also put in the spotlight. It’s one of the most informative historical fiction books I’ve read.

Each setting is described so well that I was wandering the halls of the museum filled with artifacts with Annie. In Luxor, Egypt I could smell the spices, feel the warmth of the desert sun, see the swirling sands, hear the waves of the Nile River. It felt like I was with both Charlotte and Annie, especially on the boat.

There is a lot going on in The Stolen Queen, but the side characters and stories are all necessary to the plot and themes of the book.

I highly recommend reading The Stolen Queen. It’s my first book by Fiona Davis and I plan to read many more of her fascinating stories.

I loved all the ancient Egyptian and archaeological references throughout the book, although the mummies, etc., were fictional, I still learned a lot. I found the characters to be engaging and interesting and the story was quite a different take on a mystery. The author actually had me feeling engaged with Annie and Charlotte and their very different backgrounds and stories; the storyline was quite unique. However, I felt like the end was too quickly and too neatly tied up in a package and delivered, as well as being a little bit contrived and off the mark. Beyond that I would have given this book 5 stars, but since the end left me disappointed (even though the rest of the book was thoroughly enjoyable) I will have to give this book 4 stars. I’ve read other books by the author and do enjoy her and will continue to read her books, but the ending of this one was just a bit lacking. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

Fiona Davis is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. I love how she always chooses to craft her novels around an iconic NYC building and was thrilled that this time she chose the Met and its famous Egyptian Art department as the backdrop of her captivating story.

The story is first set in Egypt, 1936, where we meet 19 year old Charlotte Cross, an enthusiastic archaeology student who jumps at the chance to take a coveted spot on a dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.

Tragedy strikes, however, and the next time we see Charlotte, it is 1978 in New York City, and she is 60 years old, living a quiet life as a curator in the Met’s Egyptian Art department and spending most of her time researching Hathorkare, a rare female pharoah who has been dismissed by most other scholars.

Charlotte occasionally crosses paths with 19 year old Annie Jenkins, a determined young woman trying to find her path in life and who has landed a job as an assistant to Diana Vreeland, who is planning this year’s Met Gala.

When one of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts is stolen the night of the gala and Annie ends up a suspect, she and Charlotte partner up to try to clear Annie’s name. Their journey to retrieve the artifact takes them all the way to Egypt and it’s filled with danger, intrigue, mystery, ancient curses. It’s also fraught with pain as Charlotte must relive the tragedy she experienced all those years ago.

The Stolen Queen is a beautifully written, addictive read with a seamless dual timeline that I couldn’t put down. I was fascinated by Hathorkare & her curse, captivated by these two strong female characters trying to solve this mystery on their own, and I found the book’s ending especially moving.

This dual timeline historical novel was really fun and readable. The narrative shifts between 1930s Egypt to 1970s New York, Main character Charlotte is a college student on an archeology dig in the earlier timeline and a Met Museum curator in the later one.

Incorporating things like the Met Gala, the Constume Institute, Diana Vreeland, and the King Tut exhibit, this entertaining book is perfect for book club.

Fabulous! The Stolen Queen has it all; History, Mystery and Conspiracy. A jewel of a book by the author Fiona Davis.

The Stolen Queen by author Fiona Davis drew me in with its dual timelines and rich storytelling. Charlotte’s story, set in 1936 as she unearths secrets in the Valley of the Kings, and Annie’s journey through 1970s New York while working for Diana Vreeland, offer two very different but equally compelling perspectives. The narrative shifts seamlessly between past and present, building to a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion.

I especially appreciated how the book explores themes like ambition, loyalty, and the ethical dilemmas of preserving history. It’s the kind of story that lingers with you, making it a perfect choice for a book club discussion. There’s so much to unpack, from the characters’ choices to the moral complexities of their discoveries.

This will definitely be added to our library purchase list this winter. I’m looking forward to recommending it to readers who enjoy layered stories with historical intrigue and modern mystery. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Dutton for my free review copy.

As a fan of historical fiction and Fiona Davis, I was excited to see her new novel, The Stolen Queen, available as a Net Galley ARC. The story unfolds across dual timelines: 1930’s Egypt where Charlotte Cross is assisting on an archeological dig in the Valley of the Kings and 1970’s New York City where Charlotte is now working at the Met as associate curator of Egyptian art. We also meet Annie Jenkins who has just been hired as the assistant to Diana Vreeland who is organizing the famous Met Gala. I enjoyed the two settings and time periods and felt the dual timelines worked well. Our two main characters were likable and were both good examples of strong women and their ambition and resilience were admirable. The story moves along rather quickly as the second half begins. I felt there were a lot of coincidences and loose ends tied up a little too easily and a few unrealistic outcomes. If you enjoy learning about ancient Egypt and the inner workings at the Met then The Stolen Queen is for you! I had higher expectations so my overall rating is 3.5 stars.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Fiona Davis is known for her two-timeline stories, and The Stolen Queen follows this pattern. This time, the story is split between 1978 in New York City and 1936 in Egypt. The main character is Charlotte Cross. She is in her early sixties, and I love a story with a seasoned protagonist at the helm! We also hear about Charlotte's life in Egypt before she returned to NYC and began work at the Met. Along the way, we meet Annie, a young girl trying to find her purpose in 1978 NYC. Of course, many other characters wind their way through Charlotte's story, and there is even a cameo by a famous New York fashion icon!
As always with a Davis book, the writing is excellent. I loved both timelines, but I especially appreciated the Egyptian angle. I have read Kara Cooney's The Women Who Would Be King and recognized much of the mythology surrounding the Egyptian story, so that was fun.
Although there were a few times that I thought the story dragged, like with Charlotte's boyfriend and his daughter, overall, I found the book an entertaining and satisfying read.
Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC.
4.25 out of 5 stars!

In this new historical fiction, Charlotte works at the Met in NYC. She specializes in Egyptian artifacts and old memories surface when an artifact of questionable provenance comes to the museum. When an artifact is stolen from the museum during the gala, Annie joins Charlotte to track it down.

The story alternates between Charlotte’s POV and Annie, a girl who is helping to put on the met gala. We also have flashbacks from Charlotte’s time in Egypt 40 years earlier.

I thought the Egyptian history and artifacts were very interesting. I really enjoyed Charlotte’s chapters. There were a few times where I wanted the story to move along a bit more but overall I really liked The Stolen Queen. Fiona Davis is one of my favorite historical fiction writers and I recommend picking up any of her picks.

Pub date: out now
Thank you to @duttonbooks and @netgalley for the review copy.

I believe that Fiona Davis has done it again. I enjoyed this book immensely--it was somewhat of a learning experience as well as an emotional roller coaster of a book. This book had a somewhat personal meaning to me as it kept mentioning the King Tut exhibit, which I attended when it was in Chicago and actually have two huge posters that have hung in my house for for over forty five years. Annie and Charlotte make a powerful duo, although it took a while for them to begin to work together. I felt like the ending was a little to pat, but in the end, I love a happy ending and this one had all the ends tied up.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis is a fun mix of history, mystery, and adventure. The story follows an archaeologist in 1936 Egypt, and a young woman in 1978 New York both working at the Met Gala. Their worlds collide when an artifact tied to a female pharaoh disappears from the Met’s Egyptian collection. I loved how the book shifts between glamorous New York and the history of ancient Egypt. Charlotte’s past and Annie’s determination make them an unlikely but fun team, and their journey to uncover the truth kept me hooked. The Stolen Queen a great read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a twist!

I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art while on a trip to New York City last December in anticipation of The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis. I knew that part of the novel was set at the Met leading up to and during the “party of the year” known as the Met Gala. I also knew that part of the novel was set at an archeological dig in Egypt. What I didn’t know was that this novel would awaken a profound appreciation of Egyptology, Jackie Kennedy, and how the Temple of Dendur came to be at the Met.
Presented in dual timeline, the novel alternates between Annie, a plucky assistant to the Met’s Diana Vreeland for the gala in 1978, and a tragic event in 1936 that has a lasting effect on associate curator Charlotte Cross. Fiona Davis weaves a thrilling plot involving missing research files, the stolen Cerulean Queen, Egyptian antiquities, and a legendary curse! Smooth transitions between timelines, plenty of historical background, and helpful archaeological terminology sink the reader into the world of hieroglyphics, pharaohs, and digs in the Valley of the Kings. I appreciated the partnership between Annie and Charlotte which slowly develops into mutual respect despite the age and experience differences, as they learn from each other. Davis creates great anticipation leading up to the Met Gala as Annie stomps after Diana Vreeland into various areas of the Met. Details for the flow of hundreds of guests at the “party of the year” are mapped to the restaurant behind the Greek and Roman wing for the dinner, through the King Tut exhibition and finally to the dancing in front of the Temple of Dendur. Everyone’s nerves are tingling!
A missing child and a stolen queen take center stage in this mysterious trek into the Egyptian Valley of the Kings and one magnificent night at the Met. Mystery. Thriller.

This book was so fascinating. This will be one of my favorites this year for sure. The two timelines travel from 1930’s Egypt to 1970’s New York City. There is so much in this one that I found so intriguing that you don't read much about in HF books. I had no idea who Diana Vreeland even was before I read/listened to this book. I mean reading about Egypt, and archeology, and ancient tombs…..it's like a movie. It SHOULD be a movie. I was captivated. The mystery, history, the characters. It transports you right into the story and times. Such a well written book!

I ended up listening to this on audiobook. It was narrated by Linda Jones and thought she was excellent. She did a great job of bringing this story to life. Loved it!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Y’all know I love Fiona Davis. This new one is no different.

We meet Charlotte in 1930s Egypt. She is a young woman on an archeological dig, fighting for her place and for history.

Then we meet her again in New York in the 1970s. She is a different woman, but we don’t know why yet.

We meet Annie and her mother—a flip-flopped relationship. Annie is a girl wise beyond her years. Forced into a caretaker role for a woman everyone else sees as not worth it. But Annie doesn’t, yet.

In classic Davis fashion, we alternate between times and viewpoints, gathering history and relationships until the worlds converge.

This book explores the history of the Met and the ins and outs of antiquities with a dash of Egyptian history. As a millennial, I was obviously obsessed with Egypt when I was younger.

I loved this book. I finished it crying, anticipating what could happen and then with what did happen.

Davis always teaches me something and makes me think about things differently.

Another great Fiona historical fiction piece filled with dual stories and timelines. Starting in 1936, Charlotte is an archaeology student in Egypt, establishing herself after a major find when she’s hit with unimaginable tragedy. Years later in 1978 New York, 18y/o Annie is escaping a terrible home life when she lands a coveted job ahead of the Met Gala, focused on Egyptian Art. When a priceless artifact is stolen, she’s on a mission to clear her name — which is when he pass crosses with that of Charlotte. The duo are led back to Egypt in the recovery where even more secrets come unburied.
At first I didn’t know where this story was going since Egyptian archaeological digs and the Met Gala are polar opposites, but I was so pleasantly surprised by how these stories intertwined. It’s a beautiful piece of historical fiction. Also-I hate Annie’s narcissistic mom (had to put that out there!)
Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a story of two women whose lives intersect in 1978, the year of the King Tut exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum. Charlotte Cross, spent 1936 on an archaeological dig in Egypt. She is now an associate curator at the Met. Fashion loving Annie Jenkins has had a hard life but has a shot at success when Diana Vreeland hires her to assist on the King Tut themed Met Gala. The two women's lives converge when an ancient Egyptian necklace discovered in 1936 by Charlotte turns up and is stolen.