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.

This book was just okay for me. I had a really hard time getting into it. Even at 47% in, I struggled to read more than a few pages at a time. I finished the book because I wanted to see how the stories ended up connecting, but I wouldn't re-read this and I'm not sure it was satisfying enough for me to recommend to many people.

The writing was okay--a little clunky in some parts. Some of the descriptions were great and others were lackluster. I had a hard time picturing the broad collar, which was tough since it's an important aspect of the story. Some characters were frustrating, like Annie's mother. Their relationship overall was frustrating. Annie was such a go-getter, why did she take so much from her mother? Those things weren't compatible for me.

I enjoyed the relationship between Charlotte and Annie a lot, though, which was probably this book's saving grace for me. Overall, I give The Stolen Queen 3/5. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review will be posted on 1/10/25
It's 1978 and Charlotte Cross is an expert in all things Egypt and works at the Met. She has spent years researching the female pharaoh, Hathorkare. Hathorkare has a bad reputation and is deemed unimportant, but Charlotte has come across some things in her research that prove otherwise. However, she needs to travel to Egypt to continue her thesis. This is a problem as she has avoided Egypt since she was last there in the 1930s. Then there's Annie, an aspiring fashion designer, and new assistant to Diana Vreeland, the Met Gala organizer. This is a dream job for Annie, but on the night of the gala, an important Egyptian artifact goes missing. Charlotte and Annie, an unlikely duo, team up to find it and this leads them to Egypt. An adventure ensues. The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis has it all. There's a mystery, excitement, a lot of historical details, and even an old curse; her fans will enjoy this action-packed novel.

The novel's narration jumps from Charlotte to Annie in The Stolen Queen and I found both characters to be compelling. Davis also flashes back to events in both women's lives, which also helps with character development. Charlotte's research on Hathorkare was very interesting; you could tell Davis definitely did her research.

I also really enjoyed the settings of The Stolen Queen. Davis takes us from the glamour of the Metropolitan Museum in New York City and its gala all the way to Egypt. This lent the novel to a lot of action and suspense, which I wasn't expecting, but definitely appreciated. Did I mention there's also an old curse? Some of these details reminded me of some of my favorite Indiana Jones movies.

So, if you are looking for compelling historical fiction that includes more adventure than romance, look no further. Davis delivers an action-packed journey in The Stolen Queen. Let me know in the comments if you have read The Stolen Queen or if it's on your winter TBR list.

Update: TikTok post 1-8
I was excited about this novel. I've been enjoying fiction and non-fiction about ancient Egypt for many years. It started off well with intriguing dual timelines. I liked the settings and the two main women. Challenging relationship dynamics make an impact in the timelines.

The novel is well-researched and Davis presents complex issues in regard to antiquities. The story of a female pharaoh added an appealing layer to the adventure. Multiple mysteries past and present and the stakes for the two women had me hooked.

Unfortunately, the novel’s final third felt rushed and superficial. All the solutions felt too easy, with one thing after another falling into place. The parts that I expected to be the most exciting fell flat, and the main characters became puppets spouting convenient dialogue to get to the next plot point.

The Stolen Queen had potential for greater emotional depth, but over-reliance on far-fetched coincidences and breezy faux closure robbed it. Nonetheless, I cared enough to read it to the end. Overall, it was a fast read with daring women involved in archeology, fashion at the Met, and sleuthing. Their struggles and bravery connect well with the female pharaoh story based on Hatshepsut.

I enjoyed the historical details and immersive initial scenes in the Metropolitan Museum and Egypt in the 1930s. I recommend it for readers who enjoy mysteries and thrillers with great settings and a bit of danger, and for readers who enjoy fiction dealing with ancient Egyptian history. Thank you, Penguin Publishing Group / Dutton and NetGalley for the eARC for consideration. These are solely my own opinions.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I mostly listened to a copy sent to me. I knew right away who the Egyptian queen was when the description of the queens likeness was etched out on the stone. Wait, that’s Queen Hatshepsut not Hathorkare, I said to myself. I’ve been to the Valley of the Kings, to the Met as well as to Hatshepsut’s temple and down to Luxor and Aswan. I always enjoy Fiona Davis books. So much fun!!

I really enjoyed this book set in Egypt in the late 1930's and in New York City (mainly, the MET) in the 1970's. It was a curious and fun romp and felt like an Indian Jones movie come to novel form. I really enjoyed it and loved that the protagonists were women- smart women!

Davis again ventures into historical territory with this novel about the theft of an ancient artifact. First the setting is Egypt in 1936 and student Charlotte Cross has been given a chance to work on an excavation in the Valley of the Kings. By 1978 she’s a curator working at the Met’s Department of Egyptian Art. When an Egyptian artifact that had been lost since 1936, shows up on loan to the museum, questions ensue. Charlotte once had a personal connection to the piece and wants answers as to where it came from and where’s it’s been for 42 years.

Annie is eighteen and manages to impress the famous Diana Vreeland who is planning the big annual Met Gala in 1978. The festivities are beyond extravagant and include the use of the valuable object on loan to the museum. Chaos occurs during the gala and one of the most valuable objects from the Egyptian museum is stolen. Both Charlotte and Annie confront the thief, but he eludes them.

Charlotte is joined by Annie in trying to discover who took the valuable object and determine how he escaped. Charlotte will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery, even traveling to Egypt. Going back means returning to a place that crushed her soul years earlier. But she needs answers and heads out. Annie has lost her job and wants to vindicate herself, so she tags along.

There’s a lot about the provenance of ancient artifacts and Egyptian antiquities. The necklace of Hathorkare (based on the real Hatshepsut) is at the center of the story as is the mythology surrounding this female Pharaoh. Many of the characters are based on real people and real details connected to the tomb and the artifacts. Davis took the factual research and wove in her story of the theft. Though the Egyptian treasures were not stolen, there once was a Met burglary with similar circumstances. This clever manipulation of fact and fiction is enhanced by the great characters and the engaging story. Throw in the grand opulence and artistry of the Met gala and the book has intrigue galore. The one criticism may be that the ending is a bit too tidy. Still, a great novel; one that is exotic and engrossing.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis is a captivating read that will enthrall fans of historical fiction.
Fiona Davis creates such immersive novels!
A remarkable story well told. Davis makes her characters seem so real and this story kept me interested from cover to cover.
Her details and descriptions and characters are perfect and enjoyable, and I look forward to her stories. She paints New York as a stunning, beautiful place with hidden and important histories that need to be shared.

Thank You NetGalley and Dutton for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Charlotte an Egyptologist and is working on a dig in the “valley of the Kings” it is 1938
Move on to 1978 Annie Jenkins lands a job working with former Vogue Editor Diana Vreeland
Charlotte and Annie team up to search for a missing Egyptian antiquity
A great story line and researched very well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and loved the historical side to it.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis is a dual timeline historical fiction novel, publishing today that takes place in 1936 and 1978. It involves love, betrayal, a mystery and the examination of the place of women in society.

I really enjoyed my experience with this novel that was clearly well researched. This was the first novel I have read by Fiona Davis, but it won't be the last. She has an approachable writing style with short chapters and a compelling narrative. I would have preferred both timelines to be equally fleshed out, but I appreciated all the historical details and descriptions sprinkled throughout the text. The details of how antiquities are authenticated were particularly interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Penguin Group (Dutton) for allowing me to read an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Fiona Davis shines again with her typical yet engaging exploration of history connected to interesting NYC buildings. This time around, we are taken to the Met, in the midst of preparation for the annual Gala, the arrival of the King Tut exhibition in NY, and an exploration of ancient Egyptian relics. I love that she addressed early work and perspectives related to repatriation, still so relevant today. The two main characters, different yet so similar, were thoughtfully juxtaposed to shine a light on how societal and familial circumstances influence life choices. There were a couple of loose ends I wish had been resolved, and I wish some of the history had been less fictionalized, but overall I really enjoyed my time with this book.

Thank you to Penguin Group, Dutton, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this interesting story.

This is the story of Charlotte and Annie.
Charlotte was an Egyptologist in 1936 when she discovers a burial chamber containing a broad collar necklace. It was also during this time when she fell in love, got married and had a baby. As the three of them leave in a rush, a tragedy occurs but not before Charlotte spots the broad collar in her husband’s suitcase.
In 1978, Charlotte is now working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as the assistant curator of the Department of Egyptian Artifacts and Annie is hired on to be the new personal assistant to Diana Vreeland (former Vogue fashion designer) and they are preparing for the Met Gala. When the broad collar shows up at the Met and is put on display for the Gala, Charlotte is shocked. She thought it had disappeared along with her husband and baby years ago. Does its reappearance also mean that maybe her husband and baby are still alive?
The night of the Gala, both Annie and Charlotte get caught up in the ensuing chaos when the Cerulean Queen is stolen. Charlotte knows she now has to return to Egypt, which is something she vowed she would never do. Annie joins her and they investigate rumors of the location of the Queen and try to find Charlotte’s family.

THE STOLEN QUEEN by Fiona Davis is an adult, historical, women’s fiction story line loosely based on the history surrounding the discovery and life of Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Charlotte and Annie) following two timelines (1936 and 1978) THE STOLEN QUEEN focuses on anthropology student turned assistant museum curator Charlotte Cross. In 1936, at the age of nineteen, while on an archeology dig in Egypt, anthropology student Charlotte Cross fell in love with archeologist Henry Smith; discovered an ancient Egyptian artifact, and in a matter of months her life spiralled out of control. Fast forward to 1978, now sixty-two year old Charlotte, working as the assistant museum curator at the Metropolitan Museum Department of Egyptian Art would have to face down her memories, when the theft of a familiar antiquity brings with it heartbreak from the past.

Meanwhile, nineteen year old Annie Jenkins, whose own life is changing in the face of rejection, has been hired as the personal assistant to Met Gala fashion coordinator Diana Vreeland, a position that puts her up close and personal with the theft of the Egyptian artifact. A journey to Egypt for both Charlotte and Annie comes full circle when Charlotte confronts the past, and Annie recognizes a possible connection to the Metropolitan theft.

THE STOLEN QUEEN is a story of mystery that blends fact with fiction; history with mythology; heartbreak and resolution. Fiona Davis pulls the reader into a mystery of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, greed and obsession. The premise is dramatic and entertaining but the conflict resolution is cursory and hurried. The characters are determined, desperate and charismatic.



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4.5⭐️ Publishing 1/7/24
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy! Phenomenal story about the quest to solve not only an ancient Egyptian mystery, but also one that is deeply personal to our MC. I was invested in both storylines (30's and 70's)! Well crafted with young love, ambition, family and steeped with real life history just given different names and dates. I LOVED IT!!!

My book club will be zooming with the author in 3 weeks!

I would read ANYTHING Fiona writes!!!

There are three things I can count on when I pick up a Fiona Davis book: A unique setting, a ton of meticulous research, and a story full of questions that keep me reading until the very end. THE STOLEN QUEEN did not disappoint.

Like her previous books, THE STOLEN QUEEN is set at an iconic Manhattan landmark. This time, it's New York's Metropolitan Museum. It's the story of Charlotte Smith, an Eqyptologist hiding a tragic secret and Annie, a young woman struggling to find her identity while caring for her narcissistic mother.

The women's lives intersect when an ancient necklace is loaned to the museum by an anonymous donor. For Annie, the necklace is a chance to impress Diana Vreeland and (eventually) secure a job as her assistant for the Met Gala. For Charlotte, however, the necklace holds greater meaning. For it is a link to a past she's struggled for 40 years to forget. A past that has her afraid of ever visting Egypt again.

When, on the night of the Gala, a famous artifact is stolen, and Annie falls under suspicion, Charlotte is forced to revisit her past.

Through alternating points of view and timelines, Davis takes a simple mystery and turns it into a story of lost love, betrayal, and self-discovery. It's a complex story that kept me reading until the end.

My only complaint is that Davis likes to tie her stories up in too happy a bow. To do this involves some very contrived conveniences.

Even so, I really enjoyed the book. Davis brings her iconic settings to life in a way that makes them seem like living and breathing entities. Despite the flaws, her stories remain an autobuy for me.

Thanks Netgalley for the advanced read in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great read. Charlotte was a great character who really came to life throughout the story. The sense of quest and adventure woven into this book was stunning, and the history in the book was full of life. Davis was really able to take history and present it in a really interesting and compelling way. This was just stunning in every way, and I cannot wait for my library to get our copies because this book would make for such a fun display.

I was very excited to get an arc for this book! I found the premise very interesting, especially since I will be taking a trip to Egypt later next month. It is my first book by this author, and it will definitely not be my last.

Set in two timelines, both in Cairo and in New York City, this book follows the lives of Charlotte, an anthropology student, in 1936 and present day, 1978, where she is an associate curator in the Department of Egyptian Art at the Met. And, Annie, in the present day, an 18-year-old who has just landed a job as an assistant to the famous former Vogue fashion editor, Diana Vreeland, preparing for the Met Gala.

Highlights |
•Ancient Egypt/Archeology
•The Met
•Female Pharaoh
•Mystery & Intrigue
•Theft of the ‘Queen’

This book will transport you across time and continents in a story that contains mystery, glamour, a little romance and an adventure that combines fact with fiction. The ending was a bit surprising for me, but overall, I really enjoyed this book.

A special thanks to the publisher, Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating | 4.25/5 stars

Fiona Davis knows how to take history and bring it to life. I learn so much from each of her books. The Stolen Queen is a book rich in Egyptian history, which is something that I know so little about. Now that I have finished the book, I am excited to find more books about Egypt and their history to continue learning.

From the very first page I was invested in Charlotte’s (LOVE THE NAME!) story. I love that at her “old age” of 63 she is still full of spunk and not willing to sit back letting life pass her by. Her quest for protecting artifacts takes her on great adventures throughout her life. Those adventures have molded her life and left her with a quest to head back to Egypt to search for the answers she’s been waiting her entire adult life for.

Another winner from Fiona Davis, The Stolen Queen opens in NYC in 1978. Charlotte Cross is a curator in the department of Egyptian Art getting ready to host the touring King Tut exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Meanwhile in her research she makes a potentially shocking discovery about an ancient Egyptian woman who she had been studying since her time working at an archaeological dig in Cairo back in 1938.

Also happening - the fashion event of the year, famous Met Gala. Young Annie Jenkins gets her dream job working for a fashion editor and Charlotte finds herself involved reluctantly when Annie wants to use a recently donated piece of jewelry that is familiar to Charlotte from her time in Egypt.

I LOVED this book. I’m not super interested in Egyptian history but Davis took a feminist angle here that I found really effective. I definitely want to visit the Met next time I’m in NYC to check out the Egyptian wing.

The Stolen Queen publishes next week on Tuesday January 7th. Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for the digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been a huge fan of Fiona Davis for years, and 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻 has been one of my most anticipated reads of 2025! Davis’s signature style is bringing the iconic buildings of NYC to life through captivating stories from the past. If you love museums you’re in for a real treat with 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻 as she brings us to none other than the incomparable Metropolitan Museum of Art!

The story alternates between Egypt in 1938 and New York City in 1978 and follows two remarkable women - Charlotte, a former archaeologist with a tragic past who is now a curator of Egyptian art at The Met, and Annie, an aspiring young assistant who lands her dream job working for the colorful and formidable Vogue editor, Diana Vreeland, on planning the Met Gala.

Charlotte and Annie’s paths cross over an Egyptian broad collar worn by the mysterious female Pharaoh named Hathorkare, which Ms. Vreeland wants for her costume exhibit at the Gala. Little does Annie know that the collar is a direct link to the mystery surrounding Charlotte’s personal tragedy. When the Gala goes painfully awry and an artifact goes missing, Charlotte and Annie team up to track it down, venturing to Luxor and Cairo where Charlotte must finally confront her painful past.

This was such an interesting and entertaining read about archaeology, museums, and the nuances of the antiquities trade. I love the way Davis touches on the moral and ethical issues surrounding ownership and preservation of antiquities. As someone who has always been fascinated by museums (I even volunteered for the Smithsonian for a few years!) I found this very thought-provoking.

The character development is superb, and seeing both Charlotte and Annie’s backstories helps to better understand the treatment of women at the time and how it shaped their lives and decisions going forward. My only (minor) quibble is that the ending felt a little rushed, and the big revelation was a bit underwhelming, but there’s so much here to love - a compelling mystery, adventure, an immersive atmosphere, and an unlikely but heartwarming female friendship. A solid 4.5 ⭐️ read that I absolutely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the e-ARC!