A time travel story unlike others, this story blends science, medicine, love and history into a captivating tale of duty and purpose. Cooper is well established as an author that builds upon ancient history and its relevance to modern day. This story however reverses the trip to find a modern solution to an ancient problem. The story accurately depicts the dangers and limitations of the past as well as the social problems of today. I found this story to be exciting, as so many factors needed to line up just right in order for Mannu-ki-Ashur to succeed, and I rather liked Kate as his guide on this quest. The story is fantastical, of course, but it is the right blend of magic and chance. Thank you to Book Whisperer for the ARC of this thrilling adventure! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical quests, time travel stories, adventure tales or even love stories - this book has it all!

When The Physician of Ninevah begins, Mannu is a young boy, just beginning his apprenticeship as a physician. The first part of the novel follows Mannu's childhood and training, during which time he first meets Bel-Ibni, a beautiful young woman chosen for as one of the king's concubines. Because of her status as a concubine, they meet rarely, chastely, and only from afar.

Kate Mayne is a scholar, studying then ancient Assyrian language - the language of Ninevah. She lives a quiet life as a professor, one of perhaps a half dozen people who can read ancient Assyrian, much less pronounce it.

As happens in many courts, intrigue abounds in the court of Ninevah, and Bel-Ibni, pregnant with the king's child, falls ill from an infection caused by a judiciously-placed piece of dirty iron. In his search for a cure, Mannu performs a forbidden black magic time-travel spell, seeking a time and place that will have the cure he needs for Bel. Arriving in modern-day London naked and alone, he is hospitalized, and through a series of unlikely events, comes to the attention of Kate, one of the few people who can understand his language. Together, they search for the cure he needs for Bel, falling in love in the process.

On the one hand, I rather enjoyed this novel. It's well-written and well-researched, with the historical piece appearing to be quite accurate. On the other hand, it is full of unlikely coincidences, of the sort that require the reader to suspend disbelief - which isn't necessarily bad, as the story is engaging enough to encourage such disbelief for the sake of the plot. Recommended for readers high school or older, due to the complexity of the plotline, who enjoy time travel and historical fiction

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Physician of Nineveh
This is a time jump novel that justaposes ancient medicine and contemporary New York. The novel describes the education of the top physician to the king of Nineveh in Babylon, and the problem the physician has when the king’s favorite pregnant concubine has a life threatening injury. He uses forbidden black magic to jump to present day New York city where he is contacted by one of the few people in this time who can read his cuneifom language. The race to find a cure that can be made in Ancient Nineveh and to return to Babylon with it has some surprising twists. Hhmm–wonder if that fomula for an antibiotic might work??

I love books that jump from one century to another and The Physician of Nineveh did not disappoint. Great storyline and characters. I would thoroughly recommend.

Title: The Physician of Nineveh
Author: Glenn Cooper
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: eBook
Publication Date: 3rd September, 2025
Publisher: Book Whisperer

**Thank you to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.**

Glenn Cooper's The Physician of Nineveh is a sweeping and unexpected story of love, sacrifice, and survival that transcends centuries. It's both imaginative and deeply human, offering readers an engrossing blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and romance.

The novel alternates between two timelines. 7th century BC Nineveh, where Mannu, the King's physician, finds himself desperate to save the life of Bel-ibni—the woman he secretly loves— and present day London, where Dr. Kate Maybe, an Assyriologist, is drawn into his extraordinary journey when Manny arrives inexplicably in her world. What unfolds is a vivd, high-stakes story of sacrifice and devotion, tangled with danger, political intrigue, and the shadows of history.

Cooper excels in evoking setting and atmosphere. Ancient Nineveh comes alive with rituals, remedies, and the dark weight of power. While modern London offers a sharp contrast being clinical, rational, and yet just as riddled with danger. Mannu is a deeply compelling character. He's loyal, honourable, and utterly driven by love. Kate, messy and flawed, yet strong in her own right, becomes his unlikely anchor in a time far from his own. Together, their journeys weave a tale that feels both timeless and immediate.

At its core, this is a novel about love in all its forms. Tragic, doomed, urgent, and hopeful. The romance between Mannu and Bel-ibni carries the ache of impossibility, while his fragile bond with Kate hints at what might still be saved. Both relationships left their mark on me, though, I wished for more time to let them fully bloom. Still, their weight and resonance linger long after the last page.

No sorry is without flaws, however. The time travel, will creative, occasionally feels more like a device than an organic thread, and some turns of the plot become predictable. Yet the strength of Cooper's writing, his meticulous research, and the emotional heart of the story more than make up for these stumbles. The pacing carries urgency without losing the reflective weight that historical fiction demands, and the themes of loyalty, loss, and longing ground the narrative in something profoundly relatable.

The Physician of Nineveh surprised me in the best way. It reminded me of why I was first drawn to Cooper's work. It is beautifully written, mysterious, and moving. A story that asks what we are willing to sacrifice for love, and how far devotion can carry us across time itself.

If it only could be so simple to travel through time and be able to learn things from the past and from the future... Mannu is the King's Ashurbanipal Chief Physician when he was faced with the task of healing the King's concubine who is pregnant and of whom he is vert fond of since his childhood. In spite of all his efforts and knowledge as well as those of healers in the palace her life continues to dwindle so he takes on black magic and is transported to the future to find a cure. In London, he'll meet Kate, a professor and Assyriologist, who will not only help him to find the cure he needs but will also fall in love with him. What Mannu doesn't know is that two people were also sent to the future to find him, will they succeed? Will he be able to go back to Nineveh and save the lady? The Physician of Nineveh is an intriguing and entertaining story that puts two totally different worlds together.
I thank Mr. Cooper, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

this was such a nice blend of historical fiction and time travel! Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

I haven't had this much fun reading in a while. I consumed this book in two days and that was only because I forced myself to go to sleep. This was such a good combination of historical fiction/suspense/adventure that kept me on my toes. The multiple POVs are done well, creating tension and curiosity by switching perspectives right at the cliffhangers. At times I was so nervous about what might happen to the main characters that I wanted to skip ahead to the next part in their POV. That's a marker for a good story to me.

This has magical realism in terms of time travel through dark magic. But thankfully that didn't bother me. Kate is so enthusiastic about and deeply in love with Assyria that I couldn't help but be right there with her when she learned something new. Mannu's passion to heal those in pain was heartfelt too. He was so focused on his mission. Kate was a bit more wishy-washy than I would have liked but it wasn't frustrating because she provided all of the right connections to succeed in their mission. It had just the right amount of back and forth between progress and blockers to keep me engaged instead of feeling like the plot was dragging.

One thing I would have liked was Kate learning more about Mannu's father's line of work. I know it was mentioned and she was awed but I wish there was a bigger revelatory moment for her like something finally clicked in what she was researching. Not that it would be groundbreaking since she can't use anything she learned from Mannu but just for her sake of mind and peace. Actually I would have also liked a slightly different ending but I'm okay with how it ended.

If you liked The da Vinci Code or Digital Fortress by Robert Langdon, this has a similar vibe. If you like two people who don't speak the same language yet they figure out how to communicate and grow in friendship, you will enjoy this. Overall, it's not a long book, so I would recommend you give it a try.

It was somewhat interesting and fantasy related.

I am not a lover of time travel stories but was attracted by the lure of learning about the ancient Assyrian culture. This book did provide some of that but basically it became an “instantaneous” love story.

The time travel element was done through the concept of black magic in an attempt to save the royal concubine.

For me, the story was a stretch and purely fantasy. Then again so much of our knowledge of ancient culture is!

It was a fine story especially for those who enjoy the melding of the past and present.

I loved this book about the main physician.of Ninevah being transported to present time to find a cure for the king's most important concubine's deadly condition. It's part love story, part historic fiction, part palace intrigue and part adventure as a man from 100s of years ago tries to find his way in modern London. Great characters and excellent story.

A unique premise where a 7th Century physician is pulled forward in time in order o try and find a cure for the woman he loves. Once there he is confronted with modern technology and a language that is foreign to him.
For me the time travel aspect did not work for me and I found the language somewhat stilted. However the characters were interesting and the plot had sufficient tension to engage, keeping the reader interested.

What a unique premise with writing that draws you in from the first chapter! Anyone looking for a historical romance with action and an intriguing plotline should check this out. The time travel element is not something I read often but was very fun and well done! This book was a hidden gem and I am so thankful to NetGalley and Glenn Cooper for the chance to read it this summer!

I love a time travel story and I love a murder mystery but this book had so much more, it was also a quest story and falls-fast love story.

In the Seventh Century BCE Mannu ki-Ashur has risen to be the chief physician in the Mesopotamian city of Nineveh.

In modern day London Dr. Kate Mayne is a scholar of Ancient Mesopotamian an Assyrian culture.

When the King’s favorite concubine is drying of a mystery illness that the physician cannot heal even with the help of the King’s exorcist and diviner, Mannu seeks to use forbidden dark magic to take him physically to a time and place where he can learn a method to heal the concubine.

He finds himself in modern London completely out of time and place, unable to communicate and desperate to find his cure and return. Mannu and Kate team up to find a way for him gain the knowledge to save the woman in the past but other nefarious plots are afoot as well.

I really liked this story and appreciated that the time traveler from the past knew what he was attempting to do and it wasn’t your usual “oops, where/when am I?” kind of TT story, and that it was someone from the past not someone from the future going backwards. That said I felt a lot of the writing was stilted with more telling rather than showing otherwise this would have been a 5 star for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC Review copy

Beautiful historical mystery with time travel, dual timelines, and vivid settings. 💫💫💫💫💫

Mannu lives in Niniveh 667 BCE. He dreams of being a physician for the king. He finally makes it to King Ashurbanipal's palace to become a physician. Manny works hard and excels as a physician. He is also in love with Bel-ibni, one of the king's concubines.

Kate Mayne is a professor at University College London. She specializes in Assyriology and also knows how to read and speak Akkadian.

Their paths cross in the future when Mannu needs a cure, and Kate is the one to help him find it and send him back to his time. But nothing is ever that easy, and while Mannu time travels, there are also some of the king's adversaries who plan on stopping Mannu from saving Bel-ibni and the heir she carries.

I really enjoyed this story, the time travel, the romance, and all the Assyrian history in Kate's world.

Thank you, Netgalley and Book Whisperer, for this gem ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

Dr. Kate Mayne is an expert in the lost city of Niverva and her life is turned upside down with the appearance of a doctor from Ninerva speaking about time travel. This was a fascinating story and it was easy to set aside reality and live in this wonderful novel. The storyline moves quickly and keeps you moving along until the end. There is romance, mystery, and intrigue all rolled up into one great story!

I rarely give 5 star reviews but I loved this book. Historical Fiction at its best! Thanks to The Book Whisperer for this EARC which I accessed through NetGalley.
I am really impressed by the research the author must have conducted to write a book about Nineveh. To say I found this book fascinating is an understatement. As I read I googled to find out what was actual history and looked at pictures of the ruins mentioned in the book.
To begin, Kate is a lecturer who is a specialist in the Akkadian language with an ability to speak the language and read Cuneiform. The story begins with her being interviewed about a murder in Kew Gardens.
Then we are thrown back to about 631 BCE where we watch Mannu grow up to be a physician in the court of the King. Every word was enchanting to me as we learn of how ill people were treated. There were 3 divisions, first exorcism, then divination and finally if the person were not cured, an actual physician was called. So when the King's favorite concubine falls ill ( through devious methods) Mannu, chief physician (who has been secretly in love with her his whole life) seeks to find a way to cure her, he delves into black magic. The God's send him to present day London, where he finds Kate, an Akkadian speaking scholar.
You will have to read the book to discover how this clash of cultures unfolds.
There is an extremely satisfying ending in everyday!
This is my honest review, read this book!

This unique book is beautifully written and plotted, and one I won't soon forget. The story takes place in two different times: London in the present, and Assyria in the 7th century BCE, roughly 2700 years apart in time. Assyria was located in what is now Iraq.

In the 7th century BC, Mannu is one of the main characters. He had been taken to the palace as a young boy to learn the art of healing, and has risen to be the head physician at the royal court. One of the King's favorite concubines suffers an injury that left her feverish, and none of Mannu's remedies worked. Mannu found instructions in a tablet that would send him through time, to a place where he could find a remedy for Bel.

In the future, Mannu has the great good fortune to encounter Kate, who happens to be able to read and speak the ancient Assyrian language. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. The ending was a delightful surprise.

I received an e-arc from the publisher Book Whisperer and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

"The Physician of Nineveh" by Glenn Cooper is a sweeping historical tale that effortlessly carries the reader between the opulence of 7th-century BCE Nineveh and the modern bustle of London. At its heart is Mannu-ki-Ashur, the devoted chief physician to King Ashurbanipal, whose care and quiet courage are tested when Bel-ibni, the king’s favored concubine, faces a life-threatening complication during pregnancy. Mannu’s journey becomes even more extraordinary when he is mysteriously transported to our own time, and must navigate a world of unfamiliar technology and customs with the help of Dr. Kate Mayne, a modern Assyriologist whose expertise and empathy guide him through this bewildering new reality.

What makes this novel so absorbing is the richness of its historical setting. Cooper brings Nineveh vividly to life, from the intricate architecture and vibrant streets to the rituals, medicine, and daily lives of its people. The city feels lived-in and authentic, and the stakes of Mannu and Bel-ibni’s story are made all the more urgent against this lush backdrop. The romance between Mannu and Bel-ibni is tender and affecting, suffused with the tension of a love tested by duty, politics, and fate. Meanwhile, Mannu’s interactions with Kate add a compelling layer of character development, showing resilience, adaptation, and the gentle forming of trust across time and culture.

There are moments where the novel falters slightly. The time-travel element, while imaginative, occasionally feels like a narrative convenience rather than a fully realized concept. Certain romantic developments could have been more deeply explored, and a few plot turns are somewhat predictable, which slightly tempers the tension.

Yet these minor flaws do little to diminish the overall experience. *The Physician of Nineveh* is an engaging, heartfelt story that blends historical intrigue with human emotion and a touch of fantasy. Its vivid setting, memorable characters, and poignant moments of love and loyalty make it a novel that lingers long after the final page. Cooper has crafted a world that is both vast and intimate, transporting the reader across centuries while never losing sight of the very human heart at its center.

Thanks so much to Book Whisperer for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This review also appears in www.readersvault.com and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7872675841.

4.5 Stars

As the royal physician of Nineveh, Mannu-ki-Ashur carried a heavy burden when the woman he’d been pining for—the king’s favorite concubine fell gravely ill. In his desperate attempt to save her, he risked everything and found himself in an unfamiliar place and time. Fortunately, Dr. Kate Mayne, a modern-day Assyriology professor, came to his aid. Together, they raced against time while danger emerged from every direction, threatening their futures.

This book exceeded my expectations. The story was exciting with intriguing characters and an engaging plot. I loved exploring the life and politics of ancient Assyria. There were also plenty of amusing moments amid the tension. I liked the inclusion of romance elements, though they could have been better developed.

Mannu was loyal and honorable. I loved how much dedication he put into his job and responsibilities. I liked how Kate took matters into her own hands when it came to helping him. They worked well together in achieving their goals.

'The Physician of Nineveh' is a story of aspiration and tenacity. It would appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction laced with mystery and touch of romance.

A love story across millennia, the story is split between modern day London where Kate is a lecturer in ancient Assyria and the last days of Nineveh, Assyria. We follow Manu as he grows to become the King’s physician. Bel, the King’s concubine is heavily pregnant when she cuts her foot on something, she granular develops a fever which becomes worse and nothing seems to help.
Manu uses black magic to travel in time to discover a cure.
An interesting story that is well written, my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.