Lauren Haney

Author invokes not just the sights and sounds of ancient Egypt but the smells and flavors as well. Many historical novels treat the religion of their characters as superficial, substituting 'By Jove' or 'May the Dagda smite thee' for 'By St. Mark' or "Jesus Christ.' Haney makes the reader feel that Lt. Bek is genuinely moved by the opportunity to view Amon's traveling shrine. The mystery is complex enough to satisfy and does not require a deep knowledge of Egyptian history to appreciate.

A young, untested policeman confronts deceit, treachery, and deadly peril in an ancient and magnificent world. Author Lauren Haney dazzles with a spellbinding "prequel" -- the first investigation of the brilliant Egyptian, Lieutenant Bak.
This really should have been Book #1 in the series since it's the beginning Lt Baks story and how he came to be sent to a dusty outpost to begin his work as a policeman. As such, it should really have been number one in the series, but for some unknown show more reason, it's #7 and listed as a prequel. Go figure that one out. Anyway...

Lt. Bak is sent to the city of Buhen to command Medjay police officers. There he meets with the commander and within 24 hours that commander, a respected and honorable man, is found dead...murdered and his beautiful young wife, who is found holding his body and covered in his blood; is suspect number one. Bak seemed at first to have been looking more at her than at the body of his very bloody and very dead commander. Several paragraphs are devoted to how beautiful and how attracted to her he was. He finds himself unable to believe that one so "fair and beautiful" could possibly be guilty of murder. I don't know what "beauty" or "fairness" has to do with being able to stab someone, but I'll take the author's word for it.

He soon learns that the commander was concerned about a plot he had uncovered to steal the "flesh of the god" Amon gold. He believes that the thief or thieves are responsible for the man's death. Very soon two more men are violently killed and as the saying goes..."the plot thickens". Several unsuccessful attempts are made on Bak's life, so he believes that he may be getting too close to the truth. He diligently follows every clue, seeking the truth and hoping that it will clear the name of the woman he has come to love. Believe me, that was quick.

It was, I guess an interesting tale even though it seemed the plot was a bit off kilter at times...and Bak was too busy "falling madly in love". It's not a bad story or a badly written book...t's just not my type of mystery; but if you know me well you know I probably read the book to fit a challenge category...so it well served its purpose, but I think I'll be leaving Bak to solve his murders all by himself....while falling madly in love:) show less

Lt. Bek is pressured into seeking the son of his commander's friend who has disappeared in the desert lands between the Nile and the Red Sea. He and his Medjays set out with the lost man's former guide and soon join up with others who are seeking treasure in this forsaken land. Mysterious deaths set Bek to seeking answers, but can he trust the guide, the mysterious man who is following the caravan or the other members of the group. Evocative of the barren wadis, the precarious existence of show more nomadic tribespeople and the hardship of the Egyptian mines. Unfortunately, this is the last in the Lt. Bek series. After rereading this entire series I wondered if Lt. Bek would ever learn to watch his back. He gets, ambushed, knocked on the head, etc. more than should happen to a careful soldier

After rereading this entire series I realized that not a single criminal is ever brought to formal trial. They are killed while fleeing or otherwise. So we never see Egyptian justice system in action. I wonder whether Haney didn't have the necessary information about how the judges or courts, punishments, etc. worked, or whether she felt that they were too harsh and arbitrary by contemporary standards. If that were the case the readers might lose sympathy for the protagonist. I mean, imagine trying to have an English thief taker as a protagonist, knowing that the 10 year old boy he has just delivered to the judge may hang for stealing a watch. The Bek series does discuss punishments, such as being sentenced to the desert mines, and impalement as a punishment for treason, but we never see or read of an actual trial. show less

I got a bit tired of Lt. Bek dodging landslides--once per book is probably enough for any given form of threat. He has also almost drowned more in this series than seems reasonable, even considering that the Nile is the backbone of Egypt. Otherwise the detection is good and the quest for tomb robbers and the cause of 'accidents' on building site was interesting.