Product Description

A new novel of murder in the reign of Pharoah Hatusu featuring Judge Amerotke as the crime-solver. At a peace treaty signing between Egypt and Libya in Thebes, three of Egypt’s leading scribes die violently on the Temple forecourt, the victims of a vile poisoning. To add to the mounting unease, a prosperous merchant and his young wife are found drowned. Rumours soon sweep the imperial city. The Poisoner of Ptah has returned.

It falls to Amerotke, Chief Judge of the Halls of Two Truths, to investigate these hideous crimes - his hunt for the Poisoner leads him to discover yet more suspicion and potential danger. This story sees the Judge pit his wits against a cunning opponent who seems intent on spreading his death-dealing powders. Amerotke enters the twilight world of glorious Thebes where life can be so rich and yet death so swift and brutal.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #401134 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough. He studied History at Liverpool and Oxford Universities and obtained a doctorate for his thesis on Edward II and Queen Isabella. He is now headmaster of a school in north-east London and lives with his family in Essex.

Customer Reviews

As Usual : a dazzling evocation of the past & a gripping mystery


Paul Doherty is properly my favorite author as his mysteries combine knowledge and feeling for ancient Egypt and fast-paced plots adding up to a great reading for both mystery fans and history buffs.

The new Doherty is no exception and Amerotke, Chief Judge in the Hall of Two Truths, features in another gripping mystery. This novel has all the right ingredients, bound to increase Doherty's alraedy large number of fans. In short: historical crime writing at its best.

Not as good as previous titles..
More mystery and murder in ancient Egypt - despite a convoluted plot involving an escaped poisoner seemingly back to wreak further havoc in Thebes, this was less enjoyable than previous titles. The characters seemed to spend most of their time explaining the relevant plot points to each other (yet again), and the vivid descriptions of barges on the Nile and the teeming poverty stricken life in the Necropolis palled the third time through, this really felt like the author padding out the tale, and having the Pharaoh's right hand man tell the Pharaoh's judge who the Imperial guard are seemed artificial in the extreme. I hope the next one is less sloppy.

The Author Just Gets Better and Better

Paul Doherty is the consummate professional when it comes to writing historical novels. I for one do not know how he can be so prolific with his offering of books and yet make sure that each of them is well researched. He has now written a number of books set in Ancient Egypt and they are attracting as big a following of readers as his medieval novels. Whether he is writing about the 13th, 14th, or fifteenth century they are always true to the period. He has also taken to writing about Alexander the Great. Paul Doherty has the rare talent of making you feel as though you are there, be it Ancient Egypt, medieval England, or battling with Alexander. The sounds and smells of the period seem to waft from the pages of his books.

This is another in the series of books featuring Judge Amerotke, a crime solver in the reign of Pharoah Hatsu.. Disaster strikes, at of all things a peace treaty signing, a treaty between Egypt and Libya that is taking place in Thebes. Three of Egypt's leading scribes die a violent death on the forecourt of the Temple. They are the victims of poison. Rumours begin to sweep through the city, the Poisoner of Ptah has returned.

It becomes the task of Amerotke, Chief Judge to investigate these crimes, but by doing so Amerotke has to enter the twilight world of Thebes, where anything is possible if you have money in your pocket. Virtually anything can be bought or sold for a price, but death stalks the streets for the unwary . . .