The Stolen Queen stolen queen

Fiona Davis — 2025

Egypt, 1936: When anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, she leaps at the opportunity. But after an unbearable tragedy strikes, Charlotte knows her future will never be the same. New York City, 1978: Eighteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for iconic former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the “party of the year.” Though Annie soon realizes she’ll have her work cut out for her, scrambling to meet Diana’s capricious demands and exacting standards. Meanwhile, Charlotte, now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met’s celebrated Department of Egyptian Art, wants little to do with the upcoming gala. She’s consumed with her research on Hathorkare—a rare female pharaoh dismissed by most other Egyptologists as unimportant. That is, until the night of the gala. When one of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing . . . and there are signs Hathorkare’s legendary curse might be reawakening. As Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo to one place Charlotte swore she’d never return: Egypt. But if they’re to have any hope of finding the artifact, Charlotte will need to confront the demons of her past—which may mean leading them both directly into danger.

Reviews

Devika M@devikareads

May 9, 2025

What a beautifully written book! It brings together the magic of New York City and the mysteries that the Valley of the Kings holds. This story does a fabulous job of capturing the nuances and challenges facing women today and thousands of years ago. Charlotte is a strong woman, who has been the target of male prejudice, and she is determined to win justice for the forgotten queen and herself. Annie, the timid teenager who has been her mother’s caretaker forever, finds an opportunity of a lifetime when she talks herself into a job at her beloved MET, assisting the legendary Diana Vreeland. Charlotte and Annie’s paths cross at the MET but become intertwined when the theft of a precious artefact from the museum, set against the chaotic and fascinating backdrop of the MET Gala, throws them together. Reading about how Annie grew into a confident woman who came into her own was a delight. Charlotte’s story of working through her personal loss and her resilience through it all was incredible to read. This is a story of secrets, strong women, grief, healing, and the resilience of the human spirit. The brilliantly written dual timeline switches between the two storylines until it converges beautifully into this splendidly plotted book that I found very hard to put down. The book also raises vital questions about the rightful ownership of some of the priceless antiquities on display in the museums around the world. Questions I have myself pondered on every time I have stepped foot in a museum. This is a book that certainly gave me a lot to think about. It will stay with me for a long time.

Allyson McMillen@allyepicc

Feb 7, 2025

Sarah Sammis@pussreboots

Jan 20, 2025