The Stolen Queen
A Book Review by Dominick Maino
The Stolen Queen: A Book Review by Dominick Maino
Davis, Fiona (2025). The stolen queen. Penguin Random House. 339 pages, an author’s note, acknowledgements, about the author.
This story jumps back and forth between 1936 in Egypt and 1978 in New York City. It centers on the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Egyptian Art exhibition) and Egypt. The main characters include an expert in all things ancient Egypt who doesn’t want to go back to the dessert sands of that country because of a curse; a 19 year old who wants to work with an eccentric fashion guru at the Met; a husband and infant who drowned in the Nile and the stolen broad collar of Pharo Harthorkare. Harthorkare, one of the few female Pharos, has a tarnished history as a ruler. Or does she?
[FYI: The Egyptian broad collar is a semi-circular neckless that covers the chest and shoulders and worn by both men and women. Row upon row of precious and semi-precious stones, gold, silver, and other valuable adornments were often used in its creation.]
Fiona Davis is an author with whom I was not familiar. The book was recommended by my library staff (and I always listen to them) but more importantly, I loved the author’s name and the jacket of the book (I know those are strange reasons to pick up a book to read. OTOH any reason to pick up a book to read is a good reason). It also happens to be about an ancient civilization that eventually will intersect with Ancient Rome’s historical timeline [I’m an ancient Roman enthusiast. Although this story occurs much earlier than the days of Cleopatra, I was still intrigued.]
Besides, who doesn’t like stories about mummy’s and their associated curses?
Normally I hate it when authors have stories that jump back and forth through space and time. Davis, however, made this usually annoying way of telling a story easy to follow. She broke up chapters by naming them after a character in the story as well as the date and location where that chapter takes place. For instance, the first chapter is noted as “Charlotte [followed by] New York City, 1978”.
The main and even side characters are interesting and at time, quirky. The Met’s fashion consultant, Mrs. Vreeland, is off the rails with what she wants to do during the Met Gala within the Egyptian exhibition area. One of the main characters [and my personal favorite] is Annie, a 19 y/o kid who wanted to work at the Met ever since she was little.
There are villains of course, villains who do evil things for a noble cause. The story also brings to the fore concerns about museums around the world “stealing” antiquities from their country of origin to display in their exhibitions. Do these antiquities belong in the museum where extra care will keep them safe, or should they be returned to their country of origin even though they may be easily stolen or slowly left to deteriorate?
This is a good mystery story with several twists and turns along the way. Fiona Davis knows the Met well and thoroughly researched ancient Egypt and its long history. I appreciate that the author highlighted the intelligence and perseverance of “old” people [Charlotte is in her 60’s, Mrs. Vreeland very much older than that] and that the younger generation (Annie, the 19 y/o) has a great deal to offer as an assistant to the older Charlotte.
What’s the bottom-line?
Read this book. Do it sooner rather than later.
Fiona Davis has written at least 7 other books and I’m going to my favorite small locally owned bookstore to buy a copy of one of her earlier works or to the Austin-Irving Branch of the Chicago Public Library to check them out.
