Paul Doherty is an extraordinarily prolific author, with over a hundred books to his name (along with his half dozen odd other noms de plume). He writes historical novels; mostly, I think, detective stories and mostly medieval, but also some Roman and some, like The Mask of Ra, ancient Egyptian. This being my first read from him I was a little sceptical about anything coming from such a large stable especially as he was not for most of these a full time author, having been a headmaster and having received an OBE for his services to education and yet I was pleasantly surprised. Some people just seem to cram an awful lot into their lives. And he is still writing now in his seventies!
Amerotke is a high-priest of Ma’at, the goddess of truth, and is the senior judge in Thebes at the time of Hatshepsut, herein referred to by the shortened form of Hatusu, whose husband and brother, Thutmose II, has died in mysterious circumstances and Amerotke is tasked with uncovering what looks to have been a murder.
Think Brother Cadfael in ancient Egypt. This is not great literature but is a good solid whodunit that paints an exceptionally vivid picture of life both elevated and sordid in Thebes some three and a half thousand years ago. Possibly too vivid; on occasions Doherty’s tendency to wax lyrical on the architecture, decoration and people can leave the action a little shadowed but at the same time those description of the environment of ancient Egypt is undoubtedly one of the attractions of the work. Possibly he has the balance just a little out for me. But it’s certainly not a big criticism. Otherwise, whilst not ivory tower great literature Mask of Ra is great, easy and interesting historical reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will probably sample some more from this series of 7 books (especially as the next three are available as a very reasonably priced omnibus – how sensible is that? Making the omnibus start one book in, allowing the reader to sample the first before committing to the next three books at once).
4/5 stars
Amerotke is a high-priest of Ma’at, the goddess of truth, and is the senior judge in Thebes at the time of Hatshepsut, herein referred to by the shortened form of Hatusu, whose husband and brother, Thutmose II, has died in mysterious circumstances and Amerotke is tasked with uncovering what looks to have been a murder.
Think Brother Cadfael in ancient Egypt. This is not great literature but is a good solid whodunit that paints an exceptionally vivid picture of life both elevated and sordid in Thebes some three and a half thousand years ago. Possibly too vivid; on occasions Doherty’s tendency to wax lyrical on the architecture, decoration and people can leave the action a little shadowed but at the same time those description of the environment of ancient Egypt is undoubtedly one of the attractions of the work. Possibly he has the balance just a little out for me. But it’s certainly not a big criticism. Otherwise, whilst not ivory tower great literature Mask of Ra is great, easy and interesting historical reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will probably sample some more from this series of 7 books (especially as the next three are available as a very reasonably priced omnibus – how sensible is that? Making the omnibus start one book in, allowing the reader to sample the first before committing to the next three books at once).
4/5 stars
