It’s the winter of 1929, and merry widow Lady Lucy Revelstoke and her pickpocket-turned-maid, Elf, are voyaging to Egypt aboard the Thalassa, alongside two rival teams of archaeologists. Old-school British scholar Doctor Phineas King and his daughter, Isla, helm one team, while the other’s led by rich, flamboyant American adventurer Anton Margolis. Eager to score points against their intellectual opponents, both teams seek exclusive excavation rights over a prized tomb, despite whispers of a curse that befalls upon all those who dare to disturb the pharaoh’s grave.
Soon, a young archaeologist drops dead at a cocktail party. But who would have reason to kill this junior academic? Is this the work of the pharaoh’s curse, or someone with a personal motive?
As accusations of antiquity theft come to light and a distraught clairvoyant predicts further violence, Lucy and Elf race to uncover the fiendish murderer before they strike again.
“Readers who enjoy a locked room whodunnit with a side of 1920's Egyptomania craze will enjoy this historical mystery.”
– The Baking Bookworm
“The smart, independent, introspective Lucy ultimately solves the puzzle in this satisfying cozy populated by well-drawn characters that also beautifully weaves in the life and times of the late 1920s.”
– Booklist
“The Pharaoh’s Curse Murders by Melodie Campbell is as cinematic as a BritBox Agatha Christie film … Campbell’s writing, while painting picturesque scenes, cleverly notes the shifting cultural values, as well as the role of social performance.”
– Goodreads
“The Pharaoh’s Curse Murders by Canadian author Melodie Campbell is a perfect blend of historical fiction and who-done-it mystery. If you’re a fan of the Roaring Twenties, you’re in for a treat. … Although it’s a series, each of the books is stand-alone. Once you read one, though, you’re probably going to want to go back and read the others.”
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