Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily mysteries feature a wealthy, aristocratic English peer who partners with a member of the Crown's private security services in investigations and romance. The plots typically involve archeological elements from Greece and Rome, but, in this book, Lady Emily goes to Egypt. Along with the murder investigation, she encounters the raven-haired wife of an Egyptologist, her handsome son and his inamorata, and their gifted artist friend, David, characters many devotees will recognize from the books of the late Elizabeth Peters. The environment described is very faithful to the one that Peters painted for us, and it felt like coming home to an old friend, one we miss very much since Peters passed in 2013.

I don't think this is the best of the Lady Emily mysteries... it is a bit stilted and seems forced. Still, the impulse is very much appreciated and I'm already looking forward to the next installment.

"Secrets of the Nile" by Tasha Alexander is a captivating homage to Agatha Christie, transporting Lady Emily and her husband, Colin Hargreaves, to Egypt during British colonial rule. Amidst a luxurious Nile cruise hosted by Lord Bertram Deeley, a renowned collector of antiquities, tragedy strikes when he is poisoned during a celebratory toast. As suspicions swirl among his closest friends and companions, including an archeologist, a politician, and an English spinster, Lady Emily delves into a web of ancient secrets and modern motives. With clues from ancient ushabtis and a tale of betrayal from Egypt's past, Emily unravels a mystery that culminates in a shocking revelation. Alexander's novel is a thrilling blend of historical intrigue and classic detective work, perfect for fans of Christie's intricate puzzles and atmospheric settings.

Definitely a great great audiobook. Really loved listening to it. Love the narrator love the story. It was a great listen. That helped me on a long drive. I highly recommend it.

I loved the setting of this book but the plot itself was a bit weak to me. Even though I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series I don't feel that diminished my ability to follow the story. I didn't find the characters all that interesting and really couldn't find myself engaged in the mystery. I only mildly enjoyed the story because Alexander did a good job of describing the setting.

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* loved reading this, immediately looked into finding the rest of the books lol

I thoroughly enjoyed Secrets of the Nile which is #16 in the Lady Emily series. As is often the case in this series it takes place in a very exotic location: Egypt. And it includes most of the elements needed for a classic murder mystery in the style of the greats like Agatha Christie: an exotic location, characters from various layers of English and Egyptian society, conflict amongst the main characters, a touch of ill fated romance, several mysterious deaths, visits to ancient monuments and much more. It also tells two stories in two completely different time periods (an ancient Egyptian village and a 20th Century luxury cruise on the Nile) which eventually come together in a very unexpected way. If you enjoy ed other titles in the Tasha Alexander Lady Emily series, you will surely enjoy this one.

Secrets of the Nile is the 16th Lady Emily cozy mystery by Tasha Alexander. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

The author is prolific and adept. She does a more than capable job setting the scene and time period with both the dialogue and by wrapping the fiction skillfully around a framework of actual historical occurrences. The mystery itself is cleverly constructed and full of fair play clues which invite readers to figure out "whodunnit" alongside the story.

There plot is driven on parallel storytelling, with one main subplot set in dynastic ancient Egypt and the other in the "current" timeline (Late Victorian period). The two distinctly different threads didn't mesh particularly well for me, even through the denouement and resolution.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours, 5 minutes and is capably narrated by Bianca Amato. She has a distinct South African accent, but I didn't find it obtrusive or indeed obvious at all after the first few minutes of narration. She has a pleasantly modulated voice and she's adept at giving all the characters distinct and distinguishable voices. I had no trouble following along at all, and alternated listening with reading the ebook.

It's partly an homage to Christie, but Ms. Alexander's writing stands perfectly well on its own merits. Heartily recommended to fans of the series; potentially also recommended for fans of the canonical works. Although the setup, mystery, denouement, and resolution are self-contained, there's a significant amount of development in earlier books which will partially spoil the characters and their relationships if read out of order. With 16 books extant in the series, it would make a great choice for a binge read, especially for fans of golden age and historical mysteries.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is the sixteenth volume in the Lady Emily series and I really hope that Tasha Alexander keeps the series going for many more! While this isn't my favorite of the series, the story was enjoyable and the twists fun. I didn't guess the ending, which was fun.

I'm still not enjoying Cat's character and really wish she wasn't included. I do wish we saw more of the boys, as I think they would be fun traveling with Emily and Colin. The secondary story really took you out of the story and was more of a distraction than anything.

The narrator did well, but I do feel like she's voiced older than I imagine Lady Emily.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an advanced audiobook copy.

If you are a fan of Agatha Christie then you will like Tasha Alexander’s new book, Secrets of the Nile, it is a takeoff and homage to Christie's Death on the Nile, but with a slight twist.

This is a Lady Emily series mystery like famed Belgian detective and world-renowned investigator Hercule Poirot in Ms. Christie's novels. The setting is Egypt 1904 and Lady Emily and her husband Colin Hargreaves along with Hargreaves' daughter and overbearing mother, Lady Hargreaves, travel to Egypt on holiday (the British term for our American vacation), invited by Lady Hargreaves childhood friend Lord Betram Deeley. They are not the only guests, Lord Deeley also invited several of his closest friends to experience the exotic wonders of Egypt, its past and present.

Lord Deeley quickly exits the picture, murdered by ???? Each of his closest friends could have a reason to see him dispatched. You quickly think, this is a story very much like a Poirot mystery, but you would be wrong. While the main story is set in 1904, the author gives us another story, one set in ancient Egypt surrounding a sculptor, her twin brother and his wife, and her life in ancient Egypt, both told at the same time. What do these two stories have in common? How will they both end? You will have to listen or read the book to find out. Suffice it to say, the stories will keep you guessing until the very end

Frankly, I am glad I received the audio version versus the written. Bianca Amato narrates the book; she does a wonderful job in her portrayal of Lady Emily and all the characters. She deftly and respectfully imitates the Egyptian characters throughout and brings alive each character and their nuances. Thanks to her wonderful dialogue, you are engrossed in the mysteries all the way through to the end. The combination of the author's meticulous research and the narrator’s engrossing narration, you are given a history lesson in the customs, rituals, spiritual, and social and family beliefs and interactions of ancient Egyptians. She also shares with us the forms, customs, upper crust standards of the wealthy British and their air of superiority in colonial times, all vividly brought to life by Ms. Amato (I had my bottle of Pepto nearby as I listened to and visualized the British characters).

This was the first time I have read/listened to a book written by Ms. Alexander and narrated by Ms. Amato. I must say, Job Well Done to both.

Thank you to netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to listen to a complimentary copy of this audiobook in return for a reviwe based upon my honest opinion.

This was an enjoyable story, the tale takes place in Egypt in ancient Egypt and in 1904. Lady Emily is very much like an Agatha Christie character, I loved seeing her solve the mystery of Lord Deeley's death. There were lots of red herons and twists to this story and the ending was well written.

This is the sixth book in the series, I have not read or listened to any of the others, but did not feel that this hampered my enjoyment in the least. I would definitely read and/or listen to another. The narrator did a good job and the cadence of her voice was lovely to listen to, great intonation and emphasis. During Hurricane Fiona, I did not need to worry about entertainment in the days long power outage as I had this wonderful book to listen to.

This was a fun listen! I love a historical cozy mystery and this was exactly that. I jumped into the series without having read any previous books but I didn't feel like I missed out on context or back story. It felt very Agatha Christie-esk, perfect for fans of light murder with a twist at the end.

This Agatha Christie style novel is #16 in the Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries. It’s not necessary to read the earlier novels, it can be read as a stand alone. This book was so much fun to read. It has a huge cast of well developed colorful characters. It also has a story within the story from ancient times that ties into the main story. It’s full of intrigue and mystery with a perfect amount of twists and surprises. Some of these types of novels move along a bit slow for me but this one moved at great pace. Definitely 5 stars!

I'm late to the party for the Lady Emily series as this is the 16th installment. Even so, I didn't feel lost. The author provided enough background information for a new reader without it disrupting the story.

This story follows two timelines and two stories taking places in ancient Egypt and in 1904. Egypt always lends an atmospheric nature to a story. It alternates between Lady Emily and her efforts to solve a present day murder and the story of Meryt, a sculptress in Regnal Year Two. Alexander does a great job unfolding Meryt's story using present day characters and clues. I also liked her relationship with her husband, Colin. He was a caring but not smothering husband who supported his wife's efforts to solve a mystery. I listned to the ALC narrated by Bianco Amato who did a fantastic job on the narration.

This also a great homage to Amelia Peabody for lovers of Agatha Christie. If you like Agatha Christie or stories about ancient Egypt, you will enjoy Secrets of the Nile.

I've already borrowed the first book in the series, And Only to Deceive, so that I can read the entire series.

Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC of this book.

#secretsofthenile
#ladyemilyseries
#tashaalexander
#netgalley
#macmillanaudio
#egypt
#agathachristiefans

Secrets of the Nile Tasha Alexander is the 16th book in the Lady Emily Ashton series. This is the first book I read in the series but I will definitely be reading more of these books. The story went back and forth between 1904 and a very long time ago in Egypt. Lady Emily is vivacious and charming and worked to solve the mystery of her host.
I felt like I was in Egypt with the skillful way the author described the setting. At first, I wasn't into the secondary story, but it quickly sucked me in. This can be read as a stand alone, but I strongly recommend reading the books in order. I listened to the book on audio. The narrator had a pleasant voice. Many thanks to the author, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#SecretsoftheNile #NetGalley

SECRETS OF THE NILE by Tasha Alexander is number sixteen in the Lady Emily Mystery series. It is 1904 and Lady Emily, her husband, Colin Hargreaves, her mother-in-law (Ann) and step-daughter (Kat) are undertaking a trip to Egypt. Sounds a bit fraught already, right? After a fabulous trip on the Nile, they join others at a dinner hosted by Lord Bertram Deeley and, of course, someone dies. Next, all the prejudices of the times about women and foreigners are on full display. Still, Hargreaves and Lady Emily persist in their hunt for the murderer. Chapters alternate with a story set in ancient Egypt, but I listened to the audiobook where it was difficult to understand that at first. I am giving this version a neutral rating of three stars although series fans would be apt to more heartily embrace its twists and turns.

What a fun book. It is reminiscent of Agatha Christie. Everyone has a reason to be the murderer and some evidence of why they're not. Add the Egyptian history and scenery and a fascinating story emerges. This was better than expected and the narrator was perfect. I truly had no idea who the murderer was until the end. Great for readers who appreciate the tried and true style of the old mystery.


I received an audiobook from Macmillian Audio through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Ever since I was young and learned about the pyramids and the pharaohs I have been fascinated, so of course a historical mystery based in Egypt is going to tempt me!

Secrets of the Nile by Tasha Alexander is the 16th book in the Lady Emily mystery series, and the first one I’ve read.

This mystery takes place on a trip to the Nile for Lydia with Emily and her husband, where they are visiting with his mother and her friend who has a residence in Egypt. Once all the guests have assembled at the Egyptian house party the host suddenly dies at an elaborate banquet he’s hosting. Every guest is a suspect and has reason to want their host dead. Lady Emily and her husband who formerly worked for the Home Office Take on the lead investigation in the style of Agatha Christie’s Poirot or Sherlock Holmes.

This mystery slowly unfolds laying out every guests reasons to want the host dead and their alibis. I found I had a hunch about half way through as to the end and I was correct, but the detective work was fun to watch unfold!

Other than the mystery, what I really enjoyed about this book is the dual storyline of a mystery in ancient Egypt the takes place in the site that they are excavating during the current day story. This mystery involved an agent agent craft person who finds herself at odds with her new sister-in-law and appears to be cursed because of it. I enjoyed the parallels between the two stories and in general the Egyptian story was just really well done.

I was fortunate to have an audiobook review copy and found the listening experience pleasant. For the Lady Elizabeth portion of the story the narrators British accent worked well and was easy to listen to. At some points in the story we come across characters with different accents, like a Scottish character and the brogue was pretty strong. As for the ancient Egypt timeline, I dd find myself questioning the use of the British accent, but found the prim and proper speech that was exaggerated in this part of the book worked well.

As I said this was my first book in the lady Emily mystery series, so I’d love to read some more and see if this dual storyline is a common occurrence, because it really added another level to this mystery. Fans of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile (currently a Netflix movie), and mystery fans alike will enjoy this caper!

Big thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

#SecretsOfTheNile #TashaAlexander

This entertaining audiobook is a whodunnit story that starts with the host of a dinner dying of cyanide poisoning. As evidence mounted against several suspects, I kept second-guessing who was the true culprit. An entertaining book from start to finish that I would highly recommend, especially for fans of Agatha Christie.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

"Secrets of the Nile" is a dual timeline mystery set in Egypt. Lady Emily and her family have traveled to Luxor and at a dinner party their host drops dead. As they set out to unravel the possible motives of everyone who had been present they encounter an abundance of motives and opportunities. Meantime, the second storyline--that of an artisan in ancient Egypt--unfolds and eventually provides an important backdrop for the early-20th century story. The setting is fabulous and the characters are entertaining. The story is just complex enough to captivate the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this beautifully narrated audiobook. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review it.

Secrets of the Nile AUDIO by Tasha Alexander is the latest entry into her lauded Lady Emily series. Lady Emily; her husband, Colin, his daughter, Kat; and his mother, Ann Hargreaves, were in Egypt, ostensibly as guests of Mrs. Hargreave’s friend, Lord Deeley. They had been friends since childhood and Deeley would have been happy to have the relationship move to the next level if she had given him the slightest inclination she felt the same way. She did not. Emily and Colin were here as chaperones, although whom they were chaperoning was in question. Colin and Emily had kept their hired riverboat so they could sleep there and escape the house party guests, at least for the nights. Everything seemed fine until all of a sudden Lord Deeley fell dead at the dinner table. It was poison and so there would now need to be an investigation. Lady Emily found clues in the house implicating several different guests, possibly even the butler. Lady Emily and Colin forged forward with some help from Lady Hargreave and Cat.

It was an enticing mystery told in two timelines: the years 2 and 1904. The two were held together by the thinnest thread, but both were interesting and illuminating. Alexander conjures up excellent characters, starting with Lady Emily and working down to the least important. One could feel the heat of the desert, and feel the gently rocking of the boat. Lord Deeley had had a plan when he invited them all; no one seemed to know what it was and now he was gone. Mrs. Hargreave felt the loss of her friend, and that loss was palpable in the words of the story. Lady Emily’s greatest cover was her gender, as women were still pretty sheltered at this time. It was a well written tome, consistent with the other Lady Emily books. I have some issues with the overall timeline as it doesn’t seem to hang together, but I’m not sure it matters. It was an enticing read. One I enjoyed greatly.

The reader was Bianca Amato who had a lovely accent which suited the book perfectly. At first I felt her voice to be too old, but as it wore on and I was reminded of how Lady Emily had aged, I fell under her spell. Her voice was melodious and just serious enough to suit to overall demeanor of the book. She didn’t indulge in making voices to suit the characters but simply read. I was lovely.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of the audio version of Secrets of the Nile by MacMillan Audio, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #Netgalley #MacMillan Audio #TashaAlexander #BiancaAmato #SecretsOfTheNile