Cassandra Cross is a young student who travels to Egypt in 1936 on an archeological dig. She discovers an unknown tomb containing a possible mummy of a female pharaoh and an artifact called a Broad Collar. Fast forward to 1978, and Cassandra works as an assistant curator of the Egyptian Antiquities Department at The Met.

In 1978, Annie is an 18-year-old woman who excitedly gets a job as an assistant to Diana Vreeland, and works with her as they prepare for the Met Gala.

Cassandra and Annie’s paths cross on the night of the Met Gala, when a beautiful and rare artifact of the Cerulean Queen is stolen. They soon embark on a journey to Egypt to investigate claims that the artifact was smuggled there.

I loved this book so much! The dual timelines are done exceptionally well, and each character had so much depth to them. I never found myself excited about one timeline and bored by the other, as sometimes happens. There are themes of sisterhood and found family, all interwoven through a captivating slow-burn mystery. The Egyptian historical facts throughout the novel are fascinating! It never feels like I’m back in a boring college lecture. I couldn’t get enough. This is my first novel by Fiona Davis, and it won’t be the last. If you’re a historical fiction fan and love a good mystery, this is a must-read!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the gifted eARC!

Fiona Davis has written another wonderful historical fiction novel centering around a New York City landmark. This one is a dual timeline that takes place in 1936 in Egypt and 1978 in New York, more specifically the Met Museum. The story centers around Charlotte, an archeologist who early in her career was overlooked in favor of the men on her team excavating in Egypt and Annie, a young woman trying to figure out her life in 1978 New York while dealing with a needy and manipulative mother. The two come together at the Met Museum and end up trying to solve the mystery of a stolen artifact. The story then takes them back to Egypt, a place Charlotte promised herself she'd never return to.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked both Charlotte and Annie and found them well-drawn and nuanced. I found the story interesting and it kept my attention. I thought the discussion of repatriation of artifacts was well done and did not provide an easy answer because there really isn't one.

My main criticism of the book is that I didn't get a really good feel for the time and place of 1978 New York. It just didn't feel detailed enough or specific enough to that particular time and place. My other complaint is that the ending felt a little too neat.

Overall, this is a fun and interesting historical fiction novel. I definitely recommend it if you like other Fiona Davis novels. Thank you to @netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC!

Fiona Davis writes a sweeping historical fiction epic that takes you from the archeology fields of Egypt to the magical Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This book is a must-read for historical fiction lovers as Davis weaves the life of Charlotte Cross, an Egyptologist at The Met whose tragic past catches up to her at the 1978 Met Gala. Davis unfolds Charlotte's life from 1938 through the 1978 timeline, and readers are taken on a suspenseful journey of romance, lost love, history, and thoughts about antiquities and museum practices in the modern age.

I absolutely loved this book and had a hard time putting it down. The intricate blend of historical intrigue and richly developed characters kept me hooked from the very beginning. Davis has a way of transporting readers to another time, immersing them in the vibrant world she so carefully crafts. This is the first of her books that I have read and I am definitely invested in her writing.

The dual timeline structure was masterfully executed, with each thread weaving together seamlessly to create a compelling and emotionally resonant story. The protagonist’s resilience and determination were inspiring, and the vivid settings brought history to life in such a beautiful way.

If you love historical fiction with strong, relatable heroines and a touch of mystery, then this is a must-read! Also, who wants to go to Egypt with me?

This is such a good book! I could not put it down! Like all Fiona Davis books it is the story of strong women trying to create a life of their own, there is a mystery set around an iconic New York City building, in this case the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and it has dual timelines, Charlotte is an aspiring archeologist with an internship in Egypt in the 1930's. It is everything she dreams of and so much more but after a tragedy she returns to New York City and never speaks of her time in Egypt. Flashforward to the 1970's and Charlotte is an assistant curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art helping with the King Tut exhibit and putting together research that would change long held beliefs when an Egyptian collar is loaned to the museum. Charlotte found it in Egypt and she thought it was lost in the tragedy that sent her back to New York City. Suddenly she is questioning everything she knows about what happened in Egypt. A theft of an object during the Met Gala has her returning to Egypt to find answers. Annie loves the Metropolitan Museum of Art and when she has an opportunity to work on the Met Gala she seizes it. When the theft during the Gala has the police questioning her she is determined to figure out what happened and forces her way to Egypt with Charlotte. The trip is filled with more questions and danger. Will they figure it out before it is too late? This is so, so good! The writing style pulled me into the world of Charlotte and Annie. I highly recommend this book.

Another fantastic story from Fiona Davis. This one takes place mostly in NYC like all of her previous novels, but the main character is an Egyptologist and spends some time in Egypt as well. Interesting story about a stolen artifact from the MET and some discussion about where the artifacts “belong” - where they will be properly preserved or where they came from.
Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the digital ARC.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis is another must read for fans for historical fiction. Through the character of Charlotte, the reader gets a look into the life of a female archeologist in Egypt during the 1930's. The main story line follows Charlotte Cross during her archeological discovery in the 1930's and decades later as an employee of the Met in NYC during the 70's. A young and naive Charlotte meets her husband while working on an excavation in the Valley of the Kings in the 30's. She gets pregnant, and so the couple weds. Charlotte, although, in love with her infant daughter, misses the excitement her career previously brought her. One afternoon, her husband rushes home and tells her they must pack a bag and leave immediately. They board an ill-fated voyage, and their lives are forever altered. Charotte, now 60, has refused multiple opportunities to return to Egypt. The question is why would a renowned Egyptologist refuse to further her career and return to the land she once proclaimed to love? What happened four decades ago that haunts her still?

The reader is also given a peek inside the operations of the Met through the story of Annie, who unexpectedly becomes an assistant to the woman in charge of fashion at the Met. A series of events will transpire that will lead Annie to Charlotte, and even overseas to Egypt. The two women's lives from different generations will merge in a fascinating edge-of-your-seat mystery.

If you loved other Fiona Davis mysteries, this one is another hit. I did not love it quite as much as her last novel, but it still kept me turning the pages. Thanks to Penguin Group and Netgalley for this ARC. I'll be recommending this one for sure!

This is a dual perspective, dual timeline historical fiction novel that takes place in the 1930’s and in the 1970’s. This is the second novel that I have read by this author and I enjoy how she tells a story. This book is fiction but heavily rooted in historical fact. I am not well versed in Egyptian history or art but found the information in this book to be fascinating. I thought the storyline unraveled a little slowly and the ending a little predictable. I pretty much knew how things were going to end just not how it was going to play out. With that being said, I was fully invested in figuring out what happened to Charlotte and what happened to the stolen queen. I loved the character development and the relationship that developed between Charlotte and Annie. I think the relationship that each woman had with her parents was something that connected them in a way that they didn’t understand. I also think that they each needed something in the other that life had unfairly robbed them of. Overall a good story with strong female characters and a history rich plot that was intriguing to watch unravel. My only complaint is that the lead up to the action was a little slow and the ending a little predictable. This is definitely something that I would recommend to historical fiction lovers.

I know I say this with every new Fiona Davis release, but I’m going to say it again. The Stolen Queen is my new favorite. I absolutely loved Charlotte, Annie, and all things Egyptian. After finishing, I want to curl up and watch National Geographic documentaries about Egyptian antiquities, and I was glad that Fiona’s author’s note cleared up my lingering questions about whether Hathorkare was based on an actual female pharaoh. (Spoiler - yes). The Stolen Queen’s conclusion was everything I wanted it to be, I wish I knew how to give this book all the stars in hieroglyphics, but five regular stars will have to do.

In 1936 Egypt, a tragedy alters Charlotte’s life. Decades later, in 1978 New York, a missing artifact and a possible ancient curse force Charlotte and a young assistant to revisit Egypt and confront a dangerous past.

This is a fascinating and entertaining book. I might try reading the it again after it’s released to see if it changes at all from the ARC. The climax and ending are a bit facile and don’t feel like they were set up effectively. Overall, though, the story is gripping and emotional.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I love how Fiona Davis centers iconic NYC landmarks in her historical novels—and that she always clarifies which parts are fabricated. This time, she takes us into The Met’s Egyptian exhibition during the museum's final preparations for its famous gala.

I recently read, "All the Beauty in the World," which is also about the Metropolitan Museum of Art. "The Stolen Queen" dovetails nicely adding an air of mystery and reflections on different eras.We meet Charlotte, a young American archaeologist who builds a life in 1936 Egypt, only for it to end in tragedy. During her time there, she makes an exciting discovery that shockingly resurfaces in 1978 NYC. In a field dominated by men, Charlotte treads carefully to avoid threatening male egos. The story weaves between decades and across locations—NYC, Luxor, and Cairo—in an intriguing caper.

In 1978, 19-year-old, Annie, a born-and-raised New Yorker, is searching for a mentor to guide her. She finds herself at The Met, assisting with the gala, where her path crosses with Charlotte’s. Together, they form a team that surpasses societal and personal expectations. Annie’s storyline was touching, though I felt her separate POV wasn’t entirely necessary.

Davis raises compelling ethical questions about the repatriation of artifacts—who decides what’s displayed, and who has the right to access it, if anyone. I also loved the storyline around Charlotte’s research on the female Pharaoh Hathorkare.

I couldn’t put this down during the final third of the book, as decades (and even centuries!) of mysteries are solved layer by layer, with plenty of twists and turns. There were moments that I gasped and others that made me cry.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Fiona Davis delivers an intriguing tale combining 1930s Egyptian exploration and young love with 1970s Met gala heist. She weaves her narrative around Charlotte Cross experience as a young undergrad in Egypt and the later late career Ms Cross working at the Met along with the 19 year old Annie who has parlayed her love of the Met into a position assisting with the Met Gala. This character driven mystery touches on themes of motherhood, child loss, and abandonment in the most touching slowly unfolding ways. Many thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for this ARC for an honest review.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis takes readers on a glamorous ride spanning Ancient Egypt, to the Met Gala. With a plot full of intrigue, adventure, and fabulous women carving their own paths, it’s a fun escape into the opulent and mysterious.

That said, the story feels a bit rote at times, with familiar beats and a simplicity that undercuts some of the potential depth. While it didn’t blow me away, it’s still an enjoyable read for fans of historical fiction with a modern flair. A solid pick for a weekend of chic escapism!

Thank you so much to Dutton Books for the gifted book!

WOW- this one really blew me away in the end! I am SO picky about historical fiction mostly because 1. I don't love reading about war and 2. I am usually bored to tears. Thankfully, neither of those things were an issue AT ALL in this book!

As someone who mostly reads quick thrillers where I'm on the edge of my seat, books like this require a little more focus for me and let me just say that the payoff of this one was WORTH it!

The book is told in dual timelines one taking place in Egypt in in 1936 and the other in New York City in 1978. I absolutely adored both Charlotte and Annie and felt so invested in both of their character's stories! I felt so much while reading this book and even shed a couple tears, especially at the end.

Somehow this was my first book by Fiona Davis even though a few have been on my list for a long time! I'm excited to go back and read her previous works after loving this one!

You don't want to miss this one!

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis. I have read everything by Fiona Davis and love the way she takes a NYC landmark and spins a story around it. This was has some great archaeological backstory which I found really fun and different. It was a fast read that I very much enjoyed. Highly recommended!

When I finish a book and immediately google and watch videos about the characters of the book I know it’s a 5 star, this was that book. I loved the Egyptian setting and the Metropolitan Museum setting. Now I want to go to Egypt and The Met, The Met is only an hour and half away from me so I will probably go there first…

The characters in this book were great, I loved Annie and Charlotte's friendship and I loved hearing about Charlotte's backstory. I found myself wanting to continue reading this book and I think it will stick with me for a while. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a historical fiction book with dual timelines and a mystery involving stolen Egyptian artifacts.

5 stars!

Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Spoiler alert: I am a huge fan of Fiona Davis. I am proud to say that I have devoured every one of her books. She did not let me down with The Stolen Queen. The novel has dual timelines - Egypt 1936 and NYC 1978. Both were strong, with well-developed characters weaved in. If you enjoy a bit of history, a good taste of Egypt, cleverly constructed plotlines, and affable protagonists, this fabulous novel is for you.

A definite must-read for historical fiction lovers. Super well researched. The timelines were a bit difficult to follow, but, overall, I loved this one!

I
This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025 and it’s lived up to what I’d hoped.

From the very start I was drawn in and engrossed in every aspect of this story. The two timelines, one set around the Met museum in 1978 and the other in Egypt in 1936 and 1978 were both so interesting and compelling. The characters had very interesting stories and with some dramatic moments I couldn’t stop reading. This was such a good story and one that my historical fiction loving friends are going to want to pick up asap!

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Pub day: January 7, 2025

Big thanks to Dutton for sending me a digital arc!

*I spent a ridiculous amount of time googling information from this story, so many amazing things like how modernized the Egyptians were, even to the point of women having many of the same rights as men.
Learning that the Nile flooded every year in the spring and that flooding left silt that allowed for crops to grown as well as cleaned the water was so interesting. Of course, now a dam keeps that from happening and the benefits of the flooding have been forgotten.

I would give this 3.5 stars, rounded up. This book is classic Fiona Davis: dual timelines, with the story coming together at the end. We meet Charlotte Cross, who is an anthropology student who gets to go along on a dig to Egypt in 1935. She suffers an unspeakable personal tragedy which also involves some missing artifacts.
In 1978, we meet Annie, a young woman who works for someone who is planning a gala at the Met, where Charlotte now works. Charlotte becomes obsessed in proving that a particular woman from ancient Egypt was much more important than she was believed to be. Eventually, Charlotte returns to Egypt to prove this, find some missing jewels that were connected to her husband who she believed to be dead, and to find her daughter. Annie manages to invite herself along.
This was all right--definitely not my favorite Fiona Davis novel. For example, I much preferred The Spectacular. I am not sure if the formula that the author is using is getting to me or doesn't fit here, or whether the Egypt angle isn't grabbing me. The characterization was good, which is a strong point here.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group, Dutton for providing me with a copy of this ARC in return for my honest opinions.