Fiona Davis outdid herself again with her newest novel The Stolen Queen. The story takes place between Egypt in the late 1930’s and NYC in 1978. Charlotte Cross is the associate curator for the Met in the department of Egyptian Art in 1978. In 1936 at 19, she was given the opportunity to go to Egypt and work with archeologists on digs. She marries, has a child, and is suddenly forced by her husband to leave the country. While fleeing, tragedy strikes and she winds up alone at her parents home in NYC. She is not sure what happened or what became of her husband or daughter.

Annie Jenkins is 18 and and taking care of her mother who at 38 is still trying to get modeling jobs even though she is past her prime. Annie is waitressing and cleaning to help support them. She lands a job at the Met as assistant to Diana Vreeland, previous fashion editor, who is now responsible for organizing the Met Gala. Things go wrong at the Gala, Egyptian art is stolen, and Annie is thought responsible. Charlotte’s research into the ancient Pharaoh Hathorkare is also stolen. Somehow Annie acquaints herself with Charlotte and forces herself on her. She departs to Egypt uninvited to help track down what happened to the art, clear her name, and help Charlotte find out what happened in her previous life.

As with all of her books, the story is well written and suspenseful. I like the back and forth between past and present, giving us inside into what happened in the past and how her life has changed in the present. Knowing both brings everything together, although done in bits and pieces. Only confusing part to me was why Charlotte so readily took Annie under her wing although as is shown, Annie was needed, useful and it certainly helped develop character in her.

Being a fan of Fiona Davis, and having read most of her books, I want to thank Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read her new pre-release.

4+ stars!

“She’d wanted to give Hathorkare the acclaim she deserved, show the world what a woman could do when she was given a chance.”

I have read and enjoyed every title in Fiona Davis’s catalogue of historical fiction works based on New York City landmarks, and this might be my favorite to date! Her latest features The Metropolitan Museum of Art and a narrative filled with stolen antiquities, personal heartbreak and a movie worthy scene of the famous Met Gala.

Two timelines are shared by main character Charlotte Cross, a young anthropology student in Egypt in 1936, and a curator at New York’s Met Museum in 1978. Annie Jenkins, a young women struggling to find her place in the world crosses paths with Charlotte in the seventy’s timeline and the two set off on an adventure of a lifetime. Settings including Egypt’s Valley of the Kings added a richness to the plot about a woman trying to right wrongs and give an ancient female pharaoh her due. Cameos small and large were noted and appreciated by this reader - Mikhail Baryshnikov, Bill Cunningham, George Balanchine and Diana Vreeland are sprinkled throughout the pages. Throw in the possibility of an ancient curse and you most certainly have my attention! Davis fans will be intrigued and enamored by The Stolen Queen.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Penguin / Dutton for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis
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It’s 1978 and Charlotte Cross is helping to organize the King Tut exhibit at the Met. A new valuable artifact is loaned, an Egyptian broad collar. Charlotte has seen this collar before forty years ago in Egypt, the night she lost everything.
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What I liked:
-I loved that this story centered around a female archaeologist who was obsessed with Egypt.
-I loved both Charlotte and Annie. They really needed each other and I’m glad they were able to work and bond together through this book. Female friendships are awesome in stories and I particularly enjoyed that their was a significant age gap in their friendship.
-All the mysteries in the this story really made it intriguing. I was definitely in it to find out about Charlotte’s family!
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another captivating story from Fiona Davis. This is my third read from her and it won’t be my last, I’m positive.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Charlotte enjoys her job at the met. They have never been this busy. When an priceless item goes missing, Charlotte is not sure where to turn. A must read.

I think that The Stolen Queen is the first Fiona Davis novel that I have read. I love historical fiction, and so I kept wondering why this author was new to me. The Stolen Queen raises several important questions. Who owns the past? How important is a mentor to escape one's social class? What is the obligation in caring for a parent? Is creating a life free of obligation really the ideal? The actual stolen queen doesn't show up until most of the way through The Stolen Queen, which made the title seem less important than it should have been. By the end of Davis' novel, the opportunity to start over, to rewrite one's life seems to be what matters far more than the stolen queen of the title.

The Stolen Queen is set in two timelines, two locations, and two POV. Because the chapters are titled with name and date, keeping the two lives straight is actually easy. The locales in Egypt work best, since they are simply the most interesting. The streets and venders are nicely described. I have been to the Met many times and so could easily visualize the locations. Charlotte and Annie are likable characters. The actual history is fine, although the dates are inaccurate.

What doesn't work as well? The pacing is off. The Stolen Queen is slow to start and and too fast and far too contrived at the finish. Davis ties up every point, but life isn't like that. As a result, the end feels unbelievable and false. Even a novel needs truth. The possibilities in The Stolen Queen need to feel real. Unfortunately, much of the bias and discrimination described in the novel might be true, but it is off-putting. Museums in Egypt might be less wealthy than the Met, but that doesn't make them worthless. Everyone and everything in The Stolen Queen is categorized in some way, but to have archivists at the Met seem to embrace that notion is problematic. I doubt they will appreciate that view in The Stolen Queen.

For Davis fans, The Stolen Queen will likely be perfectly fine. I did enjoy this novel but with caveats, as noted above. I just wanted there to be more. Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. This review includes my honest assessment of the strengths and weaknesses.

3.75 stars

This book follows two timelines; an Egyptian archaeological dig in the 30’s and a theft of an important artifact in the 70’s. This story had a lot of fun “historical” elements to it (based on real history but fictionalized to fit into the narrative) and I liked all the museum details and Egyptian locations. It had a little bit of an Indiana Jones meets heist movie vibe, which I thought was fun. There’s also some family drama/mystery involving some of the characters which added some intrigue to the storyline as well.
The plot just moved a little too slow for my liking. Not much happened in the first half of the book, especially in the 70’s story line. The 30’s plot added some good backstory but other than that I felt like it dragged a little bit. Since the book is called The Stolen Queen, I was expecting that to be a major plot point in the book but it kind of wasn’t. It doesn’t even happen until almost 60% into the book and even then it was overshadowed by other elements. So many things happen in the last half of the book which made the ending feel a little bit rushed and also made the story a little bit hard for me to follow.
However, if you are a fan of slower paced mysteries with lots of historical elements, especially relating to ancient Egypt, you might enjoy this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the ARC!

I requested this because I'm a fan of Fiona Davis.

I can't get into it. It's been on my nightstand for over a month now and I'm not even 25% of the way through. I'm in a grey area where yaybe it's my mood? Maybe it's just not a book for me. For now, I'm hitting the pause button and moving on without prejudice.

Charlotte Cross lives a simple life as a curator at the Metropolitan Museum in the Department of Egyptian Art. She moves through her days proficiently and spends off time conducting research on a lost female Pharoah. Charlotte is putting forth every effort to bring her importance to life. When an artifact from her past is brought into the museum, the tragedy from all those years ago come flooding back.

Annie Jenkins wants to find her place in the world. She finds herself as the assistant to Diana Vreeland for the upcoming Met Gala after a little help from a friend. Annie wants to take on the responsibilities and prove her worth, but when a mishap on her part serves as a distraction for a heist, Charlotte and Annie's worlds will collide.

Together the duo journey to Egypt on a hunt for the missing piece as well as find the truth about what happened the first time Charlotte was there. So much pain and hurt will resurface as the two take on mystery and resistance. Along the way, they even find out what they may really want in life.

The Stolen Queen is told in split timelines, bouncing between 1936 and 1978, as well as from both Annie and Charlotte's point of view. I adored this book from the start. It has a beautiful blend of history, fashion, and mystery while still remaining very character driven. So many fine details are interlaced throughout expanding on Fiona Davis' time spent researching. This was fast paced, heart wrenching at times, and overall a joy to read. Highly recommend to readers of all genres. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book as well as the team at Dutton.

I cannot think of the last time I had a chance to read a book for fun, which is saying a lot. I was fortunate enough to land a galley for this one with the promise that I’d write about it just before its official publication, which is January 7, 2005—so go bookmark it on Amazon or wherever you prefer to buy your books. Why am I posting a review about a book that has nothing to do with the guitar? Well, it does have to do with The Met, whose guitar events we’ve covered here many times on this website so I couldn’t help but feel intrigued by the plot line, which feels like a grown-up version of The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis (Dutton, 349 pages) is an entertaining novel that deftly weaves together two timelines: the sun-drenched archaeology of 1930s Egypt and the gritty glamour of late 1970s New York. The story follows young anthropologist Charlotte Cross from her early days excavating in the Valley of the Kings to her later role as the Met's Egyptian Art curator, where she crosses paths with Annie Jenkins, a teenage fashion aspirant working alongside the legendary Diana Vreeland on the nascent Costume Gala. When an artifact vanishes and whispers of an ancient pharaoh's curse surface, these two women must navigate both the Met's marble halls and Egyptian sands to uncover the truth.

The novel shines in its meticulous research and vivid sense of place, whether capturing the backstage drama of the Met or the dangerous allure of archaeological digs. While both heroines prove compelling in their respective quests for professional recognition, Charlotte's later-life tendency to over-justify her past decisions occasionally undermines an otherwise self-assured character. Nevertheless, the book transcends simple period drama through its sharp exploration of ambition, mentorship, and the prices women pay for success in male-dominated fields.

Tailor-made for a film adaptation, this atmospheric thriller combines museum politics, fashion history, and archaeological intrigue into a satisfying adventure. Recommended.

THE STOLEN QUEEN is another winner from Fiona Davis! Fans of Davis' prior work know what to expect: an engaging dual timeline historical. The reader is immediately immersed in both storylines and along for the journey. THE STOLEN QUEEN delivers on every front, and I especially enjoyed how the novel explores the issue of stolen art/artifacts. Given the subject matter I was a bit concerned about this issue going in, but I was satisfied with how it was handled. The internal politics/workings of the Met are also fun to read about.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Set in 2 different time periods and two different locations, this book delves into Egyptian history and artifacts and the lengths people are willing to go to in order to protect them or possess them. This book is iconic Fiona Davis, so if you're a fan of her other books, you are sure to enjoy this new one as well.

Thank you Penguin books and Netgalley for providing The Stolen Queen in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fiona Davis is a masterful storyteller. Using famous landmarks to tell intriguing stories. Told in a dual timeline, 1936 and 1978, It was never hard to follow along with the stories. Fiona Davis uses excellent detail without making it too wordy. The story follows an anthropology student on a dig in 1936 and a Met curator in 1978. How their stories become intertwined is amazing.

I absolutely loved The Stolen Queen, just as I knew I would. Fiona Davis is a master of historical fiction, weaving well-rounded characters and crafty mysteries into beautiful stories that are as educational as they are entertaining. I am enthralled from the first word to the last every time I pick up one of her books. The Stolen Queen’s dual storylines between late 70s New York and 1930s Egypt are fascinatingly descriptive. I love the inclusion of archaeology and the Met Ball details. The supporting characters are delightful and Charlotte and Annie are a wonderful duo. What a treat!

It's 1978 in New York City and Charlotte Cross is associate curator of the Metropolitan Museum's Department of Egyptian Art. While everyone is preparing for the King Tutankhamun exhibition, Charlotte is focused on the history of another pharaoh, the ancient Egyptian woman Hathorkare whose likeness is on display in a statue known as the Cerulean Queen. A gold necklace believed to belong to Hathorkare arrives as a loaned artifact, triggering memories of Charlotte's time in Egypt. The narrative shifts to 1936 as archaeologist Charlotte gets her big chance to be part of a dig in the Valley of the Kings. She finds treasures, romance and tragedy.

The story also introduces nineteen-year-old Annie, who, in 1978, is navigating her path in life and becomes Diana Vreeland's assistant for the upcoming Met Gala. However, her dream job turns into a nightmare when a priceless item connected to Hathorkare is stolen during the event. Charlotte and Annie, an unlikely pair, head to Egypt to find the missing treasure, confronting danger and Charlotte's past. 

Fiona Davis sets her captivating historical fiction novels in New York City's most iconic locations. In The Stolen Queen, she has selected the Metropolitan Museum, a personal favorite of mine. If you love The Met and have an interest in Egyptian history, this book will enthrall you. I have adored all of Davis' work, and this well-researched, absorbing novel is now one of my favorites of hers. The bar has been set very high for 2025 reading.

This is my first Fiona Davis book and it didn’t disappoint. I loved leaning about the MET museum and Egypt. The dual timeline was great too, because we get to experience Charlotte in Egypt. When a missing antique goes missing, Charlotte is forced to return to each other, I think she promised she would never go back to. I really enjoyed this one! can’t wait to read Davis’ back list

Not sure how I have missed this author. This book was brilliant! Lots of adventure, tension and history to enjoy. I love the Met so the references to the Costume Institute were a real treat.
Fiona Davis evoked the smells, sounds and personality of Egypt so well both in the past and present. And weaved around the historical aspects was a mystery and tragedy of a night that changed Charlotte’s life forever.
Cannot wait to read all of the authors other books.
Thanks Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

The author cites Lynne Olson's EMPRESS OF THE NILE as inspiration. Since that was a fantastic story, I looked forward to this historical novel. It did not disappoint. Her sense of place was spot-on, both about Egypt and the annual Met Gala in new York. The politics of the Egyptian department and the issues of repatriation of stolen art were very well described. I could not put this book down!

“Bukra fil mish mish”……It means “Tomorrow when the apricots bloom”

Fiona Davis is a must read author for me!
I absolutely loved The Stolen Queen!!
This story is told in a dual timeline. It alternates between Egypt 1936 and New York City 1978 told from the views of Charlotte Cross and Annie Jenkins.

1936 Egypt…. As a college student Charlotte travels to Egypt to take part in an archeological dig at the Valley of the Kings. Charlotte discovers a burial chamber and the broad collar necklace. She falls in love. Events that will change lives of those she loves.

1978 New York City…..Charlotte is working as an associate curator at the MET in the Egyptian Art department.
Annie gets a job working with the former Vogue fashion designer Diana Vreeland as her personal assistant. She will be working on the MET Gala. This could be a life changing situation for Annie.
Art is stolen the night of the MET Gala and Charlotte and Annie are caught up in the chaos of that night.
A story of love, tragedy, an ancient curse.
There is something special about the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Fiona Davis taking me back to NYC is always a treat.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the opportunity to read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy of The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis. I would consider Davis to be a solid historical fiction writer and have selected the books for book clubs and recommended them for years. This one, also set in New York, involves the theft of Egyptian Antiquities (thanks for the distinction between Egyptian Art and Antiquities). Its written in a trio of storylines - one being a back and forth in time of Charlotte Cross, curator of the Met, and Annie a young desperate assistant to a fashion editor. The two characters are introduced and backstory provided, before the collide and work together to solve a mystery.
The references to the Egyptian queen , based on a real pharaoh, the archeological sites, the description of the Met and of the antiquities were exquisite. Because of the trio of timelines, the story was bulky in the beginning while we tried to figure out who these two ladies were. I could have done without much of Annie's backstory and focused on Charlotte alone, as I think the first 30-35 percent of the book would have had better pacing and a clearer setup.
That being said, after that the book was a page turner and I really enjoyed it. I would still recommend the book to patrons who are interested in Davis' other books or in Egyptology and Historical Fiction in general.
4* - These opinions are my own and do not represent the opinions of my library.

Charlotte Cross has built a satisfying career as assistant curator in the Department of Egyptian Art at New York’s Metropolitan Museum. It’s 1978, the museum has just opened the Temple of Dendur and is preparing to become the last US stop for the King Tutankhamun exhibit, and Charlotte at sixty has almost completed her long-planned article on Hathorkare, one of ancient Egypt’s few female pharaohs. Between that and a steady romantic relationship with the playwright Mark Schrader, life looks pretty good.

But if things stopped there, the story would end before it began. And this novel has, as they say, “legs.” Davis nimbly juggles three threads and two narrators: Charlotte in 1978, Charlotte in 1936, and Annie Jenkins in 1978. What connects them, besides a shared interest in Egyptology, is the Cerulean Queen, part of an ancient statue of Hathorkare and the stolen queen of the title.

The theft of the Cerulean Queen and the mystery surrounding it presumably explains the publisher’s decision to describe the book as an Agatha Christie throwback and a heist novel. It is those things, but what drew me in and kept me reading was the rich characterization of both Charlotte and Annie as they struggle, independently and together, to come to terms with their own pasts and plot a sustainable and satisfying future.

I plan to interview this author for the New Books Network (link below) around the time of the book’s release.