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.

The Stolen Queen is another hit from Fiona Davis!

Following two women in the 1970s (and one of them also during the 1930s), The Stolen Queen is a story filled with mystery, history, and female empowerment. Davis once again blends fact and fiction to create the story of Charlotte Cross, former archaeologist and current Egyptologist at the Met, and Annie Jenkins, an awkward eighteen-year-old trying to find her place in the world. When their paths cross at the famous Met Gala, what ensues is an adventure that uncovers long-forgotten secrets and painful truths. Both women are well-written and are natural foils of one another, yet their partnership works, and it's fun to see them both grow as they work together. It's also fascinating to read about the history of Egypt and the ins and outs of archaeological digs; Davis based her fictional female pharaoh Hathorkare off the real-life female pharaoh Hatshepsut, and I learned a lot about Egyptian history and the role and power of females in ancient times. Davis also speaks to the complexities of repatriation of artifacts, which was interesting to read.

The ending is a bit cliched, but frankly, it's exactly what I wanted, and it made perfect sense within the bounds of the story. As always, Davis's latest book is entertaining and educational, and I can't wait for her next one!

I appreciate NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of Fiona Davis' new book The Stolen Queen. I love, love, loved it. Davis slowly draws you into the story featuring two women who are stronger than they realize. Charlotte Cross works at the MET. She's in her 60s and has worked there for years. Few people know that she was able to travel to Egypt and help at an archaeological dig in the 1930s as a young college student. After tragedy strikes, she returns home and doesn't talk about what she found in Egypt and what happened there. Annie is a teenager who has an interest in fashion and gets hired by Diana to work as her assistant as she plans the Met Gala in 1978. This is the present time the novel takes place. An ancient artifact is stolen during the ball and the women must work together to figure out who is behind the robbery and clear Annie's name. I enjoyed this book so much, that I'm currently researching a Nile River Cruise to see all the wonderful places described.

Ancient Egypt is such an interesting topic, so when I found out Fiona Davis’s new book was centered around museum thefts and Egyptologists, I was really excited to read it!

I loved the scenes describing archaeological digs (though I have no idea how accurate they were!). I also really appreciated the discussions held around smuggling and repatriation of artwork. It’s a complex topic, and this book really made me want to learn more about the history.
This whole book felt very well planned-out and researched. I especially appreciated the author’s note at the end explaining the basis of the ancient queen in the story and which parts of the story were true or untrue.

The story itself was amazing. I was emotionally invested very early on. While the mystery element was important, the main focus was mostly on mother/daughter relationships. One main character, Charlotte, lost her daughter. The other main character, Annie, acted almost as the parent to her immature and dependent mother. I appreciated that the story showed different types of relationships, and the nuance that goes with family relationships. I found myself blinking back tears several times while I read, in the best possible way!

Fiona has created another page turning historical mystery! This story moves between Charlotte's 1936 time in Egypt as an archeology student and her 1978 time in NYC as an assistant curator at the Met. In the 1936 timeline, she experiences surprising highs and lows. Charlotte discovers a previously unknown hidden tomb that included a broad collar that eventually shows up at the Met in 1978. She also suffers unimaginable loss on the Nile and has to remake what she thought her life would be. For the 1978 Met Gala, director Diana Vreeland wants to use the broad collar on a mannequin in the exhibits and Charlotte isn't convinced of the true provenance of the piece. Annie Jenkins is a teenager with a desire to do more with her life than her hard-on-her-luck mother. Annie gets a job as Diana's assistant for the gala, until an unfortunate incident ruined everything. Annie and Charlotte tried to stop the thief who stole a precious piece of history and ended up assaulted, not once, but twice because of it. Annie finds a way to join Charlotte on her first trip back to Egypt since 1936 to find out the truth about the collar, Charlotte's missing research, and the missing pieces of her heart. From there, the story just moves faster with secrets exposed, thieves caught, and relationships that get explored in a many ways. I had a hard time putting the book down because I had to find out what happened next and isn't that what you want from a book?!?
I connected with both main characters and thoroughly enjoyed their stories as their friendship blossomed. I love that the 60-year-old Charlotte wasn't afraid to take risks and create the life she always wanted once the mystery was solved. The 18-year-old Charlotte and Annie, during very different times, were similar in their desire for adventure and wanting to do something important with their lives. The descriptions of Egypt and its people, the tombs, and the museum brought the story to life. I could feel the blazing heat at the dig in the desert. I could see the Cairo markets and museum exhibits that all played roles in the book. If you have ever seen the Egyptian exhibits at the Met Museum, you can envision how the main characters move through the rooms and see the antiquities in the many rooms devoted to the time.
The author notes explain that much is inspired or based on real people, objects, and places, but to make the timeline work, she had to be creative with the people and events in a respectful manner. There is a recommended reading list that looks very interesting to learn more about the people and time.
I highly recommend this historical mystery, but I caution you-make sure you set aside the time to read this immersive novel!

#TheStolenQueen #NetGalley #historicalfiction
Thank you Dutton Marketing and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Enjoyed this historical fiction—definitely a classic Fiona Davis. Appreciated the two character POVs, as well as the split timeline. Probably 3.5 stars, but I’ll round up since it did grab me!

Courtesy of Netgalley, I received the ARC of The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis. Featuring an iconic NYC landmark, The Metropolitan Museum of Art with it's Department of Egyptian Art and renowned Met Gala as the backdrop, this historical novel begins in 1936 at an archeology dig in Egypt. Following the career of Charlotte Cross forward to the Met in 1978, her past is revealed, while the dilemma of which country owns unearthed antiquities is a timely underlying theme. After a theft at the Met, the search is on for the culprit - the story becomes a compelling thriller! I couldn't stop reading!

The Stolen Queen is about two very different women at different points in their lives who are brought together by their love for Ancient Egyptian Art and the Metropolitan Museum.

I liked this story overall. There was a lot of history within the pages that I really enjoyed. Not only did I learn more about the life of an Egyptologist in the 1930s, but I also gained a deeper understanding of the work that goes on behind the scenes at the Met. It was fascinating, and Davis did a great job weaving these concepts together.

Where the story fell a little flat for me was with our main characters, specifically Annie. While both were likable, they struggled to be more than one-dimensional. Although both experienced some growth, it was limited. I also felt that Annie’s decision that connected her to Charlotte was somewhat of a stretch.

Thankfully, the plot and the history were engaging enough to compensate for what the characters lacked. This is my first book by Davis, and although I won’t be rushing to read more of her work, I’m not opposed to it either. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 (Rounded up for NetGalley)

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Hanson House for my free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a huge Fiona Davis fan and was so excited to be able to read The Stolen Queen early. As with all of her novels, the story circles around a famous New York building, this time The Met. This is dual POV, dual timeline novel follows two women who don't quite fit in with their times, Charlotte in the 1930s as an American archeologist in Egypt, and Annie as a young woman getting her feet on the ground in the women's lib of the 1970s. Their stories cross at The Met when a broad collar from ancient Egypt draws both their attentions. There is mystery, a love story, history, and family drama. I enjoyed The Stolen Queen, but it wasn't quite as good as the Fiona Davis I've come to expect.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the advanced readers copy of The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis.

I have been a bit of a Fiona Davis fan for the last year or so. I find her novels about historic places in New York City fascinating. This latest novel is no exception since it revolves around the iconic Metropolitan Museum. I loved this novel despite the author taking a few liberties she addressed at the end of the novel. I found the Egyptian history and the idea of who should get to own antiquities from any country.

I will definitely be recommending this novel to friends and family.

What works best in the book is probably the Egyptology element. What works least is the amount of frustration I felt reading it. It's one of those books that's just written as misogyny everywhere, all around, which, of course, is accurate. But then somehow our plucky heroines get up the gumption to resolve their problems, even though they don't really? Even though the world is fundamentally unchanged. I wish I had liked this more. Something about it just got under my skin. That said, I know that many, many readers are fans of Fiona Davis and the like, so, for them, I would recommend it.