The Stolen Queen by author Fiona Davis drew me in with its dual timelines and rich storytelling. Charlotte’s story, set in 1936 as she unearths secrets in the Valley of the Kings, and Annie’s journey through 1970s New York while working for Diana Vreeland, offer two very different but equally compelling perspectives. The narrative shifts seamlessly between past and present, building to a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion.

I especially appreciated how the book explores themes like ambition, loyalty, and the ethical dilemmas of preserving history. It’s the kind of story that lingers with you, making it a perfect choice for a book club discussion. There’s so much to unpack, from the characters’ choices to the moral complexities of their discoveries.

This will definitely be added to our library purchase list this winter. I’m looking forward to recommending it to readers who enjoy layered stories with historical intrigue and modern mystery. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Dutton for my free review copy.

As a fan of historical fiction and Fiona Davis, I was excited to see her new novel, The Stolen Queen, available as a Net Galley ARC. The story unfolds across dual timelines: 1930’s Egypt where Charlotte Cross is assisting on an archeological dig in the Valley of the Kings and 1970’s New York City where Charlotte is now working at the Met as associate curator of Egyptian art. We also meet Annie Jenkins who has just been hired as the assistant to Diana Vreeland who is organizing the famous Met Gala. I enjoyed the two settings and time periods and felt the dual timelines worked well. Our two main characters were likable and were both good examples of strong women and their ambition and resilience were admirable. The story moves along rather quickly as the second half begins. I felt there were a lot of coincidences and loose ends tied up a little too easily and a few unrealistic outcomes. If you enjoy learning about ancient Egypt and the inner workings at the Met then The Stolen Queen is for you! I had higher expectations so my overall rating is 3.5 stars.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Fiona Davis is known for her two-timeline stories, and The Stolen Queen follows this pattern. This time, the story is split between 1978 in New York City and 1936 in Egypt. The main character is Charlotte Cross. She is in her early sixties, and I love a story with a seasoned protagonist at the helm! We also hear about Charlotte's life in Egypt before she returned to NYC and began work at the Met. Along the way, we meet Annie, a young girl trying to find her purpose in 1978 NYC. Of course, many other characters wind their way through Charlotte's story, and there is even a cameo by a famous New York fashion icon!
As always with a Davis book, the writing is excellent. I loved both timelines, but I especially appreciated the Egyptian angle. I have read Kara Cooney's The Women Who Would Be King and recognized much of the mythology surrounding the Egyptian story, so that was fun.
Although there were a few times that I thought the story dragged, like with Charlotte's boyfriend and his daughter, overall, I found the book an entertaining and satisfying read.
Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC.
4.25 out of 5 stars!

In this new historical fiction, Charlotte works at the Met in NYC. She specializes in Egyptian artifacts and old memories surface when an artifact of questionable provenance comes to the museum. When an artifact is stolen from the museum during the gala, Annie joins Charlotte to track it down.

The story alternates between Charlotte’s POV and Annie, a girl who is helping to put on the met gala. We also have flashbacks from Charlotte’s time in Egypt 40 years earlier.

I thought the Egyptian history and artifacts were very interesting. I really enjoyed Charlotte’s chapters. There were a few times where I wanted the story to move along a bit more but overall I really liked The Stolen Queen. Fiona Davis is one of my favorite historical fiction writers and I recommend picking up any of her picks.

Pub date: out now
Thank you to @duttonbooks and @netgalley for the review copy.

I believe that Fiona Davis has done it again. I enjoyed this book immensely--it was somewhat of a learning experience as well as an emotional roller coaster of a book. This book had a somewhat personal meaning to me as it kept mentioning the King Tut exhibit, which I attended when it was in Chicago and actually have two huge posters that have hung in my house for for over forty five years. Annie and Charlotte make a powerful duo, although it took a while for them to begin to work together. I felt like the ending was a little to pat, but in the end, I love a happy ending and this one had all the ends tied up.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis is a fun mix of history, mystery, and adventure. The story follows an archaeologist in 1936 Egypt, and a young woman in 1978 New York both working at the Met Gala. Their worlds collide when an artifact tied to a female pharaoh disappears from the Met’s Egyptian collection. I loved how the book shifts between glamorous New York and the history of ancient Egypt. Charlotte’s past and Annie’s determination make them an unlikely but fun team, and their journey to uncover the truth kept me hooked. The Stolen Queen a great read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a twist!

I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art while on a trip to New York City last December in anticipation of The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis. I knew that part of the novel was set at the Met leading up to and during the “party of the year” known as the Met Gala. I also knew that part of the novel was set at an archeological dig in Egypt. What I didn’t know was that this novel would awaken a profound appreciation of Egyptology, Jackie Kennedy, and how the Temple of Dendur came to be at the Met.
Presented in dual timeline, the novel alternates between Annie, a plucky assistant to the Met’s Diana Vreeland for the gala in 1978, and a tragic event in 1936 that has a lasting effect on associate curator Charlotte Cross. Fiona Davis weaves a thrilling plot involving missing research files, the stolen Cerulean Queen, Egyptian antiquities, and a legendary curse! Smooth transitions between timelines, plenty of historical background, and helpful archaeological terminology sink the reader into the world of hieroglyphics, pharaohs, and digs in the Valley of the Kings. I appreciated the partnership between Annie and Charlotte which slowly develops into mutual respect despite the age and experience differences, as they learn from each other. Davis creates great anticipation leading up to the Met Gala as Annie stomps after Diana Vreeland into various areas of the Met. Details for the flow of hundreds of guests at the “party of the year” are mapped to the restaurant behind the Greek and Roman wing for the dinner, through the King Tut exhibition and finally to the dancing in front of the Temple of Dendur. Everyone’s nerves are tingling!
A missing child and a stolen queen take center stage in this mysterious trek into the Egyptian Valley of the Kings and one magnificent night at the Met. Mystery. Thriller.

This book was so fascinating. This will be one of my favorites this year for sure. The two timelines travel from 1930’s Egypt to 1970’s New York City. There is so much in this one that I found so intriguing that you don't read much about in HF books. I had no idea who Diana Vreeland even was before I read/listened to this book. I mean reading about Egypt, and archeology, and ancient tombs…..it's like a movie. It SHOULD be a movie. I was captivated. The mystery, history, the characters. It transports you right into the story and times. Such a well written book!

I ended up listening to this on audiobook. It was narrated by Linda Jones and thought she was excellent. She did a great job of bringing this story to life. Loved it!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Y’all know I love Fiona Davis. This new one is no different.

We meet Charlotte in 1930s Egypt. She is a young woman on an archeological dig, fighting for her place and for history.

Then we meet her again in New York in the 1970s. She is a different woman, but we don’t know why yet.

We meet Annie and her mother—a flip-flopped relationship. Annie is a girl wise beyond her years. Forced into a caretaker role for a woman everyone else sees as not worth it. But Annie doesn’t, yet.

In classic Davis fashion, we alternate between times and viewpoints, gathering history and relationships until the worlds converge.

This book explores the history of the Met and the ins and outs of antiquities with a dash of Egyptian history. As a millennial, I was obviously obsessed with Egypt when I was younger.

I loved this book. I finished it crying, anticipating what could happen and then with what did happen.

Davis always teaches me something and makes me think about things differently.

Another great Fiona historical fiction piece filled with dual stories and timelines. Starting in 1936, Charlotte is an archaeology student in Egypt, establishing herself after a major find when she’s hit with unimaginable tragedy. Years later in 1978 New York, 18y/o Annie is escaping a terrible home life when she lands a coveted job ahead of the Met Gala, focused on Egyptian Art. When a priceless artifact is stolen, she’s on a mission to clear her name — which is when he pass crosses with that of Charlotte. The duo are led back to Egypt in the recovery where even more secrets come unburied.
At first I didn’t know where this story was going since Egyptian archaeological digs and the Met Gala are polar opposites, but I was so pleasantly surprised by how these stories intertwined. It’s a beautiful piece of historical fiction. Also-I hate Annie’s narcissistic mom (had to put that out there!)
Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a story of two women whose lives intersect in 1978, the year of the King Tut exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum. Charlotte Cross, spent 1936 on an archaeological dig in Egypt. She is now an associate curator at the Met. Fashion loving Annie Jenkins has had a hard life but has a shot at success when Diana Vreeland hires her to assist on the King Tut themed Met Gala. The two women's lives converge when an ancient Egyptian necklace discovered in 1936 by Charlotte turns up and is stolen.

This book was just okay for me. I had a really hard time getting into it. Even at 47% in, I struggled to read more than a few pages at a time. I finished the book because I wanted to see how the stories ended up connecting, but I wouldn't re-read this and I'm not sure it was satisfying enough for me to recommend to many people.

The writing was okay--a little clunky in some parts. Some of the descriptions were great and others were lackluster. I had a hard time picturing the broad collar, which was tough since it's an important aspect of the story. Some characters were frustrating, like Annie's mother. Their relationship overall was frustrating. Annie was such a go-getter, why did she take so much from her mother? Those things weren't compatible for me.

I enjoyed the relationship between Charlotte and Annie a lot, though, which was probably this book's saving grace for me. Overall, I give The Stolen Queen 3/5. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review will be posted on 1/10/25
It's 1978 and Charlotte Cross is an expert in all things Egypt and works at the Met. She has spent years researching the female pharaoh, Hathorkare. Hathorkare has a bad reputation and is deemed unimportant, but Charlotte has come across some things in her research that prove otherwise. However, she needs to travel to Egypt to continue her thesis. This is a problem as she has avoided Egypt since she was last there in the 1930s. Then there's Annie, an aspiring fashion designer, and new assistant to Diana Vreeland, the Met Gala organizer. This is a dream job for Annie, but on the night of the gala, an important Egyptian artifact goes missing. Charlotte and Annie, an unlikely duo, team up to find it and this leads them to Egypt. An adventure ensues. The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis has it all. There's a mystery, excitement, a lot of historical details, and even an old curse; her fans will enjoy this action-packed novel.

The novel's narration jumps from Charlotte to Annie in The Stolen Queen and I found both characters to be compelling. Davis also flashes back to events in both women's lives, which also helps with character development. Charlotte's research on Hathorkare was very interesting; you could tell Davis definitely did her research.

I also really enjoyed the settings of The Stolen Queen. Davis takes us from the glamour of the Metropolitan Museum in New York City and its gala all the way to Egypt. This lent the novel to a lot of action and suspense, which I wasn't expecting, but definitely appreciated. Did I mention there's also an old curse? Some of these details reminded me of some of my favorite Indiana Jones movies.

So, if you are looking for compelling historical fiction that includes more adventure than romance, look no further. Davis delivers an action-packed journey in The Stolen Queen. Let me know in the comments if you have read The Stolen Queen or if it's on your winter TBR list.

Update: TikTok post 1-8
I was excited about this novel. I've been enjoying fiction and non-fiction about ancient Egypt for many years. It started off well with intriguing dual timelines. I liked the settings and the two main women. Challenging relationship dynamics make an impact in the timelines.

The novel is well-researched and Davis presents complex issues in regard to antiquities. The story of a female pharaoh added an appealing layer to the adventure. Multiple mysteries past and present and the stakes for the two women had me hooked.

Unfortunately, the novel’s final third felt rushed and superficial. All the solutions felt too easy, with one thing after another falling into place. The parts that I expected to be the most exciting fell flat, and the main characters became puppets spouting convenient dialogue to get to the next plot point.

The Stolen Queen had potential for greater emotional depth, but over-reliance on far-fetched coincidences and breezy faux closure robbed it. Nonetheless, I cared enough to read it to the end. Overall, it was a fast read with daring women involved in archeology, fashion at the Met, and sleuthing. Their struggles and bravery connect well with the female pharaoh story based on Hatshepsut.

I enjoyed the historical details and immersive initial scenes in the Metropolitan Museum and Egypt in the 1930s. I recommend it for readers who enjoy mysteries and thrillers with great settings and a bit of danger, and for readers who enjoy fiction dealing with ancient Egyptian history. Thank you, Penguin Publishing Group / Dutton and NetGalley for the eARC for consideration. These are solely my own opinions.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I mostly listened to a copy sent to me. I knew right away who the Egyptian queen was when the description of the queens likeness was etched out on the stone. Wait, that’s Queen Hatshepsut not Hathorkare, I said to myself. I’ve been to the Valley of the Kings, to the Met as well as to Hatshepsut’s temple and down to Luxor and Aswan. I always enjoy Fiona Davis books. So much fun!!

I really enjoyed this book set in Egypt in the late 1930's and in New York City (mainly, the MET) in the 1970's. It was a curious and fun romp and felt like an Indian Jones movie come to novel form. I really enjoyed it and loved that the protagonists were women- smart women!

Davis again ventures into historical territory with this novel about the theft of an ancient artifact. First the setting is Egypt in 1936 and student Charlotte Cross has been given a chance to work on an excavation in the Valley of the Kings. By 1978 she’s a curator working at the Met’s Department of Egyptian Art. When an Egyptian artifact that had been lost since 1936, shows up on loan to the museum, questions ensue. Charlotte once had a personal connection to the piece and wants answers as to where it came from and where’s it’s been for 42 years.

Annie is eighteen and manages to impress the famous Diana Vreeland who is planning the big annual Met Gala in 1978. The festivities are beyond extravagant and include the use of the valuable object on loan to the museum. Chaos occurs during the gala and one of the most valuable objects from the Egyptian museum is stolen. Both Charlotte and Annie confront the thief, but he eludes them.

Charlotte is joined by Annie in trying to discover who took the valuable object and determine how he escaped. Charlotte will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery, even traveling to Egypt. Going back means returning to a place that crushed her soul years earlier. But she needs answers and heads out. Annie has lost her job and wants to vindicate herself, so she tags along.

There’s a lot about the provenance of ancient artifacts and Egyptian antiquities. The necklace of Hathorkare (based on the real Hatshepsut) is at the center of the story as is the mythology surrounding this female Pharaoh. Many of the characters are based on real people and real details connected to the tomb and the artifacts. Davis took the factual research and wove in her story of the theft. Though the Egyptian treasures were not stolen, there once was a Met burglary with similar circumstances. This clever manipulation of fact and fiction is enhanced by the great characters and the engaging story. Throw in the grand opulence and artistry of the Met gala and the book has intrigue galore. The one criticism may be that the ending is a bit too tidy. Still, a great novel; one that is exotic and engrossing.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis is a captivating read that will enthrall fans of historical fiction.
Fiona Davis creates such immersive novels!
A remarkable story well told. Davis makes her characters seem so real and this story kept me interested from cover to cover.
Her details and descriptions and characters are perfect and enjoyable, and I look forward to her stories. She paints New York as a stunning, beautiful place with hidden and important histories that need to be shared.

Thank You NetGalley and Dutton for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Charlotte an Egyptologist and is working on a dig in the “valley of the Kings” it is 1938
Move on to 1978 Annie Jenkins lands a job working with former Vogue Editor Diana Vreeland
Charlotte and Annie team up to search for a missing Egyptian antiquity
A great story line and researched very well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and loved the historical side to it.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis is a dual timeline historical fiction novel, publishing today that takes place in 1936 and 1978. It involves love, betrayal, a mystery and the examination of the place of women in society.

I really enjoyed my experience with this novel that was clearly well researched. This was the first novel I have read by Fiona Davis, but it won't be the last. She has an approachable writing style with short chapters and a compelling narrative. I would have preferred both timelines to be equally fleshed out, but I appreciated all the historical details and descriptions sprinkled throughout the text. The details of how antiquities are authenticated were particularly interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Penguin Group (Dutton) for allowing me to read an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.