I was delighted when this offering popped up on the Netgalley dashboard and immediately requested a copy. In my excitement, I didn’t notice it was the fourth in the series, though as soon as I began to tuck in, I realised there was a great deal of the backstory I was missing. So rather than plough on, I went back and read the previous three books back-to-back. My firm advice is not to crash midway into this series – you’ll be missing far too much of the overall story arc. And besides, it would be a real shame to read these delightful, well-crafted historical whodunits out of order.

Stabenow’s depiction of daily life in ancient Egypt is a joy. I didn’t need to read the author’s notes to realise she must have extensively researched the period – it sang off the pages with the descriptions of clothing, food and the rhythms and routines of our protagonist and the characters she interacts with. It’s a fascinating period, anyway. Cleopatra is ruling Egypt more or less single-handedly, given that she’s managed to successfully sideline her weak, vicious brother. She is the acknowledged mistress of Julius Caesar, having borne him a son and thus keeping Rome at bay. Although Egypt is a client state of Rome – at least Cleopatra is still nominally in charge and keen to keep it that way.

However, that doesn’t stop Egypt being caught up in Rome’s political turmoil as the situation tips into war. By now, I’m firm friends with Tetisheri, trading partner with her uncle and secret agent to Cleopatra, who once again has been instructed to deal with another difficult mission, as the political situation continues to worsen. There is a real sense of dread permeating everyday life as war looms – everyone in Alexandria having already been through a miserable experience during the last campaign. Tetisheri and her uncle are also keen to discover what has happened to supplies of the super-herb silphium that Egyptian, Greek and Roman customers are all desperate to acquire. And yes… that was really a thing, as was its sudden disappearance.

All in all, this is an exciting, vividly described story encompassing a fascinating period of history peopled by charismatic characters who even now, thousands of years later, still resonate with power and charm. Stabenow has managed to capture all that exotic pull, without shying away from the darker underbelly of a slave-powered society. If you enjoy your whodunits set within a wonderful historic setting seen through the eyes of a sympathetic protagonist, then this series – and this particular adventure in particular, comes very highly recommended. While I obtained an arc of Abduction of a Slave from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10

Abduction of a Slave is the fourth instalment in Dana Stabenow's Eye of Isis series, set in ancient Egypt during Cleopatra's reign. The novel follows Tetisheri, Cleopatra's trusted agent known as the Eye of Isis, as she embarks on a mission to the Kingdom of Cyrenaica. Initially seeking to investigate a communication breakdown involving a middleman connected to her uncle, a master trader, Tetisheri soon uncovers a complex web of political intrigue. The region is teeming with Julius Caesar's spies, his adversary Metellus Scipio, and the cunning King Juba I. As tensions rise with war looming, Tetisheri's investigative skills are put to the test, especially when a murder mystery surfaces closer to home.

I did not realise this was the fourth instalment, but managed to follow it quite well.

Cleopatra VII’s survival depends on balancing risks: her brother; Greeks versus Egyptians; Romans versus everybody; Julius Caesar specifically. To maintain that balance requires information, and a major source of that is Tetisheri in her secret róle as “The Eye Of Isis”. Sheri has been a friend since childhood and the two are very close. Sheri’s official job is as a partner in her uncle’s import-export business. At the moment there is a serious issue for the business. Supplies of Silphium, a wonder plant which provides flavouring as a spice, but also has medicinal properties and is an aphrodisiac, have dried up and their factor in the neighbouring country of Cyrenaica (approximately modern day Libya), the only source of the herb, has disappeared. She needs to travel there but needs the Queen’s permission. Luckily, Cleopatra needs information on the intentions of the King of Cyrenaica with respect to whether or not he will be supporting Scipio who is preparing to fight Caesar’s army, currently at sea but heading towards North Africa. Cleopatra is, of course, anxious that Caesar (father of her son and her husband in all but name) should win this conflict. So a spy story amidst the complex geopolitics of the time, and a mystery story. In fact, a double mystery: where is the factor but also, where is the herb?
This is the fourth book in the series but it mostly works as a standalone. I say ‘mostly’ because new readers may struggle with the range of strangely named characters, many of whom have slender background stories here. The historical detail is good, well described without getting too overwhelming, and merges well with the story. I applaud the author for choosing the Silphium story as the link between the two countries. The plant (probably a variety of Fennel) was extremely valuable to these communities, and it became extinct for unknown reasons around the time this story is set. As regards the plot, and the subsidiary plot linking to the slave trade, the historical events tend to win at the expense of the mystery. Balancing these two elements I think it’s a 3.5, rounded to 4.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Another good story set in Egypt set during the times when war was normal and the alliance with Rome was difficult. Really well written and nice to explore the complexities of life amongst the elite of society and to understand that this life was constantly fraught with danger. Teti is the main character again and nice to see her character develop.

I didn’t realise that this was the fourth book in this series, and I was lost, there were so many characters and events to keep track of, so my fault for requesting this book without reading the blurb beforehand.
I liked the setting, but thought that the danger was almost implied , and it didn’t really seem to be present in a meaningful way.
The writing was repetitive at times, there wasn’t much evidence of spying, and some characters didn’t have much depth to them.
I gave a three star rating, it would probably be more, if I had read these in the right order.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Head of Zeus, for my advance copy , freely given in return for my honest review.
I will leave copies to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

I did not finish I was bored, confused and there was way to many names to keep track of everyone. A family tree or something similar may help.

Cleopatra, seventh of her name, all-powerful ruler of Egypt, has found her most able and trusted agent in Tetisheri, her Eye of Isis. So when Tetisheri asks permission to visit the Kingdom of Cyrenaica, she is surprised – and suspicious – when her queen grants her leave from Alexandria.

This didn’t work for me. Too many characters with little or no backstory. Might be because it’s the 4th novel and I haven’t read the previous 3. Even so I would have expected some depth to the characters but I had no affection for any of them. I found it very dry. Sorry as I’m sure it took a lot of writing.

Unfortunately I didn't realise that this was the 4th book in the series. I read the first chapter and realised I was missing something. Apologies to the author as I would much rather read the first books than start on book 4.

I didn't realize that this was the fourth book in a series. This made it a bit harder to get to know the characters because these have all been in three books before and their character development probably already has gone a long way. But I still liked the mystery and the setting. A bit tedeious at times but still an entertaining book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

An enjoyable, interesting read. I did not realise that this was the fourth in the series so it took time to get to grips with all the characters. Stabenow had obviously done a lot of research for this period of history but I felt the book lacked some spark. The full danger and intrigue didn't come through. The narrative did not have life.
As with all books, not everyone has the same opinion. Looking at the list of her successful novels, I'm sure many readers will enjoy it.

Abduction of a Slave by Dana Stabenow is an engaging historical mystery set in Cleopatra’s Egypt, brimming with intrigue, political tension, and complex characters. The story follows Tetisheri, Cleopatra’s most trusted agent and the "Eye of Isis," as she is granted permission to leave Alexandria to investigate mysterious occurrences in the Kingdom of Cyrenaica.

Tetisheri is suspicious from the outset of her queen's unusual willingness to allow her absence, and soon, she finds herself entangled in a web of political plots. Cyrenaica is full of danger, from Julius Caesar’s spies to the ambitious King Juba I, and as tensions rise between opposing forces preparing for war, Tetisheri must navigate these treacherous waters. At the same time, she unravels a murder mystery, with dangers lurking much closer to her than she anticipated.

The book expertly weaves historical figures like Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and others into a thrilling narrative, blending political intrigue with a personal mystery. Tetisheri is a well-drawn protagonist, intelligent and resourceful, and the setting of ancient Egypt is richly depicted, bringing to life the complex political landscape of the time.

Stabenow’s writing immerses the reader in a world of espionage, betrayal, and power struggles. The plot moves swiftly, keeping the reader gripped as Tetisheri’s skills are tested to their limits, making for a captivating and enjoyable read for fans of historical fiction and mysteries alike.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

Tetisheri is the most trusted agent of Queen Cleopatra the seventh, so she is surprised when the queen allows her to leave Alexandria to undertake a mission to Cyrenaica, as part of helping out her uncle.

But Cleopatra has her own reasons for allowing her to go. The machinations of the various players in the theatre of ancient Egypt at the time require close monitoring - not least the intentions of Julius Caesar! And who better to scout the lay of the land than Tetisheri?

This is an engrossing historical mystery that effortlessly holds the reader's interest. Stabenow really delivers with this mystery novel.

Really gripping mystery. Loved the strong female characters in this book. Could not recommend Dana Stabenow enough.

The Abduction of a Slave is such a good story. It really can transport you to another dimension. I recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's THAT GOOD!!!