The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis
Published by Dutton
Publication date: January 7, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Historical, Mystery
Bookshop
A novel that includes the Egyptian wing of the Metropolitan Museum, Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, and ancient Egypt is not one I’m likely to miss out on. Fiona Davis’s The Stolen Queen follows two women and two timelines right up until they intersect on the night of the Met Gala in 1978 when a priceless Egyptian heirloom is stolen.
Charlotte Cross is a young woman who refuses to live by either her parents’ rules or those of 1936 and so goes on a dig in Egypt as part of her studies to become an archeologist. There she makes the discovery of a lifetime, but after tragedy ensues, she leaves Egypt determined never to return. In the novel’s present-day Annie Jenkins is a beleaguered teen forced to be not only responsible for herself at 19, but also act as the parent to her narcissistic, flaky mother who as a one-time model is desperate to land a wealthy husband. When she’s given a chance to work as Diana Vreeland‘s assistant for the Met Gala, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.
Charlotte has kept her promise despite a career as an associate curator in the department of Egyptian Art at the Met. Having been at the museum longer than anyone in the department she’s being called upon to help with the gala’s preparations as it is being held in the Temple of Dendur. She recognizes Annie as the young woman who spends hours in the wing looking at a small fragment of a statue believed to be that of Hathorkare, an Egyptian queen. So, when the priceless fragment goes missing the night of the gala Charlotte can’t help but point the finger at Annie.
From here The Stolen Queen shifts back to Egypt, in the past to fill in Charlotte’s history, and the current day, in the search for the treasure. Both hold twists and drama, but it’s relaxing reading as Davis handles the plot and her characters with aplomb. Everything wraps up neatly at the end in a way that is satisfying and fun.
If you’re a fan of The Metropolitan Museum and its amazing exhibits Patrick Bringley’s memoir All the Beauty in the World is a gorgeous tribute.
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I just received this book as my Book of the Month selection and can’t wait to dive into it.
It is very satisfying reading. I haven’t enjoyed some of her past books but this was one I couldn’t put down.