The past comes to life once again in the fourth installment of this Ancient Egypt murder mystery series that the New York Times calls "resurrectionist magic!" Lord Amerotke, Pharaoh's chief judge, is already in the midst of a murder case. A young, ambitious scribe, Ipumer-supposedly in love with the daughter of a powerful general-had hoped to become betrothed. Instead, he is dead from poisoning and the prosecution has indicted his lover, Lady Neshratta, who apparently grew tired of the dalliance. If found guilty, she will be buried alive in the desert sands of the Red Lands. But before the trial is concluded, the powerful female Pharaoh's chief advisor summons Amerotke to the Temple of Seth, where he is awaited by the remains from another high-profile murder. One of Egypt's great heroes has been brutally killed and Pharaoh Hatusu herself has decided to intervene. She believes that General Balet's murder is only the beginning of something more sinister, and she calls on Amerotke for help. There is more to the deaths than meets the eye . . . but can Amerotke track down the killer-or killers-before he strikes again? The prolific Doherty adds one more to his Egyptian series featuring Lord Amerotke, the pharaoh's chief judge. Two cases spotlight the well-born: a high-placed woman stands accused of murdering her scribe-lover, and Pharaoh Hatusu herself becomes involved in the murder of an Egyptian hero. An excellent historical. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Lord Amertoke, chief judge of Pharaoh Queen Hatusu's court, has his hands full in his latest adventure, the fourth in the series. A young scribe has been poisoned, and his lover, Lady Neshretta, is the prime suspect. Since she is from a noble family, the crime is a major topic of conversation in Thebes. While working hard to sort out the facts in this case, Queen Hatusu sends Lord Amertoke to the Temple of Seth to investigate another high-profile crime, whose victim is a hero, a veteran of Egypt's war against the Hyksos. Amertoke must find the murderer before he strikes again. Doherty has done a remarkable job of bringing ancient Egypt to life. Doherty not only depicts the colorful detail of daily life during the year 1478 BCE but also demonstrates how ancient Egyptians used forensic science to solve crimes. In addition, he delves into the politics at the royal court, showing that, in many respects, times have not changed a great deal. A complex plot, fascinating detail, and interesting characters make this an outstanding historical mystery. Barbara Bibel Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved P.C. Doherty is the author of several acclaimed mystery series including The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan , the Hugh Corbett medieval mysteries, and the Canterbury Tales of mystery and murder. He lives in England.