In 1936, a young Charlotte Cross has the chance of a lifetime to explore the ruins of Ancient Egypt at an archaeological dig in Valley of the Kings. She is given opportunities to work alongside archaeologists, excavate artifacts, and do research on an ancient female pharoah, Hathorkare. She falls in love with a fellow archaeologist from London and then tragedy strikes. In 1978, Charlotte Cross is now a curator in the Egyptian wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY. Over the years she has continued to research Hathorkare and come up with a theory of her demise. On the night of the Met Gala, Charlotte's extensive research and an Egyptian artifact are stolen from the museum! Nineteen year old Annie Jenkins, who just began working as an assistant to Diana Vreeland, former Vogue fashion editor and organizer of the Gala, becomes a person of interest in the robbery. Charlotte and Annie team up to clear her name and find the thief and stolen artifact. This leads them to Egypt where the story began. If you like archaeology, ancient history, and this author I think you will like this book. I think it is Fiona Davis' best!

Steven Petrow and I know each other since were were in 2nd grade. We lived in the same neighborhood and our fathers coincidentally went to college together. I have a signed copy of "Stupid Things..." but had not read it yet so I read it this month. The library also had it on display very recently. Steven is an LGBTQ+ author who also wrote "The Complete Guide to Gay and Lesbian Manners." I'm actually cited in the book. The book was different than I thought it would be. I expected it to be more comedic but it was more serious, or maybe I felt it was having known his parents. He writes about them a lot in the book. It's definitely worth the read.

This was a complex read for me. Chosen by my book club, and I am in the end, so glad they did. I initially had a hard time adjusting to the language, and the pattern of writing. This for me require a slow contemplative read. I developed a deep respect for the author. Taught me much about the times, especially the plight of women. Behind this complicated soap opera are themes around issues of second chances, class issues, social mores, cultural aspects of the time, and integrity. I can’t say I loved it but I can say, it was a remarkable novel, and I am glad I read it. I am also glad I did not live during that time.

Informative, inspirational and interesting. The book gives advice on how to deal with toxic people in our lives. How to be proactive and not reactive.

Very cliche and poorly written YA retelling of The Great Gatsby

There was a lot I liked in this book but some of the potty humor and elder abuse that was glossed over really upset me. The ending definitely made it worth reading though

Like other Freida Mcfadden books I was left on the edge of my seat waiting for the twist. I find myself trying to figure out what the twist will ultimately be, but with Mcfadden's books I am always surprised and excited in the end.

I really loved this. I am already a big Sager fan. But I liked that this novel changed his usual formula. Normally Sager's books involve someone in an old house or area, figuring out an old mystery from their past. But in this case, this was all about knowing what happened and searching for revenge/justice. There were also the usual twists. Some were predictable (one especially so), but some were unexpected and none of them detracted to the story. It can be difficult to read a train mystery without thinking of the Orent Express but I loved this story as it showed the different ways we look for justice.

I enjoyed this book taking place in the south, nearing the end of the Civil War. A southern woman, her precocious niece, a freed slave who works for her and a wounded Union soldier leads to an intriguing story.

Sophie is celebrating her 16th birthday party at her father and step-mothers lavish but perhaps haunted home in the Texas Hill country. There is a large cast of characters that may initially seem unrelated, and many red herrings. I felt it was a bit slow in the beginning, but the stage had to be set. Slowly surprising secrets are revealed. Read for detail, but even so this one is so twisted I didn’t have a clue. Good guys and bad guys are not always obvious in this one. A good read.