Web of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries) by N.L. Holmes – Review by Jennifer Gordon
Web of Evil by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An entertaining historical cozy mystery drama which had me hooked throughout. The story is set in ancient Egypt during the first year of Tut-ankh-aten/amen’s reign, about 1335 BCE. The author really made me feel as though I had been transported back to this era through the both descriptive narrative and the added historical details. Neferet is the daughter of Hani, who features in another series by the author, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. The storyline follows physicians Neferet and Bener-ib along with their apprentice Mut-tuy. In this story a corpse washes up on the riverbank at Neferet’s father, Lord Hani’s house. The trio then visit the local village in the hopes of identifying the deceased, however, the three women soon become entangled in a web of secrets, lies and murder. Their investigations into a family of weavers put Neferet in danger but they all remain determined to discover the truth. I found the historical notes, character list and glossary at the start of the book very useful. I referred to the character list in particular many times, as the Egyptian names of the era do take a while to get used to. I love the three main characters and the fact that they are three independent and determined women physicians, who are likeable and relatable in 2024 even though they come from 1335 BCE!
