It is around 1346 BC and ancient Egypt is in a state of flux. Akhenaten, now the sole king in the wake of his father’s death, is doing away with the old religion. It is not a popular move. Thousands of years of tradition cannot be swept away like dust under a rug. Lord Hani, a diplomat, is also troubled by the changes in foreign policy and decides to leave the king’s service and return to his family. He is allowed to do so, but his attitudes toward Akhenaten have not gone unnoticed. Lord Hani finds that there is much civil unrest in Egypt and even his family is divided. One of his sons is an avid supporter of the new gods, while Lord Hani remains a worshipper of Amen-Ra. He must tread carefully, however. It is dangerous to antagonize the king. That is why he is not especially surprised when his brother-in-law, a priest vehemently opposed to Akhenaten’s new gods, goes missing. Amen-em-hut has been openly speaking sedition, even calling for the king’s assassination. When he disappears one night, Lord Hani assumes that he’s finally been arrested. But some things don’t add up and his wife and her sister are devastated, so Lord Hani launches a discrete investigation, for their sakes. To complicate matters, Lord Hani is summoned before Kiya, the king’s Greatly Beloved Wife and asked to find out who is blackmailing her. He brought her to the old king when she was young, and she trusts him. But aiding her could earn Lord Hani the ire of the beautiful Queen Nefertiti, who is a dangerous woman to cross.
THE CROCODILE MAKES NO SOUND may be the second in the Lord Hani Mysteries series, but it’s perfectly capable of standing on its own. It is beautifully written and the characters are all nuanced and realistic. The research is impeccable, and N.L. Holmes’ archaeological expertise and knowledge of the ancient world permeates the story. The mystery is nicely plotted, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing all the way to the end.
THE CROCODILE MAKES NO SOUND by N.L. Holmes is a fascinating tale full of suspense and historical details, and readers with a penchant for ancient history will love it.
~Heather Stockard, for IndieReader