This story tells of a precious artifact stolen during the Met Gala, and the mystery being solved by two women who work there. They are an unlikely but capable pair– an assistant curator of the Egyptian collection at the Metropolitan Museum, and a nineteen year old girl in her first week of employment there. The story includes flashbacks to Cairo of 1937, while digging in the Valley of the Kings, a past that requires confronting in the present day.

There is a theme here about women trying to have an equal chance at their own power, including an actual misunderstood female Pharaoh. Also included, is some debate about who should actually own these ancient artifacts.

The Stolen Queen is a work of historical fiction, which kept me engaged from start to finish. I read it very quickly, since the writer’s style makes it so easy to devour.  Also, all my knowledge of Ancient Egypt gained while homeschooling our children, as well as my familiarity with the Met collection, helped make the book particularly fun for me.

Some things that happened seem like a stretch, however, and were just a little too convenient, but I still enjoyed the story nonetheless, even though some suspension of disbelief is required.  Everything was tied up with a bow by the end, which also rarely happens, but offers the reader satisfying closure.

You too might enjoy this compulsively readable story by this highly competent writer. I give it 4 stars.