26 Jan N L Holmes Pilot Who Knows the Waters #HistoricalMystery #AncientEgypt #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @nlholmesbooks @cathiedunn
FEATURED AUTHOR: N.L. HOLMES
I am pleased to host N. L. Homes again as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between January 16th — January 27th, 2023. She is the author of the Historical Mystery / Political Intrigue novel, Pilot Who Knows the Waters (The Lord Hani Mysteries, Book 6), released by WayBack Press on 15th June 2022 (330 pages)
Below are highlights of Pilot Who Knows the Waters, the author bio for N. L. Holmes, and my review of her novel.
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HIGHLIGHTS: PILOT WHO KNOWS THE WATERS
Pilot Who Knows the Waters
(The Lord Hani Mysteries, Book 1)
By N.L. Holmes
(Blurb)
Hani must secretly obtain a Hittite bridegroom for Queen Meryet-amen, but Ay and the faction behind Prince Tut-ankh-aten are opposed—to the point of violence. Does the death of an artisan have anything to do with Ay’s determination to see his grandson on the throne? Then, another death brings Egypt to the brink of war… Hani’s diplomatic skills will be pushed to the limit in this final book in The Lord Hani Mysteries.
Buy Links:
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AUTHOR BIO: N. L. HOLMES
N.L. Holmes is the pen name of a professional archaeologist who received her doctorate from Bryn Mawr College. She has excavated in Greece and in Israel, and taught ancient history and humanities at the university level for many years. She has always had a passion for books, and in childhood, she and her cousin (also a writer today) used to write stories for fun. Today, she and her husband live in France with their chickens and cats, where she weaves, plays the violin, gardens, and dances.
Social Media Links:
Website • Twitter • Facebook • LinkedIn • Instagram • Pinterest • Book Bub • Amazon Author Page • Goodreads
BOOK REVIEW: PILOT WHO KNOWS THE WATERS
The sixth and final book in The Lord Hani Mysteries by N. L. Holmes sweeps you back to 1335 BCE in ancient Egypt, after the death of Pharoah Akh-en-aten, who imposed his radical reforms of elevating only one god for worship. It is a period of political unrest when powerful factions yearn to return to polytheistic traditions, and the dynastic male heir is in doubt.
Lord Hani, the protagonist, is based on a historical Egyptian emissary sent on a secret mission to negotiate a marriage between the Hittite king’s son and Queen Meryet-amen, Akh-en-aten’s eldest daughter, and to form an alliance between the rival nations. If the marriage proposal comes to light, there could be violent resistance by Ay —the grandfather of Prince Tut-ankh-aten, whose birth mother is in question. When Hani returns with the Hittite bridegroom to the border between the hostile nations, the prince is mysteriously killed during a lion hunt. At about the same time, an artisan working for the mother of Lord Hani’s son-in-law is murdered. Are the two incidents coincidental or the consequences of political infighting for power in the dynastic family?
Author N. L. Holmes has written a meticulously researched historical mystery steeped in mystery and political intrigue. She provides historical notes, a list of characters, and glossaries of gods, terms, and places to help navigate the political machinations. The book can be read as a standalone. Still, it would be helpful to read the entire series to keep track of the myriad of characters with complicated names and the complex historical backdrop. I read the first book, Bird in a Snare, which helped me understand the relationships in Lord Hani’s family and how they fit into the dynamics of the religious and dynastic upheavals.
The story is told from various characters’ viewpoints to set the suspense for tying together the mysterious deaths of the Hittite prince and Egyptian artisan. The author masterfully weaves the dynamics of Lord Hani’s family into the epic backdrop of Egyptian political maneuverings. Clues are dropped throughout the story, tying the incidents surrounding the murders to a satisfying ending of the series.
Pilot Who Knows the Waters is highly recommended for readers who enjoy reading complex historical fiction rich in accurate descriptions of the ancient Egyptian civilization’s archaeology, culture, and religious beliefs.
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Cathie Dunn
Posted at 07:49h, 27 JanuaryThank you so much for hosting N.L. Holmes today, and with such a lovely review! xx
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 14:35h, 27 JanuaryHi Cathie–It was a pleasure to host N. L. Holmes and review her book. It provided insight into the political and religious upheavals in ancient Egypt that she weaves into her series.
Jan Sikes
Posted at 10:43h, 27 JanuaryI love that this author has a background in archaeology. The story looks intriguing. Thanks for sharing, Linnea!
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 14:32h, 27 JanuaryHi Jan–Thank you for dropping in and commenting. I agree that the author’s background in archaeology adds a unique perspective to her stories. As a result of reading her books, I’ve done more research on ancient Egyptian civilization and mythology. Technically advanced ancient civilizations went into the dark ages around 1000 BC, similar to what happened after the fall of the Roman empire. I’m fascinated by how history repeats itself, as the series centers around the upheaval of religious beliefs and their impact on society.
Luciana
Posted at 23:55h, 04 FebruaryI must add this series to my TBR list! Thanks for sharing, Linnea, and congratulations to N.L. for her latest book publication.
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 22:01h, 06 FebruaryHi Luciana–Thank you for visiting and adding the book to your list. I’m not as familiar with Egyptian history, but the author provides a detailed historical which I enjoyed reading about.
Christy B
Posted at 15:12h, 06 FebruaryEgypt is fascinating, and I think this would be a great read! Thanks for sharing about the book and the author N.L. Holmes, Linnea
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 22:02h, 06 FebruaryHi Christy–Thank you for dropping in and commenting. Ancient Egypt is fascinating. I’ve learned a lot about the historical backdrop in this series.