Boon's Bookcase

The Collector's Daughter

by

Gill Paul

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An unforgettable discovery In 1922, Lady Evelyn Herbert’s dreams are realised when she is the first to set foot inside the lost tomb of Tutankhamun for over 3,000 years. 

A cursed life But the months after the discovery are marred by tragedy, when Eve’s father dies suddenly and her family is torn in two. Desperate to put the past behind her, Eve retreats into a private life with her new husband. 

A deadly choice But she is harbouring a dark secret about what really happened in Egypt. And when a young woman comes asking questions years later, the happiness Eve has finally found is threatened once more… 

Review

I can't tell you how much I eagerly await Gill Paul's new novels, as I am a huge fan and have read all of her previous books and this one didn't disappoint!

The story starts in 1972 when Evelyn Herbert (Eve) is in hospital having had yet another stroke and she is trying hard to get back on her feet so that she can get home to her loving husband, Brograve. They have been together for many years and are devoted to each other. The strokes have affected her memory somewhat and she has to rely on her husband to help her remember her time in Egypt when she was there at the opening of Tutankhamun's tomb.

This is a dual timeline story (which I love) and goes back and forth to the 20's when Eve lived at Highclere Castle (used as the home of the Crawley family in Downton Abbey) with her Father Lord Carnarvon and they start their expedition to the Valley of the Kings in search of finding out more about Tutankhamun and his treasure. 

Eve feels trepidation as she hears about "curses" towards people who interfere with the tombs and when things happen along the way, she wonders if she will suffer the same fate.

This is a fantastically researched book and as always, the author has left me wanting to find out more. After every book I read of Gill's I always have to "Google" and this book is no exception! 

Thank you for yet another fabulous read and one which will be one of my favourite reads of the year for sure!

About the author: 

Gill Paul is an author of historical fiction, specialising in the twentieth century and often writing about the lives of real women. Her novels have topped bestseller lists in the US and Canada as well as the UK and have been translated into twenty-one languages. The Secret Wife has sold over half a million copies and is a book-club favourite worldwide. She is also the author of several non-fiction books on historical subjects. She lives in London and swims year-round in a wild pond. The Collector’s Daughter is her tenth novel.