The Season of the Hyaena

As the second book in a trilogy about Akhenaten and his family's reign, this novel focuses on Akhenaten's famous son, Tutankhamun. In his father's reign, the gods of Egypt had been abandoned. Now that Tut is on the throne, however, the people have spoken and they want their old gods backs. Narrated by Mahu, the chief of police, we are taken back into the palaces and temples of ancient Egypt where a great deal of intrigue apparently took place. The scenery is vibrant and the descriptions are so well done that you can practically see the places where Mahu is investigating.

This book was recommended by a friend along with the others to be read in the following order: 1. An Evil Spirit out of the West 2. The Season of the Hyaena 3. The Year of the Cobra If you like Ancient Egypt, the controversial Pharaoh Akhenaton, and the beautiful Nefertiti, then you'll love this series. The story is told by Mahu the chief of Police who actually existed at the time.

Second in PC Doherty's trilogy about Pharaoh Akenhaten, now followed as Pharaoh by his only son (from a secondary wife, not the famous Nefertiti) young Tutankhamun, who came to the throne at the age of about 6 or 8 yrs old, and is surrounded by enemies. Also, the priests of the old gods want to reinstate the old gods. P.C. Doherty evokes the era, the sense of danger and doom very well. Again, it is narrated by the loyal Mahu chief of police, an actual historical figure of the time.

Paul Doherty is the consummate professional when it comes to writing historical novels. I for one do not know how he can be so prolific with his offering of books and yet make sure that each of them is well researched. Whether they be 13th, 14th, or fifteenth century they are always true to the period. He also writes about Ancient Egypt and Alexander the Great. Paul Doherty has the rare talent of making you feel as though you are there, be it medieval England, or battling with Alexander. The sounds and smells of the period seem to waft from the pages of his books. In this series he returns to Ancient Egypt. This is the second book in a proposed trilogy about the kingdom of Egypt. Mahu former Chief of Police and protector of the Pharaoh Akenhaten is sitting down to record the memories of his eventful and full life. From being a nobody at court, under Akenhaten he has risen to Chief of Police and Keeper of the Secrets of the Heart. Pharaoh Akenhaten and his beautiful wife have disappeared supposed dead and the people cannot wait to abandon the Pharaoh's new religion of sun worshipping. The Royal court is in disarray, only held together by the loyalty of the different factions to the six-year-old Emperor Tutankhamun. Then news reaches the Royal council that Akenhaten has returned to Egypt and is waiting in the delta of the Nile. The people of Egypt are both frightened and dismayed. Can this be true. Surely the Pharaoh is dead. What will happen to those people who have damaged the statues and monuments of Akenhaten. Mahu can certainly vouch that the woman claiming to be the Emperor's wife, is a fraud. Whoever the man is who has appeared in the Delta, he must be investigated thoroughly, for he must surely be an impostor too . . .