Egypt and Assorted Letters

Egyptian Enigma (Dr Pimms, Intermillennial Sleuth #3)
by L.J.M. Owen
Paperback, 384 pages, Published March 1st 2018 by Bonnier Publishing Australia

I had heard about this series and had wanted to read it for some time. This is the third book in the series.
Elizabeth Pimms, librarian and archaeologist is in Egypt living the dream as she visits all the famous sites and museums. The trip is not all fun when someone breaks into her hotel and steals her white journal. Returning to Canberra, Elizabeth begins an investigation into the Royal Egyptian family connections of who the Golden tomb may have been constructed for. She also is trying to finalise her papers for academic publication, undertake tutor responsibilities and deal with her family issues. Elizabeth has a group of friends who assist in this cycle of printing out 3D life size mummies, measuring them, examining them and discussing who they might be. Thus takes up the majority of the book. It is interspersed with descriptions of food, the living habits of 4 cats and a family trying to heal after an incident that happened in a previous book. I have a fair idea what but no spoilers here.
That is all that pretty much happens until close to the end when Elizabeth and her partner Alice announce to their Professor what their theories are regarding the Golden tomb. There are chapters were the reader is taken back to ancient Egypt that provide some insight as to what may have occurred so it is not a complete surprise. Then what happened in Egypt at the start of the novel comes into play in the very last couple of pages when the white journal makes a reappearance. It was quite disappointing the ending.

The author has certainly done their research and as you read the history lesson commences. If you have very limited knowledge of the history of Egypt then the details will be welcomed. If you do have a solid knowledge of the Pharaohs, the embalming techniques and marriage arrangements then there are large slabs text that may not be so engaging. That is okay as an author has got the balance right with how much information is provided.

Where this novel did not work for me was that it starts off with a mystery, who broke and stole the journal and then we move into a cycle of examining Mummies (I really got tired of all the measurements) and the tease at the start slips away. It gets lost in a story that does not drive the over arching narrative and that is disappointing.

There is a great deal to like about this book and I would recommend to those who love where a group of friends try to solve a historical mystery. It is an engaging read and it is nice piece of escapism.

I was provided a copy through Net Galley.
If you would like to know more about the author and her character Elizabeth Pimms check out her website.

Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience by Shaun Usher
Hardcover, U.S., 352 pages, Published May 6th 2014 by Chronicle Books (first published October 24th 2013)

This is a wonderful collection of correspondence from a variety of writers.
There are letters that will wrench at your heart as you read the despair in grief of losing a loved one or placing a child into care. From young writers seeking to provide advice or gain information on a topic. There is laughter and moments of insight. I do not want to give too much away as there is nothing better than reading a letter and having the contents revealed. It is a book that I will read over and over.
More information on the letters can be found at the website.