The Poisoner of Ptah

During a peace treaty signing between arch enemies Egypt and Libya, three of Egypt's leading scribes are poisoned on the Temple forecourt. Even as Amerotke, Chief Judge of the Halls of Two Truths, begins to investigate he is called away to deal with the suspected drowning of a wealthy merchant and his young wife. It has to be murder since they could not have reached the pool by themselves - but they were alone in the area and the sole entrance guarded by bodyguards. So how could it have been done? To add to Amerotke's problems, the Rekhet- Poisoner of Ptah - is on the loose. Escaped from a convict oasis in the desert, the Rekhet is seeking justice. But was the wrong person convicted? Who is the Poisoner of Ptah? The deaths mount up inexorably! Aided by his dwarf Shufay and the Mejay solidiers; Amerotke slowly unravels a very twisted skein. Stories set in Ancient Egypt can be hard to follow given the strange terms and culture - but Doherty makes it easy. His in depth knowledge of the period and story telling ability bring the past to life. Vivid descriptions of life in Ancient Thebes or out on the desert make you feel as though you are really present. You can smell and feel the past. The story twists and turns as slowly the answers come to the surface.