Editorial Reviews:
Year of the Hyenas is a brilliant, original, and unique murder mystery, set in ancient Egypt at the height of that kingdom's glory and power. It is at once a strikingly insightful portrait of a mysterious, complex, and sophisticated society, reminiscent of Norman Mailer's Ancient Evenings in its wonderful detail and feel for the past, and a fast-paced detective story that reads like the best of twenty-first-century thrillers.From the oldest known court transcripts in history, Egyptologists have long known about the mysterious death of Ramses III, involving intrigue, ambition, greed, and crimes of passion on a huge, though hidden, scale. In Year of the Hyenas, Brad Geagley takes this event -- a struggle that nearly brought ancient Egypt to its knees -- as the backdrop for a story that is every bit as captivating as the distant civilization it resurrects. At the heart of the novel is Semerket, the so-called Clerk of Investigations and Secrets, a detective half-paralyzed by problems of his own, with a reputation for heavy drinking and tactless behavior toward the great, the powerful, and the holy, a kind of Sam Spade of the ancient world, deeply (and dangerously) addicted to the truth. Hard-bitten, deeply flawed, he is retained by the authorities to investigate what is considered an insignificant murder of an elderly, insignificant Theban priestess. They fail to inform him, however, that they don't expect him to solve the case. In fact, they don't want him to. But Semerket is not so easily fooled, and this is hardly an "insignificant" murder. As he delves deeper for the elusive truth, he uncovers a web of corruption so vast that it threatens the life of the last great Pharaoh, Ramses III, and the stability of the kingdom. Even worse, uncovering the conspiracy means more than just putting his own life on the line -- for, unbeknownst to Semerket, his adored ex-wife Naia has fallen afoul of those who would bring down the reign of Ramses, and he soon finds himself having to choose between saving her and saving Egypt.... Merging historical fact and speculation with a nail-biting crime story that could be taking place in the present, Year of the Hyenas is a riveting and remarkable achievement.
Customer Reviews:
Displaying 1 to 5 of 22 total reviews (Page 1 of 5):
 Light, easy read
This is the kind of book you want to take to the airport. It's a quick, easy read about an Egyptian named Semerket who tips the bottle a little too much but has a chance at redemption. The mystery is good, the scenery pretty well done, and the characters are quite enjoyable. I will be reading his second book.  disappointing
After reading Nefertiti.. I was extremely disappointed in this book. I just couldn't get into it.. I am sure that it was written well and researched well, but I guess it was not the book I was looking to read.  Year of thr Hyeneas
This is a mediocre read - a simplistic who done it. The setting is Egypt during the reign of Ramses III. The historical background is incredibly elementary. I found the characters shallow, chatty and vociferous - saying nothing of substance. Being an optimist, I started book two in the trilogy. Note the word "started." If you favor historical fiction set in Egypt look elsewhere!
 Very Enjoyable
I highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction. I read a lot of mysteries and this one is a keeper. I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series. Nothing Special
Booze sodden, maverick, straight talking, errant detective brought into the case by his straight laced, hen pecked, social climbing brother investigates the murder of a priestess. Gradually unravelling a great conspiracy. After much dead ends and attempts to do him away, our intrepid detective does exactly what you'd except him to do and walks off into the sunset for his next adventure. Throw in a dash of mystical hocus pocus for flavour. More Customer Reviews:
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