DAUGHTER OF EGYPT

Marie Benedict

St. Martin's Press

3/2426

Historical Fiction

Hardcover, 352 pages

"Benedict once again brings a shadowed history to vibrant life. Daughter of Egypt unfolds a fascinating dual narrative of ambition, intrigue, and legacy across millennia. It's lush, sweeping, and layered with the complexity of a deeply researched past." 
-Ruta Sepetys

Marie Benedict returns with a sweeping tale of a young woman who unearths the truth about a forgotten Pharaoh—rewriting both of their legacies forever.

In the 1920s, archaeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert—daughter of Lord Carnarvon—whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible.

Nearly 3,000 years earlier, another woman defied the expectations of her time: Hatshepsut, Egypt’s lost pharaoh. Her reign was bold, visionary—and nearly erased from history.

When Evelyn becomes obsessed with finding Hatshepsut’s secret tomb, she risks everything to uncover the truth about the queen’s reign and ensure that the priceless artifacts remain in Egypt—their rightful home. But as danger closes in and political tensions rise, she must make an impossible choice: protect her father’s legacy—or forge her own.

Propelled by high adventure and deadly intrigue, Daughter of Egypt is the story of two ambitious women who lived centuries apart. Both were forced to conceal their identities during their lifetimes, yet ultimately changed history forever.

Dear Reader,

Since childhood, I’ve adored all things ancient Egypt as well as the stories of the early archaeologists who discovered the tombs. In fact, I dreamed about becoming a female Indiana Jones! As I grew older and became more serious about studying the past, I learned about Hatshepsut, one of the very few female pharaohs and certainly the mightiest, who was systematically erased from history after her death. 

When I read about Lady Evelyn Herbert’s involvement not only in archaeology generally but in Tutankhamun’s excavation specifically, an idea formed. What if I could interconnect the histories and legacies of these two incredible women, allowing me to linger in the eras I love? What if Lady Evelyn was on the hunt for Hatshepsut’s tomb—to bring back to life, if you will, a woman and a history that someone was desperate to erase? With this Daughter of Egypt was born.

Thanks for reading.

Marie Benedict

Book Club Menu

Sharing is central to any good book club experience, and I can think of no better food for a book club than the mezze platter. This tray is traditional in the Middle East, including Egypt, and typically contains several smallish dishes which are — you guessed it — shared. The choice of what to serve is yours, but classic options include stuffed vegetables, hummus, falafel (or ta’ameya, to use its Egyptian name), halloumi cheese, baba ganoush, and a tabbouleh or fattoush salad — all accompanied by cucumbers, radishes, tomatoes, olives, and pita for dipping.

What to drink with these savory delights? Two refreshing selections are hibiscus tea (known as karkade), served cold or hot, and lemonade with fresh mint.

Soon after the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, a global fascination with all things ancient Egypt took hold. “Tutmania,” as it was called, sparked a craze for clothing, art, design, and music with an ancient Egyptian theme; even food and drink were swept up in the wave. This movement continued on and off for decades, sparked by events including the famous tour of the Tutankhamun artifacts from 1976 to 1979. In honor of one such exhibition, The Toronto Star published the recipe for a King Tut Martini — or King Tuttini.

Enjoy and share!

Marie Benedict

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