O Ano das Hienas

Semerket #1

by Brad Geagley

O Ano das Hienas é o primeiro livro de uma série policial única e original, cuja acção se desenrola no auge da glória e do poder do antigo Egipto, retratando com uma finura espantosa uma sociedade misteriosa, complexa e sofisticada.
A partir das transcrições palacianas mais antigas da História, há muito que os egiptólogos conhecem a morte misteriosa de Ramsés III, que a uma escala vasta, embora encapotada, mexe com intrigas, ambições, ganância e crimes passionais. Em O Ano das Hienas, Brad Geagley vale-se desta ocorrência - uma luta que quase arrastou o antigo Egipto para o abismo - como cenário para uma história que, a par e passo, é tão aliciante como a civilização longínqua que faz ressurgir.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Egypt, Historical Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Ancient

368 pages

First published February 8, 2005

About the author

Brad Geagley, film producer, screenwriter, and now author, has combined his passion for Ancient Egyptian history with his vast background in writing film, screenplays, and theater to write his first historical mystery novel Year of The Hyenas.

Reviews

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the Introduction: “THOUGH Year of the Hyenas is a work of fiction, the mystery depicted in the book is based on history’s oldest known “court transcripts,” the so-called Judicial Papyrus of Turin, the Papyrus Rifaud, and the Papyrus Rollin. ”

Year of the Hyenas is a murder mystery at its core. It starts with a murder of an old, half-blind Theban priestess. The man sent to solve it is chosen seemingly for not having allegiance to anyone but the truth. This simple case with a number of suspects grows into something neither the protagonist (and most certainly not the ones who sent him) nor anyone else expects. As he said near the end – “I wish that it had not been me.”

At first I wasn't sure I'd enjoy it because the first impression of Semerket is not good. Right from the start you see him drunk, stumbling through the city to his destination - his ex-wife Naia's home - and calling for her, being beaten by her husband and overall being one huge mess of a man. Don't worry, though. As soon as he gets the job, he isn't as bad as the first impression threatens him to be. He is compassionate and a good man. That makes all the difference in this story. The priestess deserves justice. Semerket agrees. So do certain other forces. He gets help from unexpected places.

The thing I liked about his investigation is that not everything is neat and tidy. He isn't a strong man, so sometimes he has to outrun those who want to hurt him. You won't find the protagonist fighting off a group of men here. Occasionally he stumbles upon a clue and overhears people talking.

Another thing I loved about this character is the way he doesn't dress up the truth. He never lies. At one point in the story, he wishes he could flatter a man because he sees the man needs it. Another time, when a guard tries to make him uncomfortable by mentioning the fact he is a Nubian and 'all Egyptians' think they are dirty, Semerket simply tells the way it is: "I envy you, knowing what 'all Egyptians' think. It must make things so easy."

There are some heartbreaking characters in this story. There are also some characters I would have preferred punished on page. I wish some people were punished more, but the overall story is more than good. The on-page punishment for one particular character is outstanding. I just wish another one got the same treatment. *

There are a number of things one might talk about when it comes to this story. Any of them could be a huge spoiler, so I won't.

[Iset · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not quite sure what to make of this book. In parts it reads like a standard historical mystery novel, with all the enjoyment I’ve come to associate with that; the investigator gradually unravelling the clues, the resolution teased for the reader to try and figure it out for themselves, the process of working out the motivations of the suspects in the face of their hostility. A good long section of the book is grounded in this, in Semerket’s lengthy stay with the villagers.

But alongside that, the book is peppered with some really off-the-wall stuff. These range from characters with modern names that clearly do not belong in ancient Egypt, to plot twists that you’d sooner expect to see in a fantasy novel; a King of Beggars with a supervillain Cripple Maker physician and who expects the actual pharaoh to treat him as an equal. Um, okay. The author combines the thefts of Deir el-Medina with the Harem Plot to murder Ramesses III, and I didn’t mind that, as it genuinely makes for a tenser and more exciting story. But the author also takes some of the most lurid and nonsense fairytales about Queen Tausret (she did not murder her husband, and her father was not the usurper Amenmesse but most likely Merenptah, pharaoh and son of Ramesses II the Great). I just felt real dismay at that. It doesn’t seem respectful or right to take the worst slanderous gossip about historic people – real people, let me remind you, who once lived – and repeat it when there’s no actual solid evidence for it whatsoever, just to make your tale juicier and more salacious. In this case it didn’t even have a purpose in the plot – other than, I would guess, to make Queen Tiya seem more evil because she’s descended from someone who we’re told is evil… but that just comes off as terribly cliché. The grasping witch descended from a line of evil women – it’s tired, it’s overdone, it’s over the top. The writing was best described as passable. There were moments when it veered into far too modern and pedestrian, but mostly it manages to stop short of that.

5 out of 10

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy mysteries set in historical eras because of the details of everyday life: for example, here Semerket is a Clerk of Investigations and Secrets, working for the two mayors of Thebes and the vizier after the death of a priestess in the Valley of the Kings (what they call "The Great Place"). It's not as far away from Philip Marlowe as you might think, particularly since Semerket has a drinking problem and can't stay away from the wine.

I really liked how the mythos of ancient Egypt was woven into the story. When Semerket sleeps, his ka leaves his body. Spells and curses are very real though I'm not a huge fan of the regularly scheduled "black magic evil ambitious witch woman" trope that shows up allllll over this novel, and the gods are not to be trifled with -I liked Khons's role. I also liked some of the details that Geagley adds, though I can't vouch for their historical accuracy. The geography of Thebes and the different roles come to life, as do the real historical figures of Ramses and Tiya.

I didn't really care for the characters, though, partially due to uneven writing and partially just because they didn't catch my interest. I never bought into Semerket and Naia, and thought the scenes in the tomb-makers' village were particularly bad. The chase where Semerket escapes his death in the river was unrealistic and poorly written, and I never liked the Beggar King. It also seemed gratuitously violent. I'm not sure if that's because the world of Thebes is, by its nature, violent, or just because descriptions of the Cripple Maker and Hunro's death are supposed to make us think so.

I liked this for what it was. Based on the reviews for the sequel, I probably won't move on.

[Zoë · Rating 1 out of 5]

i couldn’t bring myself to care about any of the characters, and the way the women were written as stereotypical bitchy and conniving figures who do nothing but pout and accept men as terrible creatures was frustrating to read. the deaths and sacrifices of characters, and the moral journey these characters are supposed going on didn’t seem to connect with the story nor did it enhance the story at all. i don’t DNF books, but i truly thought about it one-third and halfway through.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wasn't sure whether I wanted to read this book. I've never been grabbed by Ancient Egypt, so the cover didn't appeal, and the over-enthusiastic synopsis on Goodreads awoke all my cynicism. But it came highly recommended by someone whose views on historical mysteries usually correspond with mine, so I picked it up. Good move!

This is a compelling story, mixing the sophisticated history and politics of Ancient Egypt with the story of a group of ordinary working people in a way that really brings the era to life. The detail of life in the tomb-makers village is fascinating, but the author never loses sight of the plot. Every detail is there for a purpose, and it gathers the reader in. The hero, Semerket, is the Clerk of Investigations and Secrets, a flawed but basically decent person, whose dogged search for the truth makes him some dangerous enemies. The other characters whose paths he crosses are all well developed, unique human beings, motivated by universal emotions such as love, greed and ambition.

The plot centring around the murder of an elderly priestess is well constructed, and unfolds gradually through Semerket's determined investigations, rather than via any dramatic revelations. That certainly doesn't detract from its interest - on the contrary, it is a strong and realistic plot, and all the threads come together very well.

In summary, an original and satisfying mystery which is enhanced by the setting and historical detail. Perhaps if there were more books like this, I'd be more into Ancient Egypt. And I'd love to follow Semerket further, so I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series.

[Maria Thomarey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 χορταστικό

[Ren Puspita · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Bisa kasih 4 bintang, kalau aja TERJEMAHANNYA oke!!

Bukan, bukan berarti secara keseluruhan terjemahannya jelek. Malah menurut gue, enak dibaca, ngalir, ya rada kaku - kaku, tapi terjemahan mana sih yang gaul banget (malah kalau kelewat gaul, jatuhnya kayak buku PJO pertama yang bikin gue puyeng dengan prokemnya itu). Yang gue masalahin adalah SELINGKUNGnya! Yang tidak tahu selingkung apa, ini adalah gaya bahasa penerbit tertentu. Gue pertama kali nemu ini pas baca Silent in the Grave, dan mengingat gue ga banyak baca terjemahan, agak terganggu juga baca panggilan "Aunt" dan "Uncle" ga diterjemahin sama sekali. Info dari salah satu editornya, ya memang itu selingkungnya. Oke lah, ga masalah kalau kayak gitu, toh ga banyak. Masalahnya di buku ini? Kebanyakan dan ga banget!!

Beberapa yang bikin gue terganggu:

- Panggilan macam "Lord" dan "Lady tidak diterjemahkan. Sama sekali. Lucu dong baca "Lord Walikota", atau saat seorang Ratu dipanggil "My Lady". Loh, kenapa tidak pake panggilang "Yang Mulia"? saja. Gue heran kenapa "Lord" disini tidak diterjemahkan jadi "Tuan", atau apalah yang sepadan. Saat gue konfirmasi ini di grup WA, ada yang info kalau memang selingkungnya. Masalahnya, buku ini settingnya tuh Mesir. MESIR yang juga jadi settingan AAC. Bukan Inggris ataupun Skotlandia, yang gue juga udah tahu kalau Lord ini semacam salah satu gelar disana. Tapi bahkan untuk jadi panggilan pun, istilah Lord dan Lady (plus, Sir), yang tidak diterjemahkan ini, semacam bikin aura Mesirnya kurang kerasa. Alih - alih Mesir Jaman Kuno..ini apa Mesir jaman Kolonial? Ya kali walau edisi aslinya pake Lord dan Lady... itu wajar karena ditulis dalam bahasa Inggris. Trus kan jadi lucu pas diterjemahin ke Indonesia, istilah itu tetap ada. Dan ini bertebaran di buku ini, bikin gue mati - matian nahan buat ga DNF.

Lucunya, panggilan "lord" dan "lady" ini ga konsisten, karena ada di suatu adegan Semerket manggil Ratunya dengan "yang mulia", habis itu ganti lagi dengan "Great Lady" *jambak rambut*

- Nenry sempat memanggil Semerket dengan kata "brother". Cuma satu, tapi ya ampun, ini konyol banget. Kalau pada nganggap Lord dan Lady yang ga diterjemahin itu udah aneh, ini ada satu lagi "brother". Kenapa ga "dik" atau "saudaraku" aja sih?

- Nama kapal Firaun, Horus's of the Morning..ya dibiarin aja gitu. Walau pun udah di-italic, apa susahnya sih menerjemahkannya menjadi "Fajar Horus"? Terus terang ini bagian yang bikin gue "rage" banget, karena kesan Mesirnya jadi tercoreng gara- gara nama kapal yang dibiarkan apa adanya!

Gue bukannya ga tahu nerjemahin itu susah apa gimana, dan gue juga ga mengecilkan peran penerjemah disini. Tapi terjemahan yang enak itu yang bikin gue nyambung ke ceritanya, dan selingkung penerbitnya yang berlebihan di buku ini bikin gue ilpil berat. Gue jadi ga bisa menikmati penyelidikan Semerket, karena ngedumel terus masalah terjemahannya. Sangat lucu membiarkan banyaknya selingkung, padahal ada satu terjemahan yang saya suka, dimana penerjemah (atau editornya) menerjemahkan "crook" dengan "pokrol bambu tua". Istilah yang ga biasa kan? Tapi semuanya jadi tercoreng gara - gara selingkungnya!

*rant about translation over*

Story wise, gue suka sih baca cerita Semerket yang menyelidiki kematian seorang pendeta wanita. Inti ceritanya sendiri sudah dispoiler habis - habisan di blurbnya, ada konspirasi buat menggulingkan Fir'aun, Ramses III. Buat gue yang ga terlalu paham sejarah Mesir Kuno, lumayan kasih info kok buku ini, dan beberapa kejadiannya emang nyata adanya. Tentunya dibumbui drama dan juga..unsur mistis. Gue ga terlalu keberatan dengan unsur mistisnya, malah fine - fine aja, mengingat ini masa dimana dewa - dewi Mesir sedang jaya - jayanya disembah.

Semerket secara ga langsung jadi ngingetin gue sama Cormoran Strike. Semerket ini punya flaws, salah satunya suka mabuk dan sempat ga bisa move on dari mantan istrinya. Ini bikin dia ya kelihatan kayak manusia biasa, ga yang ahli - ahli banget, tapi Semerket bisa memecahkan masalah simply karena kemampuan observasi, blak - blakan, dan juga sedikit keberuntungan (atau bantuan dari dewa, yang mana aja boleh). Kalau pada berharap Semerket bakal bahagia di endingnya, tenang, endingnya cukup realistis kok. Gue suka dengan penjabaran Brad Geagley untuk karakter - karakternya. Pembaca akan dibuat simpati sama Semerket, dan jengkel sama penduduk di sekitar galian makam yang ekslusif dan jelas - jelas bersalah, tapi berusaha menutup - nutupi. Misterinya sendiri cukup oke, gue udah bisa nebak siapa, tapi membaca prosesnyalah yang menarik. Bagi beberapa pembaca, mungkin Semerket ini agak lelet, tapi gue bisa memahami sih. Apalagi mengingat kondisi sekitar Semerket yang nyaris semuanya berkonspirasi melawan dia.

Duh ya...gue masih bete aja kalau ingat terjemahannya, tapi yang suka thriller dan juga settingan Mesir Kuno, Year of the Hyenas ini unik kok. Gue jadi ingat - ingat Ledakan Dendamnya Agatha Christie, dan jadi pengen baca lagi. Yang suka ending yang realistis juga bakal suka. Cuma harusnya ada tulisan "Novel Dewasa" selain kategori Novel Thriller di belakangnya, karena ada adegan sex yang lumayan eksplisit (walau bisa diskip). Agak heran juga kenapa temen2 GRI dan BBI ga banyak yang baca :/

[Katherine 黄爱芬 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terjadinya pembunuhan atas seorang pendeta tua wanita yg sdh renta dan buta, memicu kehebohan di negeri Mesir Kuno itu. Akhirnya terpilihlah Semerket alias Ketty utk menyelidiki kasus ini yg terkenal sbg pemabuk krn ditinggal oleh istrinya.

Ternyata penyidikan Semerket mengarah ke arah pencurian makam kuno dan konspirasi orang besar yg sangat keji dan kejam, yg berulangkali nyaris membuat nyawa Semerket melayang.

Dgn setting 12 abad SM, kita disuguhi aktivitas masyarakat Kerajaan Mesir Kuno pd masa tsb. Beberapa memikat saya krn Mesir ternyata sdh maju pd masa tsb. Walaupun saya masih melongo dgn tatanan sosial dan norma pd masa tsb. Saya masih bingung mengapa Hunro "tidak dihukum" atas kebiasaannya berzinah. Masyarakat di desa tsb tahu tapi memilih masa bodoh. Dengan pengecualian saat si suami menyatakan dgn resmi, barulah Hunro kena azab atas perbuatannya dgn pengadilan rakyat.

Kolusi dan konspirasi yg dijalin di novel ini lumayan bagus dan menarik. Dimulai oleh iri hati, pengkhianatan dan belakangan balas dendam yg meliputi nyaris separo kerajaan memberontak. Saya juga suka endingnya, para penjahatnya mendapatkan hukuman yg setimpal.

Mengenai karakter Semerket, ternyata dibalik sikap melankolisnya, terdapat kekuatan dan kegigihan yg tidak bisa ditaklukkan oleh kejahatan paling laknat sekalipun. Semerket seperti kucing dgn 9 nyawa. Gabungan Hitchcock dan Indiana Jones dlm diri Semerket memang menyuguhkan aksi² mendebarkan (walaupun saya lebih suka sisi Indie-nya saat dia berjuang bertahan hidup).

Baiklah!!! Mari kita lanjut buku berikutnya.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dari semua sejarah negara tua, Mesir selalu ada di posisi no 1 favoritku. Ketertarikan ini susah dijelaskan tapi cukuplah menjadi dasarku untuk membaca apapun yang berbau Mesir di dalamnya.
Brad Geagley adalah nama baru bagiku, dan novel ini menawarkan hal-hal baru dari genre favoritku. Sisi misteri dari pembunuhan yang terjadi di masa Mesir kuno. Kisah pembunuhan disini benar-benar tercatat dalam kitap kasus Peradilan Mesir, tapi Brad juga menyisipkan unsur-unsur fiksi bak film Indiana Jones sebagai lem untuk menggambarkan kembali kejadian tersebut menjadi cerita fiksi sejarah dengan cara yang menarik dan jauh dari membosankan.

Dia memberikan kita seorang hero yang jauh dari kata sempurna. Dia tidak tampan, tidak kaya, terpuruk kecanduan alkohol semenjak perceraiannya tapi Semerket sangat cerdas dan menarik dengan caranya sendiri. Di ceritakan dalam POV orang ke-3 serba tahu, kisah ini berhasil menggambarkan perasaan-perasaan para karakternya tanpa terjebak pada narasi-narasi panjang penuh kegalauan.
Walaupun ditulis dalam bahasa yang lugas, aku bisa merasakan sakitnya perpisahan dan hancurnya perasaan Semerket setiap dia melewati rumah mantan istrinya. Deskripsi lingkungan dan informasi detail sejarah diberikan secara perlahan dan dalam porsi yang pas. Ini bisa membantu kita yang awam dengan budaya Mesir untuk memahami kondisi dan sejarah saat itu tapi juga tidak berlebihan sampai kita merasa tercekik dengan fakta bak buku sejarah sekolahan.

Yang aku suka dari cerita ini adalah misteri yang disajikan seperti puncak gunung es. Awalnya kita hanya dihadapkan pada satu fakta pembunuhan tunggal tapi seiring dengan berjalannya penyelidikan Semerket kita akan dibawa makin dalam ke proses menyibak misteri dan intrik yang makin dalam dan makin pelik. Setiap langkah penyelidikan kasus ini membawa kita memasuki pintu-pintu informasi yang baru.

Poin yang agak mengganggu di kisah ini adalah adanya unsur paranormal dan penampakan misterius yang membantu penyelidikan Semerket. Selain itu beberapa kosakata terjemahannya juga maksa dan gak konsisten. Selain itu novel ini realistis dan jauh dari unsur romantis. Walaupun secara kasus semua bisa terselesaikan secara gemilang, tapi secara percintaan hero kita ngenes sampai akhir.

[Jerry Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very entertaining. The plot unfolded as the story progressed, with just enough information withheld to always leave me guessing as to what might happen next. The main characters were all well written and very believable, and you could feel real empathy with many of them, including some of the villains. The description of the countryside around Thebes was detailed enough that I found it easy to "picture" it in my mind. I would certainly like to read the next book in the series.

I have little knowledge of Egyptian history, so I cannot judge how accurate the book is, compared to the known facts of the time, but it certainly felt realistic. I believe it is based on one of the earliest-known court cases of Egypt, but I hope the author goes on to create more detective stories based around his hero detective.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detective who-dun-it in ancient Egypt. A murder-mystery-conspiracy, the Queen of Egypt attempts to assassinate Rameses III, but is thwarted by an alcoholic amateur detective. Great suspense, great fun. Wish there were more than two in the series.

[J. Else · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has a talent in bringing to life the ancient landscape and city life. Its not written as a generic washout of the culture, climate, and beliefs. Instead, these three items are richly detailed. The House of Purification visit was particularly vividly depicted by sights, sounds, and smells as well as the roles of the individuals working there. I enjoyed the strong ancient cultural feel to the story. The characters are also well fleshed out. Geagley pens out emotions well so the reader can also feel them along with his characters. Mid-way through the story, the investigation seemed to stall with little new evidence to entice the reader. But the story again picked up and ended in dramatic fashion. Well-written plotline overall with interesting characters. The main character, Semerket, is deeply flawed and must overcome himself for the good of his country. Its an engaging struggle. I did feel a little cheated by the author as he didn't flesh out the actual rescuing of the Pharaoh. The story built up to that moment, and then it was told in narration after the fact. The ending was well thought out, though, and ended the book so that I was left wanting to read the next storyline with these characters! Overall, it was an exciting and fascinating glimpse into the midset and lifestyle of the Ancient Egyptians, even if it is mostly fiction! I loved visiting all the sites of the ancient city!

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERTS:

After a night's sleep, I have removed a star from this book. Some of the characters were well developed, some were not. The story just wasn't smooth, and didn't seem to allow the character to change. Nenry was the only character who changed, and that was by hitting his wife, and having a servant murder her. The book ends, with the reader questioning whether or not Semerket will pick the bottle back up. A big deal was made of his alcoholism throughout the book, but the author continues to let him drink "socially" without any of the reprecussions associated with alcoholics falling off the wagon. There is one part of the book that highlights what frusturated me about the entire book, and it's towards the end, when Semerket sees a kind touch between Keeya, the servant girl, and Nenry. The narrator says something along the lines of "Now Semerket knows what Nenry is too embarrassed to tell him." Does the author think the reader is retarded? That's how I felt. Overall the book is not a well-written novel. There were some interesting parts in the plot, and now I have Egyptian names running through my head. Hopefully there will be more to discuss at KIOSK next week!!

[cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

stlh bbrp kali baca campuran crimefic+hisfic dgn setting jepang kuno, kali ini mencoba mix yg sama dengan setting mesir kuno.

bayangkan adegan flashback film the mummy di kota thebes jaman dahulu kala, lembah para raja, kuil2 dan makam firaun, dlsb, lalu tambahkan tokoh detektif putus cinta ala cormoran strike ke dalamnya. itulah rasa novel ini.

misterinya cukup dalam, meski tetap terasa cozy waktu membacanya. dan masalahnya (seperti kuduga saat membaca sinopsisnya) merembet kemana-mana sampai akhirnya.... ujung2nya... rencana pemberontakan thd takhta firaun juga. lumayan jg untuk dinikmati, karakter2nya cukup menyenangkan, hanya saja di 3 bab terakhir si tokoh utama semerket kok rasanya dibuat jd rada2 oon. sdh jelas2 yg baca aja tau siapa biang keroknya, la kok dia masih blm ngeh.... endingnya realistis, gak dipaksain hepi-en. kalau aku sih, lbh setuju keputusan firaun untuk menolak permintaan semerket, menurutku semerket cari penyakit, time-bomb yg tersimpan untuk bertahun-tahun kemudian.

bbrp kl ada typo.
suka dng ilustrasi covernya.

Review lengkap ada di
http://readbetweenpages.blogspot.com/...

[Jack Keely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brad Geagley’s ingenious YEAR OF THE HYENAS presents the beauty and brutality of ancient Egypt in a multi-layered mystery with slight supernatural overtones. When the heartbroken Semerket is selected to investigate the murder of a priestess, he steps into tangled web of intrigue in which nearly everyone he meets has an ulterior motive and a personal agenda. Semerket’s investigation leads on a harrowing journey him from Metufer the Ripper Up in the nightmarish House of Purification to an audience with the bewitching Queen Tiya aboard her royal pleasure boat. Brad Geagley’s encyclopedic knowledge of ancient Egypt allows him to create a thoroughly convincing world of bazaars, palaces, and prisons in the shadow of the pyramids. Readers who enjoy mysteries with multiple surprises and anyone intrigued with ancient Egypt will find much to enjoy in this tale of intrigue on the banks of the Nile.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Semerket, former Clerk of Investigations and Secrets under Ramses III, is now a winesoaked madman, wailing nightly outside the gate of his ex-wife. Before her new husband quite kills Semerket, the murder of an old priestess requires the skills of a clerk of investigations. Once he is isolated in the village of artists and builders working on Pharoah's tomb, Semerket discovers that no one in the village wants him to learn who killed their priestess. The village elders have some strange allies in the royal city.

Brad Geagley based his mystery on court records connected with Ramses III. He also brought to life an ancient Egyptian setting, and created characters whose story I wanted to follow. When I finished this I went right on to start the sequel DAY OF THE FALSE KING.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many novels about Ancient Egypt focus on life within the royal court or royal harem. This novel was a pleasant departure for from glittering drama of a royal court. While the Pharaoh and his wives are never far from the plot of the novel, the main focus is on the tomb builder village. I have seen several documentaries featuring archaeologists and historians discussing how these tomb building villages work but I've never taken the time to read about these village. This novel gives the reader a look into the lives of the people who lived in these villages. As it turns out, they aren't any less dramatic than the royals.

The plot of the novel did take some time to get rolling but once it did, it was a nonstop ride.

[Annmarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a historical mystery set in Egypt at the time of Ramses III. Features a pretty classic gumshoe character, the ladies like him and he's a troubled yet standup guy, determined to get to the bottom of the murder of a minor priestess though powerful forces around him don't seem to want that.
Some problematic bits about strong women, and the detective's apparent alcoholism. Not sure if I'm on board with the author's treatment of both. But the interesting Egyptian historical aspects and the fast moving storyline mean I'll probably check out the second in the series.

[Madeleine Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geagley brings ancient Egypt alive in this gripping mystery. I loved Semerket and his dedication to learning the truth, no matter how ugly it turns out to be. The story is intertwined with actual historical events, and the hero gets sucked up into the assassination plot of Ramses in a believable way. Tightly-plotted, with well-developed characters and a vivid setting that fascinates without bogging the action down. Marry me, Brad! Oh wait, that's right, I'm already married. I guess I'll have to settle for reading your next book...

[Cait S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I genuinely did not know that this was a thing that existed. A marriage between "cozy" mystery (although this one is slightly more gruesome than cozy generally implies) and historical fiction. I'm happy to have discovered this since a lot of challenges require historical fiction books--aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I loathe that genre with all of my soul.

But I love mysteries.

This book was pretty good. It got really long winded and bogged down at the end, I'd say the last 20% was a serious chore to read. But before that, all good stuff. I'll probably even read the next one. Shock. Awe.

[NebulousGloom (FK) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! This is a murder mystery set in ancient Egypt. The setup is a little slow, but it gives you a chance to get to know the characters. It is accessible but still giving an fairly clear picture of the setting. Worth putting on hold at the library.

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not going to finish this, it's terrible and I rarely do that with a book. His female characters are all stereotypes, bitch, whore or priestess and his male characters seem to all be unlikable. Big deal he got the Egyptian setting correctly down.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not bad. I found the plot moved along nicely. It gives you an idea as to the lifestyle of the Egyptians in that era.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was between three and four stars for me, but I tend to round up for first books of a new series, especially when overall I enjoyed the read.

I found Semerket a complex, sympathetic character that at times I still disliked, while overall appreciating his 'humanness' and having compassion for him and his healing journey. Semerket, while fallible is also a man of truth and honour. Similarly, I found the other characters (and there were many) read as 'real' and despite the numbers and unfamiliar names, I was able to tell one from the other because each had her/his own voice.

The setting of ancient Egypt was intriguing and, again, generally read as 'real' overall, though I was annoyed by some of the British idioms, e.g. at one time a character added 'what' to the end of a sentence. However, these bits were limited in use and so not a big problem overall.

Geagley used just the right amount of description to develop plot, setting, and characters, but judiciously refrained from going overboard. He also had moments of action balanced with those of reflection, allowing the plot to move along while also giving the reader time to breathe and reflect on the story. Geagley also weaves in the history of ancient Egypt through the story in a way that is informative but adds to the story; rather than reading like a textbook, these details supported the writing and the plot.

Overall, this is a solid read and solid introduction to an interesting new protagonist. I plan to read book #2, and am a bit disappointed as there does not yet seem to be a #3.

[Rizki Wulandari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asing dan skeptis adalah dua kata yang muncul saat membaca bagian awal Year of the Hyenas. Asing karena nama-nama tokoh di dalamnya beraroma Mesir kuno yang sulit dilafalkan dan diingat. Begitu pula dengan latar tempatnya seperti nama kuil, nama-nama dewa yang muncul termasuk deskripsi tempat pemujaan tersebut sempat memberiku kesulitan untuk memvisualisasikannya. Padahal sang Penulis (Geagley) telah mencoba untuk menyederhanakan ejaan nama-nama itu agar sesuai dengan pembaca masa kini. Rasa asing tersebut menebal dan sempat membentuk pikiran skeptis di benakku. Kemunculan Semerket sebagai tokoh utama tidak banyak membantu karena deskripsi tentang dirinya terasa ganjil. Maksudnya, di satu sisi (terutama di bagian awal), dia seperti terlalu diistimewakan (tentang mata hitamnya dan aura menakutkan yang menguar dari dirinya).

Selain itu, aku juga sempat kesulitan menikmati alur cerita sehingga kemudian berpikir apa kutunda saja membaca novel ini. Tetapi akhirnya aku melakukan hal sebaliknya. Aku menikmati kebingunganku dan memberikan novel ini kesempatan untuk dibaca hingga tuntas. Benar saja, alur cerita kurasakan perlahan menjadi memikat. Pada akhirnya aku memperoleh kesan Semerket tidak sempurna. Hal ini membuat karakternya terasa lebih alami. Lagipula sepertinya aku belum pernah membaca fiksi dengan muatan yang sepenuhnya tentang masyarakat mesir kuno beserta kebudayaan dan kehidupan di dalamnya.

[Clay Kallam · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Year of the Hyenas" is fine. It's not great, or even particularly memorable, but it's professional quality and a reasonably entertaining diversion.

The story is set in ancient Egypt at the time of Ramses III, one of the great pharaohs, and the protagonist is a reformed alcoholic who was shattered by a divorce (sounds more like L.A. in the '50s). He's assigned by the powers that be to find out how an elderly priestess died, and along the way he's helped by gods, hindered by magic and manages several hairbreadth escapes from death that are a little hard to accept.

The details of Egyptian daily life are woven into the story, but they don't really contribute that much, and the solution to the mystery is both clear from the start and more complex than it needed to be. But the pages turn swiftly, and "The Year of the Hyenas" goes down easily -- but it's more like a quick fix at Starbuck's than a satisfying lunch.

[Joel Thimell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love historical fiction, especially books set in ancient times. The best ones combine thorough research for authenticity, great description to take you there, and quirky characters for intrigue. The "Year of the Hyenas" did well on all three of these factors, but still disappointed me.

I could point to a variety of irritants (using nicknames for characters like Ketty for Semerkhet or jejune dialog in places) but in the end it was the end which let me down. I won't go into detail to avoid spoiling potential readers, suffice it to say that I don't care for nihilism and/or fatalism.

I must also say that this was one of the most beautiful books I have read recently. The designer should get an award for their work. The section dividers looked like ancient linen or papyrus leaves and the glyphs were well-done.

[David Usharauli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite entertaining piece of historical fiction that describes the final days of Pharaoh Ramses III reign. It was time of general decline of bronze age society and ancient Egypt was no exception.

The plot of the novel is a power struggle for succession between Pharaoh's sons involving reigning Queens and several noblemen. Novel follows investigation into mysterious death of aging priestess. Semerkent, the Clerk of Investigations and Secrets in ancient Egypt, is a main protagonist. He will uncover major plot that links priestess death to the threat of elimination of Ramses III.

As historical novel goes, it is fun to read and recommended for general knowledge audience.

posted by David

[Anne Wingate · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Ancient Papyrus Scrolls to Your Eyes

Geagley began with the oldest trial records yet discovered. Working backwards and forwards, he recreated everything that might have led to that trail, from one man chasing another through the streets of a village 3000 years ago (yes, it really happened) to the execution of hundreds conspirators ( which also really happened) to bring us an incredibly vivid picture of that vibrant world. Who cares if the steps from point A to point B didn't happen quite as he guessed?
What will it matter 3000 years hence?
Recommended for all readers of historical fiction and all lovers of the 18th dynasty in Ancient Egypt. And that's all of us.
So put on your Indiana Jones hat and gallop along.

[Fuego Primero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Al principio esta historia me parecía un poco aburrida, pero al seguir leyendo y observar que la razón inicial que era aclarar la muerte de una sacerdotisa se convirtió en toda una conspiración para derrocar al Faraón.

Se puede notar los aires de novela detectivesca o novela negra pero estuvo bien argumentada sin tanta explicación deductiva.

Creo que se convirtió en una saga con el personaje de Semerket, para mi la historia con este personaje llego hasta aquí, seguir sacando más carbón seria desgastar al personaje.