Web of Evil

Hani's Daughter Mysteries #2

by N.L. Holmes

When a corpse washes up on the riverbank at Lord Hani’s country house, his daughter Neferet and her fellow physician Bener-ib and apprentice Mut-tuy head for the local village to try to identify it. But they find themselves entangled in a web of murder and lies in the heart of a family of weavers. Can the perseverance of three determined women and the bonds of parental love win out, or will Neferet herself become the next victim?

Genres: Cozy Mystery

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2024

About the author

N.L. Holmes is the pen name of a professional archaeologist who received her doctorate from Bryn Mawr College. She has excavated in Greece and in Israel, and taught ancient history and humanities at the university level for many years. She has always had a passion for books, and in childhood, she and her cousin (also a writer today) used to write stories for fun.

Check out her interview with the Teaching, Learning, Leading K-12 podcast here!

Reviews

[Charlisa Wahtomy-Alba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neferet, Bener-ib and their apprentice Mut-tuy are inbroiled in yet another murder mystery. This time a body has washed up on the river bank on Lord Hani's property. These three lovely ladies head for the village to try and identify this person. However, Neferet may become the next victim if she isn't careful. The family of weavers at the heart of the situation isn't ready or willing to give up their secrets so easily. Once again the author has written a story that will keep you turning the pages to see if these women are successful.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hani's daughter Neferet is caught up in another mystery. But like father like daughter, she can’t always know what she is going to get caught up in a web of lies and deceit.
Web of Evil is another cleverly built story in the Hani's Daughter Mysteries a historical cosy mystery. It is full of murder, mystery, intrigue, drama, suspense, danger, secrets, lies and a lot more just waiting for you to discover. It is a bumpy ride with twisty turns that makes it hard to put down.
It is set in Ancient Egypt one of the many places I would love to visit. I love the historical details that NL knows so well and masterfully incorporates throughout this mystery. This fictional story is full of rich and vibrant and vivid and easily imagined that it seems so real.
What at first appears to be a simple task leads Nefereti and her friends in the path of a murder and are soon entangled in a nightmare as things become deadly. AS the title suggest it is definitely a web of evil.
I look forward to the next adventure.

[Ayla Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more they dig the worse it gets. Absolutely love this series and need to go back to read Lord Hani’s series. Neferet and Bener-ib are back and once again find themselves amid a mystery.
It’s summer and the city heat can be overwhelming so the sunets take the orphans they care for to Neferet’s fathers’ country home on weekends to enjoy the open fields cooler air. What started as a calm day quickly became so much more when her father and brother-in-law return from their boat ride on the river with the body of a man that the reed cutters discovered. By the looks of the mans clothing they discover he must be from the local village and possibly a scribe. As midday looms overhead and the sun beats down on them Neferet, Bener-ib, Hani, Mut-tuy and their dog brute head to the village to speak with the mayor. Upon discovering that the mayor is a woman, Neferet is impressed and pleased at such a rare site but quickly discover the man, Tjay, is not well liked in the village and could have a long list of possible suspects in his passing. Meeting his wife Ta-em-resefu only confirms the dislike and the knowledge he did not treat her and their children well. Estranged from his entire family, besides a sister that is described as a strange bond with the entire village is a suspect. The webs begin for form when the wife explains that the mayor is Tjay’s stepmother, but that even she did not side with him and helped to protect his wife and children when he was in a bad mood.
In a village of potential suspects how will they narrow it down? With so many reasons to end him, what was the final straw? Will Neferet succeed before it’s too late and the webs catch her? Once more this author pulls you back in time giving you a historically beautiful world mixed with relatable current day mystery and suspense. We continue to see Neferet grow and evolve as she becomes more experienced in not only reading the people around her but the environment. Will she be able to learn enough to keep out of the traps being laid around her pulling her deeper into the webs of evil that surround what she thought was an innocent scribe taken too soon. I cannot wait to see what will come next from this author.

[Heidi Sturgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the first book I thought my brain have been overloaded with facts but guess what ? I wanted more ! These girls are fearless , determined and inspiring 😉and they have their families support which always go a long way 🥰

We get to meet Mutty , an apprentice with the girls and now she’s also part of our sleuthing team 🤪

This time a body washes up on the riverbank of Lord Hani’s residence and the girls are going to find the killer and again they’re faced with danger , lord , mystery and intrigue and my mind is all over with facts and places but what a journey ! I feel well travelled 🤪😉

These girls will keep any man on their toes 🤣

Looking forward to the next instalment 🥰📚

[Paula Sayers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Hani’s Dauguter Mysteries. We continue to follow Neferet as she finds herself trying to discover who the corpse that has washed up is and who killed him. Neferet may end up in danger herself as she takes on this mystery. I enjoy getting to know more about these characters. I also love how the author includes Egyptian tidbits throughout the book.

[Jayme Raffauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Hani Daughter Mysteries series, and I did not read book 1 prior. I may have had a little extra insight on some of the characters, but it did not really impact my view of the book. This was an interesting murder mystery that takes place in Egypt. You get an interesting perspective as a reader as you follow Neferet and the others as they go on a journey to try to solve a potential murder of a man whose body was found in the water nearby. There are many historical and geographical parts of the book that the author does a great job of including in the story. I felt like I learned a lot of historical information about Egyptian living while reading this book. The story was very interesting and I enjoyed it a lot.

[Finn Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Web of Evil is the second book to the absolutely incredible Hani's Daughter Mysteries series. N.L. Holmes came back to continue with Neferet and her friends in another fantastic book. I adored book one and of course had to come and read the second one immediately. Once again, the writing is beautiful, the characters are scarily real, and it will hook you in immediately. I recommended the first book, and I recommend this one as well, however definitely read Flowers of Evil first!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining historical cozy mystery drama which had me hooked throughout. The story is set in ancient Egypt during the first year of Tut-ankh-aten/amen’s reign, about 1335 BCE. The author really made me feel as though I had been transported back to this era through the both descriptive narrative and the added historical details. Neferet is the daughter of Hani, who features in another series by the author, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. The storyline follows physicians Neferet and Bener-ib along with their apprentice Mut-tuy. In this story a corpse washes up on the riverbank at Neferet’s father, Lord Hani’s house.
The trio then visit the local village in the hopes of identifying the deceased, however, the three women soon become entangled in a web of secrets, lies and murder. Their investigations into a family of weavers put Neferet in danger but they all remain determined to discover the truth. I found the historical notes, character list and glossary at the start of the book very useful. I referred to the character list in particular many times, as the Egyptian names of the era do take a while to get used to. I love the three main characters and the fact that they are three independent and determined women physicians, who are likeable and relatable in 2024 even though they come from 1335 BCE!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When a corpse washes up on the riverbank at Lord Hani’s country house, his daughter Neferet and her fellow physician Bener-ib and apprentice Mut-tuy head for the local village to try to identify it. But they find themselves entangled in a web of murder and lies in the heart of a family of weavers. Can the perseverance of three determined women and the bonds of parental love win out, or will Neferet herself become the next victim?" This is the second book in the series, id recommend reading the 1st one in the series. I really enjoyed reading the continuation more. I give this book 4 stars.

[René Fletcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped I would. It dragged at times.

[Roxsanne Lesieur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neferet, Bener-ib and Mut-tuy return in this mystery, but this time, they are at their Lord Hani's farm outside of Waset and it is a national holiday, so all of the family are there, they get to spend lazy days in the shade and sleep outside on a night, it is hot and the middle of summer, so when the men go off to the local river for the morning, nobody is overly concerned, that is until only two of them return and Lord Hani is not among them. The family is in a panic, so Neferet, Bener-ib and Mut-tuy run over to find out what has happened and it is at this point that they see Lord Hani on the riverbank with some of the local villagers and they are pulling something from the river, unfortunately, it is a body.

As the group head back with the corpse to the family holiday home, the physicians follow on and when the shade is reached, they examine the body to find a cause of death and once this is confirmed, the local priests are called to take away the body, but the mystery is who is the person? With this in mind, the three ladies head to the village to report the find to the Mayor, however, when they speak to her and they find out who the unfortunate victim is, the investigation truly starts. As the ladies visit the family of the deceased, they discover they are a family of weavers who have links to Neferet's home town, but as they ask questions, the mystery is not clear cut.

Will Neferet, Bener-ib and Mut-tuy be able to discover who the perpetrator is and the motive behind this killing, or will the weavers, weave a tangled web which is too complex for them to unravel and will the past repeat itself and danger come calling a little too close to home? This is another historical mystery where justice is wanted, but can it be found, as secrets and lies abound while loyalty is challenged and answers revealed.

[Kerry carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I honestly can't put into words how much I adore this authors work. Ancient Egypt for me is a passion and something I am fascinated by and this authors knowledge and writing really transports me back. The authors attention to historical details as well as writing a unique story is what really brings these books and characters to life for me.

So this is book 2 in Hani's Daughter Mystery series. This series has come after The Lord Hani Mystery Series, if you haven't read them I highly recommend them.
So we are back with Neferet (Hani's daughter) and her friends as they embark on yet another murder mystery today to solve. Neferet is definitely following in her father's footsteps and she is determined not to let a crime go unsolved no matter the consequences.
When a body is found near the family farm Neferet is determined to find out what happened. When she discovers that it was a cause of murder she then starts the hunt for the murder but the victim wasn't exactly well liked so with so many suspects will she be able to solve this case.
Was it a case of two lovers getting rid of him so they could be together? Was it something to do with his work and the details of a company he knew? Or was it a member of his family or a angry employee that was pushed to far that cause his death. Neferet has a huge web of lies to unravel to get to the truth and maybe putting herself in danger in the process.

I honestly can't speak highly enough of this author and their work. If you love murder mysteries with ancient Egyptian history then this is definitely the series for you. I can't wait to read more.

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Web of Evil is the second book in the Hani’s Daughter Mysteries series. I’d recommend starting this series of historical mysteries, set in Ancient Egypt, either at Flowers of Evil which begins the Hani’s Daughter series or at Bird in a Snare which begins the original Lord Hani series. That said, the book includes enough information and backstory that it can be read as a standalone mystery.

I loved the well-researched historical setting in the Lord Hani series and it’s fantastic that the Hani’s Daughter Mysteries shed more light on the work and lives of women in this part of history. Neferet and Bener-ib are great characters who combine their work as physicians, serving people in their community who might not otherwise have access to medical care, with occasional dabbling in detective work. Lord Hani is still on the scene but the story is very much led by Neferet.

This is an intriguing mystery where new information leads Neferet and the readers to question what we think about the case. It’s a real page-turner! And there is plenty going on around the periphery with Neferet’s family and the communities involved in the case. I particularly enjoyed learning more about different styles of weaving and how the industry was run!

This book gets five stars from me! I’d recommend the series to fans of historical mystery who are interested in Ancient Egypt or just looking to explore a different part of history.

[Joanne Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Web of Evil, N.L. Holmes delivers another gripping historical mystery set in ancient Egypt, featuring the intelligent and determined healer Neferet, her fellow physician Bener-ib, and their sharp-witted apprentice Mut-tuy. When a corpse is discovered near Lord Hani’s country house, the trio’s simple attempt to identify the body leads them deep into a tangled mystery within a family of weavers—a web of secrets, deceit, and danger that threatens to ensnare Neferet herself.

Holmes excels at bringing the past to life with rich historical detail, immersing readers in the daily rhythms, social hierarchies, and medical practices of ancient Egypt. The novel’s pacing is taut, balancing moments of suspense with thoughtful character development, particularly in how the three women navigate both the dangers of their investigation and the expectations placed on them by their society.

The mystery is layered and compelling, with well-placed twists and a sense of real danger as Neferet’s pursuit of the truth puts her at risk. Themes of justice, family loyalty, and the strength of female friendships give the novel depth beyond its central whodunit.

For fans of historical fiction and intricate mysteries, Web of Evil is an absorbing read, blending well-researched history with a thrilling detective story. Holmes proves once again that justice—however elusive—has its seekers, even in the heart of ancient Egypt.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Web of Evil is the second book in the Hani’s Daughter Mysteries series by N.L Holmes. As I mention in my review for Book #1, this series which is a direct spin-off from ‘The Lord Hani Mystery Series’ – this time following Hani’s daughter, Neferet (and friends), as she gets drawn into some intriguing mysteries.
When a body washes up on the shore of the river outside her father’s rural residence, Neferet and co are on the scene, and begin to follow the clues drawing them into a tangled web of evil.
As with the first book, this is another cozy historical mystery, set in ancient Egypt- with plenty of vivid detailing and descriptions which brought everything to life There is a definite ‘crime and investigation’ aspect to the story, a bit of a ‘whodunnit’ murder mystery that kept me engrossed as I followed along to find out what happened.
As I have come to expect from Ms. Holmes, the story is woven with wonderfully rich historical details, texture, depth, interesting characters, adventure, intrigue, suspense, dramatic developments, emotion, tension, secrets, lies, family dynamics, and danger ----
Looking forward to ‘Wheel of Evil’ (Book #3)
Happy Reading…

Thank you, N.L Holmes!

[Yvonne Derrig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Series Continues And The Plot Gets Better

This series by N.L. Holmes has captured my attention with this second book. The plot in Web of Evil is one that was captivating and kept me suspicious and motivated to learn the truth. This book was less stunted at the beginning, which was my estimation by the end of the first book. Holmes was setting the scene with the world building within the first one and this second book needed less of that. It was very easy to slip into reading and was a quick read for me. Neferet and Bener-ib, the two women physicians, are caught up again in another mysterious death that has found its way to the doorstep of Neferet’s father country home. This was a bit more twisted and was a bit harder to discern the whodunnit early on. A fascinating read while comforting at the same time. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. As with the first book, most of the action takes place towards the end of the book, so don’t stop reading, although, it is a good read throughout, so I doubt that you’ll put it down.

[Santana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neferet and Bener-ib are back with another mystery on their hands. While visiting Neferet’s family home, her father shows up with a corpse found in the water. Upon investigating, the women find the cause of death to be a blow to the head. Not sure if accidental or on purpose, Neferet is assuming murder.

Neferet and Bener-ib head into the town to identify the body. Turns out, everyone knew the victim but also everyone hated him for some reason or another.

Everyone is a suspect and it’s up to Neferet to narrow down the lists. She doesn’t know what are truths and what are lies as they get tangled information along the way.

Neferet has grown a lot from the first book of the series but she is still a fiery, stubborn yet kind woman. She is intelligent and quick to come to conclusions. This time around, it was easier for me to keep track of names. I love how Neferet will fight for what’s right even when no one else will!

[Amanda Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is second in the series, you can follow the story book to book, or it can just as easily read this as a standalone and not be lost. I love how this book has a list of characters, a map AND a glossary at the beginning of the book. It is very clear from the beginning that the author is going to take you on an unfamiliar journey. The story’s main characters are two women who open a medical dispensary and their teenage apprentice, this is quite the dynamic trio. In this story they once again find themselves in a murder mystery. A dead body is found at their country house, the women determine the cause of death to be murder and their curious minds take them on the journey of discovery. They find quickly that the supposed victim has a long list of people who are glad the dead. As they work to unravel the case it takes them on an emotional journey as they uncover the truth. Sometimes the answers you find are not always the ones you want.

[Tausha Treadway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Web of Evil (Hani's Daughter Mysteries) by N.L. Holmes. This is the second book in the Hani's Daughter Mysteries and even though this isn't my favorite genre, I'm loving this series. They are so good and very hard to put down once you start them. It's the continuing story of Neferet and her friends and this time they are trying to solve the mystery of the body that was washed up on the river bank. As Neferet and her girlfriends set out to solve this mystery they encounter all kinds of shady characters and are putting themselves in harms way while they are doing it. This is set in Ancient Egypt and the writing is so well done I actually felt like I was there. There is mystery, intrigue, crime, murder, secrets and lies. Get ready to sit on the edge of your seat as you read this great murder mystery. Its one of those books that will keep you thinking about it long after you are finished!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Web of Evil by NL Holmes is a captivating historical mystery novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey through ancient Egypt. The story follows Neferet, a strong-willed and determined young woman, as she and her companions unravel the mystery behind a corpse found near her father's country house.

The author does a fantastic job of immersing readers in the ancient Egyptian setting, capturing the culture and traditions of the time with vivid detail. The plot is well-paced and keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the characters navigate through a complex web of deceit and betrayal.

One of the standout aspects of this novel is the strong and empowering female characters, particularly Neferet, who defies societal norms and fights for justice in a male-dominated world. The relationships between the characters are well-developed, providing depth and complexity to the story.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series which I highly suggest reading the previous book as well to help your enhancement of this series and author. This is an author that I never hesitate to pick up. I know that I am in for an adventure in each book I pick up by this author. I found this book to be well written and hard to put down. A story that is full of murder, mystery, and three determined women. What happens in this book you don’t want to miss. It is a fast paced story that is easy to read. The characters pull you into their world with ease and kept me turning pages fast. I enjoyed watching the growth throughout which added to the story. I really enjoyed reading this book, I highly recommend it.

[Dawn Daughenbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars
Web of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries) by N.L. Holmes

Web of Evil is the second book in Hani’s Daughter Mysteries and is a Historical Cozy Mystery that will have you turning the pages till the end. This was the perfect book to curl up on the couch with. I’m a fan of this author and the previous series The lord Hani Mystery which this is a spinoff of. I’m loving this series so far. The characters are relatable, developed and creative yet make the story fly off the pages. Get ready to follow along with three very determined ladies while trying to solve the murder mystery. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. Im looking forward to reading more from this Author.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Web of Evil is the second book in the Hani's Daughter Mysteries series, an extension of the Lord Hani series. Neferet and her friends work together in this series to solve mysteries in Ancient Egypt. A body is found on the riverbank, and there are many questions. Neferet and Company weave a great story of smart females finding the truth in an ancient civilization. So many little details make the story come to life thanks to the knowledge and research of the author. She uses her experience and knowledge in archaeology to make everything very real and relatable to the reader. Both this and the Lord Hani series bring Ancient Egypt a mysterious edge in a fun and entertaining way. If you enjoy cozy mysteries and historical fiction stories this is a great book to grab.

[Tara Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Web of Evil is Book Two in the Hani’s Daughter Mysteries Series. It is a historical cozy mystery set in Ancient Egypt that centers around the character of Neferet, Hani’s daughter, who finds herself inadvertently wrapped up in a murder mystery after a body washes up on shore near her father’s rural residence. As they begin to unravel the clues, they find themselves drawn into a web of lies, deceit, and evil. The story is well written with great attention to historical details, vivid scene descriptions, and unique characters. The author does a great job of weaving a story full of mystery, danger, drama, suspense, intrigue, secrets, lies, and twists and turns that will keep you hooked until the end.

[Shannen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great second installment to the Hani’s Daughter Mysteries series. We get to experience this story alongside Neferet and Bener-ib, and it is incredibly suspenseful! I adore authors that include character lists, a glossary, and other notes at the beginning of the book because it kind of sets the stage. I also love how the characters are developed because Neferet is a force to be reckoned with. They ran into some unnerving mysteries and had me on the edge of my seat throughout. I definitely lost quite a bit of sleep because I needed to know what was going to happen next. The flow of the story felt so natural and before I knew it, I had blown through the entire book! I highly recommend picking up the first book before this one, but whatever you do, don’t miss out!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two in the series and while this can be read as a standalone, there will be better understanding to read these books in order.

The author is well versed in Egyptian history and uses this knowledge to weave another story about Neferet, Bener-ib, and Mut-tuy. This time a dead body washes up and it's up to Neferet and her team to determine who this is and what has happened. The team is determined but there are some who will do anything to stop them in their tracks. These women appear to have no fear when it comes to solving mysteries!

I love that the author includes maps so you can see where these stories are based out of as well as a glossary of terms that may be unfamiliar.

[Jules Herbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the first book in this series and being unable to put it down, I knew as soon as I saw this I just had to read it. My excitement was completely justified because this was yet another extremely well written and creative storyline that I truly could not put down unless I was forced too. Damn my family insisting on eating LOL. Filled with so much drama, danger, mystery, murder and lies just to name a few things, this really is a book you don't want to miss. I know I have said this about this authors writing before but this story truly comes to life in your minds eye as you read it, thanks to such vivid descriptions, that truly make you feel like you are really there.

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding story from N.L. Holmes, combining archaeological fact with a murder mystery and featuring an established cast of memorable characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot of Web of Evil, involving Neferet and her family members as they try to discover a murderer. It was fascinating to get the contrast between life in the bustling city of Waset and the customs of the small village where the family has a countryside home.

As always, this is a skilful combination of history (the details are superbly drawn) and the moral dilemmas of people who seem as real and immediate as you or I. I'm addicted to these books!

[Crystal Brehant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series. I am reading them in order. I always recommend reading any series in order. I do not feel like you are really missing anything important reading out of order. I do think it helps with the smaller details though.
I liked this story even more than the first. I am usually pretty good at guessing mysteries, but this one kept me changing who I thought did it throughout the whole thing. There are so many likely choices when a character is so disliked. It was s surprise twist, and there's nothing better than twists in mysteries! I could not wait for the third!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Web of Evil is book 2 of the Hani's Daughter Mystery Book series by N. L. Holmes. In this second book of the series, the body of a man has been discovered washed up on the river. Never fear! Neferet and Bener-ib are on the case! They head to a local village and discover that this man had a long list of people who were less than friendly with him. There are so many potential suspects! Will Neferet and her crew be able to figure out who was at fault before they get pulled into this sticky web as well? It's nice to see Neferet begin to grow in this second installment and I'm excited to see where the series takes us! I'm also loving the ancient Egypt setting.