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The Museum Detective
This gripping series debut introduces whip-smart Pakistani archaeologist Dr. Gul Delani, whose investigation into the discovery of a mummy gets complicated—and personal—when it collides with her years-long search for a missing family member. This gritty crime thriller inspired by a real-life antiquities scandal is perfect for fans of Sue Grafton and Elsa Hart.
When Dr. Gul Delani receives a call in the middle of the night from the Sindh police, she thinks they may have finally found her niece, Mahnaz—a precocious, politically conscious teenage girl who went missing three years prior. Gul has been racked with grief since Mahnaz’s disappearance and distracts herself through a talented curator at the Museum of Heritage and History in Karachi, she is one of the country’s leading experts in archaeology and ancient civilizations, a hard-won position for a woman.
But there is no news of Mahnaz. Instead, Gul is summoned to a narcotics investigation in a remote desert region in western Pakistan. In her wildest dreams, Gul couldn’t have imagined what she’d find amid a drug bust gone wrong, there is a mummy—life-size, seemingly authentic, its sarcophagus decorated with symbols from Persepolis, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. The discovery confounds everyone. It is both too good to be true, and for Gul, too precious to leave in careless or corrupt hands.
Aided by her team of unlikely misfits, Gul will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of it, even as her quest for the truth puts her in the throes of a dangerous conspiracy and threatens to collide with her ongoing search for Mahnaz. A portrait of a city fueled by corruption and a woman relentlessly in pursuit of justice, The Museum Detective is an exciting, gritty new crime thriller that announces a whip-smart and brilliant sleuth and builds to a stunning, emotional conclusion that readers won’t soon forget.
When Dr. Gul Delani receives a call in the middle of the night from the Sindh police, she thinks they may have finally found her niece, Mahnaz—a precocious, politically conscious teenage girl who went missing three years prior. Gul has been racked with grief since Mahnaz’s disappearance and distracts herself through a talented curator at the Museum of Heritage and History in Karachi, she is one of the country’s leading experts in archaeology and ancient civilizations, a hard-won position for a woman.
But there is no news of Mahnaz. Instead, Gul is summoned to a narcotics investigation in a remote desert region in western Pakistan. In her wildest dreams, Gul couldn’t have imagined what she’d find amid a drug bust gone wrong, there is a mummy—life-size, seemingly authentic, its sarcophagus decorated with symbols from Persepolis, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. The discovery confounds everyone. It is both too good to be true, and for Gul, too precious to leave in careless or corrupt hands.
Aided by her team of unlikely misfits, Gul will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of it, even as her quest for the truth puts her in the throes of a dangerous conspiracy and threatens to collide with her ongoing search for Mahnaz. A portrait of a city fueled by corruption and a woman relentlessly in pursuit of justice, The Museum Detective is an exciting, gritty new crime thriller that announces a whip-smart and brilliant sleuth and builds to a stunning, emotional conclusion that readers won’t soon forget.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2025
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12682 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
October 13, 2025
Review first published on mysteryandsuspense.com
“On thinking about Hell, I gather my brother Shelley found it was a place much like the city of London. I, who live in Los Angeles and not in London, find, on thinking about Hell, that it must be still more like Los Angeles.”
–Bertolt Brecht
Dr. Gul Delani is the curator of the Heritage and History Museum in Karachi, Pakistan. When she is awakened one night by a call from the police, asking her to travel from her home in the capital to a remote desert area for an unspecified reason, she is not exactly pleased. But it’s the police, and it is not in her nature to refuse such a request.
However, what she finds upon arriving at the site astounds her: during a bungled drug raid, the police have discovered, hidden in a cave, an ancient life-sized mummy, complete with a decorated sarcophagus. From a brief inspection, Gul believes the items are most likely authentic, but she urgently needs to secure them and move them to a controlled environment where she can verify her initial assessment.
We soon learn that Gul has traveled a difficult road to reach her current position at the museum. Born into a wealthy family—her father founded the country’s first homegrown financial institution—she was determined to pursue her studies and build a career of her own. But her conservative parents had a different plan, one involving marriage, children, and a life of subservience. Gul found a way to achieve her ambitions, but the path was far from easy. Now, following her father’s death, the family business is run by her brother, Bilal—a shrewd financier with whom Gul fell out some time ago. Their estrangement, however, is overshadowed by the disappearance of Bilal’s daughter, Mahnaz, a sharp and witty young woman with whom Gul had formed a close bond. Despite extensive searching, Mahnaz’s whereabouts remain unknown.
After securing the mummy and sarcophagus, Gul assembles a small team to fully assess this extraordinary find. Could it really be, as the symbols on the ancient sarcophagus suggest, over two thousand years old and linked to Persepolis, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire? Her work is quickly hindered—first by the unwanted interference of a well-connected male colleague at the museum, and then by a ruthless drug lord determined to steal the artifacts back. It is far from certain that Gul will be allowed to complete her examination.
This novel delivers plenty of mystery and adventure, with intricate puzzles waiting to be unraveled. The fast-paced narrative is driven by compelling characters, particularly the intelligent and determined Gul. But beyond the action, the book also offers a vivid portrait of modern-day Pakistan—especially Karachi, a city shaped by relationships, networks, and deeply ingrained hierarchies. It highlights the challenges of being a career-driven woman in a society that often resists change. Once a cosmopolitan haven for minorities and those fleeing persecution, Karachi, as some now claim, has changed.
If you’re looking for a novel that delivers both a thrilling story and insightful social commentary, this one will certainly fit the bill.
My thanks to Soho Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
“On thinking about Hell, I gather my brother Shelley found it was a place much like the city of London. I, who live in Los Angeles and not in London, find, on thinking about Hell, that it must be still more like Los Angeles.”
–Bertolt Brecht
Dr. Gul Delani is the curator of the Heritage and History Museum in Karachi, Pakistan. When she is awakened one night by a call from the police, asking her to travel from her home in the capital to a remote desert area for an unspecified reason, she is not exactly pleased. But it’s the police, and it is not in her nature to refuse such a request.
However, what she finds upon arriving at the site astounds her: during a bungled drug raid, the police have discovered, hidden in a cave, an ancient life-sized mummy, complete with a decorated sarcophagus. From a brief inspection, Gul believes the items are most likely authentic, but she urgently needs to secure them and move them to a controlled environment where she can verify her initial assessment.
We soon learn that Gul has traveled a difficult road to reach her current position at the museum. Born into a wealthy family—her father founded the country’s first homegrown financial institution—she was determined to pursue her studies and build a career of her own. But her conservative parents had a different plan, one involving marriage, children, and a life of subservience. Gul found a way to achieve her ambitions, but the path was far from easy. Now, following her father’s death, the family business is run by her brother, Bilal—a shrewd financier with whom Gul fell out some time ago. Their estrangement, however, is overshadowed by the disappearance of Bilal’s daughter, Mahnaz, a sharp and witty young woman with whom Gul had formed a close bond. Despite extensive searching, Mahnaz’s whereabouts remain unknown.
After securing the mummy and sarcophagus, Gul assembles a small team to fully assess this extraordinary find. Could it really be, as the symbols on the ancient sarcophagus suggest, over two thousand years old and linked to Persepolis, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire? Her work is quickly hindered—first by the unwanted interference of a well-connected male colleague at the museum, and then by a ruthless drug lord determined to steal the artifacts back. It is far from certain that Gul will be allowed to complete her examination.
This novel delivers plenty of mystery and adventure, with intricate puzzles waiting to be unraveled. The fast-paced narrative is driven by compelling characters, particularly the intelligent and determined Gul. But beyond the action, the book also offers a vivid portrait of modern-day Pakistan—especially Karachi, a city shaped by relationships, networks, and deeply ingrained hierarchies. It highlights the challenges of being a career-driven woman in a society that often resists change. Once a cosmopolitan haven for minorities and those fleeing persecution, Karachi, as some now claim, has changed.
If you’re looking for a novel that delivers both a thrilling story and insightful social commentary, this one will certainly fit the bill.
My thanks to Soho Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
March 10, 2025
Praying this is made into a movie 😫 kickass protagonist, vivid setting, incredible story inspired by real life, and a MUMMY are you kidding me
June 4, 2025
After reading the first chapter of THE MUSEUM DETECTIVE, I concluded that this was another "cardboard characters" novel. A "cardboard characters" novel is one wherein the characters are flat caricatures that the author moves around to support a specific theme or topic. They are not written so as to immerse the reader in a story but rather to get across a specific point—an idea or topic that is important to the writer. As this was a library book, I could have dnf'd here.
Instead, I decided to read it as a textbook rather than as a fiction novel. In other words, read to see if it provided interesting information (rather than an interesting story). And during the first half, this strategy worked. I discovered interesting information about:
1) how Egyptian mummies were created (not for the squeamish);
2) the city of Karachi, with its rigid social structure, ruled by wealthy families;
3) the old Persian empire (although not much information given, but still previously I had known nothing but the name);
4) the Parsi community that lingered in spots after the Persian Empire fell (again, only a few details provided);
5) the role of women in Pakistan.
Several reviews have centred on the last issue—the rigid structure surrounding women in a so-called "free" Muslim country, but frankly there have been far better novels and nonfiction books written on this topic than THE MUSEUM DETECTIVE, and anyone looking for a good book to read about this subject matter would be advised to look elsewhere.
At about the 55% point, the plot became mildly intriguing, certainly interesting enough to finish the novel. Although some parts were reproductions of previously popular novels (i.e., an archeologist investigating a major criminal organization on her own and almost being killed), there were some unexpected twists.
I am giving THE MUSEUM DETECTIVE three stars because it provided some interesting information, and kept me reading until the end. However, if there is a sequel, I won't bother to read it. The author is basically a nonfiction writer trying to turn nonfiction details into a fictional story, one who uses one-dimensional "cardboard characters" to convey facts and themes.
Thanks to the Greater Victoria Public Library for providing the ebook that I read.
Instead, I decided to read it as a textbook rather than as a fiction novel. In other words, read to see if it provided interesting information (rather than an interesting story). And during the first half, this strategy worked. I discovered interesting information about:
1) how Egyptian mummies were created (not for the squeamish);
2) the city of Karachi, with its rigid social structure, ruled by wealthy families;
3) the old Persian empire (although not much information given, but still previously I had known nothing but the name);
4) the Parsi community that lingered in spots after the Persian Empire fell (again, only a few details provided);
5) the role of women in Pakistan.
Several reviews have centred on the last issue—the rigid structure surrounding women in a so-called "free" Muslim country, but frankly there have been far better novels and nonfiction books written on this topic than THE MUSEUM DETECTIVE, and anyone looking for a good book to read about this subject matter would be advised to look elsewhere.
At about the 55% point, the plot became mildly intriguing, certainly interesting enough to finish the novel. Although some parts were reproductions of previously popular novels (i.e., an archeologist investigating a major criminal organization on her own and almost being killed), there were some unexpected twists.
I am giving THE MUSEUM DETECTIVE three stars because it provided some interesting information, and kept me reading until the end. However, if there is a sequel, I won't bother to read it. The author is basically a nonfiction writer trying to turn nonfiction details into a fictional story, one who uses one-dimensional "cardboard characters" to convey facts and themes.
Thanks to the Greater Victoria Public Library for providing the ebook that I read.
January 21, 2025
My place of employment gets a lot of arcs sent to us.
I have never been so happy to fall for a red herring! I solved most of the mystery in a few pages but was wrong about the identity of the mummy. There was one twist betrayal I didn't see coming until right before the reveal. It all worked so well! I was riveted. It's rare that a mystery manages to hold surprises for me, have fun characters, solid themes, and be a satisfying puzzle. This had all of those elements. Some of the prose in the first few chapters needs some tightening up, and some grammar mistakes need to be corrected.
I look forward to reading more books in this series. I have worked in museums, libraries, and archives. There were a few things that bugged me from a procedure and cleanliness side to those, but nothing that broke the story for me. Mrs. Fernandes is a new favorite character of mine. I love how this book tackles religious tensions and inter religious friendships without relying on stereotypes or villifying the groups. I also like that you see how a corrupt system can cause even noble people to go silent, at least for a time. I got so mad each time someone said they didn't have a choice and tried to say they weren't bad people because they had reasons or it wasn't truly their fault, all blaming the main character for what they chose to do. She gets put in a similar situation and still makes the right choice, and by the end, she is biding her time to finish what she's started.
In the case of one character, I wish I could say that forgeries and thefts aren't caused by people in charge of protecting cultural heritage, but many scandals do involve professionals. It's why we have so many procedures and protocols pertaining to security and access. Some are out for money. Others become obsessed with it all. Others think they can do a better job of protecting it in their own home, or at least thats how they justify it. It will be interesting to see if she tackles other archeological and GLAMs (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums) thefts and scandals, or moves into more traditional mystery set ups.
I have never been so happy to fall for a red herring! I solved most of the mystery in a few pages but was wrong about the identity of the mummy. There was one twist betrayal I didn't see coming until right before the reveal. It all worked so well! I was riveted. It's rare that a mystery manages to hold surprises for me, have fun characters, solid themes, and be a satisfying puzzle. This had all of those elements. Some of the prose in the first few chapters needs some tightening up, and some grammar mistakes need to be corrected.
I look forward to reading more books in this series. I have worked in museums, libraries, and archives. There were a few things that bugged me from a procedure and cleanliness side to those, but nothing that broke the story for me. Mrs. Fernandes is a new favorite character of mine. I love how this book tackles religious tensions and inter religious friendships without relying on stereotypes or villifying the groups. I also like that you see how a corrupt system can cause even noble people to go silent, at least for a time. I got so mad each time someone said they didn't have a choice and tried to say they weren't bad people because they had reasons or it wasn't truly their fault, all blaming the main character for what they chose to do. She gets put in a similar situation and still makes the right choice, and by the end, she is biding her time to finish what she's started.
In the case of one character, I wish I could say that forgeries and thefts aren't caused by people in charge of protecting cultural heritage, but many scandals do involve professionals. It's why we have so many procedures and protocols pertaining to security and access. Some are out for money. Others become obsessed with it all. Others think they can do a better job of protecting it in their own home, or at least thats how they justify it. It will be interesting to see if she tackles other archeological and GLAMs (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums) thefts and scandals, or moves into more traditional mystery set ups.
May 14, 2025
For a change, it was nice to relax into a simple detective story. Even better, this one is set mainly in Karachi, so I was also able to "travel" to a new locale.
Thus, three stars: A fun escapist read.
The plot was page-turning. A few "mysteries" were obvious (nope, no spoilers here) but others were good grabs. The writing was adequate, a star below average.
Extra credit to author Maha Khan Phillips for including many mentions of Pakistani food and traditional clothing without clumsy explanations of what they are. Curious readers can look them up, and any reader will get the idea from the context.
The basic story: While chasing a major drug dealer, Pakistani police stumble on what might be a hitherto-unknown mummy of an ancient Persian princess. As Dr. Gul Delani, curator of Karachi's Heritage and History Museum, tries to authenticate the mummy, she is drawn into the city's dangerous underworld. Even more worrisome, her investigation seems to tie the mummy and the underworld to her beloved niece, who has been missing for three years.
(Confession: The main reason I read this book was that it centers on a museum, and the newest novel I'm writing is also set in a museum. So, I figured this might be a fun way to do some "research." And it was, though a large art and archaeology museum in Pakistan doesn't have much in common with "my" small suburban NY museum.)
Thus, three stars: A fun escapist read.
The plot was page-turning. A few "mysteries" were obvious (nope, no spoilers here) but others were good grabs. The writing was adequate, a star below average.
Extra credit to author Maha Khan Phillips for including many mentions of Pakistani food and traditional clothing without clumsy explanations of what they are. Curious readers can look them up, and any reader will get the idea from the context.
The basic story: While chasing a major drug dealer, Pakistani police stumble on what might be a hitherto-unknown mummy of an ancient Persian princess. As Dr. Gul Delani, curator of Karachi's Heritage and History Museum, tries to authenticate the mummy, she is drawn into the city's dangerous underworld. Even more worrisome, her investigation seems to tie the mummy and the underworld to her beloved niece, who has been missing for three years.
(Confession: The main reason I read this book was that it centers on a museum, and the newest novel I'm writing is also set in a museum. So, I figured this might be a fun way to do some "research." And it was, though a large art and archaeology museum in Pakistan doesn't have much in common with "my" small suburban NY museum.)
April 27, 2025
The Museum Detective, set in Karachi, Pakistan, features Dr. Gul Denali, a curator at the Heritage and History Museum. The action begins in the middle of the night, as she is summoned by the police to a mysterious setting far out of the city to assess something they have found. She is a trained archaeologist, she does have a go kit at home ready to take with her. Thus begins a compelling adventure combining archaeology, history, museum culture, crime and corruption in Pakistan, and mystery. What exactly is this artifact that Gul is taken to examine? A mummy? But there is no history of mummies in Pakistan. This human sized apparent mummy will require very specific care and examination, as well as
protection given the level of corruption in the city and having been found during a drugs raid. Gul is perfect for this position given her background in Egyptology.
A second thread running constantly in the background is Gul’s missing niece, Mahnaz, who disappeared three years earlier. With this thought constantly thrumming in her head, Gul pulls together her team of students, employees and helpers and begins her plan of action. This is an exciting novel, well written, with many twists and turns. I do hope it is the start of a series. I like having a view into another culture through a novel I enjoyed. Some of the details of this story are based on an actual case that took place in Pakistan several years ago. My only wish was a dictionary at the end so I could understand the local words used in the text. This doesn’t impede the plot but only some of the details such as clothing or food which can often be guessed.
Definitely recommended.
Thanks to Soho Crime and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
protection given the level of corruption in the city and having been found during a drugs raid. Gul is perfect for this position given her background in Egyptology.
A second thread running constantly in the background is Gul’s missing niece, Mahnaz, who disappeared three years earlier. With this thought constantly thrumming in her head, Gul pulls together her team of students, employees and helpers and begins her plan of action. This is an exciting novel, well written, with many twists and turns. I do hope it is the start of a series. I like having a view into another culture through a novel I enjoyed. Some of the details of this story are based on an actual case that took place in Pakistan several years ago. My only wish was a dictionary at the end so I could understand the local words used in the text. This doesn’t impede the plot but only some of the details such as clothing or food which can often be guessed.
Definitely recommended.
Thanks to Soho Crime and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
June 2, 2025
I chose this fab debut because of main character, archaeologist Dr. Gul Delani, a woman in a typically male profession in a country less open to female achievement. The exotic setting, intriguing story of an antiquities scandal, and the intelligent gutsy protagonist made me cheer! Can't wait until the next book in the series.
June 12, 2025
Book/Overall Story: 4/5
Narration/Audiobook: 3.5/5
Now if you liked the show Bones, COME TO THE FRONT!!
The Museum Detective is a slow burn historical crime thriller that you don’t want to sleep on. Clearly, as someone who swears they were an archeologist, historian, and/or anthropologist in a past life, I was excited to get into this read. It’s got crime, mummies, corruption, history, and family drama all inspired by a real life scandal in Pakistan!
Now I have to be honest…. this did burn SLOW in the beginning. I had debated putting it down and potentially revisiting it later. But I’m so glad I didn’t!
The star of this read is Dr. Gul Delani. She is curious, formidable, and a gifted curator. Dr. Delani has made an immovable name for herself not only in her job, but as an expert in her field. Sadly, Gul finds it hard to enjoy this success as she still grieves the disappearance of her niece. In some ways she blames herself and finds most nights she hanging onto hope that her niece is okay.
So after getting a call in the middle of the night, Gul never thought this latest assignment might put her on the path to finding her niece. What starts out as an amazing historical discovery amongst a suspicious narcotics investigation turns into so much more. As the dangers escalate and conspiracies unfold, Delani and her team end up uncovering more than they bargained for. I didn’t suspect how personal it all was.
Initially, there was a lot of history and moving parts to the story that I liked, but couldn’t directly piece together. I also felt distance from Dr. Delani and didn’t know if the character would grow on me. Sticking with it, I got more and more sucked in! I loved seeing Dr. Delani remain tenacious in her pursuit of the truth, no matter the cost. Additionally, watching everything fall into place, seeing how everything connected, and the emotional reveals made it even more satisfying in the end. Even if there were some characters that irritated me, and I won’t be forgiving.
Narration/Audiobook: 3.5/5
Now if you liked the show Bones, COME TO THE FRONT!!
The Museum Detective is a slow burn historical crime thriller that you don’t want to sleep on. Clearly, as someone who swears they were an archeologist, historian, and/or anthropologist in a past life, I was excited to get into this read. It’s got crime, mummies, corruption, history, and family drama all inspired by a real life scandal in Pakistan!
Now I have to be honest…. this did burn SLOW in the beginning. I had debated putting it down and potentially revisiting it later. But I’m so glad I didn’t!
The star of this read is Dr. Gul Delani. She is curious, formidable, and a gifted curator. Dr. Delani has made an immovable name for herself not only in her job, but as an expert in her field. Sadly, Gul finds it hard to enjoy this success as she still grieves the disappearance of her niece. In some ways she blames herself and finds most nights she hanging onto hope that her niece is okay.
So after getting a call in the middle of the night, Gul never thought this latest assignment might put her on the path to finding her niece. What starts out as an amazing historical discovery amongst a suspicious narcotics investigation turns into so much more. As the dangers escalate and conspiracies unfold, Delani and her team end up uncovering more than they bargained for. I didn’t suspect how personal it all was.
Initially, there was a lot of history and moving parts to the story that I liked, but couldn’t directly piece together. I also felt distance from Dr. Delani and didn’t know if the character would grow on me. Sticking with it, I got more and more sucked in! I loved seeing Dr. Delani remain tenacious in her pursuit of the truth, no matter the cost. Additionally, watching everything fall into place, seeing how everything connected, and the emotional reveals made it even more satisfying in the end. Even if there were some characters that irritated me, and I won’t be forgiving.
May 6, 2025
A twisty, fast paced mystery based in Karachi, Pakistan. It's got double crosses, nefarious underworld activities and financial chicanery all centered around a beautiful newfound mummy. Just when you think you've figured it out....maybe you haven't!
December 29, 2024
A mysterious mummy is discovered during a drug bust in a cave in Pakistan. The sarcophagus has Egyptian references. How can this be? Dr Gul Delano, archeologist and curator at the Museum of Heritage in History in Karachi, is called in to consult. The writings on the sarcophagus seem to reference a princess long thought to be only legend. Is this find authentic or is there something more sinister? Running parallel to this discovery is Gul’s continued search for the truth behind her niece Mahnaz’s disappearance many years ago. Mahnaz’s disappearance also caused a rift between Gul and her brother & sister-in-law. Are the sarcophagus find and Mahnaz’s disappearance connected? Gul must work around the corrupt Pakistani law enforcement to find answers. Nothing will stop her. During the ensuing investigation the puzzle pieces begin to come together. The Museum Detective is a good crime thriller. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC
June 11, 2025
The Museum Detective (Hardcover) by Maha Khan Phillips.
This fabulously entertaining story centers around the world of Dr. Gul Delani. The curator at the Museum of Heritage and History in Kirachi, Pakistan. Gul is one independent woman who never takes no as an answer, but rather as an opportunity to get to the bottom of things. A leading and experienced archaeologist in a field of misogynists waiting for her to fail.
Mahnaz is Gul's beloved niece who has gone missing for 3 years now with no trace. Then a call wakes her up with news of a mummy being discovered. She's needed to authenticate this new discovery.
Some info on Pakistani/Indian words (in case you didn't bring a pencil):
Mutter biryani-rice w/spices, meat and vegetables.
Haldi-tumeric
Masala-mixture of spices ground down to a fine powder.
Aloo ki bujiya-spiced potato curry.
thewallachs-Indian/Pakistani cart pullers.
There is so much I loved about this book. My first time reading anything from this most talented and intelligent author but not my last. I truly appreciated the main character of Gul. She has the finest qualities in a woman.
Run don't walk to your nearest public library or book store for this unforgettable entry.
This fabulously entertaining story centers around the world of Dr. Gul Delani. The curator at the Museum of Heritage and History in Kirachi, Pakistan. Gul is one independent woman who never takes no as an answer, but rather as an opportunity to get to the bottom of things. A leading and experienced archaeologist in a field of misogynists waiting for her to fail.
Mahnaz is Gul's beloved niece who has gone missing for 3 years now with no trace. Then a call wakes her up with news of a mummy being discovered. She's needed to authenticate this new discovery.
Some info on Pakistani/Indian words (in case you didn't bring a pencil):
Mutter biryani-rice w/spices, meat and vegetables.
Haldi-tumeric
Masala-mixture of spices ground down to a fine powder.
Aloo ki bujiya-spiced potato curry.
thewallachs-Indian/Pakistani cart pullers.
There is so much I loved about this book. My first time reading anything from this most talented and intelligent author but not my last. I truly appreciated the main character of Gul. She has the finest qualities in a woman.
Run don't walk to your nearest public library or book store for this unforgettable entry.
May 2, 2025
Drenched in the history, cultural, and political specifics of Karachi and other areas of Pakistan, this mystery also sometimes produces a foreboding, or emotional, or harrowing Tone as the action and Plot throw the main CH, the very volatile and knowledgeable archeologist Dr. Gul Delani, into jeopardy as she unravels a mysterious female mummy’s origins, deals with the day-to-day misogyny of her culture and her job as a curator at the Museum of Heritage and History, a hard-won position for a female. Gul also tangles with her family, her older, arrogant brother Bilal and his entitled wife Sania who both disapprove of her academic career, and is still mourning and investigating the disappearance of her niece, 15-year-old Mahnez, three years before the action in this book. The supporting cast is layered and rich from her secretary/friend Mrs. Fernandes who also runs a shelter for the poor, assistants Hamza and Rana, student and street hustler Ejaz, and her British colleague, Dr. Harry Gilbert. The menacing street thugs and criminals who deal in drugs, human trafficking, stolen antiquities, and usury people the less appealing CHs, especially an oily museum assistant director and the Chief of Police, “Bob,” her brother Bilal’s best friend. Mahnez comes alive for the reader through journal and diary entries and Dal’s memories as she becomes both a muse and a burden as Dal struggles to uncover many layers of the female mummy’s provenance. Phillips’ Pakistan is a sensual hurricane of smell, taste, texture, and sounds as Dal moves from statue and art-laden museum to damp and religious shrines to her comfortable home and her brother’s palatial estate, once her childhood home. From architecture to rancid sewage to the sweet taste of pastry and spicy chai, Karachi is a viable CH as backdrop and contributes to the Tone as the humidity and heat compete with danger and intrigue. There is a satisfactory ending leaving Dal’s story capable of continuing after a series of switchback reveals that I both saw and did not see coming. The archeological details and ancient myths combined with superstitions and history gave this an real depth of exotic flavor. The author does her research, incorporates culture seamlessly, and gave me a very relatable CH combined with good procedural detail through DSP Akthar’s policing and Dal’s archeological digging. RED FLAGS: Graphic Violence; Sexual exploitation of children. Readalikes may be for the archeological/art angle and strong female CH, Fiona Davis’s The Stolen Queen, and for the combination of Setting, CH and mystery, Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway series, Jane Harper, and, perhaps, the historical Sujata Massey’s Perveen Mistry mysteries which are female-driven and set in 1920s Bombay.
January 20, 2026
A bit of a slow start but man was the second half action packed!
Gul was such a badass protagonist and I absolutely loved the mystery of the mummy and her relentless pursuit to find answers and justice. Along with the mystery of the mummy, there is also a bigger mystery of Gil’s missing niece. This also added tension and made the stakes higher which I really enjoyed.
I’m always a fan of mysteries involving museums and other cultures so this was such a fun read for me!
Gul was such a badass protagonist and I absolutely loved the mystery of the mummy and her relentless pursuit to find answers and justice. Along with the mystery of the mummy, there is also a bigger mystery of Gil’s missing niece. This also added tension and made the stakes higher which I really enjoyed.
I’m always a fan of mysteries involving museums and other cultures so this was such a fun read for me!
March 31, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Museum Detective.
I love how the premise was inspired by a real-life antiquities scandal in Pakistan.
** Minor archaeological spoilers ahead **
Egyptology is fascinating and I learned a lot about the process of mummification from the main character, archaeologist Dr. Gul Delani.
The plot is interwoven with a subplot about Dr. Gul's niece who disappeared three years ago and whose unknown whereabouts has caused further complications with her estranged brother and sister-in-law.
There are betrayals, secrets are revealed, corruption, and unsavory and cowardly men are exposed, but Dr. Gul has some great allies, her bright students, a formidable neighbor, and the only incorrupt detective on the force who has her back.
I liked the plot and Dr. Gul is a well developed character, but I didn't like her much.
I actually liked the supporting characters better.
Despite her upbringing and the painful choices she has made in her personal life, I found the doctor incredibly naive.
Even after everything that happened, exposing corruption within the police force and in her own family, she still believed the authorities would have located her niece, protected her and the antiquity.
She lives in a country rife with poverty, corruption, and danger and believes playing by the rules will ensure her safety and good will prevail?
Is she optimistic or just foolish?
Her sister-in-law possesses more street smarts than Dr. Gul.
The writing style took some getting used to; info dumping would occur midway through a chapter when a new character was introduced and the author wanted to explain this character's relationship to Dr. Gul.
It threw off the pacing of the narrative and distracted the main focus of the story.
I'm always interested in a series led by a female character and will read the next book in the series.
I love how the premise was inspired by a real-life antiquities scandal in Pakistan.
** Minor archaeological spoilers ahead **
Egyptology is fascinating and I learned a lot about the process of mummification from the main character, archaeologist Dr. Gul Delani.
The plot is interwoven with a subplot about Dr. Gul's niece who disappeared three years ago and whose unknown whereabouts has caused further complications with her estranged brother and sister-in-law.
There are betrayals, secrets are revealed, corruption, and unsavory and cowardly men are exposed, but Dr. Gul has some great allies, her bright students, a formidable neighbor, and the only incorrupt detective on the force who has her back.
I liked the plot and Dr. Gul is a well developed character, but I didn't like her much.
I actually liked the supporting characters better.
Despite her upbringing and the painful choices she has made in her personal life, I found the doctor incredibly naive.
Even after everything that happened, exposing corruption within the police force and in her own family, she still believed the authorities would have located her niece, protected her and the antiquity.
She lives in a country rife with poverty, corruption, and danger and believes playing by the rules will ensure her safety and good will prevail?
Is she optimistic or just foolish?
Her sister-in-law possesses more street smarts than Dr. Gul.
The writing style took some getting used to; info dumping would occur midway through a chapter when a new character was introduced and the author wanted to explain this character's relationship to Dr. Gul.
It threw off the pacing of the narrative and distracted the main focus of the story.
I'm always interested in a series led by a female character and will read the next book in the series.
February 13, 2025
Inspired by a real life event, an archaeologist is called in to examine a mummy found during a drug raid in Pakistan and soon realizes the investigation is personal. The way everything connects is a little too convenient
May 24, 2025
Well, DANG. Amazon only allows 7 days for a download from a book (what's it to them, anyway, I paid for it!), and so I've lost my notes and highlights.
This was a palpably enjoyable read about the discovery of an apparently ancient mummy in Pakistan. It's based on an actual event that occurred in Pakistan in 2000:
"This story details a cold case like no other. It occurred after the discovery of a mummy that was alleged to be an ancient Persian Princess. It ultimately led archaeological investigators on a wild journey of intrigue, deceit, and controversy. It all started in the year 2000 in Pakistan when police learned of a Karachi man attempting to sell an ancient mummy in its sarcophagus on the black market for the equivalent of $11 million.
"After tracking down, arresting and questioning the alleged criminal, the man confessed to the police that he had been given the mummy from an Iranian man who claimed he had discovered it in the aftermath of an earthquake, and that he and his accomplice had agreed on a 50-50 split on the $11 million. The Pakistani police authorities eventually coaxed the man into revealing the whereabouts of the mummy and he took them to a location near the Iran - Afghanistan border where the body was recovered and taken to the National Museum in Karachi for inspection.
"After cursory inspection, the museum staff determined that the mummy had been wrapped in a classically Egyptian style and wore a face mask, a golden crown, and a breastplate inscribed with the words “I am the daughter of the great King Xerxes. Mazereka protect me. I am Rhodugune, I am.” The wooden sarcophagus was decorated with what appeared to be cuneiform inscriptions from ancient Persia, including carved images of “Ahura Mazda,” the creator god of Zoroastrianism." See: Mummy Cold Case: Tracing the Identity of the Mystery ‘Persian Princess’ updated March 6, 2021
The book closely adheres to this narrative, even including some of the damage that had been done to the modern woman prior to "filling her with powder."
I enjoyed the protagonist and her first person narrative, sisters bearing the weight of misogyny!--and was thrilled to learn anything at all about Pakistan, its foods and customs. I only wish the author had included a glossary, because there were too many Pakistani references for me to Google! For that I would've given 5 stars.
This was a palpably enjoyable read about the discovery of an apparently ancient mummy in Pakistan. It's based on an actual event that occurred in Pakistan in 2000:
"This story details a cold case like no other. It occurred after the discovery of a mummy that was alleged to be an ancient Persian Princess. It ultimately led archaeological investigators on a wild journey of intrigue, deceit, and controversy. It all started in the year 2000 in Pakistan when police learned of a Karachi man attempting to sell an ancient mummy in its sarcophagus on the black market for the equivalent of $11 million.
"After tracking down, arresting and questioning the alleged criminal, the man confessed to the police that he had been given the mummy from an Iranian man who claimed he had discovered it in the aftermath of an earthquake, and that he and his accomplice had agreed on a 50-50 split on the $11 million. The Pakistani police authorities eventually coaxed the man into revealing the whereabouts of the mummy and he took them to a location near the Iran - Afghanistan border where the body was recovered and taken to the National Museum in Karachi for inspection.
"After cursory inspection, the museum staff determined that the mummy had been wrapped in a classically Egyptian style and wore a face mask, a golden crown, and a breastplate inscribed with the words “I am the daughter of the great King Xerxes. Mazereka protect me. I am Rhodugune, I am.” The wooden sarcophagus was decorated with what appeared to be cuneiform inscriptions from ancient Persia, including carved images of “Ahura Mazda,” the creator god of Zoroastrianism." See: Mummy Cold Case: Tracing the Identity of the Mystery ‘Persian Princess’ updated March 6, 2021
The book closely adheres to this narrative, even including some of the damage that had been done to the modern woman prior to "filling her with powder."
I enjoyed the protagonist and her first person narrative, sisters bearing the weight of misogyny!--and was thrilled to learn anything at all about Pakistan, its foods and customs. I only wish the author had included a glossary, because there were too many Pakistani references for me to Google! For that I would've given 5 stars.
August 7, 2025
A moderately paced mystery set in Karachi, Pakistan. The main character is likable and is definitely on a mission but the story is hard to believe and is saved by a heartwarming ending.
February 25, 2025
An amazing book! I couldn't put it down! This amazing blend of political thriller, spy novel, archeological investigation, and missing persons case blew me away. I was hooked from the first page, and my interest never waned for the briefest moment. Phillips has done a masterful job and carefully doling out clues and action sequences. The pacing was perfect. And could this be the beginning of a series? I hope so!
p-h, s-n, v-h,
p-h, s-n, v-h,
May 8, 2025
This was excellent! The mystery, all of the archaeology details, and the setting in Pakistan combined to make a very rich and thrilling story. Highly recommend!
June 3, 2025
I'm sorry but I just did not like this. I found it so boring for an adventure novel, predictable ending, and everything was explained in dialogue rather than being shown to us by the author. I probably wouldn't have finished it if I wasn't reading it for book club. The second star is because it's clear the book was well researched and shines light on an interesting part of the world and history not really widely included in contemporary English literature.
March 29, 2025
Maha Khan Phillips' The Museum Detective offers the sort of mystery read that challenges, informs, and surprises. The plotting is solid, we gradually learn more about characters as the action progresses, we also learn something about the history of archaeology and the breadth of life in present-day Pakistan. I haven't read a lot of novels set in Pakistan, but the ones I've read tend to focus on a fairly narrow community and present that as "what Pakistan is like." Phillips prevents that kind of narrow thinking by developing a variety of characters with a range of personal values and lived experiences. I didn't leave it feeling like I "understood Pakistan," but I did leave it feeling I'd seen a broader range of possible Pakistani lives than other books have allowed me to do.
Read this book for the plotting alone if you're a mystery fan. Read it if you like mysteries that give you something beyond plot: a sense of the kind of lives lived in places you don't personally know.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher; the opinions are my own.
Read this book for the plotting alone if you're a mystery fan. Read it if you like mysteries that give you something beyond plot: a sense of the kind of lives lived in places you don't personally know.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher; the opinions are my own.
January 8, 2025
This was so good with a great character. A Pakistani woman who is an archaeologist, with a background in Egyptology who works in her home country. Dr. Gul Delani loves her work, mentors younger employees and also volunteers within the community. And, she is haunted by her missing niece. And, how can she resist investigating the appearance of a female mummy and sarcophagus with markings from Persopolis? This wove in archeology along with lore about Egyptian pharaohs, and all this is combined with modern politics in Karachi! I loved Gul Delani and can't wait to read more mysteries featuring her. Readers who love Perveen Mistry will have a new heroine to root for.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
December 11, 2024
When a mysterious mummy is discovered that fulfills a Persian legend about an escaped princess, one archaeologist must contend with more of the seedy underworld in Pakistan than she bargained for.
January 15, 2025
Long a fan of Soho Crime for its international mysteries, I was thrilled to be approved for a NetGalley preview of The Museum Detective. What a fast compulsive read! I loved it for the writing, strong characters, wonderfully described setting, and - of course - the archaeology, history and mythology. I would definitely read more about Gul and her exploits if this became a series. A great pick for fans of Vaseem Khan's Malabar House mysteries, Nev March, and of Lyn Hamilton or Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody series. #NetGalley #SohoCrime
May 7, 2025
I’ve not read a story located in Pakistan, so it was interesting reading about the different foods, gaining some insights about life in Karachi, Pakistani culture and d politics. And the archeological twist was fun.
May 2, 2025
It’s the wrong desert for a mummy. Not that plenty of cultures and conditions haven’t resulted in mummified human remains, but the police have just had a shootout over what appears to be an honest-to-Anubis Egyptian mummy, still in her sarcophagus, complete with cuneiform writing everywhere and absent her internal organs, in between the provinces of Singh and Balochistan. Which is not in or even near the Valley of the Kings. It’s in Pakistan, west of Karachi. A place where no Egyptian-style mummies have ever been found.
At least not until now.
The police need an expert to tell them if what they’ve found is what it looks like. Which is why they drag Egyptologist and curator Gul Delani of the Heritage and History Museum a few hours rather rough drive outside Karachi to give a somewhat sketchy and extremely rushed preliminary evaluation of what they’ve found in a cave out in the middle of nowhere along with a bunch of now-very-dead drug runners.
That sketchy and abbreviated examination of the mummy and all her worldly goods – or at least all that got moved with her from wherever she came from – has the potential to change history as it’s been known for centuries. From outward appearances, the mummy belongs to a female of royal blood, mummified in the Egyptian tradition, but with cuneiform representing Ancient Persia rather than Ancient Egypt.
Which would be unprecedented. Or she could be an elaborate hoax, and those are, well, entirely too precedented. Neither possibility explains what she’s doing in a cave in the middle of the desert in Pakistan in the midst of a police shootout with a gang of notorious drug runners.
Dr. Gul Delani, who has been fighting all of her life for the education she needed, for the career she wanted, for the independent life she has managed to claw her way into through grit and determination and no small of amount of pain, knows that if the mummy is what she purports to be the discovery will rewrite history and be the making of not only her own career but the careers of those she has mentored and nurtured as well.
If the mummy is a hoax, there’s an even bigger – and considerably more dangerous – puzzle to be solved. And that’s something Gul Dulani has never been able to resist – a puzzle to be solved and a question to be answered – no matter the cost.
She thinks she’s already paid that cost. But she’s so very, very wrong.
Escape Rating A+: This was a compelling read and a complete WOW in ways that I wasn’t expecting but in all the best ways. I’ve been in a murder-y mood, but I was looking for something that wasn’t merely a rehash of any of the usual suspects (so to speak) and this absolutely delivered.
It’s an immersive story from the very beginning, as we’re right there with Gul as she’s woken in the middle of the night by a telephone call that makes almost no sense. What do the Karachi police need with an Egyptologist? Her specialty isn’t exactly that much in demand where she is – and herself even less so because she’s herself. A female professional in a conservative Islamic country that seems to get more conservative by the day.
Not that her family wasn’t always traditional if not necessarily orthodox in their faith.
The case is tantalizing, but Gul knows that she’ll need a team she doesn’t have to do a thorough job of evaluating the find – especially in the limited time she has available. Also, as much as she wants the mummy to be the legendary Lost Princess of Persepolis that her sarcophagus claims her to be, Gul’s professional instincts tells her that her hopes have most likely exceeded even the remotest possibility.
At least until the mummy is stolen from the museum by the very police guards intended to keep her – and Gul – safe. Which is the point where the story kicks into an even higher gear as Gul continues to investigate everything. The mummy, the circumstances, the corruption that allowed her to be stolen and the drug lord who seems to be at the heart of the entire cesspit lurking under the rocks that Gul can’t stop turning over no matter how many people tell her to stop.
From that moment the story is a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma enrobed in suspense as it rolls down a steep slide of danger and finally screeches to a stop at its heart pounding, heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful ending.
At first, I thought this was going to be more of a historical/archaeological mystery – and that part of the story is utterly captivating. I wouldn’t have minded at all if the ‘Lost Princess’ had turned out to be real. And I got caught up in Gul’s hope that it might be as well.
But what really captured my attention and got me invested in this story were the intertwined mysteries of the criminal enterprise that created – and that bothered to create – what turned out to be a very elaborate hoax as part of an exceeding long con – and the way that mystery wrapped around the secret of Gul herself and the stubborn determination that has been the bedrock of her entire life.
Because Gul holds secrets even more tightly than the mummy’s wrapping – and the more she reveals the more fascinating she becomes. So I may have been caught by the mummy but it’s Gul that kept my attention firmly fixed on the page.
One of the things that I really loved about this mystery and especially this character is something that I didn’t figure out until very near the end. Gul has spent her life pushing uphill and against the wind. In the traditional, upper class society of Karachi where she was born and raised, girls were expected to grow up, marry well, have children and devote their lives to their husbands, their children, and the legacies of their families. That was not the life that Gul was built for so she spent her life fighting for the life she dreamed of.
She was a marvelous change from entirely too many stories where female central characters face similar struggles in order to reach their goals, where the story purports to be about the goal but instead focuses more than half the story on the struggle. The story of the struggle and the story of what the character does once they’ve carved or beaten something of the place they wanted – even if they are still defending that place – are different stories. What made Gul marvelous was the way that the author still conveyed just how much and how hard Gul had to fight to get where she was, and how much she still had to fight to maintain that place, without dragging the reader through every year of that fight. Because that’s what I want to see. I want to know what it took for Gul, or a character in a not dissimilar circumstance, to get to that place, but what I’m interested in is what they do with it.
And that’s this story. Gul is still beset on all sides both personally and professionally. Her professional enemies are petty and powerful. The corrupt officials and dangerous villains she has set herself against are, quite literally, out to get her. Her brother is a self-righteous asshole and a paper tiger at the same time. Her brother and sister-in-law have made her the scapegoat for everything wrong in their family – including the mysterious disappearance of their teenaged daughter, a young woman whose presumed death nearly broke all of them, but especially Gul.
Yet, she’s created not just a place and an identity for herself, but also gathered – and been gathered into – a found family that will support her through the best and the worst. And when the worst comes down around her, it’s those same people who help her, save her – and become, every single last one – her hostages to a potentially terrible fortune.
That The Museum Detective is being billed as the opening book in a series is that best bookish news I’ve had all week. I loved walking beside this fascinating character through her life and her city, and I’m thrilled that I’ll have the opportunity to do so again.
Originally published at Reading Reality
At least not until now.
The police need an expert to tell them if what they’ve found is what it looks like. Which is why they drag Egyptologist and curator Gul Delani of the Heritage and History Museum a few hours rather rough drive outside Karachi to give a somewhat sketchy and extremely rushed preliminary evaluation of what they’ve found in a cave out in the middle of nowhere along with a bunch of now-very-dead drug runners.
That sketchy and abbreviated examination of the mummy and all her worldly goods – or at least all that got moved with her from wherever she came from – has the potential to change history as it’s been known for centuries. From outward appearances, the mummy belongs to a female of royal blood, mummified in the Egyptian tradition, but with cuneiform representing Ancient Persia rather than Ancient Egypt.
Which would be unprecedented. Or she could be an elaborate hoax, and those are, well, entirely too precedented. Neither possibility explains what she’s doing in a cave in the middle of the desert in Pakistan in the midst of a police shootout with a gang of notorious drug runners.
Dr. Gul Delani, who has been fighting all of her life for the education she needed, for the career she wanted, for the independent life she has managed to claw her way into through grit and determination and no small of amount of pain, knows that if the mummy is what she purports to be the discovery will rewrite history and be the making of not only her own career but the careers of those she has mentored and nurtured as well.
If the mummy is a hoax, there’s an even bigger – and considerably more dangerous – puzzle to be solved. And that’s something Gul Dulani has never been able to resist – a puzzle to be solved and a question to be answered – no matter the cost.
She thinks she’s already paid that cost. But she’s so very, very wrong.
Escape Rating A+: This was a compelling read and a complete WOW in ways that I wasn’t expecting but in all the best ways. I’ve been in a murder-y mood, but I was looking for something that wasn’t merely a rehash of any of the usual suspects (so to speak) and this absolutely delivered.
It’s an immersive story from the very beginning, as we’re right there with Gul as she’s woken in the middle of the night by a telephone call that makes almost no sense. What do the Karachi police need with an Egyptologist? Her specialty isn’t exactly that much in demand where she is – and herself even less so because she’s herself. A female professional in a conservative Islamic country that seems to get more conservative by the day.
Not that her family wasn’t always traditional if not necessarily orthodox in their faith.
The case is tantalizing, but Gul knows that she’ll need a team she doesn’t have to do a thorough job of evaluating the find – especially in the limited time she has available. Also, as much as she wants the mummy to be the legendary Lost Princess of Persepolis that her sarcophagus claims her to be, Gul’s professional instincts tells her that her hopes have most likely exceeded even the remotest possibility.
At least until the mummy is stolen from the museum by the very police guards intended to keep her – and Gul – safe. Which is the point where the story kicks into an even higher gear as Gul continues to investigate everything. The mummy, the circumstances, the corruption that allowed her to be stolen and the drug lord who seems to be at the heart of the entire cesspit lurking under the rocks that Gul can’t stop turning over no matter how many people tell her to stop.
From that moment the story is a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma enrobed in suspense as it rolls down a steep slide of danger and finally screeches to a stop at its heart pounding, heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful ending.
At first, I thought this was going to be more of a historical/archaeological mystery – and that part of the story is utterly captivating. I wouldn’t have minded at all if the ‘Lost Princess’ had turned out to be real. And I got caught up in Gul’s hope that it might be as well.
But what really captured my attention and got me invested in this story were the intertwined mysteries of the criminal enterprise that created – and that bothered to create – what turned out to be a very elaborate hoax as part of an exceeding long con – and the way that mystery wrapped around the secret of Gul herself and the stubborn determination that has been the bedrock of her entire life.
Because Gul holds secrets even more tightly than the mummy’s wrapping – and the more she reveals the more fascinating she becomes. So I may have been caught by the mummy but it’s Gul that kept my attention firmly fixed on the page.
One of the things that I really loved about this mystery and especially this character is something that I didn’t figure out until very near the end. Gul has spent her life pushing uphill and against the wind. In the traditional, upper class society of Karachi where she was born and raised, girls were expected to grow up, marry well, have children and devote their lives to their husbands, their children, and the legacies of their families. That was not the life that Gul was built for so she spent her life fighting for the life she dreamed of.
She was a marvelous change from entirely too many stories where female central characters face similar struggles in order to reach their goals, where the story purports to be about the goal but instead focuses more than half the story on the struggle. The story of the struggle and the story of what the character does once they’ve carved or beaten something of the place they wanted – even if they are still defending that place – are different stories. What made Gul marvelous was the way that the author still conveyed just how much and how hard Gul had to fight to get where she was, and how much she still had to fight to maintain that place, without dragging the reader through every year of that fight. Because that’s what I want to see. I want to know what it took for Gul, or a character in a not dissimilar circumstance, to get to that place, but what I’m interested in is what they do with it.
And that’s this story. Gul is still beset on all sides both personally and professionally. Her professional enemies are petty and powerful. The corrupt officials and dangerous villains she has set herself against are, quite literally, out to get her. Her brother is a self-righteous asshole and a paper tiger at the same time. Her brother and sister-in-law have made her the scapegoat for everything wrong in their family – including the mysterious disappearance of their teenaged daughter, a young woman whose presumed death nearly broke all of them, but especially Gul.
Yet, she’s created not just a place and an identity for herself, but also gathered – and been gathered into – a found family that will support her through the best and the worst. And when the worst comes down around her, it’s those same people who help her, save her – and become, every single last one – her hostages to a potentially terrible fortune.
That The Museum Detective is being billed as the opening book in a series is that best bookish news I’ve had all week. I loved walking beside this fascinating character through her life and her city, and I’m thrilled that I’ll have the opportunity to do so again.
Originally published at Reading Reality
August 19, 2025
I actually really enjoyed this title. I saw a bit of criticism from other GoodReads users about the characters being flat, but I didn't find that to be my experience of reading. I found the characters to be well-formed and I enjoyed spending time with them and learning more about Pakistan. I saw criticisms of "info-dumping" and usually that's something that I'm pretty sensitive to and didn't take issue . Overall, even though it's a new book without tons of reviews, very few of those reviews are lower than three stars, which I think says a lot. There was something that didn't get this over the four-star hurdle that I'm having trouble identifying--maybe it was just a little too on the edge of far-fetched in parts.
Was this a title I expect to read over and over? No. But it was engaging and it avoided a lot of the Mary Sue/Gary Stu-ness I've found in similar stories. It also had a slower, more human pace instead of Robert Langdon having an hour to solve seven centuries-old art riddles.
Also, in trying to research any possible historical precedence, I learned that the story was based on a real crime, which is also fascinating to me.
Was this a title I expect to read over and over? No. But it was engaging and it avoided a lot of the Mary Sue/Gary Stu-ness I've found in similar stories. It also had a slower, more human pace instead of Robert Langdon having an hour to solve seven centuries-old art riddles.
Also, in trying to research any possible historical precedence, I learned that the story was based on a real crime, which is also fascinating to me.
July 7, 2025
I am always on the hunt for thrillers, mysteries and horror stories by BIPOC authors so when I came across The Museum Detective by Maha Khan Phillips, I knew I needed to read it.
The Museum Detective is perfect for fans of stories in the vein of Indiana Jones, The Mummy, Tomb Raider and Sherlock Holmes. Now imagine their adventures are set in Pakistan and you have an interesting and layered mystery at your fingertips.
I quite enjoyed, The Museum Detective which follows Dr. Gul, a renowned archaeologist who finds herself in the midst of an antiquities scandal when she is called to investigate the discovery of a mummy. On the professional side, Dr. Gul is absorbed into the investigation and authentication of the mummy but on the personal side, Dr. Gul’s niece, Mahnaz has been missing for over three years and every phone call is an anticipation of news of Mahnaz.
These two plot points serve as the catalyst for a truly immersive read.
The story is set in Karachi and features a cast of characters that are simultaneously heartwarming and infuriating. The tome is complex, gritty, infused with corruption, woven with mythology and teeming with storytelling.
The Museum Detective is perfect for fans of stories in the vein of Indiana Jones, The Mummy, Tomb Raider and Sherlock Holmes. Now imagine their adventures are set in Pakistan and you have an interesting and layered mystery at your fingertips.
I quite enjoyed, The Museum Detective which follows Dr. Gul, a renowned archaeologist who finds herself in the midst of an antiquities scandal when she is called to investigate the discovery of a mummy. On the professional side, Dr. Gul is absorbed into the investigation and authentication of the mummy but on the personal side, Dr. Gul’s niece, Mahnaz has been missing for over three years and every phone call is an anticipation of news of Mahnaz.
These two plot points serve as the catalyst for a truly immersive read.
The story is set in Karachi and features a cast of characters that are simultaneously heartwarming and infuriating. The tome is complex, gritty, infused with corruption, woven with mythology and teeming with storytelling.
March 8, 2025
Soho is reliable for taking us across borders and immersing us in the culture & history of different nations (Pakistan in this case), all embedded within compelling crime novels. The Museum Detective has a complex plot that first grounds you in archaeology and in South Asian history, then delves into the Pakistani underworld. The thread that runs through the twists if the plot is Gul’s quest to resolve the mystery of her niece’s disappearance. The world of archaeological crime and fraud is harrowingly described, with staggering amounts of money at stake. Good resolution. Great last two lines!
August 13, 2025
Review: The Museum Detective (Maha Khan Phillips) Another Tailored Book Recommendation (gift from my daughter), and hit so many of my good buttons that I just loved it. It is a mystery, it is set in a part of the world that I know little of and was delighted to learn more about, the writing is fluid and engaging. The main character, Gul Delani, is an archeologist in a museum in Karachi, Pakistan, a well-respected Egyptologist, a single woman in a still very patriarchal society. She has for three years been saddened by the abrupt disappearance of her beloved niece Mahnaz, and this thread is woven throughout the mystery involving a mummy discovered in a cave which appears to be that of an ancient Persian princess. The plot is quite convoluted and quite satisfying altogether, all while introducing the English-speaking reader to a foreign world in a most natural way. It seems to be the initial novel of perhaps a series down the road? But I found myself quite transported by the great characters, the many believable twists, and the atmosphere of this scary but thought-provoking novel mystery!
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