Abduction of a Slave: a thrilling historical mystery set in Ancient Egypt

Eye of Isis #4

by Dana Stabenow

The gripping new historical mystery from New York Times bestselling author Dana Stabenow. In Cleopatra's Egypt, the clouds of war are on the horizon…

Cleopatra, seventh of her name, all-powerful ruler of Egypt, has found her most able and trusted agent in Tetisheri, her Eye of Isis. So when Tetisheri asks permission to visit the Kingdom of Cyrenaica, she is surprised – and suspicious – when her queen grants her leave from Alexandria.

A middleman in Cyrenaica has ceased communication and Tetisheri's uncle, a master trader, is on a mission to find out why. But there are others in Cyrenaica with hidden Julius Caesar's spies, Caesar's sworn enemy Mettelus Scipio, and the ever duplicitous King Juba I.

Tetisheri soon realises why Cleopatra consented to her mission, for Cyrenaica is a web of intrigue that also includes Pompey's widow and an army readying to take on the might of Caesar, who is massing his legions in Sicily. With war on the horizon, Tetisheri's skills will be stretched to the limit as she also tries to decipher a murder mystery closer to home.

Reviews for Dana Stabenow

'For rich, idiosyncratic settings and engaging characters [...] let me recommend Dana Stabenow' Diana Gabaldon
'One of the strongest voices in crime fiction' Seattle Times

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Egypt, Historical, Africa, Fiction

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2025

About the author

Dana Stabenow was born in Anchorage and raised on 75-foot fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska. She knew there was a warmer, drier job out there somewhere.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sigh. I really really wish I could rate this higher! My main gripe is that this needed to be at least 50 pages longer. That is rarely ever my issue with books, but this book desperately needed to slow down.

As the fourth book in the series, it needed to juggle a war plot, a murder plot, an abduction plot, a political plot, and some side romance/moving the main characters of the series forward. It cannot hope to fully cover these issues in like 360 pages of a fairly large print book!

The war plot is the most interesting, removed from it as we are, but the murder mystery is so low down on the rungs of importance as to make it unnecessary, besides a dressing for the plot. The abduction/slavery aspects are hard to read, which they should be. I don’t think people fully understand how prevalent and awful slavery was in Ancient Rome, and it’s important to talk about as Tetisheri is obviously anti slavery, but again, I wish this book could either: focus on one of these threads, or be longer, to spread the love around a bit.

Still! Even those issues have followed this series, I still really love the characters, and the setting is undeniably intoxicating. I really hope it continues!

[Michele Dancer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her latest adventure, Tetisheri and her uncle and business partner, Nebenteru, journey to the city of Cyrene in search of a valuable spice that has all of a sudden become unavailable everywhere. But of course, as the Eye of Isis, Tetisheri always has some mission from Cleopatra to perform as well. In this case, a message to deliver and a slave to find. The city, however, is awash with greed, fraud, and murder as well as on the brink of war as Caesar and his legions approach.
As in the previous books in this series, Stabenow flawlessly weaves real events into her fictional narrative, making the story come alive. We've come to know and care about her characters and their fates, even the ones we know not to trust, and the slow burn romance with Apollodorus continues to delight.
If a little more violent than previous entries, the book is so well-written and so detailed that Ancient Egypt and its intrigues are no more than a page turn away and so much fun to visit.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

First-rate story, but too grim and bloody to be truly enjoyable for me. The cruelty and gore followed in the train of Julius Caeser's war in North Africa. In history this was the Battle of Thapsus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_... -- and the climax of this book occurs there, on April 6, 46 BCE, when Caesar's forces decisively defeated Metellus Scipio and his allies, with the aid of food and gold from Cleopatra VII. As always, Stabenow has done her homework. But accounts of wholesale slaughter, and a defeated enemy suiciding by tearing out his own entrails (a fairly common Roman custom) do not make for pleasant recreational reading. The writing is first rate. But perhaps my least favorite of the four in the series so far. I don't expect to re-read this one.

I should add that the book has most of the charms of the other "Eye of Isis" outings. This one has the usual charming interactions of Tetisheri with her oldest friend and now-boss Cleopatra VII, and with her Uncle Neb the master trader. And things get Really Hot with new BF Appollodorus! So the book has a lot going for it. If you don't mind blood, gore, and the grim realities of Roman warfare....
For me a 3.5+ star read, rounded up.

[Stephanie Neher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I had no idea this was part of a series when I received this book. Thankfully I wasn't too lost, although I wished I knew more about some of the side characters and their relationships to one another, and the main character (there were also quite a few to try and keep track of). This book gave me the feeling of slipping into a comfortable and well-worn world - the author clearly enjoys this setting and cast quite a bit, which I really appreciated.

There was a bit of a slow start and really not too much of a mystery, but I enjoyed it as a historical fiction novel. An easy read and quite enjoyable.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't aware of this series, but the blurb indicated an era of historical fiction I could happily inhale...so I picked it up. I was worried at first, as the opening chapters were very slow and sedate and not exactly engaging. But once the journey to Cyrene began, this story exploded in pace and excitement. It's the best action-filled historical fiction novel I've read in some considerable time...which is remarkable considering my less than exuberant response to action writing in general. I'll have to keep an eye out for future novels in this series.

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good historical novel.

[Cher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This broke the drought and finally a book I wanted to read - love the history love the characters

[Dyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sure hope there are more books in this series - I am so enjoying it, as ancient Egyptian mysteries are one of my favorite genres. This book also seamlessly weaves together some real historical people and events with engaging fictional characters and plot. The author's meticulous research has given the reader vivid descriptions that allow for a sense of the time period, people and their relationships, places, culture, and a believable story. The murder and a mystery is a subplot rather than the main focus. This book begins a month after the end of #3 in 47 BCE in Alexandria, but most of it will be centered in Cyrene.

The prologos takes place in 56 BCE in Ithaca when a ship runs up on the edge of a shingle and pirates leap ashore while the men of the village are in the fields. Most of the women and children are captured, the houses are ransacked, and the village is set on fire. The captives will be sold as slaves.

Tetisheri is the Eye of Isis which is an investigator, problem-solver, confidant, and life-long friend of Cleopatra VII. She is also an equal business partner with her Uncle Nebenteru in importing needed items for the merchants in Alexandria. They are almost finished with expanding, remodeling, and doubling the size of their warehouse. They have renamed the business Sea to Sea Imports and Uncle Neb is also excited about a new freighter that has just been finished. He is worried about his factor in Cyrene named Timur who sent him a letter mentioning he can't find any silphium in Cyrenaica, the only place it grows. It has totally disappeared. Silphium is a miracle plant with a range of uses including as a spice, as a medicine, or as an aphrodisiac. Neb wants to take his new ship to Cyrene on a shakedown cruise to find his supplier, and he wants Tetisheri to accompany him.

That's fine, but Tetisheri must ask the Queen's permission to travel away from the city of Alexandria for awhile. She is surprised that she is given permission. The Queen has an ulterior motive for letting her go, because she has a couple of errands herself for Tetisheri to do in Cyrene. She wants Tetisheri to deliver a letter to a friend, Cornelia Metella, Pompey's widow. Her brother, General Metellus Scipio, is also in Cyrene at King Juba's court bribing and bullying for support, because Caesar is on his way to the region. The battle Thapsus (a real historical battle) is on the horizon. The Queen also wants Tetisheri to visit the hetaira Calliope before she leaves. Calliope also has a request for her to accomplish. The Queen wants Tetisheri to take along two of her Owls, Babak and Agape, to use as reliable messengers and spies; and two of the five men from the Five Soldiers Gymnasium as protectors. She takes Dubnorix and Isidorus who become acquainted with some ex-professional soldiers while in Cyrene. Appolodorus, Tetisheri's lover, has been sent on ahead in the Queen's service for an undercover mission to Juba's court.

Uncle Neb does discover that Timur has been murdered in his ransacked home. What were they looking for? When it is time for Uncle Neb and Tetisheri to return home, the authorities will only let one of them go and the other to be held hostage to insure that the other returns. That is because the ship has been commandeered to shuttle much needed supplies from Cleopatra to Caesar's army. After all, Egypt is now a client state of Rome with Cleopatra still its' head. Caesar was once Cleopatra's lover and they had a son together named Caesarion. Uncle Neb wants to stay and find Timur's murderer while Tetisheri returns to Alexandria and loads the ship with the Queen's supplies for a return trip to Cyrene. Before leaving, she also smuggles a couple of women aboard the ship, plus one other, as requested. Keren is a physician and a member of House Nebenteru in Alexandria and accompanies Tetisheri back to Cyrene to help as a doctor during the battle.

The climax is the Battle of Thapsus where Caesar's army defeats Metellus Scipio and his allies. It is very graphic. It is thought that this was the last battle where war elephants were deployed. What happens when one of the soldiers encounters an elephant is also very graphic. Keren helps take care of the wounded and dying. Beware - there are two other graphic instances; 1) a yearly Roman debauchery with plenty of sexual perversion held by Laurus and 2) the gratuitous sex scenes at the end of the book when Tetisheri and Appolodorus reunite. But the anxiety and panic over an impending war is well portrayed by the description of what the people endured during the last campaigns and fear of what is coming again.

The book also includes a Cast of Characters, a map of North Africa, and an Acknowledgments section which is very informative. The book is fast-paced and full of twists, turns, and a couple of red herrings. Highly suggest that you read the books in order for story continuation and character development. A lot of the reviewers were lost reading the 4th in the series first. Highly recommended.

[S.J. Higbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted when this offering popped up on the Netgalley dashboard and immediately requested a copy. In my excitement, I didn’t notice it was the fourth in the series, though as soon as I began to tuck in, I realised there was a great deal of the backstory I was missing. So rather than plough on, I went back and read the previous three books back-to-back. My firm advice is not to crash midway into this series – you’ll be missing far too much of the overall story arc. And besides, it would be a real shame to read these delightful, well-crafted historical whodunits out of order.

Stabenow’s depiction of daily life in ancient Egypt is a joy. I didn’t need to read the author’s notes to realise she must have extensively researched the period – it sang off the pages with the descriptions of clothing, food and the rhythms and routines of our protagonist and the characters she interacts with. It’s a fascinating period, anyway. Cleopatra is ruling Egypt more or less single-handedly, given that she’s managed to successfully sideline her weak, vicious brother. She is the acknowledged mistress of Julius Caesar, having borne him a son and thus keeping Rome at bay. Although Egypt is a client state of Rome – at least Cleopatra is still nominally in charge and keen to keep it that way.

However, that doesn’t stop Egypt being caught up in Rome’s political turmoil as the situation tips into war. By now, I’m firm friends with Tetisheri, trading partner with her uncle and secret agent to Cleopatra, who once again has been instructed to deal with another difficult mission, as the political situation continues to worsen. There is a real sense of dread permeating everyday life as war looms – everyone in Alexandria having already been through a miserable experience during the last campaign. Tetisheri and her uncle are also keen to discover what has happened to supplies of the super-herb silphium that Egyptian, Greek and Roman customers are all desperate to acquire. And yes… that was really a thing, as was its sudden disappearance.

All in all, this is an exciting, vividly described story encompassing a fascinating period of history peopled by charismatic characters who even now, thousands of years later, still resonate with power and charm. Stabenow has managed to capture all that exotic pull, without shying away from the darker underbelly of a slave-powered society. If you enjoy your whodunits set within a wonderful historic setting seen through the eyes of a sympathetic protagonist, then this series – and this particular adventure in particular, comes very highly recommended. While I obtained an arc of Abduction of a Slave from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10

[Sue F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always happy to read mysteries set in ancient Egypt…

I am pretty much a huge fan of mysteries set in Egypt, so I was happy to see an author who is already a favorite of mine, Dana Stabenow, start a new series, set in the days of Cleopatra VII. And I was even happier to receive a review copy of the most recent book in the series, Abduction of a Slave, which turned out to be every bit as good as I hoped.

First off, for those of you who aren’t totally up on each and every one of the seven different Ptolemaic queens named “Cleopatra”, Cleopatra VII is the famous one: ruler of Egypt (although a semi-client to Rome); lover of Julius Caesar and mother of his son, Caesarion; and adept juggler of the countless political problems always threatening to topple her off her throne. But although Cleopatra is central to the story, our protagonist is Tetisheri, a trusted childhood friend, who now serves as Cleopatra’s “Eye of Isis” – a combination of investigator, problem-solver, and confidant.

As Abduction begins, Sheri is seemingly off on an errand, unusually not for Cleopatra, but with her uncle and business partner, who is worried about the unusual silence from his factor in Cyrenaica. And rather early in the book, we do learn that the factor was killed, so there is a “classical” murder mystery to be solved.

What really makes the book sing, though, is everything else that is going on around Cyrenaica: Metellus Scipio and his somewhat dubious ally, King Juba, are plotting against Caesar, whose cousin/legate, Aurelius Cotta, is also in town. Caesar himself is ostensibly in Sicily, but is he really? And just to top everything off, Pompey’s widow, Cornelia Metella is in Cyrenaica too, but doesn’t seem too happy about it. Everyone knows there’s a battle coming and Sheri finds herself in her uncle’s newest ship, running guns (well, running ballistae and spearheads), personnel, and gold between Cleopatra and Caesar. Who is no longer in Sicily. The historical background is fascinating and inspired me to read up on the battle of Thapsus. Meanwhile, somehow, in the midst of all this, Sheri and her uncle also manage to solve the mystery of the murdered factor - and also the issue of the titular abducted slave.

Overall, Abduction of a Slave was a fast-paced and fun read, reminding me of a cross between my favorite Egyptian history textbook and World War II Casablanca, of movie fame, with its chaos of spies and factions. I hope there are many more Cleopatra and Tetisheri books to come. And finally, my thanks to the publishers, Head of Zeus, and to NetGalley for my review copy.

[Denis Wheller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleopatra VII’s survival depends on balancing risks: her brother; Greeks versus Egyptians; Romans versus everybody; Julius Caesar specifically. To maintain that balance requires information, and a major source of that is Tetisheri in her secret róle as “The Eye Of Isis”. Sheri has been a friend since childhood and the two are very close. Sheri’s official job is as a partner in her uncle’s import-export business. At the moment there is a serious issue for the business. Supplies of Silphium, a wonder plant which provides flavouring as a spice, but also has medicinal properties and is an aphrodisiac, have dried up and their factor in the neighbouring country of Cyrenaica (approximately modern day Libya), the only source of the herb, has disappeared. She needs to travel there but needs the Queen’s permission. Luckily, Cleopatra needs information on the intentions of the King of Cyrenaica with respect to whether or not he will be supporting Scipio who is preparing to fight Caesar’s army, currently at sea but heading towards North Africa. Cleopatra is, of course, anxious that Caesar (father of her son and her husband in all but name) should win this conflict. So a spy story amidst the complex geopolitics of the time, and a mystery story. In fact, a double mystery: where is the factor but also, where is the herb?
This is the fourth book in the series but it mostly works as a standalone. I say ‘mostly’ because new readers may struggle with the range of strangely named characters, many of whom have slender background stories here. The historical detail is good, well described without getting too overwhelming, and merges well with the story. I applaud the author for choosing the Silphium story as the link between the two countries. The plant (probably a variety of Fennel) was extremely valuable to these communities, and it became extinct for unknown reasons around the time this story is set. As regards the plot, and the subsidiary plot linking to the slave trade, the historical events tend to win at the expense of the mystery. Balancing these two elements I think it’s a 3.5, rounded to 4.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

[Olivermagnus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abduction of a Slave by Dana Stabenow is the fourth book in the Eye of Isis series set in ancient Egypt. Cleopatra is queen and has appointed her childhood friend, Tetisheri, as her Eye of Isis, her chief investigator.

Tetisheri's official job is also a partner in her uncle’s import-export business. At the moment there is a serious shortage of the spice, silphium, a wonder plant that not only provides flavoring as a spice, but also is an aphrodisiac. It seems to have totally disappeared, and their factor in the neighboring country of Cyrenaica (approximately modern-day Libya), the only source of the herb, has disappeared.

Cleopatra also wants her to get information on the intentions of King Juba I and whether or not he will be supporting Caesar's adversary, Scipio, who is preparing to fight Caesar’s army in North Africa. The story deals with the complex geopolitics of the time and is also a mystery story. There is also an interesting plot thread that deals with the slave trade.

This could probably be read as a standalone, but I wouldn't recommend it. There are multiple characters with back stories that are referred to throughout the book. The historical detail is good, well described without getting too overwhelming, and merges well with the story.

I love all things set in ancient Egypt but one of the things that is "off" in this series is that the characters speak in modern language. For example, they use "kids" instead of "children." Cleopatra and Tetisheri refer to each other as Pati and Sheri. If you want your mystery to reflect the ancient way of speaking, I recommend books by Paul Doherty. I really like the characters and mysteries, so it didn't affect my enjoyment of the series.

"Abduction of a Slave" immerses the reader in a world of espionage, betrayal, and power struggles. The plot moves swiftly, keeping the reader gripped as Tetisheri’s skills are tested to their limits, making for a captivating and enjoyable read for fans of historical fiction and mysteries alike.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

In looking for more Dana Stabenow books, I found this volume in her Eye of Isis series.
Set in Cleopatra's Egypt (the Cleopatra who captured Caesar's attention and used her feminine wiles and Egypt's riches to wield power and protect her own rule), the plot revolves around the queen's her personal agent, Tetisheri, the queen's old school friend, now a partner in trading with a merchant uncle out of Alexandria's thriving port. Trading allows Tetsheri to move around the Middle Sea and act as both Cleopatra's eyes, and her private envoy.
In Caesar's time, war is a constant. The newest outbreak of warfare is looming to Alexandria's west, at Cyrene, home to a combative ruler named Juba I, who has welcomed Caesar's enemies, the sons of the late Pompey. Cleopatra dispatches Tetisheri and her Uncle Neb to Cyrene with private messages; but Tetisheri is also steered to an hetaira named Calliope, who has her own request--rescue her enslaved sister Urania from a Cyrenian nobleman. Uncle Neb has his own reasons to visit Cyrene; his man at that port has disappeared, and a valuable spice source has dried up with him.
Meanwhile, Tetisheri's lover, Apollodorus, also in the queen's service, has worked his way into Juba's guards. With Caesar en route to the region to end the Pompeys' efforts to dethrone the emperor, Tetisheri juggles the demands of her queen, the dangers of a panicking city on the brink of war, and desires of her own heart.
I know very little about the Roman Empire or Cleopatra, or the politics of the time, beyond the Hollywoodized sword-and-sandal epics of the movies. So I found the history in this book interesting. Sadly, there wasn't much mystery here. But the characters are engaging, and Stabenow's conception of a queen weilding power in a time of fierce warrior kings is refreshing. I also enjoyed the Soldiers--five retired Centurions now settled in Alexandria, who serve Tetisheri and her uncle, and by extension, Cleopatra. Scenes involving Is and Dub, who accompany Tetisheri to Cyrene, are an entree into the lives of Rome's professional soldier class, as are their counterparts in Cyrene.
An entertaining read. Some sexual content, and a few descriptions of obscene violence (torture and warfare).

[boogleloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical Mystery set in 47 BCE Egypt following a successful trader, Cleopatra's childhood friend and her Eye as she travels to a neighboring Kingdom to investigate suspicious goings on.

5/5 stars: This is the fourth entry in Stabenow's Eye of Isis series which is a Historical Mystery set in 47 BCE Egypt featuring a successful trader, Cleopatra's childhood friend and her most able and trusted agent, her Eye, as she travels to a neighboring Kingdom for herself, to uncover why a they've lost contact with their factor, what's happened to a valuable commodity and on a mission to free a slave, and her her queen, uncover the hidden agendas involving Pompey's widow and Caesar's sworn enemies on the eve of war. With plenty of twists and turns, Stabenow has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects and weaves in plenty of clues and red herrings that will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Stabenow's writing and character work are stellar; the main characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch up with Tetisheri AKA Sheri and her family and friends. Also I like seeing how her relationship with Apollodorus is progressing. Additionally, I love the great extended cast of characters. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Death of an Eye. If you're looking for something different, try this series; highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA | Head of Zeus – an Aries Book in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

[Sorchia DuBois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abduction of a Slave is set in the ancient world of Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and a host of brilliantly drawn characters. Stabenow excels at vivid descriptions and the masterful intertwining of history and fiction. I appreciated the detail. If this time period is your obsession, you will love the way she brings history to life.
Sadly, the plot isn’t as precisely drawn. We have a lot going on, a lot of conversation, a bunch of fun scenes with plenty of characters, but we don’t have a plot that moves from A to B. I was expecting a murder mystery, which does happen, but it’s near the middle of the book before the blood flows. We have a bunch of political intrigue—fascinating—but complex, possibly continuations from the previous installments in the series. I can usually jump into a series and figure out where I am, but this one proved difficult.
If you are drawn to this period in history, start with the first in the series. I can’t say enough good things about the way Stabenow colors this world through the eyes of her characters and her clear and succinct descriptions of places, people, relationships, and culture. But the wandering plot sent me flipping pages to find the action in this one.
Abduction of a Slave is the fourth book in Dana Stabenow’s Eye of Isis series. I wish I’d known that at the beginning. Just an aside, but I had a publisher once who decided not to put series info in the book and discouraged it in the blurb. I always thought it was a serious disservice to readers who do need to know what they’re biting off. Rant over.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thank NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an advance reader copy of Abduction of a Slave. All opinions and comments are my own.

Once again (this is the fourth book), Dana Stabenow combines real people and historical events as background for Queen Cleopatra’s “Eye of Isis,” the fictional investigator Tetisheri, in Abduction of a Slave. This time she is dealing with the disappearance of an expensive spice, one that helps to fill the coffers of her and her uncle’s warehouses. And to make things worse, war is coming.

As readers of the series know, the author enjoys combining her fictional tale with actual historical happenings. Caesar will flex his warlike muscles, which bodes ill for a whole lot of people in our story. We will learn what becomes of the fabulous spice that everyone is so enamored of. And as far as the mystery behind the machinations, those age-old motives for murder -- greed and fraud -- aren’t hard to ferret out in the author’s capable hands. Teti and Uncle Neb and all their associates will have their hands full sorting out who is and isn’t an ally.

At least there’s something good that comes out of it all (remember that prologue). From horror will come happiness, at least for some.

The Acknowledgements detail the sources for the plot and offers up a bit of “the rest of the story.” Abduction of a Slave brings ancient Egypt to life with another thoroughly entertaining installment in the series.

[Eaweishaupl · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this very well written book, Dana Stabenow takes us back to Cleopatran Egypt. Trouble is brewing. The all purpose herb sifflium is disappearing. The herb is used for medicinal purposes and culinary purposes and us in great demand. Tetrasheri’s impirter uncle has list touch with his factor in Cyrene (Lybia) and he is itching to take his newest trading vessel the Hoppe II on a shakedown voyage. Caesar is off tracking down his enemies and crushing them. Cleopatra is busy ruling Egypt and raising Caeser’s only son. So when Tetrasheri, Cleopatra’s eye of Egypt asks for a little time off the queen is unexpectedly compliant. She only asks for one favor will she deliver a message to the widow of Caesers greatest enemy Pompey, who just happens to be in Cyrene, as is one of Ceasers enemies Crassus, who also has a couple of legions and is courting the king Jubal. Can war be far behind? In this well crafted mystery Stabenow sets us in this brew of intrigue. Cyrene is exotic and foreign to the Egyptians and of course Cleopatras hand in involved in making sure that Caeser who is outnumbered and under provisioned is given all the support he needs to solidify his power. What a great book.

[Adele Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5
Tropes/themes: Caeser/Cleopatra, mystery, slavery, war, spy

Oof, it takes a minute to immerse into this world because there are so many names! But the descriptions are lively and colorful, it is easy to picture things happening in your mind. Once the action starts about halfway through the book, I couldn't put it down! It's a bit of a slow build, establishing the characters and politics.

I loved Pati and Sheri's relationship and banter, especially when Sheri is making her report, and they are alone in Pati's chambers. Every time Pati needs something she shouts out (sometimes in the middle of a discussion) "Charmion!!". This part made me giggle! And I LOVED how in this time period we had two (three including the doctor Keren) strong female characters running things.

Although slavery is a piece of this story, and certainly something Sheri is slowly trying to fight against, it is by no means the focus of this book. The politics of Egypt/Africa/Rome are at the forefront with spies and mystery throughout! Very fun read!!!

[Kaye Stambaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th in the Eye of Isis series. It’s best to read them in order. I was surprised at some of the reviews that mentioned the story was a little hard to follow and to keep track of the characters - and then mentioned this was the first book in the series they’d read. An excellent historical mystery, Tetisheri, the Eye of Isis for Cleopatra VII, and the series protagonist, is permitted to leave Alexandria to accompany her uncle looking for answers to issues impacting their joint business. She’s also looking for information for the Queen. I would have liked to learn more about the impending war, its cause beyond a power grab, and the relationship between Cleopatra and Julius Caesar now that she is mother to his child. What seemed gratuitous, was the hot, sexy scenes between Tetisheri and her main squeeze. It added nothing to the story and tipped the genre perilously close to a romance novel.

[Michael Dunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is way below the quality of the first 3 books, primarily as its so different. This book could be skipped and I doubt it would make much of difference going forward.
The title suggests this is the mail plot, but it really only a minor one and one of several.
author seems to have just put together a bunch of ideas no coherent story line
Not even really a mystery, more of an adventure story.
Author made typical mistake of taking the character out of normal setting. Part of the appeal is Alexandria and all of the regular character.
Tetrishari spends most of her time on a boat, and since not in Alexandria really isn't the eye of Isis in this book. so a waster of a book.
most of the main characters are not present or slightly so.
feels like the author wanted to incorporate Ceasar into a story without regard for the series.
Failure as a stand alone, and not good as part of series.

[Tractor Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abduction of a Slave is the fourth instalment in Dana Stabenow's Eye of Isis series, set in ancient Egypt during Cleopatra's reign. The novel follows Tetisheri, Cleopatra's trusted agent known as the Eye of Isis, as she embarks on a mission to the Kingdom of Cyrenaica. Initially seeking to investigate a communication breakdown involving a middleman connected to her uncle, a master trader, Tetisheri soon uncovers a complex web of political intrigue. The region is teeming with Julius Caesar's spies, his adversary Metellus Scipio, and the cunning King Juba I. As tensions rise with war looming, Tetisheri's investigative skills are put to the test, especially when a murder mystery surfaces closer to home.

I did not realise this was the fourth instalment, but managed to follow it quite well.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tetisheri is the most trusted agent of Queen Cleopatra the seventh, so she is surprised when the queen allows her to leave Alexandria to undertake a mission to Cyrenaica, as part of helping out her uncle.

But Cleopatra has her own reasons for allowing her to go. The machinations of the various players in the theatre of ancient Egypt at the time require close monitoring - not least the intentions of Julius Caesar! And who better to scout the lay of the land than Tetisheri?

This is an engrossing historical mystery that effortlessly holds the reader's interest. Stabenow really delivers with this mystery novel.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Daphne Sharpe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t realise that this was the fourth book in this series, and I was lost, there were so many characters and events to keep track of, so my fault for requesting this book without reading the blurb beforehand.
I liked the setting, but thought that the danger was almost implied , and it didn’t really seem to be present in a meaningful way.
The writing was repetitive at times, there wasn’t much evidence of spying, and some characters didn’t have much depth to them.
I gave a three star rating, it would probably be more, if I had read these in the right order.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Head of Zeus, for my advance copy , freely given in return for my honest review.
I will leave copies to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried... I really tried to like this book. I borrowed it from the library intrigued by the title. It was a bad sign when I had to restart at the beginning more time than I can count. While trying to muscle through, I would go searching for pretzels or popcorn to help stimulate me while I read.

Despite this, the story fell flat for me. Perhaps the biggest turn off was Stabenow's anachronistic use of tone and language. The fact that the protagonist had such a casual and modern relationship with queen Cleopatra hit a sour note with me. I just couldn't...

I love historical fiction. That's what I thought I would be reading... I am not sure what this is. To be totally honest, I stopped half way through. I just couldn't find the will to continue...

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abduction of a Slave by Dana Stabenow was a difficult book for me to get into. It was partly the unfamiliar names, I guess. It is the story of an Ancient Egyptian trader/merchant that was known by Cleopatra, the empress, for whom she carried out missions. It is the fourth in the series, and this is the first I’ve read, contributing to my inability to understand. As always, Stabenow is an excellent writer, clear and concise. I had trouble following. Don’t read unless you’ve read the others.

I was invited to read Abduction of a Slave by Bloomsbury USA. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BloomsburyUSA #DanaStabenow #AbductionOfASlave

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a nice historical fiction book, however I do not feel it should be classified as a "mystery". I felt like it read simply as a fictional story about Egypt. While there were a few mysterious circumstances, the main plot had little to do about solving any mysteries. The ending and "solving" of all mysterious circumstances felt rushed, and felt more like a footnote as to the rest of the plot. I did not realize this was part of a series when I borrowed this book from my local library, however I was able to easily read it without being lost as to the plot or who the characters were. Overall, it was a nice read and an enjoyable historical fiction.

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tetisheri Nebenteru and her uncle/partner take delivery of a new trading ship, and decide to give it a trial run to Cyrenaica, ostensibly to find out why one of their suppliers has gone silent and is not shipping a spice in high demand. Meanwhile, much is afoot in Cyrenaica, where Julius Caesar has positioned spies, preparing for a war with an unvanquished Spartan foe, Mettelus Scipio, and the slippery ruler there, King Juba I. Tetisheri is also asked to try to locate an imprisoned slave (a practice she abhors), who is dear to someone in Alexandria. I did not like this fourth book as much as the prior ones: too much war and not enough sleuthing.

[Steve Cripwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cleopatra, seventh of her name, all-powerful ruler of Egypt, has found her most able and trusted agent in Tetisheri, her Eye of Isis. So when Tetisheri asks permission to visit the Kingdom of Cyrenaica, she is surprised – and suspicious – when her queen grants her leave from Alexandria.

This didn’t work for me. Too many characters with little or no backstory. Might be because it’s the 4th novel and I haven’t read the previous 3. Even so I would have expected some depth to the characters but I had no affection for any of them. I found it very dry. Sorry as I’m sure it took a lot of writing.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abduction of a Slave

Dana Stabenow had me as a fan when I read the first book in the Kate Shugak stories and I subsequently read every book in the series. With this series she has shown a great ability to diversify and to combine history with fiction, the result being intriguing and compelling stories that not only relate historical events in a most interesting way but have woven into them personal stories which, albeit fictional, make characters such as Cleopatra seem much more understandable and real. Great read!

[annapi · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Tetisheri asks Cleopatra for permission to travel with her uncle to the Kingdom of Cyreneica to test his new boat and find out why the supplies of a spice have dried out, Cleopatra gives her a message to deliver for her. She soon realizes that she has also been sent out to get more information about the war being rumored to soon be waged against Ceasar. And of course Tetisheri also finds another murder to investigate.

I really enjoy this series, and and little tidbits of well-researched history that pepper the background. Another enthusiastic 4 stars