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The Clarissa Bell Mysteries #2
Palm Trees and Poison
Step into the sultry heat of 1920s Egypt, where ancient secrets hide along the banks of the Nile River.Fresh from solving her first murder case in Egypt, archaeologist Dr. Clarissa Bell thought the most dangerous thing about her new assignment would be authenticating ancient pigments. She was wrong.
When a respected Egyptologist is poisoned at an elegant house party on the banks of the Nile, Clarissa finds herself trapped with a collection of suspicious guests—including the devastatingly competent Benedict Quinn, whose true profession remains tantalizingly unclear.
With a second body discovered and a priceless artifact missing, the local police seem more interested in preserving diplomatic relations than catching killers.
As Clarissa applies her archaeological methodology to unraveling lies, she uncovers an international conspiracy that threatens Egypt's cultural heritage—and her father's reputation. But someone is always one step ahead, manipulating evidence and witnesses with the precision of a mastermind.
With suspects preparing to scatter across three continents and a deadline looming, Clarissa must prove her expertise extends beyond ancient pottery to very modern murder. The stakes have never been higher, and trust has never been more dangerous.
Some secrets, it seems, are worth killing for—repeatedly.
"A gripping historical mystery that blends Agatha Christie's puzzle-solving with the exotic danger of 1920s Egypt—perfect for fans of atmospheric period adventures and clever heroines who refuse to stay safely on the sidelines."
When a respected Egyptologist is poisoned at an elegant house party on the banks of the Nile, Clarissa finds herself trapped with a collection of suspicious guests—including the devastatingly competent Benedict Quinn, whose true profession remains tantalizingly unclear.
With a second body discovered and a priceless artifact missing, the local police seem more interested in preserving diplomatic relations than catching killers.
As Clarissa applies her archaeological methodology to unraveling lies, she uncovers an international conspiracy that threatens Egypt's cultural heritage—and her father's reputation. But someone is always one step ahead, manipulating evidence and witnesses with the precision of a mastermind.
With suspects preparing to scatter across three continents and a deadline looming, Clarissa must prove her expertise extends beyond ancient pottery to very modern murder. The stakes have never been higher, and trust has never been more dangerous.
Some secrets, it seems, are worth killing for—repeatedly.
"A gripping historical mystery that blends Agatha Christie's puzzle-solving with the exotic danger of 1920s Egypt—perfect for fans of atmospheric period adventures and clever heroines who refuse to stay safely on the sidelines."
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2025
About the author
Tracy L. Higley
46 books825 followersTracy Higley has been attempting to time travel through the pages of books since she was a child. She started her first story at the age of eight, and has since authored nearly twenty books, including the acclaimed Seven Wonders Series, and the Time Travel Journals of Sahara Aldridge. She earned a Master’s Degree in Ancient and Classical History, and has traveled to Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Israel, Italy, and Turkey, researching her books and falling into adventures. Peruse her travel journals and learn more fascinating history at www.tracyhigley.com.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 43 reviews
July 25, 2026
What an intriguing epilogue! Can’t wait to read Book 3! Annie was my favorite character in this one.
November 16, 2025
Brilliantly written! The author keeps you guessing until the end. She has all the suspects gathered together, and your attention keeps shifting between the suspects and more importantly the evidence and motives. Throw in failed romances amongst the suspects and some shady business dealings, and you have a complete, well written mystery.
Recommended for those who value an excellent story over sleep.
Recommended for those who value an excellent story over sleep.
January 8, 2026
A great second book in the series! Clarissa and Quinn return, working together to solve another series of mysterious events that could be related to the blue pigment that featured in the first book. The story is well-paced to keep you reading, with some unexpected twists and turns along the way for Clarissa to solve. Looking forward to book 3!
June 4, 2026
Relyn Rating: 3.5 stars
I still enjoyed Clarissa and Quinn, but not as much as the first book.
I still enjoyed Clarissa and Quinn, but not as much as the first book.
October 29, 2025
I enjoyed this second book in the Clarissa Bell Mysteries just as much as the first. The story has moved from Giza to Luxor and the house party from hell ensues. Estranged fiances, curses, stolen artefacts, secrets and murder abound. Clarissa's internal cataloguing of events and characters is hysterical, along with her realisation that people don't fit into neat boxes of this or that. It's nice to see her grow as a person and to know not all is lost in her relationship with Quinn. There are revelations galore about family and close friends, and allies where one least expects them. This was a clever 'locked room' type whodunnit with a cast of characters, none of whom where what they seemed. I enjoyed it immensely. 5*
December 22, 2025
I really liked the first book in this series. This, the second, didn’t live up to the first for me. This book is set in Luxor, and Clarissa Bell (an archaeologist) and Quinn (the mysterious man we met in the first book) are two of the people at a house party of a wealthy British woman. Now that isn't a bad setup, but until about the 50% point, our characters never leave the estate. It felt more like a locked room mystery than anything else, and for that, we didn't need it to be set in Egypt.
Eventually our characters get out a bit in Luxor and visit the Valley of the Kings and are given a tour of King Tutenkhamun's tomb by Howard Carter. They also eventually go to Karnak. However, in neither of those places was there much of a feel for the setting.
The murders were interesting, although Clarissa's investigative skills left a lot to be desired in this book, as she accused virtually everyone at the house party at some point of doing the killings.
There were also some awkward things that didn't work for me. At one point Clarissa mentions that something caused her “cognitive dissonance,” which completely pulled me out of the book, as Festinger’s “cognitive dissonance theory” was first mentioned in 1957.
The second half of the book picked up more for me, but still didn't live up to the first. While we don't get much in the way of a feel for Egypt, there was a lot about colonialist policies and the illegal antiquities trade. The book also ends with a big cliffhanger/reveal of some of the underlying mysteries of the series to date.
I will definitely read the next in the series, but hope we have more of a field for the setting than in this book.
Eventually our characters get out a bit in Luxor and visit the Valley of the Kings and are given a tour of King Tutenkhamun's tomb by Howard Carter. They also eventually go to Karnak. However, in neither of those places was there much of a feel for the setting.
The murders were interesting, although Clarissa's investigative skills left a lot to be desired in this book, as she accused virtually everyone at the house party at some point of doing the killings.
There were also some awkward things that didn't work for me. At one point Clarissa mentions that something caused her “cognitive dissonance,” which completely pulled me out of the book, as Festinger’s “cognitive dissonance theory” was first mentioned in 1957.
The second half of the book picked up more for me, but still didn't live up to the first. While we don't get much in the way of a feel for Egypt, there was a lot about colonialist policies and the illegal antiquities trade. The book also ends with a big cliffhanger/reveal of some of the underlying mysteries of the series to date.
I will definitely read the next in the series, but hope we have more of a field for the setting than in this book.
July 7, 2026
I was drawn to the Clarissa Bell mystery series because of the blurb’s comparison to the Amelia Peabody mystery series also set in Egypt. The Clarissa Bell series is set somewhat later (the 1920s) and carries the post-World War I paranoia about spies and various countries getting the technological jump on others. I ended up reading the three books available in the series so far (Hieroglyphs and Homicide, Palm Trees and Poison, Amulets and Alibis) as well as the prequel novella (“Murder in the Museum”) available if you sign up for author Higley’s newsletter.
Clarissa is the daughter of a wealthy American family. Her father allows her to study Egyptology in Britain, hoping that she’ll give up her interest in such unwomanly ideas and settle down and marry well. Instead, she becomes an archeologist. Though she is limited by the men on her dig to categorizing pottery sherds, she nonetheless has many adventures and becomes involved in multiple mysteries that tie into an all-consuming nefarious plot. Soon after her arrival at the dig, she encounters Benedict Quinn, a man whose dubious morals and links to the illegal antiquities trade should make him persona non grata; however, their relationship is marked with a powerful attraction, held in check by Clarissa’s inability to full trust him and his inability to be honest with her. Each adventure sees them growing closer.
Clarissa is a more modern heroine than Amelia Peabody, and newer series covers more contemporary issues such as cultural appropriation and repatriation of archeological artifacts. The author does a good job showing upper crust expatriate life in Egypt and their sense of utter superiority to Egyptians. There is enough technical jargon (such as pottery glazes and how to date them) to make this read true. One of the most enjoyable aspects to this series is Clarissa’s compulsion to catalog everything, even her own emotions. For example, “Specimen: Career Opportunity (Dubious), featuring collaboration with irritatingly handsome antiquities dealer. Notable elements include complete destruction of professional dignity…”
I enjoyed the first two novels but found a plot hole in the third (Amulets and Alibis) that drove me crazy. In Chapter 16, while on a Nile cruise, Clarissa begs a set of master keys from Freddie, her maid’s boyfriend; however, he doesn’t actually board the boat until Chapter 17. The “Murder in the Museum” prequel sets up Clarissa’s love for Egypt, but lacks the sparkle of her cataloging compulsion. Surely that characteristic was present at seventeen as well as a few years later. There is, however, a nice character arc for both Clarissa and Benedict as she realizes that not everything can be categorized and that ambiguity is part of human nature.
Clarissa is the daughter of a wealthy American family. Her father allows her to study Egyptology in Britain, hoping that she’ll give up her interest in such unwomanly ideas and settle down and marry well. Instead, she becomes an archeologist. Though she is limited by the men on her dig to categorizing pottery sherds, she nonetheless has many adventures and becomes involved in multiple mysteries that tie into an all-consuming nefarious plot. Soon after her arrival at the dig, she encounters Benedict Quinn, a man whose dubious morals and links to the illegal antiquities trade should make him persona non grata; however, their relationship is marked with a powerful attraction, held in check by Clarissa’s inability to full trust him and his inability to be honest with her. Each adventure sees them growing closer.
Clarissa is a more modern heroine than Amelia Peabody, and newer series covers more contemporary issues such as cultural appropriation and repatriation of archeological artifacts. The author does a good job showing upper crust expatriate life in Egypt and their sense of utter superiority to Egyptians. There is enough technical jargon (such as pottery glazes and how to date them) to make this read true. One of the most enjoyable aspects to this series is Clarissa’s compulsion to catalog everything, even her own emotions. For example, “Specimen: Career Opportunity (Dubious), featuring collaboration with irritatingly handsome antiquities dealer. Notable elements include complete destruction of professional dignity…”
I enjoyed the first two novels but found a plot hole in the third (Amulets and Alibis) that drove me crazy. In Chapter 16, while on a Nile cruise, Clarissa begs a set of master keys from Freddie, her maid’s boyfriend; however, he doesn’t actually board the boat until Chapter 17. The “Murder in the Museum” prequel sets up Clarissa’s love for Egypt, but lacks the sparkle of her cataloging compulsion. Surely that characteristic was present at seventeen as well as a few years later. There is, however, a nice character arc for both Clarissa and Benedict as she realizes that not everything can be categorized and that ambiguity is part of human nature.
February 19, 2026
Aw, refreshing when book 2 is just as good as the first. Once again, 4/5 for thr continued use of more modern verbiage in a 1920’s setting…
Now onto the 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We return with Dr, Clarissa Bell and Benedict Quinn for another wild turn of events that continues to keep you guessing.
And do we have ourselves a Cludo murder mystery? Absolutely we do! Does Dr. Bell’s ex-finance show up with thoughts of bringing her home on orders from her father (and his own supposed hopes to win her back)? Yes, yes it does. Do we have multiple standoff’s between the man that lost her, and the one who sends heat all over her body? Of course!
And what is so special about the Astral Sphere (that’s more like a plate, but sphere sounds sexier) that has everyone’s rapt attention?
We get a heavier glimpse into this rather large and nefarious network of stolen Egyptian antiquities being siphoned into private donors closets, more key players in the network, and it’s bigger and more devised than anyone imagined.
It’s a beautiful slow burn romance with high stress and high stakes games afoot…
And I already preordered the next book …
Now onto the 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We return with Dr, Clarissa Bell and Benedict Quinn for another wild turn of events that continues to keep you guessing.
And do we have ourselves a Cludo murder mystery? Absolutely we do! Does Dr. Bell’s ex-finance show up with thoughts of bringing her home on orders from her father (and his own supposed hopes to win her back)? Yes, yes it does. Do we have multiple standoff’s between the man that lost her, and the one who sends heat all over her body? Of course!
And what is so special about the Astral Sphere (that’s more like a plate, but sphere sounds sexier) that has everyone’s rapt attention?
We get a heavier glimpse into this rather large and nefarious network of stolen Egyptian antiquities being siphoned into private donors closets, more key players in the network, and it’s bigger and more devised than anyone imagined.
It’s a beautiful slow burn romance with high stress and high stakes games afoot…
And I already preordered the next book …
November 10, 2025
Come explore the 1920s in Egypt in a battle for prized antiquities. While clients “with more money than scruples” seem to run the market—semi-legitimate to utterly black—Dr. Bell spends a holiday with a wealthy and powerful British widow who seemingly is engaged in the ongoing thefts.
Britain and Egypt share a complicated romance of love, hate, and intrigue. British fascination with all things ancient causes them to pay dearly to have other countries’ antiquities relocated to mother England, an arrogance the Egyptians find hard to overlook.
That sets the background to a tense mystery in which people are murdered and not grieved one small bit. I found the characters intriguing, the locale rich with desert dust and mystique, and the plot tangled and engaging. It will draw you back in time to a different era. That said, it was still rife with political intrigue, academic posturing, and impossible romances.
By all means read it!
Britain and Egypt share a complicated romance of love, hate, and intrigue. British fascination with all things ancient causes them to pay dearly to have other countries’ antiquities relocated to mother England, an arrogance the Egyptians find hard to overlook.
That sets the background to a tense mystery in which people are murdered and not grieved one small bit. I found the characters intriguing, the locale rich with desert dust and mystique, and the plot tangled and engaging. It will draw you back in time to a different era. That said, it was still rife with political intrigue, academic posturing, and impossible romances.
By all means read it!
April 22, 2026
Palm Trees And Poison was the second book in the Clarissa book series. I liked the first novel, and was eager to pick this one up!
This is the perfect book to read after visiting the Nile! Here, Clarissa was again, immediately embroiled in an Egyptian mystery. This one involved the famous Karnak Temple, and the mysterious legend that at t certain time of year, the temple is illuminated a special way by the sun. The author knows so much about Egypt and its mysteries, that she effortlessly weaved actual historical information into this fun romance chick lit novel! Who knew it could be done!
This book, like the first in the series, was a light fun read, but also was educational! These are cute and fun! Totally entertaining with an Egyptian flair!
This is the perfect book to read after visiting the Nile! Here, Clarissa was again, immediately embroiled in an Egyptian mystery. This one involved the famous Karnak Temple, and the mysterious legend that at t certain time of year, the temple is illuminated a special way by the sun. The author knows so much about Egypt and its mysteries, that she effortlessly weaved actual historical information into this fun romance chick lit novel! Who knew it could be done!
This book, like the first in the series, was a light fun read, but also was educational! These are cute and fun! Totally entertaining with an Egyptian flair!
May 8, 2026
Oooooooooooh I just love a romance sub plot. And it’s a slow burn teeheehee. We got a little more of Quinn’s background and why he is the way he is sometimes which was nice. I was hoping we would get some answers instead of continued deflecting. The mystery aspect was fun there’s the over arching plot from book one that’s taken a back seat to the murders afoot.
I really liked all the side characters and who done it aspect of this one. Classic mystery type. Also her estranged fiancé coming around and the push and pull between him and Quinn. That was fun. A little on the nose but it gave me early 2000s vibes and I love early 2000s movies what can I say. The ending though THE EPILOGUE. Book 3 is set up nicely I’m so excited. I really hope there’s more in the series but I guess I’ll just have to wait to see how the next one ends if there’s a chance.
I really liked all the side characters and who done it aspect of this one. Classic mystery type. Also her estranged fiancé coming around and the push and pull between him and Quinn. That was fun. A little on the nose but it gave me early 2000s vibes and I love early 2000s movies what can I say. The ending though THE EPILOGUE. Book 3 is set up nicely I’m so excited. I really hope there’s more in the series but I guess I’ll just have to wait to see how the next one ends if there’s a chance.
February 7, 2026
I think I like this one better than the first in the series. Perhaps it is because I know the characters a little better.
Like Clarissa, I was totally thrown off, looking at one thing when I should have been aware of another.
I have been to the places in the book and walked through Karnak as they went there as a large group. I could easily imagine the towering columns. It did seem a bit unrealistic that they had a ladder there. And I guessed one thing at the end, but not the person involved. (Didn't want to spoil this. Hope I can remember what I am alluding to years from now when I revisit this.)
Like Clarissa, I was totally thrown off, looking at one thing when I should have been aware of another.
I have been to the places in the book and walked through Karnak as they went there as a large group. I could easily imagine the towering columns. It did seem a bit unrealistic that they had a ladder there. And I guessed one thing at the end, but not the person involved. (Didn't want to spoil this. Hope I can remember what I am alluding to years from now when I revisit this.)
August 5, 2026
เล่มนี้อ่านง่ายกว่าเล่มแรก ไม่เหมือนอ่านวิทยานิพนธ์แล้ว มีความ cozy mystery แบบที่หวัง เกิดเหตุฆาตกรรมในคฤหาสน์หรูหราริมแม่น้ำไนล์ ตัวเอก Clarissa เลยขันอาสาเป็นนักสืบมือสมัครเล่นไขคดีฆาตกรรม
ก็พออ่านได้เรื่อย ๆ อาจจะมีความหมั่นไส้ในอีโก้ความเป็น ดร. ของนางเอกบ้าง กับความถือตัวในความเก่งจากการไขคดีในเล่มแรก แต่ชีก็จะได้บทเรียนจากการถืออีโก้ของตัวเอง
กับ แอบเบ้ปากกับความสัมพันธ์กับพ่อหนุ่มพระเอก Quinn คือเล่นตัวเล่นใหญ่ เล่นโต ไม่รับรัก แต่กั๊กไว้ก่อน
แต่พระเอกช่างดี สมัยนี้เรียก ธงเขียวปี๋ ถ้านางเอกไม่เอา เราขอ
ก็พออ่านได้เรื่อย ๆ อาจจะมีความหมั่นไส้ในอีโก้ความเป็น ดร. ของนางเอกบ้าง กับความถือตัวในความเก่งจากการไขคดีในเล่มแรก แต่ชีก็จะได้บทเรียนจากการถืออีโก้ของตัวเอง
กับ แอบเบ้ปากกับความสัมพันธ์กับพ่อหนุ่มพระเอก Quinn คือเล่นตัวเล่นใหญ่ เล่นโต ไม่รับรัก แต่กั๊กไว้ก่อน
แต่พระเอกช่างดี สมัยนี้เรียก ธงเขียวปี๋ ถ้านางเอกไม่เอา เราขอ
December 24, 2025
Dr Clarissa Bell is back in Egypt after 8 months away from Benadict Quinn who is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. They are at an event at Lady Blackwell's for the winter solstice and the Astral Sphere. One of the guest is murdered with cyanide and Clarissa and Benedict are on the hunt while trying to keep their romantic interests from flairing up. Great reading with history romance and fun mixed in.
February 10, 2026
Archaeologist Clarissa Bell was ready for routine work — until an Egyptologist at a Nile house party drops dead from poison. When a priceless artifact vanishes and another body turns up, Clarissa must untangle motives, hidden rivalries, and buried lies. The local police prefer etiquette to justice, so she follows the clues herself.
Smart, atmospheric, and twisty, this mystery blends classic puzzle-solving with exotic danger as Clarissa races to catch a killer before they strike again.
Smart, atmospheric, and twisty, this mystery blends classic puzzle-solving with exotic danger as Clarissa races to catch a killer before they strike again.
April 15, 2026
Fun second outing
This was a well crafted story where we got to know the main characters a little bit more. Great setting and I liked the live triangle aspect of the story. Its interesting to read about a modern 1920s woman fighting tradition and finding her way in the world. I like the chemistry between Clarissa and Quinn and fun to have Annie have a love interest. I look forward to more in the series.
This was a well crafted story where we got to know the main characters a little bit more. Great setting and I liked the live triangle aspect of the story. Its interesting to read about a modern 1920s woman fighting tradition and finding her way in the world. I like the chemistry between Clarissa and Quinn and fun to have Annie have a love interest. I look forward to more in the series.
June 23, 2026
UGH WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO GET TOGETHER! Although the slow burn development of Clarissa’s in Queen’s relationship has been absolutely magnetic and I am loving the yearning two books later and how Clarissa has boundaries on Quinn, but you had they’re so open about their feelings for each other. Absolutely devoured this book read in one day and currently about to start number three wondering when book number four will come out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2026
Murder and Romance
If you like the Amelia Peabody mysteries, you’ll enjoy these. They’re set in the 1920’s in Egypt. They are a little more politically correct, recognizing the problems of colonialism and cultural appropriation. The heroine is a feminist archeologist being pursued by a devastatingly handsome mystery man.
If you like the Amelia Peabody mysteries, you’ll enjoy these. They’re set in the 1920’s in Egypt. They are a little more politically correct, recognizing the problems of colonialism and cultural appropriation. The heroine is a feminist archeologist being pursued by a devastatingly handsome mystery man.
May 22, 2026
Clarissa bell is at it again. This time there is a dinner party and murder is one of its courses. Once again she is back Giza for archeology but with not one but two dead bodies and her family’s name on the line she best figure out who did what. This is an enjoyable book but not as good and the first in the series.
November 13, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, second in the series. The characters are well drawn and I love Clarissa. The setting is great, Luxor at Christmas time. Having just been to Egypt, I really enjoyed seeing this mystery play out in locations like Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.
November 14, 2025
More mystery. More humor. More swoony moments. And a love triangle.
"I'd spent months trying to file away our kiss under Professional Complications: Archaeological Romance (ill advised) but it kept sliding out of that neat mental drawer, refusing to be cataloged so simply."
"I'd spent months trying to file away our kiss under Professional Complications: Archaeological Romance (ill advised) but it kept sliding out of that neat mental drawer, refusing to be cataloged so simply."
November 24, 2025
I enjoyed the first book in this series a lot more, but book 2 did give us some character development. I am excited for book 3 in the series. I‘ve really enjoyed the overarching plot in this series, as well as the witty protagonist.
April 2, 2026
Mysterious and Fascinating!
A wonderful assortment of characters and events mixed into 1920's Egypt mystery! Book 3 is eagerly anticipated! It's sure to solve some mysteries and, maybe, produce new ones!
A wonderful assortment of characters and events mixed into 1920's Egypt mystery! Book 3 is eagerly anticipated! It's sure to solve some mysteries and, maybe, produce new ones!
April 12, 2026
Onward
Even murder doesn't stop our heroine. Onward to the next story!
even murder doesn't stop our heroine in her investigations into ancient and modern secrets. Onward to the next story.
Even murder doesn't stop our heroine. Onward to the next story!
even murder doesn't stop our heroine in her investigations into ancient and modern secrets. Onward to the next story.
April 16, 2026
interesting storyline
Another intriguing story by Tracy Higley involving Egyptian artifacts, archeological digs, murder, and a little bit of romance. Clarissa Bell has a knack for solving murder mysteries and classifying relics. Quite the interesting and highly intelligent woman.
Another intriguing story by Tracy Higley involving Egyptian artifacts, archeological digs, murder, and a little bit of romance. Clarissa Bell has a knack for solving murder mysteries and classifying relics. Quite the interesting and highly intelligent woman.
May 9, 2026
Better than the first book
I enjoyed the archaeology and interplay between the characters, but I don't feel that the author has a true grasp on the time period.
All in all this was worth reading, but at times seemed too modern for the times.
I enjoyed the archaeology and interplay between the characters, but I don't feel that the author has a true grasp on the time period.
All in all this was worth reading, but at times seemed too modern for the times.
June 30, 2026
Another fun read, with fun characters and a murder mystery. Again, my critique is I would have liked Luxor to be more of a character. While place the action there and then have everyone be confined to a house for the duration of the novel?
July 19, 2026
Not as good as the first book in the series. So many characters, it was hard to keep up with you was who. Sometimes she used the last name, sometimes the characters first name. I do like the main character and the setting.
November 25, 2025
Fun read !
If you like Egypt and mysteries this is for you. Additionally a growing romance between Clarissa and a mysterious man.
If you like Egypt and mysteries this is for you. Additionally a growing romance between Clarissa and a mysterious man.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 43 reviews