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Semerket #2
Day of the False King
"Another brilliant and out-of-the-ordinary murder mystery by the author of" Year of the Hyenas, " with an unusual and interesting detective, this time trying to pursue and rescue his own ex-wife, sold into slavery in the city of Babylon (in modern times, near Baghdad) at a time of violence and great danger, much like today.""Day of the False King" continues the story of Semerket, Egypt's Clerk of Investigations and Secrets. The time is approximately 1150 B.C., and the conspirators who plotted the overthrow of Pharaoh Ramses III have been tried and executed. But the old pharaoh has succumbed to the wounds inflicted by his Theban wife, Queen Tiya; it is his first-born son who now rules Egypt as his chosen successor, Ramses IV.
Geographically placed at the center of the Old World, where East literally meets West, Babylon has forever been the crossroads for conquering armies and adventuresome merchants, and the prize of dynasts. From cruel tyrants to far-seeing visionaries, an ever-changing set of rulers have claimed Babylon's throne as their own. But they were not god-kings as in Egypt; in fact, there was no term for "king" in any of the Babylonian languages. Instead, they were called simply "Strong Man" or "Big Man." Then as now, only martial strength determined who ruled. Strangely, or perhaps inevitably, the rights of the individual were first codified and set down as laws here.
Around the time that "Day of the False King" takes place, the Middle East is undergoing -- just as it is today -- a tortuous, protracted transformation. The old regimes have vanished, setting the stage for the aggressive emergence of the new nations of Phoenicia, Israel, and Philistia; it is the fourth of these new peoples, the Assyrians, who will achieve dominance in the years ahead.Babylonia in particular has suffered a series of cataclysms. The old Kassite Dynasty, themselves invaders from the north, has been toppled. The nation of Elam (soon to be known as Persia) has launched a massive war to conquer Babylonia from the southeast. Native tribes in the country also see this moment as their own chance to evict the foreigners and re-establish a dynasty of their own.
Into this roiling alchemy, Semerket's adored ex-wife, Naia, is thrust. She and Rami, the tomb-maker's son, have been banished to Babylon as indentured servants -- punishment for their accidental roles in the Harem Conspiracy against Ramses III.
As in "Year of the Hyenas," most of the events and characters in "Day of the False King" are drawn from history. The Elamite invader King Kutir and the native-born Marduk truly vied for the throne of Babylonia. There really was a festival called "Day of the False King," when the entire world turned upside down for a day, when slaves ruled as masters, when the most foolish man in Babylon was chosen to become king. Semerket the detective is plunged into the midst of these events in pursuit of his own goals: to serve his Pharaoh and to find the woman he loves.
Geographically placed at the center of the Old World, where East literally meets West, Babylon has forever been the crossroads for conquering armies and adventuresome merchants, and the prize of dynasts. From cruel tyrants to far-seeing visionaries, an ever-changing set of rulers have claimed Babylon's throne as their own. But they were not god-kings as in Egypt; in fact, there was no term for "king" in any of the Babylonian languages. Instead, they were called simply "Strong Man" or "Big Man." Then as now, only martial strength determined who ruled. Strangely, or perhaps inevitably, the rights of the individual were first codified and set down as laws here.
Around the time that "Day of the False King" takes place, the Middle East is undergoing -- just as it is today -- a tortuous, protracted transformation. The old regimes have vanished, setting the stage for the aggressive emergence of the new nations of Phoenicia, Israel, and Philistia; it is the fourth of these new peoples, the Assyrians, who will achieve dominance in the years ahead.Babylonia in particular has suffered a series of cataclysms. The old Kassite Dynasty, themselves invaders from the north, has been toppled. The nation of Elam (soon to be known as Persia) has launched a massive war to conquer Babylonia from the southeast. Native tribes in the country also see this moment as their own chance to evict the foreigners and re-establish a dynasty of their own.
Into this roiling alchemy, Semerket's adored ex-wife, Naia, is thrust. She and Rami, the tomb-maker's son, have been banished to Babylon as indentured servants -- punishment for their accidental roles in the Harem Conspiracy against Ramses III.
As in "Year of the Hyenas," most of the events and characters in "Day of the False King" are drawn from history. The Elamite invader King Kutir and the native-born Marduk truly vied for the throne of Babylonia. There really was a festival called "Day of the False King," when the entire world turned upside down for a day, when slaves ruled as masters, when the most foolish man in Babylon was chosen to become king. Semerket the detective is plunged into the midst of these events in pursuit of his own goals: to serve his Pharaoh and to find the woman he loves.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 10, 2006
7 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Brad Geagley
14 books43 followersBrad Geagley, film producer, screenwriter, and now author, has combined his passion for Ancient Egyptian history with his vast background in writing film, screenplays, and theater to write his first historical mystery novel Year of The Hyenas.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 19, 2025
Di luar dugaan, di buku kedua ini setting kisah berpindah ke Babilonia. Excited? Tentu saja, aku jadi bisa belajar tentang budaya di negara yang jatuh dalam penaklukan dari penggambaran mata seorang Mesir.
Awalnya, obsesi Semerket pada Naia terasa agak lebay. Tapi lama kelamaan aku tersentuh oleh ketulusan pria yang terpaksa harus merelakan istrinya karena tak bisa memberinya anak. Jadi saat sebuah berita tentang Naia membuat Semerket harus melakukan perjalanan ke negara berhala yang asing, aku luluh dan bisa memahami keresahan dan keputusasaannya.
Kisah ini beralur maju dan cepat. Narasi terbatas pada deskripsi kebudayaan, daerah atau fakta sejarah yang sangat melebur dalam cerita sampai sulit dibedakan mana bagian nyata dan mana yang fiksi. Aku kagum pada fakta bahwa bangsa Mesir sudah begitu maju saat itu, ditahun 1150 SM mereka sudah mengenal dunia kedokteran lengkap dengan pembedahan kepala, penemuan sedotan fleksible, cek perjalanan dengan cap sidik jari, penemuan aspal, maket arsitektur yang akan membuat maket masa kini kelihatan seperti mainan anak-anak dan pengarsipan pembukuan untuk kepentingan pelaporan pajak. Wow banget kan?
Storyline buku ini masih memakai formula yang agak mirip dimana satu penyelidikan yang tampak sederhana berbuntut pada intrik dan kasus yang lebih besar dan pelik. Secara pribadi aku suka dengan karakter Semerket yang walaupun disebut sangat berbahaya tapi tidak besar kepala, dia punya harga diri dan cerdas, suka menolong orang-orang tertindas yang kemudian justru berperan besar dalam hidup pria itu. Brad juga menggambarkan tokoh utamanya begitu manusiawi. Dia tetap takut mati saat diserang pembunuh bayaran, dia punya naluri bertahan hidup (bukan aksi beladiri heboh ala superhero) dan dibalik semua kemegahannya pada akhirnya dia cuma seorang pria biasa yang begitu mencintai istrinya.
Ini adalah buku suspens historical yang sangat menarik. Walau diceritakan secara lugas, tiap perasaan bisa tergambarkan dan dirasakan dengan jelas. Aku suka karena di buku kedua ini Brad menyisipkan beberapa humor seperti pelayan yang cerdas, keledai yang sok akrab, serangga yang mengintimidasi, mata-mata amatir dan penyanyi beken yang penuh kejutan. Brad juga memberikan banyak twist kejutan, penyelesaian tuntas dari kasus dan memberikan hukuman sadis yang sesuai dengan perbuatan para villainnya. Kekurangan buku ini hanyalah villain utama dari buku pertama dan kedua masih hidup dan bersembunyi, mungkin Brad menyimpannya untuk ending yang epik di buku terakhir?
Awalnya, obsesi Semerket pada Naia terasa agak lebay. Tapi lama kelamaan aku tersentuh oleh ketulusan pria yang terpaksa harus merelakan istrinya karena tak bisa memberinya anak. Jadi saat sebuah berita tentang Naia membuat Semerket harus melakukan perjalanan ke negara berhala yang asing, aku luluh dan bisa memahami keresahan dan keputusasaannya.
Kisah ini beralur maju dan cepat. Narasi terbatas pada deskripsi kebudayaan, daerah atau fakta sejarah yang sangat melebur dalam cerita sampai sulit dibedakan mana bagian nyata dan mana yang fiksi. Aku kagum pada fakta bahwa bangsa Mesir sudah begitu maju saat itu, ditahun 1150 SM mereka sudah mengenal dunia kedokteran lengkap dengan pembedahan kepala, penemuan sedotan fleksible, cek perjalanan dengan cap sidik jari, penemuan aspal, maket arsitektur yang akan membuat maket masa kini kelihatan seperti mainan anak-anak dan pengarsipan pembukuan untuk kepentingan pelaporan pajak. Wow banget kan?
Storyline buku ini masih memakai formula yang agak mirip dimana satu penyelidikan yang tampak sederhana berbuntut pada intrik dan kasus yang lebih besar dan pelik. Secara pribadi aku suka dengan karakter Semerket yang walaupun disebut sangat berbahaya tapi tidak besar kepala, dia punya harga diri dan cerdas, suka menolong orang-orang tertindas yang kemudian justru berperan besar dalam hidup pria itu. Brad juga menggambarkan tokoh utamanya begitu manusiawi. Dia tetap takut mati saat diserang pembunuh bayaran, dia punya naluri bertahan hidup (bukan aksi beladiri heboh ala superhero) dan dibalik semua kemegahannya pada akhirnya dia cuma seorang pria biasa yang begitu mencintai istrinya.
Ini adalah buku suspens historical yang sangat menarik. Walau diceritakan secara lugas, tiap perasaan bisa tergambarkan dan dirasakan dengan jelas. Aku suka karena di buku kedua ini Brad menyisipkan beberapa humor seperti pelayan yang cerdas, keledai yang sok akrab, serangga yang mengintimidasi, mata-mata amatir dan penyanyi beken yang penuh kejutan. Brad juga memberikan banyak twist kejutan, penyelesaian tuntas dari kasus dan memberikan hukuman sadis yang sesuai dengan perbuatan para villainnya. Kekurangan buku ini hanyalah villain utama dari buku pertama dan kedua masih hidup dan bersembunyi, mungkin Brad menyimpannya untuk ending yang epik di buku terakhir?
May 11, 2018
Kali ini Semerket melayani raja baru, Ramses IV. Dia mendapatkan penugasan terbaru, mencari istrinya di Babilonia sekaligus membawa patung berhala Bel-Marduk bagi rajanya.
Tidak mudah saat Semerket tiba di Babilonia ini. Dirinya kenyang ditipu, dimata-matai, bahkan diancam kematian berkali-kali demi menemukan istrinya yg msh dicintainya. Dlm petualangannya kali ini, Semerket makin memiliki banyak teman spt Kem-weset si dokter yg eksentrik, Marduk si budak yg sebenarnya pangeran muda yg sedang menyamar, Kapten Shepak, bahkan Mylitta si pendeta astrologi. Jadilah mereka tim bantuan Semerket utk mengusut pencarian si mantan istri yg ternyata dibaliknya ada bau konspirasi politik jahat.
Dibandingkan buku pertamanya, kadar petualangan di buku ini jauh lebih banyak dan menantang. Sbg tamu di negeri asing dimana Semerket sama sekali tidak familiar, banyak rintangan dan hambatan yg menghadangnya. Berkali-kali ketika Semerket menganggap akan berjumpa dgn mantan istrinya tsb, lagi² banyak lika-liku yg masih hrs dilakukan oleh Semerket. Cuma saja Semerket jd lebih mirip tokoh Rick O'Connell di film The Mummy. Apalagi pas scene di penjara bawah tanah dimana para serangga buas pemakan daging menyerbu dirinya.
Cuma endingnya masih kurang memuaskan saya. Si biang kerok belum mendapatkan balasan setimpal. Sedangkan bukunya sudah gak diterbitkan lagi sejak 2006. Alamat sampai disini saja petualangan si Semerket ini.
Tidak mudah saat Semerket tiba di Babilonia ini. Dirinya kenyang ditipu, dimata-matai, bahkan diancam kematian berkali-kali demi menemukan istrinya yg msh dicintainya. Dlm petualangannya kali ini, Semerket makin memiliki banyak teman spt Kem-weset si dokter yg eksentrik, Marduk si budak yg sebenarnya pangeran muda yg sedang menyamar, Kapten Shepak, bahkan Mylitta si pendeta astrologi. Jadilah mereka tim bantuan Semerket utk mengusut pencarian si mantan istri yg ternyata dibaliknya ada bau konspirasi politik jahat.
Dibandingkan buku pertamanya, kadar petualangan di buku ini jauh lebih banyak dan menantang. Sbg tamu di negeri asing dimana Semerket sama sekali tidak familiar, banyak rintangan dan hambatan yg menghadangnya. Berkali-kali ketika Semerket menganggap akan berjumpa dgn mantan istrinya tsb, lagi² banyak lika-liku yg masih hrs dilakukan oleh Semerket. Cuma saja Semerket jd lebih mirip tokoh Rick O'Connell di film The Mummy. Apalagi pas scene di penjara bawah tanah dimana para serangga buas pemakan daging menyerbu dirinya.
Cuma endingnya masih kurang memuaskan saya. Si biang kerok belum mendapatkan balasan setimpal. Sedangkan bukunya sudah gak diterbitkan lagi sejak 2006. Alamat sampai disini saja petualangan si Semerket ini.
September 4, 2018
Buku #20 di tahun 2018.
Beli karena diskon. Sehingga belum baca buku pertama di seri ini (karena saya nggak menemukan buku pertama di program diskonan yang ini). Nggak terlalu mengganggu juga sih. Tapi nanti kalau baca yang buku pertama pasti jadi nggak ada misteri atau penasarannya lagi karena saya sudah tahu siapa tokoh antagonisnya dari buku kedua ini.
Page turner. Buku 389 halaman ini selesai dibaca dalam 3 hari. Prestasi hebat buat saya yang biasanya selesai baca dalam waktu hitungan pekan. Berarti buku ini memang menyenangkan untuk dibaca. Saya berusaha mengabaikan niat saya untuk googling memastikan keakuratan sisi sejarah buku ini. Nggak perlu. Karena toh buku ini sudah menyenangkan untuk dibaca. Itu sudah cukup.
Ragu untuk beri bintang 3 atau 4. Seru sih tapi apakah layak dibebani dengan “i really like it”. Setelah dipertimbangkan akhirnya ya dikasih bintang 4 saja lah. Entah kenapa saya dapat begitu menikmati ceritanya. :-) Mungkin karena sang penulis mampu menggambarkan kebesaran Babilonia dengan baik atau memang ceritanya seru saja atau saya terkesan dengan perasaan cinta Semerket yang begitu dalam kepada Naia. Entahlah.
Yang jelas saya menikmati membaca buku ini.
Gituuu....
Beli karena diskon. Sehingga belum baca buku pertama di seri ini (karena saya nggak menemukan buku pertama di program diskonan yang ini). Nggak terlalu mengganggu juga sih. Tapi nanti kalau baca yang buku pertama pasti jadi nggak ada misteri atau penasarannya lagi karena saya sudah tahu siapa tokoh antagonisnya dari buku kedua ini.
Page turner. Buku 389 halaman ini selesai dibaca dalam 3 hari. Prestasi hebat buat saya yang biasanya selesai baca dalam waktu hitungan pekan. Berarti buku ini memang menyenangkan untuk dibaca. Saya berusaha mengabaikan niat saya untuk googling memastikan keakuratan sisi sejarah buku ini. Nggak perlu. Karena toh buku ini sudah menyenangkan untuk dibaca. Itu sudah cukup.
Ragu untuk beri bintang 3 atau 4. Seru sih tapi apakah layak dibebani dengan “i really like it”. Setelah dipertimbangkan akhirnya ya dikasih bintang 4 saja lah. Entah kenapa saya dapat begitu menikmati ceritanya. :-) Mungkin karena sang penulis mampu menggambarkan kebesaran Babilonia dengan baik atau memang ceritanya seru saja atau saya terkesan dengan perasaan cinta Semerket yang begitu dalam kepada Naia. Entahlah.
Yang jelas saya menikmati membaca buku ini.
Gituuu....
June 20, 2021
The sequel to Year of the Hyenas has Semerket, Egypt's clerk of investigations and secrets, on a mission to Babylon in 1150 BC for the ailing pharaoh, Ramses IV. The detective is more interested in searching for his ex-wife Naia, who has been banished to Mesopotamia. When Semerket arrives in Babylon, he gets caught up in a rebellion against its latest conquerors. Interesting for the weaving of ancient history with an arcane plot.
February 5, 2012
As a sequel to YEAR OF THE HYENAS, DAY OF THE FALSE KING hardly stands up. I found it extremely easy to be distracted from it because I didn't connect with either the characters or the setting. Semerket is sent as an envoy to Babylon - whichever king is ruling by the time he gets there - with a side mission of rescuing his ex-wife and a boy for whom he feels responsible. The instability of the region and its people may be the cause of Semerket's repeated escapes from death, or it may be the job given him by the Babylonian king. In any case, at least halfway through the book, I was pleased to finally find one character who interested me, a singer. It took determination and a weekend to make me sit down and focus long enough to finish this.
June 5, 2016
Intinya, gak seseru buku pertamanya, krn banyak hal kecil yg seperti terulang kembali. Tp meski begitu, kisah penyelidikan Semerket sendiri masih enak diikuti, misterinya msh njelimet, settingnya eksotis dan banyak pihak2 dan kepentingan2 yg bertentangan, yg terlibat.
Kesan akhir, Semerket ini jeli melihat apa yg tjd, bgmn sesuatu tjd dan rahasia2 tindakan seseorang.... tp yaampun, sedikit oon kl disuruh nebak dalang utama dan pencetus konspiratornya. Di buku pertama begitu. Di buku ini sami mawon.
Ripiu lengkap ada di
https://readbetweenpages.blogspot.co....
Kesan akhir, Semerket ini jeli melihat apa yg tjd, bgmn sesuatu tjd dan rahasia2 tindakan seseorang.... tp yaampun, sedikit oon kl disuruh nebak dalang utama dan pencetus konspiratornya. Di buku pertama begitu. Di buku ini sami mawon.
Ripiu lengkap ada di
https://readbetweenpages.blogspot.co....
October 3, 2009
RATING: 4.25
PROTAGONIST: Semerket, PI
SETTING: 1150 Babylon
SERIES: #2 of 2
SUMMARY: I'm not normally a fan of historicals, but this series appeals to me because the author has a way of incorporating the historical details in a completely natural and revealing way. Semerket is a kind of official PI. Ramses IV asks him to go to Babylon to obtain an idol that has healing properties. Semerket has personal reasons for joyfully accepting this assignment, as he hopes to find his ex-wife. A bit predictable, but the setting and background is quite interesting.
PROTAGONIST: Semerket, PI
SETTING: 1150 Babylon
SERIES: #2 of 2
SUMMARY: I'm not normally a fan of historicals, but this series appeals to me because the author has a way of incorporating the historical details in a completely natural and revealing way. Semerket is a kind of official PI. Ramses IV asks him to go to Babylon to obtain an idol that has healing properties. Semerket has personal reasons for joyfully accepting this assignment, as he hopes to find his ex-wife. A bit predictable, but the setting and background is quite interesting.
May 10, 2016
So it's not really bad. Semerket is still interesting as usual, and now the mystery took him to Mesopotamia, in an exciting period where political chaos happened everywhere. But the mystery itself is too easy- I knew the culprit since the middle of the book, while Semerket -not as witty and clever as in the first book- looked clueless most of the time. Probably Mesopotamia had different effect to him, or he just too focused on finding his wife, Naia, who's been missing in Babylonia :) Anyway, look forward to the next book!
August 27, 2017
Jumped into this number 2 of a series but I was able to get into the swing of it by around 40pp and ended up enjoying it. The setting was different & showed a lot about Babylonian culture & political turmoil. Not the best ancient Egyptian sleuth I've met but Semerket was pretty good.
February 21, 2019
Once again, the reader gets a sense of time and place when reading this series. This is historical fiction incorporating real people and events with fictional characters and situations. I really enjoy ancient Egyptian historical fiction and have been collecting books in this genre for awhile. This 2nd in the series continues the story from the 1st.
It is somewhere around 1150 B.C. and Semerket, Egypt's Clerk of Investigations and Secrets has been sent on a mission to Babylon. Pharaoh Ramses IV is not feeling well and thinks there might be curative power in the statue of Bel-Marduk, an idol of the Elamites who have conquered the Babylonians and now inhabit the city of Babylon. Ramses' son is only six years old and is in peril of Tiya's sons who vie for the throne. Ramses wants to live long enough to see his own son on the throne. Semerket is only too happy to be special envoy to the new Elamite king and bring back the statue to Egypt, because he can use this trip to try and locate his beloved wife Naia and the tomb maker's son, Rami (see book 1) who were banished from Egypt as punishment for being associated with people who were involved in the conspiracy against Ramses III.
In Mari he encounters some soldiers who have a slave who speaks Egyptian, named Marduk. As soon as they are done with him the soldiers plan to kill him so Semerket buys him to save his life. Marduk is wily, helpful, and takes charge of the journey, even ordering Semerket around but acts like an imbecile when Semerket really needs him. Eventually, he disappears until the end of the story where he has a prominent role. In Babylon, Semerket delays reporting to King Kutir because his personal primary mission is to find Naia and Rami. Semerket begins his search In the Egyptian Quarter of Babylon when he visits a crumbling temple and befriends a starving priest and priestess named Senmut and Wia. Thus begins his adventure searching for his wife.
When Semerket finally meets King Kutir, the king will let the stature of Bel-Marduk visit the Pharaoh only if Semerket will locate his sister Pinikir who was found missing after a raid on a plantation by the Isins. Everyone else was slaughtered. including his wife Naia. Semerket wants to find her corpse and confirm this. He can also continue the investigation with the King's permission. An interesting fact I learned was that the Elamites put their dead in jars and cover them in honey as a preservative. Everything comes to a climax on the Day of the False King, when every role and law in the land is reversed, and the most foolish man in the kingdom becomes Babylon's king for a day.
Some of the characters he meets on his search are Ambassador Menef from Egypt who is pompous, cruel, and greedy and was involved in Naia's disappearance and is also a conspirator with Queen Narunte; Queen Narunte, the wife of king Kutir who hates just about everybody including Pinikir; Shepak, an Elamite colonel who saves Semerket's life and helps him in the search for Naia; two spies who follow Semerket around and also save his life; the Asp, a cruel henchman of Menef's; Aneku, a former friend of Naia who was sold to the temple of Ishtar to become a prostitute and whom Semerket rescues; Mother Mylitta and the mysterious gagu, a powerful and wealthy band of women who seemingly trade in bitumen; Kem-weset, a physician from Egypt whom Semerket finds drunk in a bar and who eventually performs head surgery on a boy; and Nidaba, a she/he who is a famous singer who "has the greatest voice in the world". An interesting and bloodcurdling non-human character is the insect chamber. It is a horrifying way to murder someone.
This book was not as good as the 1st in the series; but, none-the-less, a great engaging read. I'm sorry that there isn't more books in the series.
It is somewhere around 1150 B.C. and Semerket, Egypt's Clerk of Investigations and Secrets has been sent on a mission to Babylon. Pharaoh Ramses IV is not feeling well and thinks there might be curative power in the statue of Bel-Marduk, an idol of the Elamites who have conquered the Babylonians and now inhabit the city of Babylon. Ramses' son is only six years old and is in peril of Tiya's sons who vie for the throne. Ramses wants to live long enough to see his own son on the throne. Semerket is only too happy to be special envoy to the new Elamite king and bring back the statue to Egypt, because he can use this trip to try and locate his beloved wife Naia and the tomb maker's son, Rami (see book 1) who were banished from Egypt as punishment for being associated with people who were involved in the conspiracy against Ramses III.
In Mari he encounters some soldiers who have a slave who speaks Egyptian, named Marduk. As soon as they are done with him the soldiers plan to kill him so Semerket buys him to save his life. Marduk is wily, helpful, and takes charge of the journey, even ordering Semerket around but acts like an imbecile when Semerket really needs him. Eventually, he disappears until the end of the story where he has a prominent role. In Babylon, Semerket delays reporting to King Kutir because his personal primary mission is to find Naia and Rami. Semerket begins his search In the Egyptian Quarter of Babylon when he visits a crumbling temple and befriends a starving priest and priestess named Senmut and Wia. Thus begins his adventure searching for his wife.
When Semerket finally meets King Kutir, the king will let the stature of Bel-Marduk visit the Pharaoh only if Semerket will locate his sister Pinikir who was found missing after a raid on a plantation by the Isins. Everyone else was slaughtered. including his wife Naia. Semerket wants to find her corpse and confirm this. He can also continue the investigation with the King's permission. An interesting fact I learned was that the Elamites put their dead in jars and cover them in honey as a preservative. Everything comes to a climax on the Day of the False King, when every role and law in the land is reversed, and the most foolish man in the kingdom becomes Babylon's king for a day.
Some of the characters he meets on his search are Ambassador Menef from Egypt who is pompous, cruel, and greedy and was involved in Naia's disappearance and is also a conspirator with Queen Narunte; Queen Narunte, the wife of king Kutir who hates just about everybody including Pinikir; Shepak, an Elamite colonel who saves Semerket's life and helps him in the search for Naia; two spies who follow Semerket around and also save his life; the Asp, a cruel henchman of Menef's; Aneku, a former friend of Naia who was sold to the temple of Ishtar to become a prostitute and whom Semerket rescues; Mother Mylitta and the mysterious gagu, a powerful and wealthy band of women who seemingly trade in bitumen; Kem-weset, a physician from Egypt whom Semerket finds drunk in a bar and who eventually performs head surgery on a boy; and Nidaba, a she/he who is a famous singer who "has the greatest voice in the world". An interesting and bloodcurdling non-human character is the insect chamber. It is a horrifying way to murder someone.
This book was not as good as the 1st in the series; but, none-the-less, a great engaging read. I'm sorry that there isn't more books in the series.
June 2, 2022
Semerket is sent by the ailing pharaoh Ramses IV to Babylon around 1150 BCE to secure an idol and liaise with the Elamite invaders, a city where Semerket’s wife has vanished. Remnants of a plot Semerket uncovered against Ramses III impact as does the rebellion of the Babylonian Marduk to drive out the Elamites. Semerket is far too histrionic and obsessive and, even though the culture is well-portrayed, conversations and characters feel too modern. Nevertheless, an always readable narrative of an obscure era.
September 17, 2018
The second of the ancient, Egyptian detective. This time a sojourn in Babylon. His mission is to aid Ramses 4, but also his own mission to find his wife and her son. Adventure and intrigue, danger and loss. Several other readers criticised this novel as being shallow, while it is a little rough around the edges it is great fun. Lots of action, a few surprises, and an entertaining picture of ancient times.
December 9, 2025
I love the characters in this historical mystery series. The ancient Babylonian and Egyptian backdrop added to the atmosphere and kept me wanting more. I'm sorry this is the final book. Especially since the ending teased more to come.
November 30, 2019
Yahhh kenapa Semerket cuma 2 bukuu, masih pengenn 🤣🤣🤣
December 8, 2021
Didn't finish the book as I found it difficult to get into the style of writing.
August 26, 2020
Day of the False King tidak menggunakan Mesir sebagai latar cerita. Pembaca akan dibawa ke daerah Mesopotamia. Sebuah peradaban kuno yang saat itu tidak kalah besar dengan peradaban di Mesir. Semerket tidak lagi menyusuri sungai Nil, melainkan sungai Eufrat. Bertugas sebagai utusan resmi, Ramses IV mengirimnya ke Babilonia. Di sana dia akan menjemput Naia dan Rami dari pengasingan. Sebagai tambahan (baca: gantinya), Ramses juga memintanya untuk membawa Bel-Marduk (patung dewa tertinggi penduduk Babilonia) ke Mesir.
Buku kedua dari seri Semerket ini masih mengusung tema yang sama. Misteri pembunuhan dan konspirasi politik masih dominan mengalir di sepanjang buku. Fiksi sejarah yang diangkat terasa segar dan menarik. Sebelum masuk ke dalam cerita, pembaca akan diberitahu peristiwa sejarah apa yang diangkat beserta sumbernya. Menurutku sebaiknya lebih dulu membaca bagian tersebut agar nanti bisa lebih menikmati Day of the False King.
Jika harus membandingkan antara Year of the Hyenas dan Day of the False King, aku lebih menyukai buku keduanya ini. Meski mengangkat budaya dan kehidupan dari masyarakat yang berbeda, buku kedua ini lebih mudah untuk dinikmati. Alur ceritanya lebih mudah dipahami dan aku tidak terlalu canggung mengingat nama dari banyak karakter di dalamnya. Apakah karena penterjemahnya adalah orang yang berbeda? Atau apakah karena kebetulan nama karakter di dalamnya lebih mudah diingat? Entahlah. Namun, selain itu petualangan Semerket kali ini juga terasa lebih greget dan aku tidak lagi merasa meh saat penulis memberikan deskripsi yang hiperbola terhadap mata hitam Semerket yang mengintimidasi itu. Perihal Semerket yang terlalu setia dan cinta mati terhadap Naia juga ternyata tidak mengurangi keseruan melahap novel ini.
Baca selengkapnya di:
bukulova.blogspot.com
Buku kedua dari seri Semerket ini masih mengusung tema yang sama. Misteri pembunuhan dan konspirasi politik masih dominan mengalir di sepanjang buku. Fiksi sejarah yang diangkat terasa segar dan menarik. Sebelum masuk ke dalam cerita, pembaca akan diberitahu peristiwa sejarah apa yang diangkat beserta sumbernya. Menurutku sebaiknya lebih dulu membaca bagian tersebut agar nanti bisa lebih menikmati Day of the False King.
Jika harus membandingkan antara Year of the Hyenas dan Day of the False King, aku lebih menyukai buku keduanya ini. Meski mengangkat budaya dan kehidupan dari masyarakat yang berbeda, buku kedua ini lebih mudah untuk dinikmati. Alur ceritanya lebih mudah dipahami dan aku tidak terlalu canggung mengingat nama dari banyak karakter di dalamnya. Apakah karena penterjemahnya adalah orang yang berbeda? Atau apakah karena kebetulan nama karakter di dalamnya lebih mudah diingat? Entahlah. Namun, selain itu petualangan Semerket kali ini juga terasa lebih greget dan aku tidak lagi merasa meh saat penulis memberikan deskripsi yang hiperbola terhadap mata hitam Semerket yang mengintimidasi itu. Perihal Semerket yang terlalu setia dan cinta mati terhadap Naia juga ternyata tidak mengurangi keseruan melahap novel ini.
Baca selengkapnya di:
bukulova.blogspot.com
October 30, 2019
Setelah berhasil mengungkap persekongkolan untuk menggulingkan Ramses III, Semerket di dipercaya oleh Ramses IV untuk sebuah misi penting yaitu membawa berhala Bel-Marduk ke Mesir. Karena berhala tersebut dipercaya dapat menyembuhkan penyakit Ramses IV yang kian memburuk.
Ia juga dipilih untuk tugas tersebut , lantaran ada sebuah surat dari anak lelaki yang Semerket kenal bernama Rami yang menyatakan bahwa dirinya dan Naia mantan istri Semerket diserang oleh pasukan pemberontak di sebuah perkebunan di Babilonia.
Dalam buku ini kita akan diajak mengikuti sebuah pencarian Semerket dalam menemukan mantan istrinya.
Sepanjang cerita saya dibuat terkagum-kagum pada karakter utama kita. Ia punya reputasi yang sangat hebat, bahkan seorang pemimpin pendeta di Babilonia berkata tentang reputasinya“jika kau berjalan di suatu negara, negara itu akan hancur” Selengkapnya di https://novelfiksi.com/review-buku-da...
Ia juga dipilih untuk tugas tersebut , lantaran ada sebuah surat dari anak lelaki yang Semerket kenal bernama Rami yang menyatakan bahwa dirinya dan Naia mantan istri Semerket diserang oleh pasukan pemberontak di sebuah perkebunan di Babilonia.
Dalam buku ini kita akan diajak mengikuti sebuah pencarian Semerket dalam menemukan mantan istrinya.
Sepanjang cerita saya dibuat terkagum-kagum pada karakter utama kita. Ia punya reputasi yang sangat hebat, bahkan seorang pemimpin pendeta di Babilonia berkata tentang reputasinya“jika kau berjalan di suatu negara, negara itu akan hancur” Selengkapnya di https://novelfiksi.com/review-buku-da...
November 13, 2012
Semerket is my hero!
Such a good book, I hadn't Year of the Hyenas prior to Day of the False King. Now I have to reach that one to see how this story started. I really loved the richly drawn characters and the settings, really good pacing -I couldn't wait to read it whenever I got the chance. I really appreciate the historical details (culture, geography, ) I know little of ancient Egypt and Babylonia, and the storytelling had such an authority, clarity and most importantly humanity, so that I could relate and connect with the characters. Who knew that Babylonians buried their dead in honey?
Highly recommended!
Such a good book, I hadn't Year of the Hyenas prior to Day of the False King. Now I have to reach that one to see how this story started. I really loved the richly drawn characters and the settings, really good pacing -I couldn't wait to read it whenever I got the chance. I really appreciate the historical details (culture, geography, ) I know little of ancient Egypt and Babylonia, and the storytelling had such an authority, clarity and most importantly humanity, so that I could relate and connect with the characters. Who knew that Babylonians buried their dead in honey?
Highly recommended!
December 18, 2015
This book went in a more action and adventure path than I was hoping it would after having read the first one in the series.
I didn't really find the mystery part of the story all that stimulating. It gave a reason for our hero to travel but didn't feel like it was enough of a reason for many of the strange occurrences in the adventure. His infatuation with his ex-wife was a bit of a turn off in regards to the storyline. It impressed me as a bit creepy and obsessive.
Still, there were enough pluses to the story with the history and settings, to convince me to read another if one is ever written.
I didn't really find the mystery part of the story all that stimulating. It gave a reason for our hero to travel but didn't feel like it was enough of a reason for many of the strange occurrences in the adventure. His infatuation with his ex-wife was a bit of a turn off in regards to the storyline. It impressed me as a bit creepy and obsessive.
Still, there were enough pluses to the story with the history and settings, to convince me to read another if one is ever written.
March 10, 2013
Another good story by Brad Geagley - - fast paced - good character development - - lots of interesting facts about ancient life in Babylon. This is second book about an ancient Egyptian detective, Semerket.
I liked everything about it - EXCEPT - the ending implied that there is another book coming. The book was published in 2006 and I can find nothing about a third book. I am disappointed.
I liked everything about it - EXCEPT - the ending implied that there is another book coming. The book was published in 2006 and I can find nothing about a third book. I am disappointed.
February 11, 2012
Good local and historical color. Not much of a suspense/mystery/prose
May 28, 2019
As in other cases, I like someone who can absorb an ancient culture sufficiently to place fictional characters in that setting and make it real. This series of books is excellent.
October 11, 2015
662 - 2015
November 25, 2016
Slow paced... a real drag..
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