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Nile Cat
A 2021 WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS FINALIST
It is 1871, and twin sisters are bound for Egypt aboard the steamship SS Australia ;
One is consumed by visions of the past…while a stranger watches from the shadows planning his attack.
After receiving an amulet as a gift, fourteen-year-old Rose’s nights are haunted by the adventures of a temple cat in ancient times - while by day she feels ever more alone. When a sinister Egyptologist joins the ship Rose senses terrible danger, but no one will heed her warnings.
Rose’s dreams propel her on a quest inspired by an ancient mystery, and she needs her sister by her side. Can they put the past to rest and escape their enemy’s clutches or will they be sacrificed to the Egyptian gods in a blood ritual as old as time itself?
If you love historical thrillers, get this book! Find out why reviewers call it, “A grand middle-grade adventure that sweeps readers back in time.”
Don’t wait - Click the BUY button now!
INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SET THE NOVEL IN EGYPT? IT CAN’T HAVE BEEN EASY.
It wasn’t easy at all. But Egypt has always fascinated me, as has the idea of writing historical fiction. Combine the two and add a sprinkling of pyramids, mummies, a large spoonful of magic, twins that don’t always like each other very much, a ghost, an evil villain, a perilous quest and an ancient mystery. I think they are the ingredients that any writer would enjoy!
DID YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT EGYPT BEFORE YOU STARTED?
Not much. But the idea came out of some research into my family. I discovered Egypt fascinated them. Maybe Egypt was in my genes. My great-great-grandparents, the Tyssen-Amhersts, had an important collection of Egyptian objects at Didlington Hall, which was their home in Norfolk. My great grandmother even ran her own excavations near Aswan in the winter of 1901/02.
WASN’T IT AN UNUSUAL THING FOR A WOMAN TO DO IN THOSE DAYS?
Yes. But it seems May was a pretty determined character, and she had some encouragement too. She knew Howard Carter, and at that time he was Inspector of Antiquities and he suggested she started digging.
WASN’T IT HOWARD CARTER WHO DISCOVERED KING TUTANKHAMUN’S TOMB?
Yes. But this was a long time before he found King Tut. In fact, May had known Howard Carter since he was a boy. He used to come to Didlington and spend time amongst the Egyptian collection while his father, Samuel Carter, drew the family pets. It was May’s parents who suggested that Howard should go to work for the Egypt Exploration Fund. It was because of them that Howard Carter ever went to Egypt at all.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE TYSSEN-AMHERSTS WOULD THINK ABOUT NILE CAT ?
I hope they would like the fact I have tried to make it as accurate and truthful as possible. I based all the magic on the ancient Egyptians’ belief system. Magic was part of their lives. There was magic in every thought and every word. I hope they would have enjoyed Miut’s world. I also hope May, in particular, would have liked Rose. After all, it was May’s memoir of her time in Egypt when she was just fourteen, which inspired me to write Nile Cat. I think there is a great deal of May in Rose.
It is 1871, and twin sisters are bound for Egypt aboard the steamship SS Australia ;
One is consumed by visions of the past…while a stranger watches from the shadows planning his attack.
After receiving an amulet as a gift, fourteen-year-old Rose’s nights are haunted by the adventures of a temple cat in ancient times - while by day she feels ever more alone. When a sinister Egyptologist joins the ship Rose senses terrible danger, but no one will heed her warnings.
Rose’s dreams propel her on a quest inspired by an ancient mystery, and she needs her sister by her side. Can they put the past to rest and escape their enemy’s clutches or will they be sacrificed to the Egyptian gods in a blood ritual as old as time itself?
If you love historical thrillers, get this book! Find out why reviewers call it, “A grand middle-grade adventure that sweeps readers back in time.”
Don’t wait - Click the BUY button now!
INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SET THE NOVEL IN EGYPT? IT CAN’T HAVE BEEN EASY.
It wasn’t easy at all. But Egypt has always fascinated me, as has the idea of writing historical fiction. Combine the two and add a sprinkling of pyramids, mummies, a large spoonful of magic, twins that don’t always like each other very much, a ghost, an evil villain, a perilous quest and an ancient mystery. I think they are the ingredients that any writer would enjoy!
DID YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT EGYPT BEFORE YOU STARTED?
Not much. But the idea came out of some research into my family. I discovered Egypt fascinated them. Maybe Egypt was in my genes. My great-great-grandparents, the Tyssen-Amhersts, had an important collection of Egyptian objects at Didlington Hall, which was their home in Norfolk. My great grandmother even ran her own excavations near Aswan in the winter of 1901/02.
WASN’T IT AN UNUSUAL THING FOR A WOMAN TO DO IN THOSE DAYS?
Yes. But it seems May was a pretty determined character, and she had some encouragement too. She knew Howard Carter, and at that time he was Inspector of Antiquities and he suggested she started digging.
WASN’T IT HOWARD CARTER WHO DISCOVERED KING TUTANKHAMUN’S TOMB?
Yes. But this was a long time before he found King Tut. In fact, May had known Howard Carter since he was a boy. He used to come to Didlington and spend time amongst the Egyptian collection while his father, Samuel Carter, drew the family pets. It was May’s parents who suggested that Howard should go to work for the Egypt Exploration Fund. It was because of them that Howard Carter ever went to Egypt at all.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE TYSSEN-AMHERSTS WOULD THINK ABOUT NILE CAT ?
I hope they would like the fact I have tried to make it as accurate and truthful as possible. I based all the magic on the ancient Egyptians’ belief system. Magic was part of their lives. There was magic in every thought and every word. I hope they would have enjoyed Miut’s world. I also hope May, in particular, would have liked Rose. After all, it was May’s memoir of her time in Egypt when she was just fourteen, which inspired me to write Nile Cat. I think there is a great deal of May in Rose.
296 pages, Paperback
Published October 28, 2020
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Angela Cecil Reid
2 books2 followersAngela Cecil Reid has written for pleasure for as long as she can remember. Since her children left home she has spent more time writing, and also researching her Egyptologist ancestors for a biography of the family. The Victorian setting of "Nile Cat" was inspired by her great grandmother, May Tyssen-Amherst's memoir of childhood winters spent in Egypt in the 1870s. She has contributed stories to each of 5 successful collections of short stories set in and around Oxford, the first of which was "The Sixpenny Debt and Other Oxford Stories", and the most recent was "The Radcliffe Legacy and Other Oxford Stories". She has also published articles on the Tyssen-Amhersts' exploits in Egypt and presented papers on the family who played a vital, but often forgotten, role in Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun. She taught dyslexic children, and children with special needs, for many years but has always wanted to write for older children and young adults. She and her husband now live on a farm in Oxfordshire and look after a menagerie of dogs, chickens and a flock of rare breed Cotswold sheep.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 14, 2026
Fun fact: This book was for sale at the King Tut exhibit at Biltmore. The author is related to the descendants of William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil that own Biltmore in Asheville, NC. The Amherst’s were friends with Howard Carter and went on excavation trips to Egypt. The exhibit at Biltmore told the story of May Amherst Cecil in relation to Egyptian excavations.
https://nilecat.co.uk/
https://nilecat.co.uk/
July 8, 2022
THE WISHING SHELF BOOK AWARDS
24th February 2021
TITLE: Nile Cat
AUTHOR: Angela Cecil Reid
Star Rating: 5
TO SUM UP
‘Set in Egypt, this is a compelling adventure story for young adults. Highly recommended!” The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
There is, I think, a huge market for historical novels for young adults. But finding a good one can be difficult. A lot of them seem rushed to me and the research below par. However, Nile Cat is considerably better than most. For a start, it's well-written, and has an exciting, adventure-style plot which I think teenagers will very much enjoy. It is also filled with interesting and fun-to-follow characters. Set in Egypt in the 1800s - with a secondary story set way, way, way back in time - this novel will offer young adults many of the things they crave for in a good book.
So, what's it about ? Well, in a nutshell, the story follows twin girls, Rose and Lily, who embark on an exciting adventure in Egypt involving a carved, stone cat and a sinister fellow by the name of Mr Baxter. There's also a second story, as Rose is haunted by an ancient Egyptian temple cat and the boy, Hori, who looks after her. What follows is a gripping story involving a number of interesting, well-crafted characters and an Egypt setting which almost jumps off the page.
Now to the important bit. Can I recommend this book? The answer is, yes, very much so. Who to? I suspect most teenagers will find this book enjoyable and, possibly without even knowing it - the best way - educational too. The author has worked so hard to offer the reader a fascinating setting, a complex thriller, and a set of characters you'll be sad to say goodbye to. I just hope there's going to be a sequel.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Nile Cat
Author: Angela Cecil Reid
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 3/5
Of the 19 readers:
19 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
19 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
19 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“This is a cool adventure story. I liked the characters and the Egypt setting. The author is a good writer.” Male reader, aged 14
“The best character is Rose. She´s sort of complicated which I liked. There´s a strong mystery in the story which kept me turning the page. I often find historical novels a bit slow, but this wasn´t. Teenagers will like this a lot.” Female reader, aged 15
“I liked that the author didn´t dumb things down for teenage readers. Not only is this a thrilling adventure/mystery, it´s also a glimpse into old Egypt. I would read another book by this author, particularly if Rose is in it.” Female reader, aged 16
To Sum It Up:
‘A cleverly plotted historical mystery for teenagers. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
24th February 2021
TITLE: Nile Cat
AUTHOR: Angela Cecil Reid
Star Rating: 5
TO SUM UP
‘Set in Egypt, this is a compelling adventure story for young adults. Highly recommended!” The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
There is, I think, a huge market for historical novels for young adults. But finding a good one can be difficult. A lot of them seem rushed to me and the research below par. However, Nile Cat is considerably better than most. For a start, it's well-written, and has an exciting, adventure-style plot which I think teenagers will very much enjoy. It is also filled with interesting and fun-to-follow characters. Set in Egypt in the 1800s - with a secondary story set way, way, way back in time - this novel will offer young adults many of the things they crave for in a good book.
So, what's it about ? Well, in a nutshell, the story follows twin girls, Rose and Lily, who embark on an exciting adventure in Egypt involving a carved, stone cat and a sinister fellow by the name of Mr Baxter. There's also a second story, as Rose is haunted by an ancient Egyptian temple cat and the boy, Hori, who looks after her. What follows is a gripping story involving a number of interesting, well-crafted characters and an Egypt setting which almost jumps off the page.
Now to the important bit. Can I recommend this book? The answer is, yes, very much so. Who to? I suspect most teenagers will find this book enjoyable and, possibly without even knowing it - the best way - educational too. The author has worked so hard to offer the reader a fascinating setting, a complex thriller, and a set of characters you'll be sad to say goodbye to. I just hope there's going to be a sequel.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Nile Cat
Author: Angela Cecil Reid
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 3/5
Of the 19 readers:
19 would read another book by this author.
12 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
19 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
19 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“This is a cool adventure story. I liked the characters and the Egypt setting. The author is a good writer.” Male reader, aged 14
“The best character is Rose. She´s sort of complicated which I liked. There´s a strong mystery in the story which kept me turning the page. I often find historical novels a bit slow, but this wasn´t. Teenagers will like this a lot.” Female reader, aged 15
“I liked that the author didn´t dumb things down for teenage readers. Not only is this a thrilling adventure/mystery, it´s also a glimpse into old Egypt. I would read another book by this author, particularly if Rose is in it.” Female reader, aged 16
To Sum It Up:
‘A cleverly plotted historical mystery for teenagers. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
August 4, 2021
In December 1871, 14-year-old twins Rose and Lily accompany their mother and Egyptologist father to Egypt. After Rose is given a small cat statue, she begins having strange dreams of the ancient past through the eyes of a cat named Miut. Around Miut’s neck hangs a valuable secret that must be delivered to the high priest’s tomb before its sealed, a mission the followers of Seth hope to stop. Even more curious, a man named Mr. Baxter begins watching Rose’s every move and seems unusually interested in her statue. Unfortunately, her concerns are dismissed by the adults. When Rose finds herself pursued by a stranger during a visit to Cairo, Rose and Lily must find ways to prove these suspicions to their parents before the shadows chasing Rose, and Miut, catch up with them.
Nile Cat is a grand middle-grade adventure that sweeps readers back in time, first to Victorian-era Egypt and then to the reign of King Ramesses II. The twins grow in self-confidence as they learn to speak up for themselves and show courage amid dangerous situations. Some of the villains are slightly melodramatic, but this fits well with the novel’s style. I truly enjoyed the wondrous sight-seeing chapters of the Giza pyramids and Saqqara (spelled “Sakkara” in the book). I did get slightly lost as Rose and Lily were running through the Saqqara/Sakkara tunnels, but I still felt the urgency of the situation despite being a bit turned around. This is a great introduction for young readers to learn about ancient Egypt as they unravel the mystery of Rose’s dreams and Mr. Baxter’s strange behavior. Nile Cat is a marvelous, hard-to-put-down read. I wonder if a sequel is in store? I quite enjoyed experiencing both ancient and not-so-ancient Egypt through the intrepid sister duo. Highly recommended.
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
Nile Cat is a grand middle-grade adventure that sweeps readers back in time, first to Victorian-era Egypt and then to the reign of King Ramesses II. The twins grow in self-confidence as they learn to speak up for themselves and show courage amid dangerous situations. Some of the villains are slightly melodramatic, but this fits well with the novel’s style. I truly enjoyed the wondrous sight-seeing chapters of the Giza pyramids and Saqqara (spelled “Sakkara” in the book). I did get slightly lost as Rose and Lily were running through the Saqqara/Sakkara tunnels, but I still felt the urgency of the situation despite being a bit turned around. This is a great introduction for young readers to learn about ancient Egypt as they unravel the mystery of Rose’s dreams and Mr. Baxter’s strange behavior. Nile Cat is a marvelous, hard-to-put-down read. I wonder if a sequel is in store? I quite enjoyed experiencing both ancient and not-so-ancient Egypt through the intrepid sister duo. Highly recommended.
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
July 22, 2021
Shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award 2021
This is a historical novel, beginning in 1871 when sisters Rose and Lily arrive in Egypt with their parents to meet their aunt, following the death of their uncle, an Egyptologist. In rather odd circumstances, Rose is given a tiny, beautiful statue of a stone cat, and this is the beginning of a frightening set of events as Rose becomes convinced that people are after her because they want to get their hands on this cat. The action flips between 1871 and Ancient Egypt, with memorable characters such as Miut the pregnant cat, her friend Hori and their enemy, Neshi. The stories intertwine as Rose sees events in Ancient Egypt in her dreams and comes to realise that Miut is the ghost cat who has saved her from danger. The baddies in both the Victorian section and the Ancient Egyptian part are both satisfyingly villainous, and each of the two settings feels authentic. It’s always difficult in historical novels for children for an author to get the balance of the characters right – too modern, and it can feel anachronistic, too old-fashioned, and it can put young readers off. This book manages to pull off this balancing-act well.
This is a historical novel, beginning in 1871 when sisters Rose and Lily arrive in Egypt with their parents to meet their aunt, following the death of their uncle, an Egyptologist. In rather odd circumstances, Rose is given a tiny, beautiful statue of a stone cat, and this is the beginning of a frightening set of events as Rose becomes convinced that people are after her because they want to get their hands on this cat. The action flips between 1871 and Ancient Egypt, with memorable characters such as Miut the pregnant cat, her friend Hori and their enemy, Neshi. The stories intertwine as Rose sees events in Ancient Egypt in her dreams and comes to realise that Miut is the ghost cat who has saved her from danger. The baddies in both the Victorian section and the Ancient Egyptian part are both satisfyingly villainous, and each of the two settings feels authentic. It’s always difficult in historical novels for children for an author to get the balance of the characters right – too modern, and it can feel anachronistic, too old-fashioned, and it can put young readers off. This book manages to pull off this balancing-act well.
January 2, 2021
There is a feeling of immense authenticity about this YA/Middle Years novel. The story is set in nineteenth century Egypt, and is the adventure of identical twins, Rose and Lily who travel to Egypt with their Egyptologist father. Rose has been given a small stone-carved cat, packed with the magic of Ancient Egypt. The cat leads her, in dreams, back to another time, thousands of years ago, to Miut, the Nile cat who, in those times, bore the stone figure about her neck. Through Miut's eyes Rose relives the unfolding factional war between the followers of two gods, Osiris and Seth. But the story from the deep past is also being recreated in their own times through a Mr John Baxter, and as the parallel tales unfold, the two girls become dangerously enmeshed. The author's knowledge of Egypt and Egyptology colours this riveting tale, and gives it a rare authenticity, as well as making it a gripping read from beginning to end.
January 27, 2021
A great book for anyone who likes mystery, Ancient Egypt, and tales of Victorian archaeologists. Twins Rose and Lily are engagingly different characters, and cat Miut is (of course) irresistible. I would have liked to know as much about Hori's hopes and dreams for his future as we were told about Zac's, but perhaps - a sequel? (something, I won't say what because of spoilers, makes me think there may be a sequel, but who knows?)
At 60 I should be past the age of reading late into the middle of the night because a book is so gripping, but that's what Nile Cat did to me. If you have teenage family interested in history and Egypt and cliff-hanger (literally) escapades, this is the book for them.
At 60 I should be past the age of reading late into the middle of the night because a book is so gripping, but that's what Nile Cat did to me. If you have teenage family interested in history and Egypt and cliff-hanger (literally) escapades, this is the book for them.
Read
February 7, 2021From the very first chapter of Nile Cat the story entices you into the web of intrigue and excitement unravelling in ancient Egypt. Every page gets you fully involved with the extraordinary characters and secret histories of the Pyramids, Tombs and of course the shadow of the elusive Nile Cat.
A truly wonderful read which flew along with tingling curiosity in every rapidly turned page.
So much so that had read all night through till dawn for the finale!
A truly wonderful read which flew along with tingling curiosity in every rapidly turned page.
So much so that had read all night through till dawn for the finale!
January 6, 2022
This book got me into its story from the very first page! It is funny and easy to read, but most of all it is interesting and unpredictable. The plots complement each other well and you can learn something about ancient Egypt and the life there. It is very realistic - it makes you quickly feel a part of the described events. This is definitely one of my favorite books! I hope that the author will write the next parts with the continuation of the fate of the main characters!
September 29, 2021
We are proud to announce that NILE CAT by Angela Cecil Reid has been honored with the B.R.A.G.Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). It now joins the very select award-winning, reader-recommended books at indieBRAG.
December 12, 2021
An exciting, fast-paced story that is set in Egypt in the 1870s and also stretches back in time to the ancient Egypt of the Pharoahs. Twins Rose and Lily are travelling in Egypt with their parents when Rose has a dream about a cat, Muit. She and her sister are drawn into a complex and sometimes sinister web of mystery with the cat at its heart. Right from the first sentence, Nile Cat is full of suspense and intriguing characters such as the devious Mr Baxter. A well-written, engrossing read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews