Historical fiction set in Egypt

Submitted: 7th April 2025

The Golden Hour – Kate Lord Brown

Stunning location and dual timeline in the latest novel by Kate Lord Brown. 1930s Egypt has never seemed so fascinating….

Map of locations in The Golden Hour

The Golden Hour Kate Lord Brown

BOARDING PASS INFORMATION

Destination : Egypt

Author guide: Kate Lord Brown

Genre: historical fiction

Food and drink to accompany: something from the souk!

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A novel to transport you to Egypt

Map of locations in The Golden Hour

What a compelling story and the writing just draws you in!

Polly tells her story of the time she spent in Egypt with her best friend Juno, an archaeologist passionate about Nefertiti. Years later, someone by the name of Lucie heads out there and a family secret is gradually revealed. Not going to share what links these two timelines or what it is all about but suffice to say a story about secrets and tombs in ancient Egypt is just going to draw me in right away.

The scene setting was out of this world – Egypt in the 1930s is a sight to behold with its souks, noise and heat. Then there’s the pyramids and the tombs of past rulers. Kate has either travelled to the country many times and unearthed some of its treasures herself ( through maps, not illegally!) or she has a time machine. The attention to detail and scene setting draws you in and it’s a wonder to be there. This is what armchair travel is all about!

The women in the novel are strong and intriguing and the two friends in 1930s Cairo were some of the best I have come across. Lucie in the later thread is the main character there and she is a force to be reckoned with. I immediately warmed to all three.

By far the biggest character and source of intrigue was Nefertiti herself. I know very little about Egypt, its figures and history sadly but this was an eye opener that I think everyone would learn from. Nefertiti was a queen of the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, the great royal wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten. The couple were known for their radical overhaul of state religious policy so they were very important. Secrets and intrigue relating to this figure? Yes please!

The whole package – from the story to the characters and wartime background – well the book read like a film in my head with the most majestic of soundtracks.

Highly recommended!