First published 2009
King Tutankhamun ascended to Egypt's throne at nine years old. Palace advisors surrounded the young ruler with smiles while harboring bitter jealousies and rivalries. After nine turbulent years of rule, Tut died suddenly. His enemies erased his name from official records. Three millennia later, archaeologist Howard Carter became obsessed with finding the lost pharaoh's tomb. Carter searched for fifteen years, facing repeated failures and false leads. In 1922, he finally broke through into the burial chamber. James Patterson and Martin Dugard examine the evidence Carter left behind. They study X-rays of the mummy, forensic reports, and ancient Egyptian accounts. The authors piece together testimony from witnesses who lived through the palace intrigue. Their investigation reveals a web of betrayal surrounding the boy king. Patterson and Dugard argue that Tutankhamun was murdered by those closest to him.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, archaeology, ancient-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: murder-mystery, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Egypt
Period: Ancient, 20th Century
332 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company