The Murder of King Tut

The Murder of King Tut: The Plot to Kill the Child King by James Patterson and Martin Dugard

Thrust onto Egypt's most powerful throne at the age of nine, King Tut's reign was fiercely debated from the outset. Behind the palace's veil of prosperity, bitter rivalries and jealousy flourished among the Boy King's most trusted advisers, and after only nine years, King Tut suddenly perished, his name purged from Egyptian history. To this day, his death remains shrouded in controversy.

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316034045
ISBN-13: 978-0316034043

Before starting I must tell you, if you are serious about historical facts, this might be a book will not appeal to you. James Patterson is a fast fiction writer and this book is what he does best. It was a fast read full of interesting facts, but if you are looking for something new in regards to King Tut or Egyptian history, you will not find it here.

That being said, I did find this an enjoyable read, although the story revolved more around Howard Carter - the Egyptologist who is credited for finding the tomb of King Tut - than the actual mystery surrounding the boy King. The short chapters jump back and forth between the early 1900s and Carter's discovery of the tomb and the long ago past of ancient Egypt. Carter's obsession with finding a "history-making" site gives us an deeper look into his drive to uncover history.

The premise behind this book is a theory Patterson and Dugard have researched surrounding the death of King Tut. They believe the Boy King was murdered and they try to lay out facts and history to prove their hypothesis.

Although I have been disappointed in the last few books by Patterson, this book was an enjoyable read because of my interest in Egypt. It is not a very good book if you are looking for research on King Tut - I would not even call this a research book. But it is a good story and there are just enough true facts to keep you interested.