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Egyptian Mysteries #3
The Year of the Cobra
At the end of THE SEASON OF THE HYAENA, the previous book in this trilogy, Mahu had just been recalled to court because the young Pharaoh, Tutankhamun, was suffering from a serious mental illness. THE YEAR OF THE COBRA now resumes Mahu's Tutankhamun is unwell, but there is no heir apparent. Egypt's enemies, the Hittites, are advancing through Canaan, and Ay -- First Minister of Akenhaten, father of Nefertiti, brother of Queen Tiye -- still plots, like the spider he is. The web is woven, the traps set!
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2006
30 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Paul Doherty
263 books611 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
He has been published under several pseudonyms: P.C. Doherty, Celia L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas, Vanessa Alexander, Michael Clynes and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name.
Paul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough (North-Eastern England) in 1946. He had the usual education before studying at Durham for three years for the Catholic priesthood but decided not to proceed. He went to Liverpool University where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in History and won a state scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford, whilst there he met his wife Carla Lynn Corbitt. He continued his studies but decided that the academic world was not for him and became a secondary school teacher.
Paul worked in Ascot, Nottingham and Crawley West Sussex before being appointed as Headmaster to Trinity Catholic School in September 1981. Trinity is a large comprehensive [1700 on roll] which teaches the full ability range, ages 11-18. The school has been described as one of the leading comprehensives in the U.K. In April, 2000 H. M. Inspectorate describe it as an 'Outstanding School', and it was given Beacon status as a Centre of Excellence whilst, in the Chief Inspector’s Report to the Secretary of State for January 2001, Trinity Catholic High School was singled out for praise and received a public accolade.
Paul’s other incarnation is as a novelist. He finished his doctorate on the reign of Edward II of England and, in 1987, began to publish a series of outstanding historical mysteries set in the Middle Age, Classical, Greek, Ancient Egypt and elsewhere. These have been published in the United States by St. Martin’s Press of New York, Edhasa in Spain, and Eichborn, Heyne, Knaur and others in Germany. They have also been published in Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Romania, Estonia, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Bulgaria, Portugal and China, as well as Argentina and Mexico.
He has been published under several pseudonyms (see the bibliography): C. L. Grace, Paul Harding, Ann Dukthas and Anna Apostolou but now writes only under his own name. He recently launched a very successful series based around the life of Alexander the Great, published by Constable & Robinson in the U.K., and Carroll and Graf in the U.S.A., whilst his novels set in Ancient Egypt have won critical acclaim. Paul has also written several non-fiction titles; A Life of Isabella the She-wolf of France, Wife of Edward II of England, as well as study of the possible murder of Tutankhamun, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, and a study on the true fate of Alexander the Great.
Paul and Carla live on the borders of London and Essex, not far from Epping Forest and six of their children have been through his own school. His wife Carla currently owns two horses and is training, for showing and dressage, a beautiful Arab filly named Polly.
Paul lectures for a number of organisations, particularly on historical mysteries, many of which later feature in his writings. A born speaker and trained lecturer Paul Doherty can hold and entertain audiences.
His one great ambition is to petition the Privy Council of England to open the Purbeck marble tomb of Edward II in Gloucester Cathedral. Paul believes the tomb does not house the body
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 20, 2021
Read this book in 2009, and its the 3rd and final volume of this wonderful trilogy, set in Ancient Egypt.
Recalled to court by the sickly Pharaoh Tutankhamun, Mahu must do what he can to help this poor Pharaoh in his rule of Egypt.
With no heir apparent, Egypt's enemies. the Hittites are advancing through Canaan, leaving Tutankhamun helpless in his dealings with those foes.
Also behind his back, Ay, First minister of Akenhaten, father of Nefertiti, and brother of Queen Tiye, is plotting his web of treasonous threads.
With factions formed, and traps set, it will come to a spectacular final confrontation to decide the destiny of Egypt and its next Pharaoh, and all this told by the author in a most thrilling and fascinating fashion.
The author has done an incredible job by using the known historical details and execute them in a most believable and entertaining way throughout this wonderful trilogy.
Highly recommended, for this is a superb ending of this great trilogy, and that's why I like to call this final episode: "A Most Compelling Conclusion"!
Recalled to court by the sickly Pharaoh Tutankhamun, Mahu must do what he can to help this poor Pharaoh in his rule of Egypt.
With no heir apparent, Egypt's enemies. the Hittites are advancing through Canaan, leaving Tutankhamun helpless in his dealings with those foes.
Also behind his back, Ay, First minister of Akenhaten, father of Nefertiti, and brother of Queen Tiye, is plotting his web of treasonous threads.
With factions formed, and traps set, it will come to a spectacular final confrontation to decide the destiny of Egypt and its next Pharaoh, and all this told by the author in a most thrilling and fascinating fashion.
The author has done an incredible job by using the known historical details and execute them in a most believable and entertaining way throughout this wonderful trilogy.
Highly recommended, for this is a superb ending of this great trilogy, and that's why I like to call this final episode: "A Most Compelling Conclusion"!
May 11, 2024
A magnificent blend of historical facts and fiction. Masterfully concluded.
This the final book in the trilogy surrounding the "heretic" Pharaoh Akenahten and his son Tutenkhamun as told through the eyes of Mahu, loyal friend of Akenahten and Tutenkhamun 's guardian after his father's disappearance. These books are a masterpiece told to us by Mahu as an old man as he reminisces at the end of his life. Orphaned at a young age Mahu grows up in a very select school to which young boys of noble and military families have been selected to attend. Their school is within the palace grounds (though these grounds are as big as a small.city) and next door to the school is a grand mansion with only one inhabitant (cared for by hundreds of servants) It is the home of Akenahten banished from the royal palace by his father due to his being deformed at birth, his mother had begged for her son's life and his father agreed on condition the boy was kept from his sight. The plan was for Akhenaten to attend the school also but his father changed his mind. His elder brother Prince Tuthmosis was a student however. Along with Mahu we meet boys who went on to become the most influential men in Thebes, all close to the throne Harumheb a fierce fighter who became a famous general, Ramses, always by Harumhebs side. Maya, controlled the wealth of Egypt, Mene rye who became Akenahten s high priest and so many more. They had a bond these men, unbreakable, at one.time maybe but as time passes and circumstances and ambitions change so do the old bonds of friendship and loyalty. At the heart of it all ................. A young boy.........Pharaoh an innocent unaware of the dangers surrounding him...................
This the final book in the trilogy surrounding the "heretic" Pharaoh Akenahten and his son Tutenkhamun as told through the eyes of Mahu, loyal friend of Akenahten and Tutenkhamun 's guardian after his father's disappearance. These books are a masterpiece told to us by Mahu as an old man as he reminisces at the end of his life. Orphaned at a young age Mahu grows up in a very select school to which young boys of noble and military families have been selected to attend. Their school is within the palace grounds (though these grounds are as big as a small.city) and next door to the school is a grand mansion with only one inhabitant (cared for by hundreds of servants) It is the home of Akenahten banished from the royal palace by his father due to his being deformed at birth, his mother had begged for her son's life and his father agreed on condition the boy was kept from his sight. The plan was for Akhenaten to attend the school also but his father changed his mind. His elder brother Prince Tuthmosis was a student however. Along with Mahu we meet boys who went on to become the most influential men in Thebes, all close to the throne Harumheb a fierce fighter who became a famous general, Ramses, always by Harumhebs side. Maya, controlled the wealth of Egypt, Mene rye who became Akenahten s high priest and so many more. They had a bond these men, unbreakable, at one.time maybe but as time passes and circumstances and ambitions change so do the old bonds of friendship and loyalty. At the heart of it all ................. A young boy.........Pharaoh an innocent unaware of the dangers surrounding him...................
February 10, 2020
This trilogy, although it gave me the feels of being in ancient Egypt, had the stars of the 18th dynasty: Amenhotep, Tiye, Akhenaten, Nefertiti and Tutankhamun more as a back drop than central characters in the story. Akhenaten as a leper? Well....okay. This doesn't claim to be historical fact. Ay, Horemhab, Ramses and Mahu are the central characters along with a cast of thousands....warriors, whores, priests, etc. Life in ancient times was tough. To be a member of the royal family or those who served seems like it was even tougher. All the intrigue and jockeying for position. I enjoyed myself reading this trilogy and I will read Mr. Doherty's series about an ancient Egyptian detective.
August 24, 2022
This finally wraps up the story of Mahu, Babboon of the South, former friend of Pharaohs and chief of the Medjay.
In this book, Mahu's fortunes take a turn for the worst, as young Tutankhamen dies and the sneaky, crafty Ay takes power and declares himself pharaoh. Was Tut murdered? What happened to his embalming and burial? What secrets were buried with him?
This is a less grim and dark story than the previous two, but still is pretty bleak going much of the way. Mahu himself is more directly affected and he seems less scheming and brilliant in this book.
In this book, Mahu's fortunes take a turn for the worst, as young Tutankhamen dies and the sneaky, crafty Ay takes power and declares himself pharaoh. Was Tut murdered? What happened to his embalming and burial? What secrets were buried with him?
This is a less grim and dark story than the previous two, but still is pretty bleak going much of the way. Mahu himself is more directly affected and he seems less scheming and brilliant in this book.
June 4, 2021
The third and final part of the Mahu series. In this we witness Tutankhamen's suspicious death and The devious Ay taking power. This is a great series for any fans of historical fiction.
November 14, 2023
In this third book, the story of Akhenaten and Tutankhamen is finally brought to a close, with the death of the young Pharaoh and the chaos that ensues.
Mahu, the central character in the three novels, tells the story surrounding the death of Tutankhamen and the seizure of the throne by his scheming grandfather, Ay.
Paul Doherty has created a fictional account of the reign of Akhenaten and its aftermath, using the historical events to create a convincing tale. He links the story of Akhenaten with the story of the Israelites trapped in Egypt, who are about to demand their freedom, with this novel ending with hints of the story of Moses to come. Doherty has recreated the world of Ancient Egypt successfully and his characters are interesting, with historical figures fleshed out into living breathing actors on the stage.
Mahu, the central character in the three novels, tells the story surrounding the death of Tutankhamen and the seizure of the throne by his scheming grandfather, Ay.
Paul Doherty has created a fictional account of the reign of Akhenaten and its aftermath, using the historical events to create a convincing tale. He links the story of Akhenaten with the story of the Israelites trapped in Egypt, who are about to demand their freedom, with this novel ending with hints of the story of Moses to come. Doherty has recreated the world of Ancient Egypt successfully and his characters are interesting, with historical figures fleshed out into living breathing actors on the stage.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2017
Really enjoyed the last installment in this series.
Still left feeling like I had read them before, but no loss if so.
If time were infinite and my bookshelf had more space, I would read all 3 of these over and over.
Great period piece and such an interesting period.
I will miss you Mahu, Baboon of the South.
Still left feeling like I had read them before, but no loss if so.
If time were infinite and my bookshelf had more space, I would read all 3 of these over and over.
Great period piece and such an interesting period.
I will miss you Mahu, Baboon of the South.
January 13, 2019
Andy's review
Having read the first two books in the trilogy, I was looking forward to reading this and I was not disappointed - as good as the first two books, it is a fitting end to the trilogy.
Having read the first two books in the trilogy, I was looking forward to reading this and I was not disappointed - as good as the first two books, it is a fitting end to the trilogy.
November 10, 2019
A history lovers delight!
If, like me, you love books about history, especially Egyptian history, you must read this trilogy. Mr. Doherty brings the world of Mahu alive. You can almost smell the flowers and taste the food! I intend to devour the rest of Mr. Doherty's books.
If, like me, you love books about history, especially Egyptian history, you must read this trilogy. Mr. Doherty brings the world of Mahu alive. You can almost smell the flowers and taste the food! I intend to devour the rest of Mr. Doherty's books.
November 18, 2021
The Life and Times of Lord Mahu
A fascinating book by author Paul Doughtry. More of a biography of the character, Mahu. He became a warrior statesman. This era was turbulent filled with intrigue and battles. A story of adventure, love, and hate.
A fascinating book by author Paul Doughtry. More of a biography of the character, Mahu. He became a warrior statesman. This era was turbulent filled with intrigue and battles. A story of adventure, love, and hate.
October 8, 2023
If you are into historical fiction, you are in for a treat
I stopped reading historical fiction quite some time ago so as to not get them mixed up in the real thing. However, Paul Doherty is a great writer.
I bought this particular copy for a relative.
I stopped reading historical fiction quite some time ago so as to not get them mixed up in the real thing. However, Paul Doherty is a great writer.
I bought this particular copy for a relative.
September 11, 2023
Great story about akenaten
Written as if you are there witnessing a fascinating history of ancient
Egypt. Details of the life they lived feels real, loved the story!
Written as if you are there witnessing a fascinating history of ancient
Egypt. Details of the life they lived feels real, loved the story!
November 17, 2023
Alternative titles: "Blood, Guts and Gore", "Kill, Kill, Kill", "Many Ways to Kill Your Enemies"
July 31, 2017
The final book in the series . I am so sad that there aren't any more .
I will make a start of Paul Doherty's other series but I really will miss the ancient Egypt setting I think this has to be the best author in this genre and I'd recommend !
I will make a start of Paul Doherty's other series but I really will miss the ancient Egypt setting I think this has to be the best author in this genre and I'd recommend !
September 4, 2014
This is pretty close to five stars, certainly stood out from the first two which were both excellent as well. I particularly liked the passage where Mahu and Djarka say there farewells and Pentju's confession is brilliant. I do wish there were more of this series, following Horemheb and then going to the next Pharaoh, considered the greatest of all Rameses II. I guess I'll look elsewhere for novels about him.
July 12, 2009
A really good end to the trilogy, half of me wanted it to continue and touch upon Moses and Ramses.
March 6, 2011
I felt like i was in Egypt 1300BC
Read
June 1, 2011What an ending
November 4, 2013
fun fiction...reasonable theory as to the birth of judaism
December 31, 2022
Politics can be deadly when the riches and power of a mighty empire are up for grabs and ur allies are ur deadliest enemies and loyalty can be bought
March 6, 2014
Yes I shall write!
You may write but I ain't going to read anymore of this.
UGH
You may write but I ain't going to read anymore of this.
UGH
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews