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Title: Eater of Souls
ISBN: 0345395336
Author:
Lynda S. Robinson
Publicate Date: 1998-01-28
Publish: 1998-01-28
List Price: $6.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Mass Market Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $0.01
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1: outstanding book
I like this book because it caught my interest right away
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2: The monster of the netherworld stalks Memphis
While this story doesn't give away the solution to MURDER AT THE FEAST OF REJOICING, it continues a major investigation begun at the end of that book, so to that extent, there are spoilers. Also, I'll assume that the reader has some familiarity with Lord Meren, his family, and their fellow members of the court of Tutankhamun. Robinson has made this a stand-alone book, but as part of a greater story arc, it's best appreciated in context.
In the 21st century, many serial killers with religious delusions believe themselves to be various instruments of divine retribution: God, the Archangel Michael, and so on. But in the Egyptian pantheon, when a soul fails to measure up in the Halls of Judgement, the demon Ammut, Eater of Souls, carries out the punishment: annihilation, consuming even the heart. (In ancient Egyptian parlance, the heart, rather than the brain, was considered the seat of thought.)
In the 5th year of the reign of Tutankhamun, Eater of Souls has been called forth from the Halls of Judgement to Memphis, pharaoh's capital, to punish those who have woundsssed the nameless 'favored one'. Since part of the narrative, including the very beginning of the story, is from Eater of Souls' viewpoint, I was worried at first that Robinson had broken one of the fundamental rules of detective stories - no supernatural explanations - but the character is within bounds: the killer is a divided personality, part of which believes it is Eater of Souls.
In this series Robinson often introduces supporting characters in one book, laying the groundwork for appearances in later books. EATER OF SOULS introduces the Caverns, the rough area around the docks of Memphis where Kysen goes undercover seeking information. Ese, the beautiful but embittered tavernkeeper of the Divine Lotus, has many connections, ranging from Tcha (a floorsweeper with a night job as a housebreaker) to Othrys (Mycenaean ship's captain and crimelord). Tcha found his partner's heartless corpse after a robbery, and in a panic got the news to both Othrys and Kysen. Since the first victims were ordinary people, the lazy chief watchman has refused to see any patterns, launch any investigation, or pass any distressing facts to his superiors - but Kysen in his public persona brings in Meren. Then to the tally of killings 'not of the city' is added a devastating victim: the Hittite ambassador.
Meren is greatly troubled; he fears that various events in his own past will find him wanting in life's final judgement, and like many others in Memphis, he's afraid that this may be the *real* Devourer, after the troubles the kingdom has had of late years. If that weren't enough, his younger daughters are back in Memphis after their training in estate management by his sister. Bener is perceptive, clever, and wants to participate in her father's investigations. (She has talents in that direction - watch her inquiry into some suspicious purchases on the household books.) Isis, the younger, is preoccupied with attracting suitors; worse luck, she's developing a mutual interest with the irritating Reshep. (The king ordered Meren to sponsor him to get him away from the royal princesses; his attraction for women is a deeper mystery to Meren than any murder.)
The Nefertiti investigation takes a back seat to the 'heart thefts' - not because it's less important, but because 1) the pharaoh and the vizier must be kept stable for the kingdom's sake, so they're kept in the dark, and 2) anyone who seems to know too much about the matter tends to come down with a serious case of death. The slow start is believable, but maddening. The various dissatisfied courtiers and half-brothers of pharaoh at court tended to blur together at first. Finally, for any fans of THE LOST QUEEN OF EGYPT out there, Ankhesenamun is not a sympathetic character from Meren's viewpoint; her strained relationship with the king has kept her mostly off-stage in the series until now. In this book, she begins attempting reconciliation with Tutankhamun, but he and Meren both doubt her motives.
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3: GOOD Read!
This is the fourth of the Lord Meren books that I have read and I, personally, think this one is the best. It is written in such a way as to make the reader think it is a thriller -- the Eater of Souls is loose in Memphis (Ancient Egypt) and Lord Meren must find a way to appease the g-ds or find the person who is impersonating The Devouress. And when The Devouress comes after Lord Meren himself . . . I don't want to give anything away. GOOD read!
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4: Immerse yourself in another time!
These books combine eerie mystery with a fun fantasy of everyday life in ancient Egypt. The entire series is like a dessert topping for those of us who enjoy reading about ancient civilizations. Ms. Robinson brings to life in a fascinating way the details of daily life in old Egypt. The fourth in the Lord Meren series is gruesome and just a tad confusing. But it's rewarding in the end and I'm looking forward to another.
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5: Entertaining, but simple
As a lover of historical mysteries, I had a great time reading Eater of Souls. Robinson's descriptions of ancient Memphis recall images of Holmes' London. The action keeps things going and the story flows pretty well. There are a few wild goose chases that are a bit frustrating, but overall the story remains focused. My only major complaint is that, outside of the main character Lord Meren, the characters are all quite simple. Most are one-dimensional and overly typed. I especially was annoyed by the other main character, Lord Meren's son Kysen, who comes across as an early day Ferris Bueller. But all in all, a fun read that brought ancient Egypt to life at a level rarely reached.
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