ARC Review: The Return of the Pharaoh by Nicholas Meyer

The Return of the Pharaoh: From the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D.
Author: Nicholas Meyer
Publication: Minotaur Books (November 9, 2021)

Description: In Nicholas Meyer's The Return of the Pharaoh, Sherlock Holmes returns in an adventure that takes him to Egypt in search of a missing nobleman, a previously undiscovered pharaoh's tomb, and a conspiracy that threatens his very life.

With his international bestseller, The Seven Per Cent Solution, Nicholas Meyer brought to light a previously unpublished case of Sherlock Holmes that reinvigorated the world's interest in the first consulting detective. Now, many years later, Meyer is given exclusive access to Dr. Watson's unpublished journal, wherein he details a previously unknown case.

In 1910, Dr. John Watson travels to Egypt with his wife Juliet. Her tuberculosis has returned and her doctor recommends a stay at a sanitarium in a dry climate. But while his wife undergoes treatment, Dr. Watson bumps into an old friend--Sherlock Holmes, in disguise and on a case. An English Duke with a penchant for egyptology has disappeared, leading to enquiries from his wife and the Home Office.

Holmes has discovered that the missing duke has indeed vanished from his lavish rooms in Cairo and that he was on the trail of a previous undiscovered and unopened tomb. And that he's only the latest Egyptologist to die or disappear under odd circumstances. With the help of Howard Carter, Holmes and Watson are on the trail of something much bigger, more important, and more sinister than an errant lord.

My Thoughts: Dr. John Watson hasn't seen his friend Sherlock Holmes for a while. He is surprised when he encounters him in Egypt. Watson is there with his wife who has tuberculosis and is staying at a local sanitarium. Holmes has a case involving a missing Duke who might have discovered a buried Egyptian treasure.

Holmes and Watson team up to search out clues and follow leads which take them from Cairo to the Valley of the Kings. Along the way they encounter Howard Carter who hasn't yet gone back to work with Lord Carnarvon or made his most famous discovery.

There is a lot of information about Egyptology and pharaohs which comes as new information to Watson who hadn't been interested in the topic previously. There is also a lot of politics in Egypt which is of interest to Mycroft Holmes who has given Sherlock some contacts. One of the characters might be a Turkish agent, or British, or French, or German, depending on which of her many passports is accurate - if any of them are. 

I enjoyed the story which is narrated by Watson by prepared for publication by Nicholas Meyer. I even enjoyed the footnotes! 

Fans of Sherlock Holmes will enjoy this new adventure which contains many of the hallmarks of Doyle's earlier Sherlock Holmes tales.

Favorite Quote:

"Clients want instant results and lose sight of the fact that eliciting data from either those reluctant to provide it, or those who don't even understand they might possess it, requires patience and occasional subterfuge." Even as I said this, it struck me that a detective's work was not that different from and archeologist's, both toiling to uncover the truth of past events. but rather than letting my mind pursue this intriguing parallel, I resumed my tale.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.