published by Simon & Schuster, London, in hardback and paperback editions.

Murder and Intrigue 

‘An imperceptible movement makes him turn. He see the half-expected shadow. The face made pale by the moonlight. The hand clutching an object that glints… the dagger is sharp and hard and unforgiving… ‘

In the sequel to Eye of the Moon Tuthmosis and Isikara return secretly to Thebes. Tuthmosis needs to defend his right to the throne. Isikara is intent on finding out what has happened to her father. Both want to take action against the High Priests of Thebes. But Nefertiti, the young beautiful Queen rules and is terrified she’ll be ousted. She arrests Isikara and another girl, Ta Mui. For the girls to escape prison and possible death, Ta Mui must speak out against her friend, Samut. If she doesn’t, a fate too awful to imagine awaits both Isikara and Ta Mui. In the midst of this is a murder. Who is responsible?

Reviews:

‘The ancient world is made vivid and alive in this accessible and exciting novel. Characters are strongly drawn and the plot moves forward quickly. Readers of twelve upwards will enjoy this book.’ Sandra Bennett – The SL Autumn 2009

  MAKE-UP and WIGS

Both men and women shaved off all their hair because of the heat and because of lice. They wore wigs made of real hair, to protect them from the sun.

Egyptian girls as well as boys wore make-up. Dark eye-liners and eye-shadows protected them from the glare of the sun – in a way, like modern day sunglasses. 

Nefertiti would have had her own make-up artists – someone who was employed to paint her lips, called the Painter of the Mouth and someone to do her eyes called the Painter of the Eyes.

Girls wore nail varnish and their make-up boxes were filled with beautiful glass and pottery bottles of creams and liquid eye-liners and perfume oils of roses and lilies.

In Eye of the Sun Isikara and Ta Mui are sent to work in the Unguent Rooms where  perfumes were made for Nefertiti.

AMULETS and CHARMS

Girls as well as boys wore amulets or lucky charms for protection. The ones that boys wore across their chests were called pectorals. The symbol of the Eye of Horus on the left is an example of a pectoral. The cobra was often used on crowns. Amulets and charms give us confidence, empower us to dare and to believe in ourselves. Egyptians also placed amulets in the mummy wrappings of their dead.