A whodunit political thriller set in Egypt 41 centuries ago, “Year of the Hyenas” might well be dubbed “CSI: Thebes.”
Ancient Thebes was a city that sprawled across the Nile River in the days of the pharaohs, and this is the setting for Brad Geagley’s murder mystery.
His hero is the troubled Semerket, whose position as clerk of investigations and secrets is jeopardized by his habit of speaking the truth in an abrupt fashion. Semerket is also an alcoholic whose condition worsens after his divorce from his beloved wife Naia.
Just as Semerket is falling into the final pit of alcoholism, he is saved by a special assignment from the vizier, whose authority is second only to that of Pharaoh. An elderly and blind priestess in a Theban community has been brutally murdered, and the vizier orders Semerket to find the killer.
The setting may be ancient Egypt, but this plot is clearly reminiscent of the hard-boiled detective stories and novels of political intrigue from 20th century United States.
The investigative trail leads Semerket to the priestess’ village, where he runs into nothing but obstacles. The villagers avow their affection and respect for the old woman but are strangely uncooperative in his investigation. Some local people are downright hostile to his inquiry, and everyone refuses to be interviewed.
Semerket moves into the old woman’s home, where he examines her belongings and enjoys the company of her pet cat. At first, the villagers’ behavior is merely irritating, but gradually it becomes malignant as he realizes that someone is drugging his food.
About the only people he can trust are Hunro, a local woman of dubious morals, and Qar, leader of the Medjays, the official village security guards.
As Semerket follows more and more leads, he is thrust into a murky network of treason, murder, betrayal and thievery of valuable ornaments from pharaonic tombs. His investigation turns deadly when he determines that the source of this conspiracy lies not in the humble villages but at a very high level among royalty.
“Year of the Hyenas” is a thoroughly readable and engaging novel, connecting Egyptian mysticism with today’s police procedural.
It is brutal in places, but Geagley weaves an intricate pattern reflecting the beauty of the landscape, from the deepening sky to the reed-filled shallows of the Nile. Hovering in the background is the noble statuary of Luxor and Karnak.
The author has converted prolific research into a volume that retains our attention because of its fast-moving plot work and at the same time picks up the atmosphere of an ancient day.
He takes you into the palace and lowly huts, into the courts and the storied libraries, into the tombs and places of the outcast and even into the morgue/mortuary of the day.
Geagley has worked for years as a producer in the entertainment industry, but the publisher says his real loves are history and writing. He is working on a second Semerket novel, as well as a new stage play and screenplay. Geagley lives in Palm Springs, Calif.
Florence Gilkeson may be reached at florence@thepilot.com.
