tlfuller13's review against another edition
3.0
Shadows of the Nile is a historical fiction/mystery about Jessie Kenton searching for her missing brother. The sudden disappearance of her brother Tim resembles a similar disappearance of her brother Georgie 20 years before, which drives our heroine to go to any means necessary to solve the mystery.
This is my second Kate Furnivall book. I was hoping for a little bit more, especially since I loved The Red Scarf so much and I've heard such good things about her other books. I do love how she tied in Sherlock Holmes into the story, how she kept the characters realistic, and how she makes a mystery that made sense with the story.
I felt like I was in a history lesson for 1930s current affairs in Britain and Egypt. there were random facts that, while true, seemed to interrupt the story. The plot would progress, then all of a sudden I'm being told how life was like during the depression in london. the smoothness could have been more refined, but it at least set a stage for the daily lives of th e Londoners.
This is my second Kate Furnivall book. I was hoping for a little bit more, especially since I loved The Red Scarf so much and I've heard such good things about her other books. I do love how she tied in Sherlock Holmes into the story, how she kept the characters realistic, and how she makes a mystery that made sense with the story.
I felt like I was in a history lesson for 1930s current affairs in Britain and Egypt. there were random facts that, while true, seemed to interrupt the story. The plot would progress, then all of a sudden I'm being told how life was like during the depression in london. the smoothness could have been more refined, but it at least set a stage for the daily lives of th e Londoners.
nataliesboooks's review against another edition
There were too many plot lines and they didn’t come together cohesively. I also found the characters to be quite dull and the guy who I think was supposed to be the love interest I didn’t like at all.
kamilla112's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
karissakate's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first Kate Furnivall read and I really enjoyed it! I got this book through Goodreads First Reads. She definitely did her research. Portions of this book are from the point of view of an autistic child, and I was extremely interested in both his thoughts and progression as he grew older. For some reason it didn't seem to be a super fast read, but I did enjoy it. Furnivall definitely worked well with the changes in time (1912-1932) and location (London-Egypt). It seemed to be a fairly accurate historical-fiction read.
snowbenton's review
1.0
I'll tell you a secret: I was going to give up on this book at 34% because I picked it up to read about Egypt and no one had made it to Egypt yet, but when I flipped to the ending I found a gunfight and thought it might be worth reading for. Spoiler alert: It was not worth reading.
This book is just so impossibly dull. There is no suspense, no real intrigue. The characters are all dumb as dishwater. So disappointing.
This book is just so impossibly dull. There is no suspense, no real intrigue. The characters are all dumb as dishwater. So disappointing.
jessthebookworm's review against another edition
3.0
3 and a half stars.
I only realised once I had started reading this book that it was the same author who had written the Russian Concubine. If had known that, I probably would not have picked the book up in the first place.
Anyway, I am glad that I did pick this book up.
The story follows Jessica, as she deals firstly with the disappearance of her brother Georgie when she is younger, and now as an adult, the disappearance of her brother Timothy. Her brother Timothy's disappearance causes her to travel to Egypt to find him, and unravel the mystery of his disappearance.
I must say that I enjoyed the parts of the story written from Georgie's perspective, being unsure of whether or not it is accurate, it was interesting to be given an insight into an autistic mind.
The book was a page turner, but unfortunately filled with too many convenient turns, and a bit of a rushed and unpolished ending, otherwise it would have gotten 4 stars.
I only realised once I had started reading this book that it was the same author who had written the Russian Concubine. If had known that, I probably would not have picked the book up in the first place.
Anyway, I am glad that I did pick this book up.
The story follows Jessica, as she deals firstly with the disappearance of her brother Georgie when she is younger, and now as an adult, the disappearance of her brother Timothy. Her brother Timothy's disappearance causes her to travel to Egypt to find him, and unravel the mystery of his disappearance.
I must say that I enjoyed the parts of the story written from Georgie's perspective, being unsure of whether or not it is accurate, it was interesting to be given an insight into an autistic mind.
The book was a page turner, but unfortunately filled with too many convenient turns, and a bit of a rushed and unpolished ending, otherwise it would have gotten 4 stars.
twistinthetale's review against another edition
2.0
This was a book with plenty of potential but there was something missing. I just didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters and the multiple, intersecting storylines felt clumsy and forced. I made it to the end but it felt like an effort.
renate_djvw's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.75
specialk046's review against another edition
3.0
This book seemed to have a different vibe from her other novels, which I really enjoyed.
jaclynder's review against another edition
4.0
Shadows on the Nile is a mystery set in 1932 London and Egypt. Jessica Kenton’s stable life is threatened when her younger brother, Timothy vanishes. Jessica is charged with finding her brother, never dreaming that it will take her to exotic Egypt. Along the way, Jessica gains the “help” of impoverished aristocrat, Monty, who has his own motives for getting involved. On the trail for her brother, Jessica finds herself with more trouble than she bargained for and her family’s closely held secret will be revealed.
This was my first Furnivall novel and I loved it! The novel was very atmospheric and I loved the transition from London to Egypt and the contrast that these two made. The mystery was revealed slowly and at times I was frustrated at the pacing, but it never made me want to put the book down. Within Jessica’s narrative we also have interludes by what starts out as a mysterious voice, which we later learn is Jessica’s “true” brother. While I liked the writing style in her brother’s voice I did think it hampered the pacing a little bit. The storyline with Jessica’s “real” brother also seemed like a little bit of an awkward addition to the mystery and I have mixed feelings about its inclusion.
I also liked the romance aspect to the book, it was never the centre of the story, but added another layer to the central mystery plot. Monty was a rather ambiguous character, making it difficult to understand his motives for helping Jessica. What’s never in question is Monty’s feelings towards Jessica, but reader’s are kept in suspense as to whether or not Monty is the “good guy.” I liked the addition of this relationship and I think it will appeal to readers who want a more character-driven novel.
The time period in which Shadows on the Nile was set is what really made this book for me. I find Egypt in the 1930s to be extremely interesting period since it’s characterized as a time of exploration and cultural pillage. I liked that Furnivall addressed the moral ambiguity of British citizens removing Egyptian artifacts without permission. It’s an interesting period and to be honest, completely reminds me of the movie, The Mummy – minus the whole supernatural dead rising from the grave to wreck havoc on the city. Since I loved that movie, I felt predisposed to enjoy Shadows on the Nile. While Shadows did not have any supernatural elements to it, the atmospheric historical setting really appealed to me.
Overall, I loved the mystery, the historical setting and the dash of romance that rounded out this novel, which is saying something since I’m very picky about my historical fiction.
*Review copy provided by Edelweiss. Review with read alikes available here.
This was my first Furnivall novel and I loved it! The novel was very atmospheric and I loved the transition from London to Egypt and the contrast that these two made. The mystery was revealed slowly and at times I was frustrated at the pacing, but it never made me want to put the book down. Within Jessica’s narrative we also have interludes by what starts out as a mysterious voice, which we later learn is Jessica’s “true” brother. While I liked the writing style in her brother’s voice I did think it hampered the pacing a little bit. The storyline with Jessica’s “real” brother also seemed like a little bit of an awkward addition to the mystery and I have mixed feelings about its inclusion.
I also liked the romance aspect to the book, it was never the centre of the story, but added another layer to the central mystery plot. Monty was a rather ambiguous character, making it difficult to understand his motives for helping Jessica. What’s never in question is Monty’s feelings towards Jessica, but reader’s are kept in suspense as to whether or not Monty is the “good guy.” I liked the addition of this relationship and I think it will appeal to readers who want a more character-driven novel.
The time period in which Shadows on the Nile was set is what really made this book for me. I find Egypt in the 1930s to be extremely interesting period since it’s characterized as a time of exploration and cultural pillage. I liked that Furnivall addressed the moral ambiguity of British citizens removing Egyptian artifacts without permission. It’s an interesting period and to be honest, completely reminds me of the movie, The Mummy – minus the whole supernatural dead rising from the grave to wreck havoc on the city. Since I loved that movie, I felt predisposed to enjoy Shadows on the Nile. While Shadows did not have any supernatural elements to it, the atmospheric historical setting really appealed to me.
Overall, I loved the mystery, the historical setting and the dash of romance that rounded out this novel, which is saying something since I’m very picky about my historical fiction.
*Review copy provided by Edelweiss. Review with read alikes available here.