EXCERPT: A Taste of Evil
- 15 hours ago
- 4 min read
Yesterday, I had the joy of speaking to the Persiflage author group in Salem, Virginia. It's always a joy to talk books and writing with other people who have a way with words, too. I spoke on "Writing a Historical Fiction Novel," and it was actually cathartic to put this presentation together, because I began to see how I tend to work and I'm rather satisfied with the way my current project is going. So, thank you Persiflage friends for hosting me!
That being said, it's been a wild, hectic week, with Holy Week rehearsals, getting caught up at my part-time job after a day off, and meeting with my editor, too. Revisions are in the works, new chapters are in my future, and tomorrow, I'm going to sleep in! But first, I have an ancient Egyptian treat for those of us who adore Pyramids, desert landscapes, and lost civilizations. And for King Tutankhamun fans--it takes place during his brief reign!
N.L. Holmes, who has been a guest before on Brook's Journal is joining us today with an excerpt from her newest novel: A TASTE OF EVIL. I was especially amused by this snippet, because it's such a reminder that people in the ancient world were much like us--full of conversational banter, senses of humor, and a love for animals. So welcome back, N.L. Holmes! It's always great to host you! Now, get ready for a time-warp back to ancient Egypt.
READ ON, everyone!
ALL ABOUT THE BOOK
In Tutankhamen's Egypt, the vizier's head cook dies suspiciously, and it looks like murder to Neferet and Bener-ib. Only, who would want to kill a cook, a man admired by all?
Perhaps he has professional rivals or a jealous wife. But she is the longtime cook of Neferet's family, a dear retainer above reproach. Was her husband the good man he seemed to be, or did he have the shady past our two sleuths begin to suspect?
They'd better find out soon before the waters of foreign conspiracy rise around Neferet and her diplomat father. If they can't find the killer, it could mean war with Egypt's enemy, Kheta -- and someone else could die. Maybe one of our nosy sleuths...
Excerpt from A TASTE OF EVIL
By N.L Holmes
“Let’s get back to the dispensary and organize ourselves. Then we can return to the vizier’s house when we have specific things to ask. Besides, Grandfather was going to wait there for us, remember? He must think we’ve fallen down a well.” As they approached the gate of the little property, they could hear the wild whoops of the orphans playing in the garden. “You know,” said Neferet to Bener-ib, “Qen and Shu-roy are getting old enough to be apprenticed. We need to talk to In-hapy.”
“Poor In-hapy.” Mut-tuy cast her eyes to the heavens. “Three of those snot-nosed turds.”
“Your brothers aren’t turds, Mut-tuy,” Bener-ib said. “And certainly Hu-may isn’t. In-hapy says he’s a serious boy and a very good worker. She lets him do a lot of grown-up jobs. You should be proud of him.”
The adolescent made sniffy noises of disbelief, but a reluctant smile twitched at her mouth nonetheless. As they pushed their way inside the yard, the four dogs swarmed them joyfully. Brute looked reproachful.
“I don’t think they would’ve appreciated you in the kitchen, boy. They would’ve thought you’d be stealing food. But we know you better than that, don’t we?” Neferet ruffled his ears back and forth.
From within the house, Grandfather called, “Are you finally back, then?” He appeared in the doorway. “I’ve performed several surgeries in your absence. I hope that’s all right.”
Neferet threw back her head and whooped with laughter. “Better you than me, Grandfather.” She led the way into the salon, which was fortunately empty of waiting patients. “We talked to Neb-ma-ra. He’s totally disagreeable and very ambitious, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he killed off the man who was in his way. And guess what? Until two years ago, he worked for Lord Ptah-mes. I didn’t even know it, but there he was, under our roof.”
Grandfather raised his thickety eyebrows. “And no one was poisoned? You got off lightly, my girl.”
“But here’s the thing—the infamous date paste wasn’t poison. What did Int-ef eat after all that killed him? Something nobody else seemed to touch. We’re sure it was his lunch.”
Everyone looked up as the four kittens entered in a line, like a donkey train from the desert. The sunets had named them for the Sons of Haru—Im-sety, Hapy, Dua-mut-ef, and Qebeh-sen-ef—but as far as Neferet was concerned, they were deceptively adorable creatures of darkness. Nothing was safe from their depredations. They knocked off jars of balm and broke them, pulled down drying herbs, and unrolled bandages. The old dogs wagged their tails in greeting—perhaps afraid of what the little thugs would exact from them otherwise—but Brute eyed them severely as the feline foursome approached him, and they turned away.
“I see they’re still alive.” Neferet stretched out a hand, and one of the four approached to sniff then capered off.
“Yes. I kept an eye on them. No convulsions. No vomiting. Behavior perfectly normal,” Grandfather said. “Why don’t I accompany you to the vizier’s kitchen next time you go, ladies?”
“Bored, Grandfather?” Neferet shot him an evil grin. “Just taking care of the infirmary not exciting enough?”
“I can vouch for that,” grumbled Mut-tuy.
ALL ABOUT N.L. HOLMES
N.L. Holmes is the pen name of a professional archaeologist. She has excavated in Greece and in Israel and taught ancient history and humanities at the university level for many years. She has always had a passion for books, and in childhood, she and her cousin used to write stories for fun.
These days she lives in France with her husband, two cats, geese, and chickens, where she gardens, weaves, dances, and plays the violin.
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