Reserved for Foreign Exchange English-language OBCZ, Nijmegen

Blurb:
The gripping new suspense story by the bestselling author of 'Lady of Hay' and 'On the Edge of Darkness' is set in richly mysterious Egypt, where past and present meet. Recently divorced, Anna Fox decides to cheer herself up by retracing a journey her great grandmother, Louisa, made in the mid-nineteenth century - a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan. Anna carries with her two of Louisa's possessions - an ancient Egyptian scent bottle and an illustrated diary of the original cruise that has lain unread for over a hundred years.

As she follows in Louisa's footsteps, Anna discovers in the diary a wonderful love story from the Victorian past, and the chilling, more distant secret of the little glass bottle. Meanwhile, two men from the tour party are showing a disturbing interest in these mementoes, and developing an unfriendly rivalry for Anna's attention. And, most frightening of all, Anna finds herself the victim of a haunting spectral presence that grows in strength and threat as the dramatic stories from three different eras intertwine in a terrifying climax.

NB. Hardback edition with dust cover.

Transferred to BCZ ForeignExchange: An English-language BookCrossing Zone based in the Nijmegen / Arnhem region of the Netherlands (See http://www.bookcrossing.com/mybookshelf/ForeignExchange for more details.) If you would like to borrow or swap this or any other book on the shelf, please send a PM (Personal Message) - click on the link underneath the bookshelf

When adding this to the ForeignExchange boxes, I realised that I would like to read it myself! So it's going on to my TBR shelf until I'm in the mood for it.

Esoteric mysteries and all-too human tensions combine to make this a real page-turner. Too many people on this Egyptian cruise seem to be overwrought. Charley thinks Anna wants to steal her boyfriend. Andy and Toby seem to be picking fights with each other and throwing accusations at each other on a daily basis. Charley, Andy and Serena all know each other and have entrenched opinions they are all too willing to confide in Anna. Everybody seems to want Anna to share her great grandmother Louisa's diary of her Egyptian travels, and mystical events seem to be unfolding around Anna and the tiny beautiful Egyptian bottle she has inherited. As they travel further into Egypt, past events seem to be repeating themselves and the ghosts of ancient Egypt seem to be coming back to life. Or perhaps everybody's imaginations are running away with them under the influence of too much good food, searing heat and visits to atmospheric Egyptian temples, hearing the tales of gods, priests and spirits?

All combine to make a wonderful story told in an undemanding style. The story moves between short sections telling the ancient story of the bottle, the story told in the Victorian diary and the story of Anna's cruise. The sections are clearly defined by the type used and small pictures of a death mask, a Victorian gentleman and a man's face, perhaps from a tourist guide, all spookily similar. There was never any doubt whose story was being told. The only thing that was rather odd was the fact that Louisa's Victorian story was told as a 3rd person narrative instead of framing it as a diary, even though Anna was supposed to be reading from the diary itself. The illustrations on the endpapers are also beautiful, illustrating the map of Egypt and the tourist sites. Definitely a good holiday read, but preferably not while you're in Egypt!

This book has been released as part of the following BookCrossing challenges:
- The Ultimate Challenge - read and release books, with extra points for a monthly theme
- Reduce Mount TBR (To Be Read) - read and release books on the TBR list since before the end of the previous year. My reading goal is 36 books.

And another book from bookguide...thanks! In the book is written: "To dearest Surya". I know a Surya in Amsterdam. Such an unusual name! It may have been hers once, who's to say?

A beautiful title, a beautiful dust cover, and a reasonably entertaining story; at times even a bit scary. Still, it took me quite some willpower to finish the book and now I'll be happy to pass it on.

Happy reading!