This is basically two novellas. The first, about Carter finding Tut’s tomb, is pretty good. It also includes the conflict between Egyptians and those who would steal their heritage. Holland seems to do a good characterization of Carter and his determination and single-mindless. There is an interesting debate between Carter and Lady Evelyn that touches on the point of history and how those in the present view those of the past.
Carter himself is drawn as a flawed man – not only in his relationship with Lady Evelyn but with his Egyptian head worker. To say that that the true have a nice relationship would be an overstatement. But the worker represents an Egypt that is determined to be Egypt not simply an extension of England or France. In fact, it is those workers who are far more aware events than Carter – who seems to take pride in not being totally in his present time.
The second part, set in Tut’s time, is really not good though it does tie into the not belonging theme that runs though the Carter section. In part, this is because knowledge about the time period has changed since this book was written in the 1970s. But part of it is that the plot is so out there. It involves the power struggle during Tut’s reign, and Tut really isn’t a fully fledged character. It is mostly in-fighting between women who aren’t really fighting but are just confused or something. Regardless, it doesn’t make sense.