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Review: The Cairo Curse - A Freddie and Grace Mystery #2

The Cairo Curse book cover on blue background

When I asked readers to help me choose a Christian historical fiction book to read last fall, The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham won. It took me a little longer to pick it up, but I'm glad that I had the opportunity to discover what happens with Freddie and Grace as they embark on their honeymoon. For those mentioning that this book looked adventurous, they were correct!

Book Synopsis

Clue meets Indiana Jones with a fiction-loving twist only Grace Percy can provide.

Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley have already experienced their fair-share of suspense, but when a honeymoon trip takes a detour to the mystical land of Egypt, not even Grace with her fiction-loving mind is prepared for the dangers in store. From an assortment of untrustworthy adventure-seekers to a newly discovered tomb with a murderous secret, Frederick and Grace must lean on each other to navigate their dangerous surroundings. As the suspects mount in an antiquities’ heist of ancient proportions, will Frederick and Grace’s attempts to solve the mystery lead to another death among the sands?

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

After reading about the adventures of Lord and Lady Astley in The Mistletoe Countess, I was excited to learn that there would be more stories of their married life. The Cairo Curse certainly provided a dose of mayhem and mystery, most notably in the second half of the book. While the first half sets up the plot and the characters including their back stories – much like a Poirot mystery – the following scenes are packed with non-stop action as the murders keep taking place and Freddie and Grace rush to solve them. Amidst everything that is happening, we get to meet characters like Elliott and Zahra, who add a sparkling dimension to an already vibrant story.

The Christian faith is clearly evident; however, as the setting of the book is in Egypt, readers should be aware that there are also references to curses (which is obvious from the title), idol worship, and palm reading. Grace only seems to have a mild curiosity in these religious practices, akin to her fascination with learning hieroglyphics and Egyptian culture, but it bears a mention. Apart from this, God's saving grace and His redemption are strong themes in the book. It is worth reading to see how Freddie and Grace fare, especially as they grow in their marriage and communication.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: 📖
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: 👍

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