“Nerdection Must Read”
Imhotep buzzes under the light of a new day. He can hardly contain his excitement for what lies in wait for him downriver, at the first cataract and beyond. Mild impatience stirs within him as he waits for his father, wanting to bid him farewell before his departure.
As his father’s vessel draws into port, Imhotep and his family are confronted with their patriarch’s premature passing. The events that follow see Imhotep sink lower towards the bottom of society in an effort to keep his household afloat in his father’s absence.
Suspicions of foul play paired with divine guidance place young Imhotep right in the middle of a potential conspiracy. Will his accusations be dismissed as the conjurings of a grief stricken youth prone to succumbing to his overactive imagination, or is there danger lurking within the walls of Mennefer, a threat fierce enough to topple over an entire dynasty?
Spoiler-free Plot
In Murder in Mennefer, Quenching his thirst for adventure, and being granted the freedom to chase after an unencumbered pursuit of knowledge are the two things thirteen-year-old Imhotep craves most out of life. That, as well as the beautiful Merensankh—the local baker’s daughter and Imhotep’s object of affection.
A chance to travel south into Kush is postponed indefinitely by a tragedy. Imhotep must step into the role of provider much sooner than anticipated. His family—mother, younger brother, and Slave—now depends on him to sustain themselves. He is desperate for a job, any job.
When one is offered to him by his father’s former apprentice, he snaps it up, grateful for any form of income despite the position being of lesser standards than what is considered acceptable for someone of his social standing..
Each setback, each reversal of fortune serves a purpose. Imhotep metamorphosizes from a pimply, wiry, naive boy into a lean, confident young man within the cloying environment of his city’s abattoir, along the sun beaten streets of Mennefer and during his nightly reflections on his palet placed atop the flat roof of the family home. His wits are sharpened on all problems presented to him, directly or indirectly; some are tinged with divine interference, almost as if the gods, Thoth in particular, presented them to him with purpose. All in preparation to battle a force of evil that’s been gathering influence exponentially, tactically obscured by the fog of everyday life and a reluctance by those in power to spread word of its existence, lest they thrust the entire kingdom into a state of panic.
Imhotep weaves through the ruses and deception, weeding out the truth from the lies. Risking his safety to do right by all the casualties and wrongfully accused left in the wake of hostiles advancing their agenda.
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My Take on Murder in Mennefer
Most people have a historical period they heavily romanticize for one reason or the other. The Roman Empire seems to be having its moment on social media, thanks to a viral meme, Ancient Greece is gaining in popularity as well.
Ancient Egypt is a more niche period, most schooling systems only brushed over it in comparison to the two aforementioned ones, but that should not serve as an indication of appeal. There is an incredible amount of nuance in religion, privilege, culture, and virtually every aspect of Ancient Egyptian life. Exploring the minutiae of this era as is done in this story, promotes knowledge of yet another rich civilization, entertaining as well as cultivating respect and admiration for said civilization.
The age demographic the author wishes to target with Murder in Mennefer, once released, will be positively challenged by his writing. The beautiful, flowery language used throughout stimulates the mind, spinning very vivid imagery from an intentional selection of words.
Difficult, advanced-level words will keep readers on the lower end of the age range, the twelve to thirteen-year-olds, actively engaged with the story, keeping a hold of their attention for increased spans of time whenever they’re forced to look up the definition of a word instead of passively skimming over page after page.
The way this story is tied together challenges its place in the genre it is categorized under. As an adult woman, I had a blast reading this murder mystery, told through the eyes of a character who I have close to nothing in common with. Nonetheless, I enjoyed Murder in Mennefer from beginning to end and I emphasize that the Young Adult label tacked onto this book should not deter people of any and all ages from picking it up off the shelves, or online, and giving it a go.
It would be a terrible shame if A.L.Sirois stopped at one book only. This isn’t meant to remain a standalone story and I am certain fans of Murder in Mennefer will share the same sentiment. If we don’t see a return with Imhotep, perhaps a series with each installment following a different fictional character in a different location along the Nile River, hundreds to thousands of years in the past will firmly cement our eternal loyalty to Sirois’ talented storytelling.
(would definitely reread)
Age Rating
12 years and above
Content Warning
References of Sexual Abuse, Blood, Violence, Death, Slavery
About The Author Of Murder in Mennefer
A.L. Sirois is a writer, ghostwriter, developmental editor, illustrator & graphic artist. His first book was a children’s book, DINOSAUR DRESS UP, published in 1992. Since then, he’s published several other books, mostly science fiction, fantasy, and horror, with occasional works of mainstream fiction. He has also ghostwritten more than a dozen works of science fiction and fantasy, as well as memoirs and cozy mysteries.
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