A captivating treasure of a novel about Clemmie, a young Victorian Egyptologist, and her entanglement with the legend of the goddess, Nephthys.
'Brilliant and meticulously researched... I loved it.' Santa Montefiore
Sister. Rival. Protector.
Quiet and reserved, Clemmie is happy in the background. Although her parents may overlook her talents, her ability to read hieroglyphs makes her invaluable at the Egyptian relic parties which have made her father the toast of Victorian society.
But at one such party, the words Clemmie interprets from an unusual amulet strike fear into her heart. The beautiful and dangerous glyphs she holds in her hands will change her life forever.
Five years later, Clemmie arrives in Egypt on a mission to save what remains of her family. The childhood game she used to play about the immortal sisters, Isis and Nephthys, has taken on a devastating resonance and it is only by following Nephthys' story that she can undo the mistakes of the past.
On her journey up the Nile she will meet unexpected allies and enemies and, along with long-buried secrets and betrayals, Clemmie will be forced to step into the light.
*Reveal the secret symbol of Nephthys when you take off the book jacket. Only available on the first printing*
'A dazzling debut and an irresistible page-turner. With an unforgettable heroine you cannot help but root for' Susan Stokes-Chapman, author Pandora
'An intoxicating tale of adventure and obsession, told in prose that shimmers like the Nile' Emilia Hart, author of Weyward
'So beautifully descriptive that I could imagine myself drifting down the Nile with Clemmie. A joy of a book to read' Fiza Saeed McLynn, author of The Midnight Carousel
About the Author
Rachel Louise Driscoll won the Curtis Brown Creative scholarship in 2020. Originally from the South West, she lives in the North East with her husband and cat, Cleopatra. Nephthys is her debut novel. She was inspired to write Clemmie's story by an experience she had at a local museum as a child where she was allowed to hold a mummified ancient Egyptian cat. Enjoying the hours of avid research required, Rachel even wrote some of the book wearing a corset in order to capture Clemmie's experience more accurately!
Industry Reviews
Enchanting prose married beautifully with a darkly compelling plot which flows as smoothly as the Nile, Nephthys is a dazzling debut and an irresistible page-turner. With an unforgettable heroine you cannot help but root for, I was spellbound from the very first page to the very last.
-Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of No. 1 bestseller PANDORA
An intoxicating tale of adventure and obsession, told in prose that shimmers like the Nile. I loved it!
- Emilia Hart, author of WEYWARD
Brilliant and meticulously researched. . . [I]devoured it in two days. A gripping & skilfully written Victorian adventure set in Egypt & based on mythology. I loved it.
- Santa Montefiore, No.1 bestselling author
Seamlessly blending extensive historical research and ancient Egyptian mythology with exquisite storytelling, Nephthys is an astonishingly accomplished debut from an exciting new talent.
- Jessica Bull, author of MISS AUSTEN INVESTIGATES
Gothic shivers beneath a blazing Egyptian sun. This terrific tale of a female Victorian Egyptologist battling a cursed past and uncertain future unfolds and reveals like a precious papyrus manuscript. Loved!
- Kate Griffin, author of FYNESHADE
Exquisite writing...an absolute joy to read... a powerful story of self-discovery, a deft interweaving of Egyptian symbology with the beliefs of the Victorian era.
- Fiza Saeed McLynn, author of THE MIDNIGHT CAROUSEL
