The Missing Queen

About the Book

King Tutankhamon is dead. The possibly-divine ivory cat Nefru is still (perhaps) putting a paw into royal Egyptian affairs.

Lord Ay wants a royal wife-Tut's widow, actually-to give him the blood-right to the throne. She flees marriage with him and finds long-lost relatives. Princesses Baketamon and Meri have both longed to be Queen of Egypt-but both find sand in that honey. General Horemheb (described as being like 'desert red, rectangles and a lion') has sent Ranofer to find a lady once known as Twitterwit. Four competitive Hunting Parties from Thebes are searching for some long-missing princesses. Chief of Police Mahu knows where they all are, but won't tell. His son Ranofer, who fears he'll never fit his father's sandals-and fears Horemheb even more-doesn't want to know. Besotted and delusional Ahmose knows, but his incoherence just further confuses all four Hunting Parties-who were already at cross-purposes. A garrulous washerman thinks he knows everything.

The kitten Katti sometimes gives what might possibly be divine messages from Nefru (or Bastet?). The massive cat Ab-ram, still always getting tripped over in doorways, still innocently certain of his welcome, changes history for all of them.

About the Author

Born in Seattle, graduated Reed College. Twelve books published 1954-71 by top publishers. Co-authored Listen & Learn with Phonics. Lived in England ?64 to ?87, busy with writing, cats, judo, gardens, copper enameling. Image Cascade republished 7 of the first titles. New titles: Ivory Cat, Haunted Schoolhouse, Delicate Pioneer, Wayward Princess, Outrageous Oriel.