The Clarissa Bell Mysteries Series by Tracy L. Higley

Step into the sultry heat of 1920s Egypt, where ancient secrets hide along the banks of the Nile River. Fresh from solving her first murder case in Egypt, archaeologist Dr. Clarissa Bell thought the most dangerous thing about her new assignment would be authenticating ancient pigments. She was wrong... moreStep into the sultry heat of 1920s Egypt, where ancient secrets hide along the banks of the Nile River. Fresh from solving her first murder case in Egypt, archaeologist Dr. Clarissa Bell thought the most dangerous thing about her new assignment would be authenticating ancient pigments. She was wrong. When a respected Egyptologist is poisoned at an elegant house party on the banks of the Nile, Clarissa finds herself trapped with a collection of suspicious guests—including the devastatingly competent Benedict Quinn, whose true profession remains tantalizingly unclear. With a second body discovered and a priceless artifact missing, the local police seem more interested in preserving diplomatic relations than catching killers. As Clarissa applies her archaeological methodology to unraveling lies, she uncovers an international conspiracy that threatens Egypt's cultural heritage—and her father's reputation. But someone is always one step ahead, manipulating evidence and witnesses with the precision of a mastermind. With suspects preparing to scatter across three continents and a deadline looming, Clarissa must prove her expertise extends beyond ancient pottery to very modern murder. The stakes have never been higher, and trust has never been more dangerous. Some secrets, it seems, are worth killing for—repeatedly. "A gripping historical mystery that blends Agatha Christie's puzzle-solving with the exotic danger of 1920s Egypt—perfect for fans of atmospheric period adventures and clever heroines who refuse to stay safely on the sidelines. ". less

In sun-scorched 1920s Egypt, archaeologist Clarissa Bell navigates far more than shifting desert sands. Armed with sharp intellect and an unfortunate talent for stumbling into deadly situations, she's fighting to prove herself in a field where men would rather see her cataloguing pottery fragments than making groundbreaking discoveries. But Egypt's treasures attract more than just legitimate scholars... moreIn sun-scorched 1920s Egypt, archaeologist Clarissa Bell navigates far more than shifting desert sands. Armed with sharp intellect and an unfortunate talent for stumbling into deadly situations, she's fighting to prove herself in a field where men would rather see her cataloguing pottery fragments than making groundbreaking discoveries. But Egypt's treasures attract more than just legitimate scholars. When priceless artifacts begin disappearing into the shadowy world of international antiquities smuggling, Clarissa discovers that some secrets are worth killing for. Each investigation pulls her deeper into a web of forgeries, blackmail, and murder. Complicating matters considerably is Benedict Quinn—a charming, enigmatic figure whose dubious connections to the antiquities trade should make him a natural enemy. Instead, their relationship crackles with wit, tension, and an undeniable attraction that threatens to compromise both her professional judgment and her carefully guarded heart. As murders pile up and artifacts vanish, Clarissa must decode not only ancient Egyptian mysteries but also the deadly modern conspiracies that surround them. With her academic reputation, her life, and her heart all on the line, she'll discover that in Egypt, the past refuses to stay buried—and so do its secrets. "A gripping historical mystery series that blends Agatha Christie's puzzle-solving with the exotic danger of 1920s Egypt—perfect for fans of atmospheric period adventures and clever heroines who refuse to stay safely on the sidelines. ". less