Genius
Immersive and compelling
You think you know the story of Tutankhamun's tomb and what led up to it?
I love Gill Paul even more with every novel she writes but this is the best one so far.
Loved it.
Going to read it again.
Needs to be on the big screen.

Gill Paul’s The Collector’s Daughter kept me submerged in King Tut history and lore for hours. The book flips back and forth from the 1920s to the 1970s. I had never really heard about Eve or her father, who sponsored the dig for Howard Carter. Although historical fiction, it presented many historical facts, with liberties taken occasionally. Paul dealt with the topic of stroke ramifications tactfully and realistically. I liked Bograve the best, a kind and decent man. Paul provided historical information at the end, along with a brief bibliography and pictures. Don’t be afraid you’ll be cursed if you read this book. In fact you will curse if you miss reading it.

I love reading books inspired by true events and this is a wonderfully engaging read about Lady Evelyn Herbert, daughter of the Earl of Carnarvon of Highclere Castle and the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb. Lady Evelyn wants to be an archeologist and travels with her father to Egypt on many occasions. The Earl was funding famous archeologist,Howard Carter’s exploration of the tomb.
The story is told through a dual timeline of the 1920s and 1970s as we travel from Egypt to England through the eyes of Evelyn.
Evelyn was the first person to step into Tutankhamen’s tomb followed by her father and Howard Carter. The discovery defines a lot of her life. It is 1972 and Evelyn has suffered a number of strokes but her beloved husband of 50 years Sir Brograve Beauchamp is ever by her side. An academic from Egypt Dr Ana Mansour wants Evelyn to remember where a number of missing items from the tomb are but Evelyn struggles remembering and verbalising events after her latest stroke. It causes distress and Brograve wants Ana to leave Evelyn alone but Evelyn begins to remembers events and has to decide whether she should reveal family secrets after so many years have past.

There is a so much history, intrigue, the curse of Tutankhamen, romance and family relationships that keep you engrossed in the life of Evelyn her family and those involved in the discover of the tomb.

I love Gill Paul's historical novels about real-lfe people - she always adds an element of mystery and intrigue to stories that we think we know well, and this account of the life of Evelyn Herbert, daughter of Lord Carnarvon who along with Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, is no exception.
A young woman of 18 when she first accompanied her father to Egypt, we first meet Eve in her 70s in 1972, after a series of strokes that are gradually destroying her memories. As her beloved husband Brograve and a visiting Egyptologist Dr Ana Mansour try to coax back her memories, she recalls the discovery of the tomb - but will she ever remember just what she, Carter and her father did that had to remain a secret until now?
This is such an intriguing story from the start. Eve's an immediately sympathetic character, and the mystique and glamour of her ties with the discovery of Tutankhamun would engage even the least historically-minded reader - and I can't imagine there are many of them! There's the further intrigue of the curse of Tutankhamun, the mystery of a missing gold box filled with powerful unguents, and wonderful descriptions of life in the 1920s for a spirited young woman, both in Egypt and in the UK. Put them together, and you have all the ingedients for a great story. With Gill Paul in charge of the mixing, this book could not fail - her historical research is meticulous, while her own interpretation of events injects romance, excitement and passion for the past into every page.
As an aside, for Downton fans, the story also brings to life the heydays of Highlclere, Eve's ancestral home and now the setting for the Downton Abbey films.

Another brilliant mixture of fact and fiction by Gill Paul. The characters came to life so well. I was constantly cross referencing with the Internet. Living near Walthamstow I was interested to read about Brograve being a former PM there.
Who doesn't love Eygptogy and King Tut? This period in our history will always fascinate and intregue generations.
I loved the solid relationship of Eve and Brograve. Their former homes are famous in their own rights and its interesting to read some background information on them.
A great read for lovers of history.

4.5 stars

A historical fiction with a mystery and love story spanning generations.

Eve is a young woman and aspiring archeologist drawn to Egypt. Having grown up in a sheltered privileged life, Egypt is like a new world. Her father and friend Howard are determined to find Tutankhamun's tomb. During one of their planned digs Eve stumbles on the entrance to a tomb. That moment changes their lives.

This is my second Gill Paul novel and I wasn't disappointed. The historical aspect was interesting but the love story of Eve and her husband Brograve made the story extra special. Eve suffers from multiple strokes throughout her life and the way Paul explores the deterioration of her access to memories was terrifyingly brilliant.

Lady Evelyn Herbert’s the only daughter of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, she and her brother Porchy were born at Highclere Castle. Evelyn wants to be an archaeologist, she’s traveled to Egypt numerous times with her father Pups, they work with famous archaeologist Howard Carter and they search for the elusive tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

In November 1922, they found it, crammed full of gold and priceless artifacts for the boy King to take with him on his journey to the afterlife, it’s an amazing discovery and receives a lot of attention. The newspapers later went on about “the curse of Tutankhamun” and anyone who visited his sacred burial place or had entered the tomb would be forever cursed.

Evelyn marries the love of her life, Sir Brograve Beauchamp, they have a daughter Patricia, and an elderly Evelyn has a number of stokes over the years. Her most recent stoke has affected her speech, she can’t walk and her memory is rather fuzzy. When an Egyptian academic, Ana Mansour starts asking Evelyn questions about what was in Tutankhamun’s tomb, it causes her a lot of distress and Brograve becomes very concerned for her health. Evelyn tries to remember exactly what happened fifty years ago, should she keep the secret or finally reveal the truth and can she trust Ana Mansour?

A fascinating dual timeline story, set in the 1920’s and the 1970’s and it takes you from Egypt to England. I enjoyed reading about Evelyn traveling to Egypt with her father, the adventures they had together and it was exciting when they found King Tutankhamun’s tomb with Howard. A story full of intrigue, superstitions, history, and the relationship between Evelyn and Brograve is wonderful and so is the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gill Paul for my copy of The Collector's Daughter, I loved every page and five stars from me.

I first came across Gill Paul after reading her book, The secret wife, which I loved. I've since read a lot of her other books. I especially like how she takes real characters and events and entwines fictitious characters into the storyline to give a different interpretation or outcome of what is widely accepted belief.
This is a dual time story with timelines interconnecting Luxor 1922 and London 1972 with the protagonists in both times being real life couple Lady Evelyn Herbert and her husband Brograve. It documents their first meeting and their subsequent relationship .
This book focuses on the events leading up to the discovery of Tutankhamen tomb in Egypt and what followed afterwards.
This is a riveting and immersive book, rich in historical detail . I have always been fascinated by the archaeological dig , discovery and myth about the curse of king Tut. Eve life is fictionalized in this book , interweaving real events and giving new perspective to her familial and marital relationships .
The later timeline in the book covers her health problems and how this would have affected her and her family. The author has obviously researched stroke and the treatments available in the 70s.
This was a really enjoyable and interesting read. I thoroughly recommend it.









Brograve

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

This is the first book by Gill Paul I have read (and it won't be the last). I was attracted to the book because of Egypt and Tutankhamen .


Lady Eve was the daughter of The Earl of Carnarvon and was fascinated by ancient Egyptian history from a young age, and accompanied her father on many visits to Egypt. Along with her father and Howard Carter she was one of the first to visit the tomb when it was discovered.

With lots of historical data, the book focuses on the love of her and her husband Brograve, and the difficulties they faced together after her strokes.

A lovely story and easy read.

Based on fact, thus us a fictionalised account of Eve's marriage to Bograve until her death in 1980. She was with the first party to enter the tomb of Tutankhamen along with her father and Howard Carter. A very enjoyable read.

With grateful thanks to Gill Paul and Publishers for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
I have read a huge amount of this ladys books and been totally blown away.
The Collectors Daughter is a whole different league the attention to detail was quite outstanding,
A dual timeline set in the 20's and late 70's Eve is a larger than life young lady full of life and fun and the story centre's around her and her life and love of her life the charismatic Brograve ever its a life full of adventures pure love and boundless joy, I'm quite beyond words as to just how outstandingly beautiful it is. I can't praise this book enough and highly recommend ❤

While I enjoyed Gill Paul’s book, The Second Marriage, and I was looking forward to this book as it dealt with Ancient Egypt and Stroke, I’m afraid the story is just not for me.

What brought me to the first book was well known figures but in this one, I’m afraid the story and time shifts are sadly lacking.

The writing is engaging but the story and time shifts are just not working for me.

Having a lifelong interest in Tutankhamun since my eldest sister brought home a copy of the beautiful catalogue from the London exhibition in the 70s, I was enthralled to read this historical account. Combining facts with a beautifully composed "back story" I was hooked. A beautiful piece of writing depicting a historical period of great importance.

In 1922 Lady Evelyn Hebert, her father Lord Carnavon and Howard Carter are the first people to enter the tomb of Tutankhamen. They all took some objects away with them unknown to the authorizes.
Years later have those objects been responsible for deaths and accidents? Are they cursed?

In 1972 Lady Evelyn (Eve) has been married to Brograve Beauchamp for fifty years. She is recovering from another stroke and after each stroke her memories fade more and more. Brosgrove knows he is losing his wife bit by bit but he cherishes the moments when she is suddenly aware and remembers their life together.
When she is asked by a female archaeologist if she took any artifacts from the tomb and where are they now this panics Eve and she has another small stroke.

I always love reading books by Gill Paul. She shakes my brain up and urges me to read more of whatever subject she explores. I didn't know much about who was present when the tomb was opened. I did know about Howard Carter but nothing about Lady Evelyn. I have left the book with more knowledge than I had at the start.

We also learn about her family and what the dynamics were like between them.
In 1922 Eve is a feisty young woman ahead of her time. I was amazed at the ease she travelled from London to Egypt many times . I expect the journey wasn't for the faint hearted.
This makes the story even sadder when age and illness takes this away from her.

But at the heart of this book is a love that lasts beyond death. Brograve's tender love for Eve is shown in every way. He takes care of her, protects her and helps to ease her into her long forgotten memories.
I loved this book. Full of history and mystery with a sweet love story running through it.
I also liked the authors notes at the end as it's always interesting to know where an author gets ideas from and what research is involved. Gill Paul takes important events from history and turns them into blockbuster reads.
Another winner for her.