On the brink of war in 1970's Beirut Lucie Fitzgerald travels home to be with her beloved dying mother Polly. Lucie is a professor in archaeology, a subject she's always been fascinated by, inspired by stories from her mum who lived in Cairo in the 1930's with her friend Juno.
June was determined to find the tomb of Nefertiti, she made it her lifes work. This is her story as much as Lucie's.
This wonderful novel showcases life for expats in Cairo before WW2, its decadent and richly atmospheric. I loved being on the digs with Juno, the author has articulated the dusty climate and the feeling of wonder. The title of the novel is so apt.
I loved it and its a book to remember.

I do like a historical fiction book set in a foreign land and this one didn’t disappoint. Although I am not a great lover of Egyptian history I found this story interesting and knowledgeable.
I loved the female characters especially Polly, Juno and Lucie as their intertwined lives unfolded.
Passion, friendship and tragedy kept this story alive and even through the sorrow a goodness shone.
My thanks to Net Galley and publisher for the advanced digital copy of this lovely book.

First of all, a big thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster UK for allowing me to read this book before its publication.

It is the 1970s and Lucie has to leave England for Beirut where her mother is dying. Polly will then tell her her story in Egypt with her best friend Juno, an archaeologist passionate about Nefertiti. This confession will be an opportunity for Lucie to lift the veil on a family secret.

I loved the descriptions of Egypt in the 1930s, the heat, the souks, the archaeological wonders, the pyramids... We really feel like we are there and the author describes this truly fascinating country wonderfully.

The characters are endearing and I loved the relationship between Polly and Juno, a truly incredible friendship. But there are also strong secondary characters like Raif who moved me a lot at the end of the novel.

The plot is gripping even if we quickly guess Polly's secret. However, the novel is really pleasant to read, the construction with the double temporality is effective and it is a novel that I would recommend to all lovers of historical novels.

Oh my word! Having just finished this marvellous novel, I’m lost in time, floating somewhere between Cairo, the Valley of the Kings and Beirut.
This is the story of 2 young British women and their dreams, who gravitate to Egypt just before the outbreak of the 2nd World War. Constrained by society of the time, one of them, Juno, is desperate to participate in the archaeological excavations, to pursue her lifelong dream of finding the tomb of Nefertiti. However, she has a young family and unsupportive husband, but luckily her lifelong friend Polly enables her to follow her goals, despite much male prejudice.
It is told partly in the present, and partly looking back at their younger lives from the 1970’s.
It is romantic, tragic, hopeful, exciting and adventurous, with more than a hint of “Raiders of the lost ark”, and so beautifully portrays the highlife of Cairo and Beirut in earlier times.
I read this novel like watching a movie and I’m convinced it would make a fantastic film. It touched on many areas of my own life, as a past archaeologist, Egyptologist, and also having spent time in Egypt and Beirut, and the sights, sounds, and descriptions of working on a dig were spectacularly accurately portrayed. It deserves to win a major book prize.
I had not heard of Kate Lord Brown before but will be watching out for future publications by her. I feel unable to read anything else now, as it will pale into significance compared to “The Golden Hour”.

Beruit, Egypt, Nefertiti's tomb - this dual timeline novel transports the reader to not one but two magical eras and destinations. Written with skill and a clear love for her topic, Lord Brown has created a timeless historical romance with more than a splash of mystery and even magic.

Great book for fans of historical fiction. Dual timeline spans the pre war years and the 1970s. I didn’t see the twist at the end coming which is always the sign of a good book. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

This was an enjoyable read, I did feel I needed much more on the characters backgrounds and more on their stories. I don't know a great deal about archeology and found this book had more information than I would've liked. I did get to the stage half way through I couldn't put it down and needed to know the end. I would recommend especially if you like stories leading up to the Second World War and the changes it made across the world were covered in this. I will look out for more from this author.

In 1975, as Lucie Fitzgerald sits by her mother Polly's deathbed in Beirut, the city teeters on the edge of war.

Knowing her time is short, Polly reveals a long-buried secret - a hidden chapter of her life involving her best friend Juno, a quixotic, determined, beauty who harbored an obsession with Egypt’s ancient past.

Their shared history in late-1930s Cairo, marked by wartime intrigue, personal tragedy, and Juno’s relentless pursuit of the legendary tomb of Nefertiti, has remained shrouded in silence for decades.

As Polly begins to unravel the past, uncovering the dark truths of her family, Lucie is overcome by the emotional weight of the revelations.

All the characters are well realised and convincing, but Juno and Polly are particularly vivid as they rush to claim a future in world which is busy making history.

Will the lessons of their story help Lucie, who has spent a lifetime combing the past for evidence left by lives lived, chart a course through her own troubled times?

With its fascinating setting and compelling characters - broken by one war and now caught in the grip of another - this novel is absorbing and moving, delivering expertly-judged notes of triumph and tragedy.

Lucie's mother is dying and Lucie travels to be at her side. What Lucie doesn't know is that her mother has secrets to tell and these secrets will change Lucie's life forever..

This book was an absolute joy to read. It is rich in detail and beautifully written..

I adored the setting and Polly's life was filled with drama and I felt that I was transpurted and lived it with her.

It truly is sublime.. I can't wait for a paper copy as this is one I want to re read..