Excerpt: A Taste of Evil (Hani's Daughter Mysteries #5) by N. L. Holmes
- Archaeolibrarian
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
Book details:
Book Title: A Taste of Evil
Series: The Hani’s Daughter Mysteries
Author Name: N.L. Holmes
Publication Date: October 30, 2025
Publisher: WayBack Press
Pages: 247
Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery
Any Triggers: Incest is passingly mentioned
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In Tutankhamen's Egypt, the vizier's head cook dies suspiciously, and it looks like murder to Neferet and Bener-ib. Only, who would want to kill a cook, a man admired by all?
Perhaps he has professional rivals or a jealous wife. But she is the longtime cook of Neferet's family, a dear retainer above reproach. Was her husband the good man he seemed to be, or did he have the shady past our two sleuths begin to suspect?
They'd better find out soon before the waters of foreign conspiracy rise around Neferet and her diplomat father. If they can't find the killer, it could mean war with Egypt's enemy, Kheta -- and someone else could die. Maybe one of our nosy sleuths...
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“Where’s Mama?” Neferet asked. “Surely she’s not still at the temple. They don’t have liturgies at night, do they? Why else would the chantresses be needed?”
Papa and Grandfather gave each other a meaningful look.
“She’s in the kitchen,” said Papa. “Making our dinner.”
Neferet hooted in surprise. “Why is she making it? Where’s Cook?”
“She didn’t come in today.” Papa lowered his voice as if Cook might be listening. “Her husband just died.”
The three young women made noises of sorrow. “We should go pay our respects,” Neferet said.
“We all did earlier today,” said Grandfather. “She’s been with us a long time. She’s practically like one of the family. Your father is helping them with the funeral too.”
“That’s very nice, Papa. Maybe Mama would like some help herself.”
Neferet rose and started toward the door.
“Maybe yes and maybe no,” Papa said with a chuckle. “She chased me out of the kitchen a little while go.”
“Yes, but we’re going to help. Come on, people.”
Bener-ib and Mut-tuy popped up and trailed her into the kitchen, a kind of nook under an overhanging reed shelter that covered half the small interior court. Mama was squatting beside the hearth, a wooden spoon lifted to her mouth, tasting something in a big pot as they entered. Her hair was curling sweatily across her brow, but otherwise, she seemed to be mistress of the situation.
“Girls!” she cried. “Taste this and see what it needs.”
They each took a sip from the spoon. Neferet decided the lentils and pork were perfect— shiny with fat and perfumed by onions and garlic—and no one disagreed. “Papa told us about Cook’s husband. That’s such a shame.”
“Did he tell you Int-ef was poisoned?” Mama asked, rising to her feet. “Cook and her family think it was murder.”
Neferet stopped suddenly as if a goose had nipped her. “Murder, did you say?” Behind her mother, she saw Mut-tuy’s eyes grow round.
“Yes, my dearest. And Cook is obviously hoping you ladies and Hani will find out who did it.” Mama wrapped a towel around the pot and lifted it from its tripod over the fire. “Open the door for me, will you, Bener-ib, dear?” She sailed through the open doorway and into the salon, holding the pot out before her, the three young sunets trailing after like acolytes.
“That smells sumptuous, my dove.” Papa sniffed the steam rising from the pot as his wife set it down on the table. “I think you could give Cook lessons.”
“No, no. She’s excellent at what she does. I do have a few family tricks, though. My grandmother knew a lot about the kitchen.”
Neferet suspected Mama’s blue-blooded grandmother had never cooked a stew in her life, no matter how many tricks she knew. But neither had Mama, yet she was perfectly capable of supervising any procedure, from skinning game to confecting delicious dishes. She often said it was all a matter of common sense.
They scrambled back to their seats and waited until the mistress of the house had ladled out the lentils. “It’s simple, but it should do until Cook is back on the job,” said Mama, satisfied with her handiwork.
“No excuses needed, my girl,” Grandfather said after a sip from his bowl. “You’re ready for the royal kitchen.”
Mama laughed, pleased, then jumped up again. “Oh, the bread...”
But Bener-ib, whose reaction time was instantaneous when it came to being of service, was already on her way back outside. “I’ll bring it, Lady Nub-nefer.”
“So, tell us about this murder, Papa Duck.” Neferet stared at her father,excitement crackling in her fingertips.
“I know less about it than your mother, but apparently, when Cook came in this morning to request the day off, she said that her husband—who’s also a cook—had been poisoned, and although everybody acted like it was a self-inflicted accident, her family believes someone did him in. Do I have that all correct, my love?”
“Why does she think it was murder?” Neferet asked, more and more interested.
“He suddenly became very sick and felt like his mouth and throat and stomach were on fire. Then it progressed to other symptoms I won’t describe at the dinner table. The next day, he was gone.”
N.L. Holmes is the pen name of a professional archaeologist. She has excavated in Greece and in Israel and taught ancient history and humanities at the university level for many years. She has always had a passion for books, and in childhood, she and her cousin used to write stories for fun.
These days she lives in France with her husband, two cats, geese, and chickens, where she gardens, weaves, dances, and plays the violin.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.nlholmes.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nlholmesbooks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/n-l-holmes/
Twitter: https://www.twitter/nlholmesbooks
Instagram: .https://www.instagram.com/n l.holmes/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nlholmesbooks/
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/N-L-Holmes/e/B0858H3K7S
All Author: https://allauthor.com/author/nlholmes/
Tour hosted by: The Coffee Pot Book Club
Thank you so much for hosting N.L. Holmes today, with an enticing excerpt from her intriguing new mystery, A Taste of Evil.
Take care,
Cathie xx
The Coffee Pot Book Club