Play 2026 Book Bingo
15 Books Set in Egypt
By: Angela & Melissa
Updated:
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we may earn a referral fee from qualifying purchases.We love arm chair traveling to different countries, and Egypt in particular has always fascinated us. Over the years, we’ve come across books set along the Nile thousands of years ago, books set in Cairo apartments last year, books about antiquities, and both fiction and nonfiction about famous female rulers. With such a rich history and so many great books to choose from, we decided it was finally time to create a dedicated list of books set in Egypt.
A Country In Between: Literary Themes in Egypt Books
Egypt sits in the northeast corner of the African continent, and most maps also file it under the Middle East. Both of those are true at the same time. The Sinai Peninsula even crosses over into Asia, which makes Egypt one of the handful of countries in the world that spans two continents.
That in-between position runs straight through Egyptian history. Pharaohs, Greeks, Romans, Arab caliphs, Ottomans, and the British all ruled Egypt at one point or another, and every one of them left something behind. Today it is an Arabic-speaking country of more than 100 million people, and it is African, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern all at once.
You will feel that range as you move down this list. Some of these books take you back to a world of pharaohs and tomb builders, while others land in a modern Egypt shaped by colonialism, revolution, and centuries of new arrivals. Same country, two completely different worlds.
Best Fiction Books to Read Before Visiting Egypt
Ancient Egyptian Fiction
Book Summary
You might think you know the story of Cleopatra, but you’ve never heard it like this before. In this novel, she speaks directly to the reader, challenging the popularized “male gaze” versions of her story that describe her as a seductress, a witch, or a villain.
While others focus on the story of how Cleopatra died, this book gives her the chance to tell you how she lived.
What to Expect in This Novel
Readers describe this version of Cleopatra as a breathe of fresh air, with the queen herself acknowledges her own ruthlessness and cruetly and lets you in on all of her flaws and regrets.
Keep in mind that this is not a strictly biographical novel. Be sure to read the author’s notes about the creative liberties she took in crafting this mix of historical fiction and mythological fantasy.
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
94% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
This historical fiction novel takes us back to the 14th century BC to explore the life of Nefertiti, the ambitious, charismatic, and beautiful wife of the pharaoh, King Amenhotep.
Nefertiti is beloved by the people of Egypt, and there is hope that with her strong personality, she’ll be able to temper Amunhotep’s desire to forsake Egypt’s ancient gods in favor of introducing a new sun god for all to worship. But while Nefertiti is focused on the task of conceiving a male heir to the throne, she fails to see that the powerful priests and military are plotting against her husband’s rule.
Nefertiti’s sister, however, recognizes the shifting political winds and is brave enough to tell the queen. Unlike her sister, Mutnodjmet has no desire for power, preferring instead a quiet life without the pressures of family duty, where she can marry for love. But when Nefertiti learns of the threats to her reign, she demands that Mutnodjmet remain at court and marry for political gain.
Can Mutnodjmet defy her sister’s wishes while also remaining loyal to her family? This novel is packed with love, betrayal, political unrest, plague, and religious conflict.
Thoughts on This Book
This novel is said to be both fast-paced and historically accurate. Readers praise author Michelle Moran’s extensive research and ability to bring this iconic woman from history to life in greater detail, while crafting a compelling fictional story for Nefertiti’s younger sister, Mutnodjmet.
About the Author
Michelle Moran grew up in California and attended Pomona College and Claremont Graduate University. During her six years as a public high school reading and writing teacher, she spent her summers traveling around the world, including volunteering on archaeological digs. These experiences inspired her to write historical fiction.
Daughter of Egypt
Book Summary
In the 1920s, Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle and his associate, archaeologist Howard Carter, discovered Tutankhamun’s treasure-filled tomb, capturing the world’s attention and unleashing a fascination with the ancient world.
What people didn’t know, however, was that without the pioneering spirit of Carnarvon’s daughter, Lady Evelyn Herbert, the tomb might have never been found.
When she was young, Evelyn learned the story of Hatshepsut, a woman who ruled Egypt under the guise of a man. Despite her success at bringing peace and prosperity to her country, her male successor insisted upon erasing her name from history. Evelyn became determined to find the tomb of Egypt’s first female ruler, but doing so exposed her to danger and pitted her against archaeologists who refused to believe it could be found.
Just when it appears that success might be in reach, Evelyn will have to make an agonizing choice between loyalty to her father and Carter and realizing her own dreams.
Historical Context
This novel weaves together a dual timeline story about real historical figures, including Hatshepsut, a female Egyptian Pharaoh, and Lady Evelyn Herbert, the real-life aristocratic woman who helped discover King Tut’s tomb. While Benedict has fictionalized the thoughts and specific actions of these two female main characters, the novel is based on detailed historical research.
The novel is said to accurately depict the excitement and historical context surrounding the 1920s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, and also explores the real historical mystery of why Hatshepsut’s legacy was erased.
Historical Fiction Books About Modern Egypt
The Stolen Queen
Book Summary
In 1936, anthropology student Charlotte Cross was offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, but when tragedy strikes, Charlotte’s future is forever changed.
Forty-two years later, 18-year-old Annie Jenkins lands a fantastic opportunity working for Diana Vreeland, the iconic former fashion editor at Vogue. It’s 1978, and Diana is organizing the famous Met Gala. Annie will have her work cut out for her in order to keep up with Diana’s demands and exacting standards.
Charlotte now leads a quiet life as the associate curator of Egyptian Art at the Met. She wants little to do with the city’s “party of the year” because she’s too consumed with her research on Hathorkare, a rare female pharaoh whom most other Egyptologists deem unimportant.
When one of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing on the night of the gala, Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity. With signs that Hathorkare’s legendary curse might have been reawakened, the two women will travel to the one place Charlotte swore never to return – Egypt.
Why This Was One of Our Favorites
Fiona Davis is one of our all-time favorite authors, in part because NYC is one of our favorite places. Her novels all feature strong female characters and a tie-in to a specific historic building in New York City. This book had us from the moment the summary mentioned the Met, but then the chance to also armchair travel to Egypt was the icing on the cake.
We wanted a book that would make us feel like we were there while also diving into the topics of archaeology and the rightful ownership of antiquities. This book completely hit the mark and delivered everything we hoped for and more.
If your book club enjoys historical fiction, this book provides so many opportunities for discussion, ranging from repatriation of antiquities and cultural appropriation to museum funding and gender bias in academia, and even fashion.
Death On the Nile
Book Summary
On a luxurious vacation aboard a steamer traveling the Nile River, wealthy heiress Linnet Ridgeway seems to have it all -beauty, money, and a new husband. But tensions simmer beneath the glamorous surface, and jealousy and betrayal quickly disrupt the holiday atmosphere.
When Linnet is found murdered, famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot must untangle a web of secrets hidden among the travelers. Set against the stunning backdrop of 1930s Egypt, this locked-room mystery features Christie’s signature puzzle-solving style.
About the Series
While this is actually book #18 in the popular Hercule Poirot series, it’s one of the most recognized mysteries of all time, and a great introduction to Agatha Christie. Be warned, though…we hear that once you read one, you won’t be able to stop there!
Husbands & Lovers
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
100% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Single mom Mallory receives a devastating call that her son ingested a poisonous mushroom at summer camp. He’s alive but needs a kidney transplant. When she finds out that neither she nor her sister is a match, the hunt is on to find a donor. Her mom was adopted from an infamous Irish orphanage in 1952, so Mallory does an Ancestry.com-style DNA test, hoping to find more blood relatives.
In 1951, Hungarian refugee Hannah made a new life for herself after the war. Her husband is a British diplomat, and they’re currently stationed in glamorous Cairo. However, everything is at risk when an unexpected encounter with the manager of a spy-filled hotel leads to a passionate affair. As Cairo’s streets buzz with the possibility of revolution, Hannah is snared in a game of intrigue between two men.
About the Setting
While this book is not part of a series, Mallory’s storyline is set on fictional Winthrop Island, which you may recognize from Williams’ other books, including The Summer Wives and The Beach at Summerly.
The Antiquity Affair
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
90% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Dr. Warren Ford is an esteemed archaeologist and the father of two very different twin daughters. Lila is an intellectual about to debut as a Manhattan socialite. Tess, on the other hand, is a nonconformist who wants nothing more than to follow in her father’s footsteps. Despite their differences, the brilliant sisters have their own language, and they excel at translating and code-breaking.
It’s the early 20th century, and the dawn of Egyptology is a time of imperialism and plunder. Dr. Ford is considered the man of the hour. But when a secretive organization wants to find a lost relic known for its dangerous legendary power, it’s not Dr. Ford they turn to – it’s his daughters.
The lost artifact – known as the Serpent’s Crown – is believed to reside in the Tomb of the Five Ladies. Opening the tomb, however, requires solving a seemingly impossible riddle. The organization believes that one of the Ford daughters holds the key to deciphering the code.
On the eve of Lila’s debutante ball, she and her father discover that Tess has been kidnapped and put on a ship across the Atlantic bound for Egypt.
Why This Book Made the List
This historical fiction novel has been described as a feminist take on the Indiana Jones series. The writing style is said to provide an adventurous, movie-like experience. Be sure to read the author’s note at the end because the co-authors do a good job outlining which parts of the book are history versus fiction.
A Similar Book You Might Enjoy
For a different take on Egyptology, consider Empress of the Nile by Lynne Olson. This non-fiction book tells the little-known story of French archaeologist Christine Desroches Noblecourt. In the 1960s, she intervened to protect dozens of ancient Egyptian temples that would have otherwise been lost to the floodwaters of the new Aswan High Dam.
The Collector’s Daughter: A Novel of the Discover of Tutankhamun’s Tomb
Book Summary
In 1922, Lady Evelyn Herbert became the first person to step into the tomb of Tutankhamun. She was an unlikely archaeologist. Not only was she female, but she also lived in Highclere Castle, the real-life Downton Abbey. Instead of accepting her expected life of a prestigious marriage and society life, she wanted to work with her father on the hunt for Tutankhamun in Egypt. While she was thrilled when they were successful, “the curse of Tutankhamun,” seemed to be true. Her life was impacted by a series of tragedies.
Fifty years later, an Egyptian academic came to ask questions about what happened in the tomb, which launched a new chain of unfortunate events.
Consider This Before Reading
Although this dual-timeline historical fiction deals with the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in Egypt, the majority of the book is set in England. Archaeology only plays a small role in the book, while the majority of the story focuses on the life of Lady Evelyn Herbert in Highclere Castle.
The Sandcastle Girls
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
93% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
In 1915, Elizabeth arrived in Aleppo, Syria, as a volunteer with the Boston-based Friends of Armenia to help refugees from the Armenian genocide. During WW1, When she arrives, she meets Armen, an engineer. When he has to travel into Egypt to join the British Army, he stays in contact with Elizabeth via letters. As they correspond, he finds himself in love with the wealthy American who is so different than the wife he tragically lost.
In the present day, Laura is a novelist in New York. When an old friend claims to have seen a newspaper photo of her grandmother, she begins a journey back through her family’s history. Eventually, she discovers a wrenching secret that has been buried for decades.
Geography Notes
Keep in mind that Syria and Egypt are both somewhat incidental settings in this novel. It’s really a story about the Armenian genocide, thought it is interesting to understand the connections between the countries in this region.
Inspiration for the Novel
Chris Bohjalian is Armenian-American and was inspired to write this book by his grandparents’ background.
The Second Mrs. Astor
Book Summary
John Jacob Astor and Madeleine Force were one of the most prominent couples of the Gilded Age. While seventeen-year-old Madeleine was intelligent and solidly upper-class, she wasn’t in the same league as the Astors, who ruled New York society. She was also 29 years younger than “Jack”.
The press was obsessed with the unlikely duo, but on their honeymoon to Eqypt, they found some reprieve from journalists and photographers. Madeline was even happier when she found out she was pregnant. In April 1912, they returned home aboard the opulent new ocean liner, Titanic. When the ship hits an iceberg, Jack helps Madeleine into a lifeboat and promises to see her soon in New York.
Four months later, widowed Madeleine gives birth to her son, and her society status is elevated. But will she accept this glamourous life or carve out her own path?
Egyptian Content in the Novel
While Egypt is a minor setting in the novel, it does provide a fascinating look at what it was like for wealthy tourists visiting after the turn of the 20th centurty.
Contemporary Novel Set in Egypt
The Book of Two Ways
Book Summary
When a flight attendant tells passengers to prepare for a crash landing, Dawn braces herself. When the thoughts passing through her mind are of a man she met 15 years before and not her husband, she’s shocked and confused. After she survives, the vision before the crash remains. She had a good life in Boston with her husband and daughter, so why did she think of Wyatt at the end?
When the survivors are given transportation anywhere they want to go after the crash, Dawn has a decision. Should she return to Boston or visit Wyatt in Egypt at the archaeological site she left behind years before? From here, her two potential futures make up the story alongside her long-buried secrets and doubts.
Consider This Before Reading
Fair warning, this is one of Jodi Picoult’s lower-rated books, averaging 3.66 out of 5 on Goodreads. Some readers felt like too much was squeezed into the book, and that the focus on Egypology was too intense. However, other readers appreciated how much the storyline makes you think. Skip it if you want a lighter read, but if you are interested in Egyptian history, you’re likely to love it.
Non-Fiction Books With Egyptian Connections
When Women Ruled the World
Book Summary
While the United States has yet to elect a female president, women reigned supreme thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt. This book explores the lives of the six female pharaohs who ruled Egypt – including Nefertiti and Cleopatra – and seeks to understand why ancient Egypt allowed women access to power in a way that has seldom been the case in the centuries to follow.
Braver Than You Think: Around the World on the Trip of My (Mother’s) Lifetime
Book Summary
Maggie Downs was an award-winning newspaper journalist, but she didn’t have a long bucket list of travel destinations. Traveling was her mom’s dream. As a child, Maggie doubted she’d ever have the courage to travel to the destinations her mom hoped to one day see, but her mom would always insist: “You’re braver than you think you are.”
When Maggie’s mom was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, Maggie quit her job and set out to fulfill her mother’s bucket list. Along the way, she learned to make every moment count. Over the course of one year, she lost a parent while discovering the world.
Excellent Daughters
Book Summary
The author wrote this non-fiction book after spending more than a decade living in and reporting on women’s lives in the Arab world. During that time, she has observed dramatic changes.
Just a decade ago, girls went straight from childhood to marriage. Now, young women are experiencing adolescence in a new way, and young Arab women outnumber male students in universities. They are more frequently delaying marriage to pursue independence and career goals. But those changes have not come about quickly, and the fight for freedom and equality is still ongoing. This book examines the role of women in multiple Arab countries over the past two decades.
Another Title to Consider
If you are interested in learning more about women in Arab countries, consider Manal Al-Sharif’s memoir Daring to Drive. Raised in a modest family in Saudi Arabia, Manal was a religious radical in her adolescence. In her twenties, she worked as a computer security engineer – one of the few women at the company – and it was here that she experienced contradictions that became harder and harder to ignore, leading her to become an “accidental activist.” She provides an intimate look at women’s lives in Saudi Arabia and how she became a leader in fighting for women’s right to drive.
A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
97% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea is a non-fiction book that reads like page-turning fiction. In the 2010s, the Syrian refugee crisis flooded the news, with many countries overwhelmed trying to process the vast numbers of asylum seekers fleeing their war-torn homes.
This book tells the well-rounded story of one girl, Doaa, starting with her life in Syria before the war and following her journey of strength, courage, and sorrow. Each page is compelling as you get an inside look at a 19-year-old refugee who first fought to stay in Syria and then fought for her life and the lives of other children during a harrowing four days at sea.
Why We Think You’ll Love This Book
This is one of Book Gir Melissa’s favorite books of all time. It intersects a dramatic page-turning story with rare insight into everything a refugee endures before landing in another country to ask for asylum. If you loved Adunni in The Girl with the Louding Voice, we think you’ll also fall in love with Doaa.
If you’ve already read this one, another highly-rated Syrian refugee memoir is Homes by Abu Bakr al Rabeeah.
About the Author
Melissa Fleming was born in Massachusetts and has spent her adult life living in Eurohe. SInce 2019 has been UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communication. In A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea, she tells the story of one of the Syrian refugees she worked with.
Whether you came here for the archaeology or for a modern Cairo family story, we hope you found a few books worth adding to your stack. And if we left off a favorite, tell us, because so many of the books on this list reached us from you in the first place.
