Daughter of Egypt: Marie Benedict Author Event (Ticketed Event/Fundraiser)

Join us for an in-person, ticketed event with Marie Benedict, sponsored by the Friends of the Avon Library.

Tickets are available now: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/rq972yy

New York Times bestselling novelist Marie Benedict transports readers from the glamour and turbulence of 1920s Britain and Cairo to the sands and lush shores of ancient Egypt in Daughter of Egypt (on-sale: March 24, 2026). Known for her “delightful blend of historical fiction and suspense,” Benedict weaves a sweeping tale of a young woman who unearths the truth about a forgotten Pharaoh, rewriting both of their legacies forever.

In the 1920s, archeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert—daughter of Lord Carnarvon—whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible. Though not a trained archaeologist, Evelyn nonetheless pursued her passion, determined to leave her mark on the field and be treated as an equal by her male colleagues.

Nearly 3,000 years earlier, another woman defied the expectations of her time: Hatshepsut, Egypt’s lost pharaoh. From her father Thutmose I, she learned how to lead and through her political savvy she rose to guide her kingdom to prosperity. By her side was her trusted adviser and secret lover, Senemut. Though he was a commoner and she royalty, together they formed a partnership that allowed a dynasty to flourish. Despite the fact that Hatshepsut’s reign was bold and successful, it was nearly erased from history, quite literally.

When Evelyn travels with her father and Carter to Egypt to work on archaeological digs, her obsession with finding Hatshepsut’s tomb deepens. She risks everything to uncover the truth about Hatshepsut’s reign and in the process is forced to confront the reality of the artifacts trade. Despite the mounting regulations that prohibit the removal of antiquities from Egypt, dealers are selling them at alarming rates. With her assumptions challenged and her eyes newly opened, Evelyn comes to see that Egypt is the rightful home of these prized artifacts. But as danger closes in and political tensions rise, she faces an impossible choice: protect her father’s legacy—or forge her own.

Propelled by high adventure and deadly intrigue, Daughter of Egypt is the story of two ambitious women who lived centuries apart. Both were forced to hide who they were during their lifetimes, yet ultimately changed history forever.

MARIE BENEDICT is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Queens of Crime, The Mitford Affair, Her Hidden Genius, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, The Only Woman in the Room, Lady Clementine, Carnegie’s Maid, The Other Einstein, and with Victoria Christopher Murray, the Good Morning America Book Club pick The Personal Librarian and the Target Book of the Year The First Ladies. All have been translated into multiple languages, and many have been selected for the Barnes & Noble Book Club, Target Book Club, Costco Book Club, Indie Next List, and LibraryReads List. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family.