The Antiquity Affair
Authors; Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne
Publisher: Harper Muse
Thank you @Netgalley for this Audio Arc

Two sisters as opposites that can be goes on a journey from the East Coast to Paris to Egypt. The story takes place in the early 1900’s. Lila and Tess Ford are as different as two sisters can be. Each are expected to fullfill certain family expectations. When there estranged father, prominent archeologist Dr. Warren Ford shows up in New York chaos erupts. The girls along with their father become involved in pursuit of an ancient artifact called the Serpent’s Crown. The Serpent’s Crown is also rumored to have some brain washing power and it could also be cursed. During this pursuit Dr. Ford end up kidnapped and the girls must forge ahead on their own, find the crown and save their father. Along the way they encounter rivals, puzzles, misunderstandings, murder, romance, drama, betrayl, sacrifices and much much more.

This story is a fast paced thrilling adventure and well worth the read. I liked that the two main characters were smart educated and resourceful women who end up using this journey to heal old wounds. This historical story was a bit out of my usual reads but I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you like movies such as The Mummy, Lara Croft and the Indiana Jones Adventure’s you will enjoy this book.
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historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-romance, historical-setting, history-and-culture, mysteries, myths-legends, thriller, threats, adventure, sisters, family-dynamics, family-drama, travel, abduction, misconceptions, mistaken-identity, Egyptology, amateur-sleuth, snarky, witty*****

Great fun!
Two sisters who look nearly alike but have quite different personalities are caught up in a mess of conflicting goals and perspectives. Truly an exciting thrill ride. Expect mad twists and creative red herrings!
I requested and received a free temporary audio copy from Harper Muse via NetGalley. Narrated by voice artists Brittany Pressley and Holly Linneman have the kind of convincing delivery that encouraged me too keep reading far too late. ( )

Lila and Tess Ford's lives have taken them in two different directions. On the evening of Lila's debut, Tess would rather be helping her father - world renowned archaeologist Dr. Warren Ford - excavate a tomb of some sort in the deserts of Egypt than have to get dressed up and deal with pretentious socialites. What Tess doesn't understand is that Lila is mingling with Manhattan socialites because her father's expeditions are extremely expensive and the family's money is quickly dwindling. Lila has to make a good match in husband for the sake of the family - at least that's what her grandmother keeps reminding her. Lila seems to have caught the attention of Williams Hendricks whose family has no shortage of power and money. Truth be told, Lila has always been a little jealous of Tess.

But then Tess is kidnapped and Lila, determined to find her, enlists the help of her estranged father. Come to find out, Tess was taken because Dr. Ford has a piece to the legendary puzzle of the Serpent's Crown.

Now, in a high-stakes chase across the ocean and into Paris then on to Egypt, they'll find there's more on the line than fortune and glory.

I thought it was interesting in the fact that they almost do a sister swap. I feel like each started out wanting certain things and then for whatever reason their prerogatives changed and they almost settled. Lila, for her part, wanted more scholarly pursuits but having lost her mother, she was kind of groomed by her grandmother to be this beacon of hope for the family financially speaking. Tess on the other hand wanted her father's approval so much that she inserted herself into his space. She does have a fondness for history, but I think a lot of it stems from wanting to please her father. Then they each find themselves turning in the other direction and I think they really got to understand each others' perspective for the first time.

I think both Lila and Tess are shown as very three dimensional characters. Both with strengths and flaws and vulnerabilities. This makes both of them really likable. I would get caught up in each chapter to the point where when point of view changed with each new chapter, I'd almost have to acclimate myself again with where we left off with that sister previously. It makes me interested to find out if each author wrote for one sister.

Probably one of my favorite things was how for me, it's like Indiana Jones from the point of view of his children. From the outside he's this cool, confident, handsome and adventurous archaeologist. But if you look at him in the guise of father - like with Dr. Ford - you see all the ways he's lacking. Questionable morals and seemingly aloof where his daughters are concerned. Being absent when they needed him the most. It's a little less glamorous for sure. This, of course, ensures that Lila and Tess remain front and center of the story. Because really it's about them and their relationship and trying to build something back that might be lost.

Of course not everything is as it seems with the story at face value. For me, being that this is an adventure novel, I kept waiting for the twists and turns to happen. I knew that things couldn't be so straightforward. I think I was on such high alert for the twists that when they happened, I wasn't surprised by anything.

I did enjoy how the story builds. It's a slower build, laying out the groundwork of the mythology and the stakes at risk, but I think the end payoff was perfectly executed.

I had not read anything previously by Lee Kelly or Jennifer Thorn. I like this type of adventure story and the time period in which it's set. I think there are plenty of opportunities for more stories and I felt like there was a hint that more could be possible. I would definitely check it out.

Overall, I think this is a fun read. Even though it's technically a historical fiction, I still felt like it had a lot of very relevant commentary. ( )