THE MUSEUM DETECTIVE
Inspired by a real-life antiquities scandal in Pakistan, this gripping series debut introduces archaeologist Dr. Gul Delani, whose investigation into the discovery of a mummy gets complicated—and personal—when it collides with her years-long search for a missing family member. Perfect for fans of Sue Grafton and Elsa Hart.
When Dr. Gul Delani receives a call in the middle of the night from the Sindh police, she thinks they may have finally found her niece, Mahnaz—a precocious, politically conscious teenage girl who went missing three years prior. Gul has been racked with grief since Mahnaz’s disappearance and distracts herself through work: a talented curator at the Museum of Heritage and History in Karachi,
When Dr. Gul Delani receives a call in the middle of the night from the Sindh police, she thinks they may have finally found her niece, Mahnaz—a precocious, politically conscious teenage girl who went missing three years prior. Gul has been racked with grief since Mahnaz’s disappearance and distracts herself through work: a talented curator at the Museum of Heritage and History in Karachi, she is one of the country’s leading experts in archaeology and ancient civilizations, a hard-won position for a woman.
But there is no news of Mahnaz. Instead, Gul is summoned to a narcotics investigation in a remote desert region in western Pakistan. In her wildest dreams, Gul couldn’t have imagined what she’d find there: amid a drug bust gone wrong, there is a mummy—life-size, seemingly authentic, its sarcophagus decorated with symbols from Persepolis, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. The discovery confounds everyone. It is both too good to be true, and for Gul, too precious to leave in careless or corrupt hands.
Aided by her team of unlikely misfits, Gul will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of it, even as her quest for the truth puts her in the throes of a dangerous conspiracy and threatens to collide with her ongoing search for Mahnaz. A portrait of a city fueled by corruption and a woman relentlessly in pursuit of justice,
- Soho Crime
- Hardcover
- April 2025
- 336 Pages
- 9781641296564
Buy the Book
$27.95
About Maha Khan Phillips
Maha Khan Phillips was born in Karachi, Pakistan. She is the author of Beautiful from This Angle, The Mystery of the Aagnee Ruby, and The Curse of Mohenjodaro. She is a multiple award-winning financial journalist and editor who writes across a number of different journals and magazines. She lives in London with her husband and son and frequently visits Pakistan, where she has a keen interest in exploring archaeological sites.
Praise
“Gorgeously evocative and absolutely riveting—as immersive as The Da Vinci Code, and as elegant and revealing as history itself, this unique and suspenseful thriller will keep you turning pages as fast as you can. Clever and smart, with irresistible research and deep characterization—Sue Grafton fans will swoon!—The Museum Detective is entertaining, propulsive, and, like the precious artifacts involved, an absolute treasure. I adore Dr. Gul Delani, and cannot wait for her next adventure.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of The House Guest
“Maha Khan Phillips’s The Museum Detectiveis an extraordinary and mesmerizing blend of ancient and modern murder mysteries brought to life by the author’s profound knowledge of history and archaeology. Phillips’s intricate detail and expert storytelling lead readers into a thrilling and mysterious world where past and present collide, and truth and life hang in the balance. A fascinating novel.” —Kwei Quartey, Edgar-nominated author of Wife of the Gods
“Maha Khan Phillips’s Karachi is a place I didn’t know, of damp alleys and grand homes, overworked cops and underfunded museums. The workaday world of archaeologists was also unfamiliar. But the crimes—corruption, murder, vicious contempt for good people—are universal. Gul Delani is a force to be reckoned with as she refuses to give in and go along. I was so glad to have her as a guide through the world of The Museum Detective.” —SJ Rozan, bestselling author of The Murder of Mr. Ma
“What’s not to love? Mummies, murder, gangsters—and a brilliant archaeologist trying to uncover the truth of mysteries, past and present. A thrilling read.” —Kamila Shamsie, author of Home Fire
“The Museum Detective is everything you want in a crime novel: twisty, unputdownable, and with a brilliant, lovable heroine who will take up permanent residence in your head.” —Tahmima Anam, author of The Startup Wife