Review of Flowers of Evil

[João Ramos]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Flowers of Evil" by N.L. Holmes.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Flowers of Evil by N.L. Holmes is a historical fiction book set in ancient Egypt, where two young women, Neferet and Bener-ib, embark on an unexpected journey. After opening a "healing clinic," they are confronted with the mysterious death of a florist. Is the murdered man innocent, or is he linked to some illegal activity? Driven by their sense of justice and aided by their inquisitive apprentice, they uncover the truth behind the murder. However, they face skepticism from their families and hostility from a competing healer. Because they are women in a sexist culture, many people don't take them seriously. This compelling tale explores the challenges they encounter while trying to honor the deceased and navigate the complexities of their world.

What I liked most about the book was how the author managed to blend suspense with the sexism the protagonists faced. In her profession and as an “investigator of a possible crime,” Neferet dealt with many people who did not take her seriously. Even her father limited what she could and could not do because she was a woman. This portrayal of gender inequality is not just a historical fact but a reflection of issues that still persist in our society today. If we can see this happening today in the Western world, imagine the challenges a woman would have endured in Ancient Egypt thousands of years ago. The author described this intelligently without losing focus on the main elements: the suspense and the crimes.

The book contains no notable errors. The author's meticulous research and attention to detail are evident throughout, making the ancient Egyptian setting come alive. She cleverly anticipated potential confusion and wrote the book so that no one would get lost. Reading about ancient Egypt can be challenging for readers from Western countries. We are not accustomed to the names, customs, or behaviors of people from millennia ago. That is why she included historical notes and a glossary and introduced the characters' names before they appeared in the book. This approach made understanding the story much easier; sometimes, I had to go back to see who a specific character was. Besides, the book's editing is flawless, and I couldn't find a single grammatical error.

Flowers of Evil is an intriguing book that mixes suspense with historical fiction. Its setting in Ancient Egypt thousands of years ago only adds to the suspenseful atmosphere, as readers cannot be sure what motivates the characters' behavior. Since nothing harmful will be mentioned here, the book deserves 5 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction with suspense and strong female protagonists. Although profanity does not appear excessively, the reader will still find some non-borderline profane words. Therefore, I recommend it only for adults.

******
Flowers of Evil
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Anaïs Quesson]

Flowers of Evil sounds fascinating. I usually love reading about Ancient Egypt. Thank you for this detailed review, João. Keep up the good work!