The Golden Hour

From Cairo 1939 on the eve of the war and then thirty years later to 1970s Beirut on the eve of yet another conflict… A young archaeologist spends her life bringing the past to light - now she must dig through the secrets and lies about her own past to uncover the truth about her mother's life in wartime Cairo. The Golden Hour is an epic dual timeline story which interweaves glory-seeking desert archaeologists, priceless treasures, Nefertiti’s tomb and the decadent cabarets of WW2 Cairo with restless expat lives in bohemian Beirut. Archaeologist Lucie Fitzgerald's mother is dying – she's also been lying. As her home, the 'Paris of the East', Beirut, teeters on the brink of war in the ‘70s, Polly Fitzgerald has one last story to tell from her deathbed. It’s the story of her childhood best friend Juno and their life in 30s Cairo. Lucie travels home to be with her dying mother and discovers the truth about her family, Juno's work and their shared search for the greatest undiscovered tomb of all - Nefertiti's. From the cities to the deserts, this transporting and moving story of a lost generation transformed by war is a study of great love and sacrifice in all its forms, the perfect novel for fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Riley and Victoria Hislop. ‘Wonderfully escapist with beautifully drawn characters, stunning locations and an unashamedly romantic heart, The Golden Hour is a captivating story’ Hannah Richell ‘A Kate Lord Brown novel is always a treat, and I think THE GOLDEN HOUR is her best yet, with its sumptuous combination of love, war and intrigue and its gorgeously exotic setting’ Jane Johnson ‘An exquisite story of love and the enduring power of friendship. Kate Lord Brown’s writing is so evocative and immersive that I felt transported to faraway shores and stood beside her characters sharing their experiences rather than simply reading about them. The Golden Hour is pure gold’ Ruth Hogan 'Epic, sweeping and gloriously romantic, this is the kind of book we have all been longing for, with all the ingredients of a classic page-turner - exotic locations, intrepid women and thrilling adventure. An absolute delight' Veronica Henry ‘Headily romantic, richly detailed, with marvellous characters and a vividly stirring landscape both geographical and historical, The Golden Hour offers escapism of the most elegantly seductive sort’ Christobel Kent