Who Killed King Tut? Using Modern Forensics to Solve a 3,300-year-old Mystery

The greatest archaeological find of the 20th century, and perhaps of all time, was the discovery in 1922 of the tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen. Untouched for 3,400 years, the ancient tomb, filled with spectacular treasures, raised many questions about the legendary reign of this boy king. Especially mysterious were the circumstances of his premature death sometime in his late teens. Speculation on the cause of his untimely demise has ranged from an infected mosquito bite to a bash on the head, either intentionally inflicted or the result of a fatal chariot accident. Due to lack of any obvious evidence, Egyptologists have left the question unsettled. Now two law enforcement specialists in forensics and the psychology of criminal behavior have applied sophisticated crime-solving techniques used in the investigation of contemporary murders to this ancient mystery. With their unique perspectives, Detectives King and Cooper evaluate evidence that has long been overlooked by specialists in Egyptology and archaeology. After considering natural causes, accident, and suicide, the authors come to the conclusion that Tut's death was most likely a murder. The detectives' investigation becomes more intriguing as they focus on Tut's inner circle of close confidants--his wife Ankhesenamun; his closest advisors, Maya and Ay; and the powerful general of the Egyptian army, Horemheb. One by one, the suspects are eliminated, due to evidence or probable cause, until in the end the detectives focus on the most likely suspect. In conclusion, they draw up a modern affidavit formerly charging the chief suspect with the crime of murdering the pharaoh. For readers who enjoy mysteries, true crime, andhistory, "Who Killed King Tut? is an entertaining and educational read.King, Michael R. is the author of 'Who Killed King Tut? Using Modern Forensics to Solve a 3,300-year-old Mystery', published 2006 under ISBN 9781591024019 and ISBN 1591024013.