Potiphar's Wife

 So, I've been busy, at least until this week.  I just saw my son, graduate  high school and that was a busy weekend.  Then I finished the school year and retired with all that the transition entailed.  Finally this week I have been able to take the time to read for one of my launch team commitments with Waterbrook Multnomah. I received an advance copy for an honest review.  Kind of like a great meal, you save the best for last when it can be savored.  That was my experience this week with Mesu Andrews newest book, a fictional novel, Potiphar's Wife.  I always enjoy fictional books best and when saturated with historical facts and references the treat is so much sweeter.  

Potiphar's Wife is an intriguing story of Pharaoh's  Egypt during the time of Joseph and his brother's from Jacob.  The story of Joesph is a well told one from young children's Sunday school lessons to a Broadway musical.  Yet in each telling we hear of the woman siren who tried to entice Joseph to sin, yet we never fully meet her to know her story.  Andrews clearly states in her afterward and author's notes that her novel Potiphar's wife is a work of fiction.  However she did do ample research to place as much historical fact into the story as possible.  Through research she learned that Potiphar's wife in the Koran was named Zulieka.  She also found evidence of political happenings at the time period of Joseph's captivity in Pharaoh's Egypt to weave into her story. Through her research and author's creativity she has written a compelling tale that makes both the time period and biblical characters come to life to entice readers to not only enjoy the story, but peak curiosity to delve further into the bible to learn more truths about the world of the old testament and the people who worshiped God through faith and determination.

I must say that many plot twists and turns kept my attention throughout the story.  I won't share because spoilers ruin the fun.  But even until the very end, I was surprised with sone of the events.  In my opinion that creates an entertaining and fun story. 

I can't wait for Andrew's next book, as she makes the characters so real it is hard to say goodbye to them.  I recommend Potiphar's Wife to anyone looking for fiction to enhance the story of Joseph and his life in Egypt.