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The House of Two Sisters

A Novel

Author Rachel Louise Driscoll
Hardcover
$30.00 US
| $39.99 CAN
Ballantine Group | Ballantine Books
On sale Jun 10, 2025 | 352 Pages | 9780593982884
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A young Victorian Egyptologist traverses the Nile River on a mission to undo a curse that may have befallen her family in this spellbinding novel.

“An intoxicating tale of adventure and obsession, told in prose that shimmers like the Nile . . . I loved it.”—Emilia Hart, author of Weyward

Essex, 1887. Clementine’s ability to read hieroglyphs makes her invaluable at her father's Egyptian relic parties, which have become the talk of the town. But at one such party, the words she interprets from an unusual amulet strike fear into her heart. As her childhood games about Isis and Nephthys—sister goddesses who protect the dead—take on a devastating resonance in her life, and tragedy slowly consumes her loved ones, she wonders what she and her father may have unleashed.

Five years later, Clemmie arrives in Cairo desperate to save what remains of her family back home. There, she meets a motley crew of unwitting English travelers about to set sail down the Nile—including an adventurer with secrets of his own—and joins them on a mission to reach Denderah, a revered religious site, where she hopes to return the amulet and atone for her sins.

With each passing day, she is further engulfed in a life she’s yearned for all along. But as long-buried secrets and betrayals rise to the surface, Clemmie must reconcile the impossibility of living in the light while her past keeps her anchored to the darkness.
“A remarkable debut novel . . . The level of research into both Victorian London and Egypt in Victorian times is breathtaking. . . . Rachel Louise Driscoll is a writer to look out for. Her ability to intertwine the ancient with the not-quite-so-old is phenomenal. Knowing ancient Egypt is one thing, but knowing how Egyptology was viewed a century or more ago is even more meritorious.”—Historical Novels Review

“An intoxicating tale of adventure and obsession, told in prose that shimmers like the Nile . . . I loved it.”—Emilia Hart, author of Weyward

“A dazzling debut and an irresistible page-turner . . . With an unforgettable heroine you cannot help but root for, I was spellbound from the very first page to the very last.”—Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora

“Rachel Louise Driscoll’s clever and haunting exploration of nineteenth-century Egyptomania had me turning pages until late into the night. An eerie tale in the best Victorian gothic tradition, this book is a treat for anyone who has ever been entranced by the mythology of ancient Egypt.”—Anna Rasche, author of The Stone Witch of Florence

“Blending gothic vibes with ancient Egyptian mythology, The House of Two Sisters is bursting with love of family, unexpected betrayals, goal-oriented adventure, and a heaping dose of self-reflection.”—Malayna Evans, author of Neferura

“In this glittering debut, Driscoll takes readers on the adventure of a lifetime. Lush and evocative, The House of Two Sisters asks us to consider: what do we owe to the people and places we love?”—Shannon Ives, author of Those Fatal Flowers

“Intriguing . . . A gripping and skillfully written Victorian adventure set in Egypt and based on mythology . . . I loved it and learned a lot!”—Santa Montefiore, author of Last Voyage of the Valentina

“Seamlessly blending extensive historical research and ancient Egyptian mythology with exquisite storytelling, The House of Two Sisters is an astonishingly accomplished debut.”—Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates
Rachel Louise Driscoll is a former librarian and winner of the Curtis Brown Creative scholarship. She lives in the northeast of England with her husband and her cat, Cleopatra. The House of Two Sisters is her debut novel. View titles by Rachel Louise Driscoll

About

A young Victorian Egyptologist traverses the Nile River on a mission to undo a curse that may have befallen her family in this spellbinding novel.

“An intoxicating tale of adventure and obsession, told in prose that shimmers like the Nile . . . I loved it.”—Emilia Hart, author of Weyward

Essex, 1887. Clementine’s ability to read hieroglyphs makes her invaluable at her father's Egyptian relic parties, which have become the talk of the town. But at one such party, the words she interprets from an unusual amulet strike fear into her heart. As her childhood games about Isis and Nephthys—sister goddesses who protect the dead—take on a devastating resonance in her life, and tragedy slowly consumes her loved ones, she wonders what she and her father may have unleashed.

Five years later, Clemmie arrives in Cairo desperate to save what remains of her family back home. There, she meets a motley crew of unwitting English travelers about to set sail down the Nile—including an adventurer with secrets of his own—and joins them on a mission to reach Denderah, a revered religious site, where she hopes to return the amulet and atone for her sins.

With each passing day, she is further engulfed in a life she’s yearned for all along. But as long-buried secrets and betrayals rise to the surface, Clemmie must reconcile the impossibility of living in the light while her past keeps her anchored to the darkness.

Reviews

“A remarkable debut novel . . . The level of research into both Victorian London and Egypt in Victorian times is breathtaking. . . . Rachel Louise Driscoll is a writer to look out for. Her ability to intertwine the ancient with the not-quite-so-old is phenomenal. Knowing ancient Egypt is one thing, but knowing how Egyptology was viewed a century or more ago is even more meritorious.”—Historical Novels Review

“An intoxicating tale of adventure and obsession, told in prose that shimmers like the Nile . . . I loved it.”—Emilia Hart, author of Weyward

“A dazzling debut and an irresistible page-turner . . . With an unforgettable heroine you cannot help but root for, I was spellbound from the very first page to the very last.”—Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora

“Rachel Louise Driscoll’s clever and haunting exploration of nineteenth-century Egyptomania had me turning pages until late into the night. An eerie tale in the best Victorian gothic tradition, this book is a treat for anyone who has ever been entranced by the mythology of ancient Egypt.”—Anna Rasche, author of The Stone Witch of Florence

“Blending gothic vibes with ancient Egyptian mythology, The House of Two Sisters is bursting with love of family, unexpected betrayals, goal-oriented adventure, and a heaping dose of self-reflection.”—Malayna Evans, author of Neferura

“In this glittering debut, Driscoll takes readers on the adventure of a lifetime. Lush and evocative, The House of Two Sisters asks us to consider: what do we owe to the people and places we love?”—Shannon Ives, author of Those Fatal Flowers

“Intriguing . . . A gripping and skillfully written Victorian adventure set in Egypt and based on mythology . . . I loved it and learned a lot!”—Santa Montefiore, author of Last Voyage of the Valentina

“Seamlessly blending extensive historical research and ancient Egyptian mythology with exquisite storytelling, The House of Two Sisters is an astonishingly accomplished debut.”—Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates

Author

Rachel Louise Driscoll is a former librarian and winner of the Curtis Brown Creative scholarship. She lives in the northeast of England with her husband and her cat, Cleopatra. The House of Two Sisters is her debut novel. View titles by Rachel Louise Driscoll

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Dear Librarians: A Letter from Rachel Louise Driscoll, Author of The House of Two Sisters

“When I think of libraries, a flipbook of memories flashes through my mind. My local – the one I grew up with – is Watsonia Library in the north-east of Melbourne, Australia. It’s a low white building plonked right beside a busy train line and directly underneath two enormous transmission towers. Not exactly a dreamy location, but for many years it was my favourite place in the world.”

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Dear Librarians: A Letter from Rachel Louise Driscoll, Author of The House of Two Sisters

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