Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy! I have been pleasantly surprised by the uniqueness of this novel. I really liked the concept of a hint of sci-fi in here which was very refreshing in an historical fiction esque story. The weaving together of the story lines was cohesive, although not without a hint of author’s blessings to their luck.
The depictions of Nineveh were particularly beautiful and the amount of knowledge of this period definitely compelled this ancient historian!

The attention to how each Assyrian character took in the world was also appreciated and left me laughing at a few of their interpretations.

Personally, romance that is particularly soppy isn’t for me and so I’m slightly biased in my opinion of that aspect of the novel, however I was in full support of the characters having their happy endings and liked the idea that love is universal no matter the time period or culture.

I found the characters compelling, Chinedu was especially unique as he was a complex character who, while respecting his generosity, found him hard to like given his thirst for money within his intentions.

Overall, this is a solid novel that I enjoyed reading, there are minor mistakes of words in limited areas, although I’m sure this will be cleared up before the release of the book (the main example is towards the end of the book with the words ‘garbage disposal’, while picking at a small detail, it’s not term commonly used in England and I’m sure was placed in as a use of habit).

A little bit of time travel, a little bit of love, a little bit of betrayal.

The first quarter of the book was a bit slow to get through only because it was setting the stage for everything else. We see Kate, a modern day Assyriologist, who studies the ancient city of Nineveh including its dead language and cuneiform. We get to see what her line is like between family and friends. Alternatively we’re cast back into ancient Nineveh and learn of Mannu. His childhood and ultimately his rise to be the chief physician.

Around 1/3 of the way in, the place really picks up as their two worlds collide in an effort to find a cure for the kings pregnant concubine.

Some of the writing was a bit clunky or dense at times, but these passages were usually when getting into details about the archeology or history of certain things. There was a lot of balance between the heavier technical sections and driving story however.

I would have liked a little more epilogue to know what came of everyone but I guess that’s also part of the fun is getting to imagine your own HEA.

The Physician of Nineveh offers a premise that’s both intriguing and faintly absurd: a royal physician from 7th-century BCE Assyria catapults himself into modern-day London in search of a cure for his dying love. Glenn Cooper brings plenty of texture to the ancient scenes—his Assyrian detail is immersive and clearly well-researched—but the plot never quite builds much suspense. From the moment the setup is clear, you can be fairly certain everything will work out, which undercuts any real tension.

The romance and mystery elements are earnest but lean toward melodrama, and the time travel logic is more a convenient device than a source of genuine wonder. That said, it’s written in a smooth, readable style, and the historical backdrop will appeal to fans of ancient Mesopotamia.

For me, it was a bit too predictable and a little too whimsical to fully buy into, but if you enjoy sweeping historical love stories with a dash of fantasy, this might still charm you. Just don’t expect nail-biting twists.

Nice mix of history, science, and archaeology mixed with time travel mixed with an inspirational story from a great author makes for a great read.

I have enjoyed reading this historical thriller. It was fun delving into the lives of peoples of the ancient past and how those times collided with the present. Kate kind of got herself into a twist, as did Mannu, in a very novel way. Some romance conncecting the dots gave added seasoning, enticing this reader on.

There was some sexual ccontent that some readers may find objectional. Overall, there was suspense, some parts made me laugh and I was well satisfied with the ending - an outcome I dearly hoped for. So I came to the last page happily.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

August 2025

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Not a bad book, not exceptional. Worth a read if you like historical fiction with time traveler twist.

Loved this book -- 5 stars! Entertaining story that blends the ancient past with the present day. Lots of descriptive language that puts the reader right in the scene along with likable characters. Couldn't put it down and I absolutely love the way it ended!

The Physician of Nineveh surprised me with its take on time travel. It was a fascinating divergence from the stereotypical time travel story and well-plotted.

Likes:
very descriptive, easily imagined verdant ancient city of Nineveh
many of the character's personalities and manner of relating
the length of time & number of chapters given to each respective era
the ending for the main characters (very satisfying)

Dislikes:
the vulgarity of the modern speakers
the emphasis on homosexuality (*secondary & tertiary characters)

I received an ARC; this is my honest review

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future

The Physician of Nineveh is the type of time travel story that focuses on the comical predicament of a person from 2600 years ago suddenly thrust into the present. If you want to feel simultaneously entertained, embarrassed and uncomfortable, this popular formula delivers the usual tropes. Time travel, if done well, can be an escape for those of us who long to connect with bygone eras; or it can just be cringey. Unfortunately, it was more the latter for me here.

The best parts of this book were the historical scenes and the rich Assyriology background and linguistic details. The modern characters were, as usual, much harder to connect with and the development of the romance wasn't natural or believable. Even more off-putting were the multiple toilet training scenes and fixation with characters' anatomical attributes, or lack thereof.

That being said, I appreciate the use of an historical setting we don't often see, which is what drew me to this. In a way, I was reminded of the well-known novel The Physician—medical training in ancient times, the journey to an exotic place (or time) to study medicine/find a cure. Readers who enjoyed that book may get more out of this, especially if they aren’t squeamish about medical details. The practice of medicine in ancient times and how much it relied on magical beliefs is certainly an interesting subject, one I wish had been the focus of this book more than the time travel plot.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really like the first third of the book. It was so intriguing and interesting to read about an ancient culture. I thought it would be Dan Browneque. It isn't and that is okay. But I found by the middle i was board. I wanted more history. Not a chase. The Outlandeque reversal was fun, but not enough to hold my attention. The reason for the plot wasn't enough to finish the book.

An absolutely enchanting and magical love story that will leave you wanting more of Kate and Mannu, even more of Ninurta and his lover. I wonder why, though, Kate and Mannu had to go to a biotech specialist to learn how to make penicillin when you can find the recipe online by just searching for it.

The destinies of Kate, a prestigious Assyriologist, and Mannu, a doctor from the 7th century BC, will be intertwined by their desire to help a young concubine of King Ashurbanipal.
This novel undoubtedly has everything it takes to win over any reader. It has captivated me from the very beginning with its interesting characters and a story that combines time travel, history, action, and romance.

A brilliant read concerning a physician, Mannu, who travels through time to find a cure for the King's concubine Bel, where he meets Kate, who comes from modern day London.
It was a good story with well drawn characters and I highly recommend. An outstanding time travel novel.

This was so well written as a historical mystery novel, I enjoyed the suspenseful atmosphere and how the plot was used to create something that I enjoyed a lot. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and glad was so well in the mystery genre. Glenn Cooper has a great writing style and enjoyed that I read this.