 |
During the summer of 1910, seventeen-year-old Carter Pinsent accompanies his father, Malcolm, on an archaeological expedition to Egypt. Having traveled with his parents on digs in the sweltering Libyan desert since the age of ten, Carter is familiar with the delicate process of restoring ancient artifacts. He is also fluent in Arabic and proficient in translating hieroglyphics. He considers himself a man of science and rational thinking. But when the famous yet ethically questionable Egyptologist Sir Robert Ottley and his haughty daughter May visit the Pinsents’ dig site, Carter and his father are reluctantly dragged into a web of intrigue and nefarious schemes. Carter finds himself questioning his understanding of science, spirituality, and the very foundation of reality.
Ancient Egyptian priest Ptahmes was Amenhotep IV's right-hand man. He was appointed Judge of the Palace and High Priest of Amen, King of all the Gods. Determined to profit from the discovery of Ptahmes’ tomb, Sir Ottley enlists the help of morally corrupt Dr. William Belleville. Together, Ottley and Belleville embark on a relentless pursuit of fame and wealth that has far-reaching and dangerous consequences. Carter and May have to work together as they race against the clock to solve the mystery of Ptahmes’ tomb.
The book opens with powerful imagery of scorpions, scorching heat, and breathtaking vistas to capture the harsh beauty of the Libyan desert. The author skillfully works each character’s backstory into the flow of the narrative, leaving readers invested in the storyline from beginning to end. As the plot unfolds, there is nonstop action, danger, and intrigue, with a sprinkling of romance and a highly entertaining deviation into the metaphysical. James brings dynastic Egyptian history and spirituality to life in a fantastical tale of greed, ancient curses, and unorthodox science.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review