William Dietrich

Review 'A magnificent adventure, shot through with mystery. A marvellous tale!' BERNARD CORNWELL 'Superb historical thriller ... Riveting battle scenes, scantily clad women, mathematical puzzles, mysteries of the pharaohs, reckless heroism, hairsbreadth escapes, and undaunted courage add up to an unbeatable adventure' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY(*Starred Review*)

The author of, among other thrillers, Hadrian's Wall (2004) and The Scourge of God (2005) takes us back to late-eighteenth-century Paris, where American Ethan Gage comes into possession of an ancient medallion and then, almost immediately, is implicated in a woman's murder. Later, he joins Napoleon's expedition into Egypt, where the Great Pyramids could provide the French dictator with the secrets of world conquest or spell certain disaster--for Napoleon and t he rest of humanity. Rich in period detail and ancient mythology, this epic-scale thriller succeeds on the strength of its small moments: a conversation that illuminates the plot, a description that captures our imagination. It's of interest, too, to see Napoleon reimagined as an adventurer, a dreamer, and an intellectual. Incorporating some of the well-known speculation about the pyramids (the mathematical significance of the Giza pyramid's design, for example) but not taking it altogether seriously, the novel is a big, exciting romp that will keep high-concept thriller fans on the edge of their seats. David Pitt Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved