Adams brings back archaeologist Daniel Knox back for a second adventure after his premier in The Alexander Cipher.
The novel starts with Knox coming across what would appear to be evidence of tomb robbers when he is offered a legitimate artifact while in an Alexandria market. The object is a bowl that has a lot of similarity to the pottery that was connected to the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Out of concern that someone might be picking over and selling important historical items, Knox reaches out to the Egyptian SCA, and is joined by his friend Omar Tawfiq in order to investigate what might be going on. The two of them find themselves visiting a dig being led by the Reverend Ernest Peterson, a radical leader of a megachurch that his hoping to find a portrait of Christ that was printed of the savior during his lifetime. He is joined with a small group of theology students, and has found signs of something that might change the way that everyone views the events surrounding Moses and the Israelite ties to ancient Egypt.

Knox and Tawfiq are met with a less-than-welcoming party. In fact, they are driven off the dig, fleeing for their lies. Before the incident ends, they find themselves in an accident. Knox is in the hospital with injuries and being accused for the death of Tawfiq.

As all of this is going on, Knox has touched base with his good friend (and partner from the the previous novel) Gaille Bonnard. She has been hired by Stafford, an archaeologist coming to shoot a documentary to support his radical ideas relating to the pharaoh Akhenaten. Gaille is reluctant to help on a project that she thinks is so misguided, but she feels that she must in order to help a friend who manages a local archaeological firm.

As she works on the project, she starts to find evidence that Stafford's theories may not be as far off the mark as she thinks, particularly in light of photographs Knox has sent her. As she, Stafford, and his assistant Lily continue explore Akhenaten's capital, Amarna, they find themselves the target of those looking for treasure there. To get them out of way, the three are taken hostage. They are forced to claim they have been taken by terrorists in order to distract the authorities.

Back in Alexandria, Knox finds himself turning to his French friend Augustin for help. As they are on the run from the police, who are hoping to arrest Knox for murder, they must figure out what is going on and save Gaille (as well as staying alive themselves). Little do they know it, but it will take them on a path that will reveal shocking information about ancient history in the Middle East as well as the Bible.

I liked this novel as much as the first one. It is definitely action-based, but the characters are by no means flat. In some ways, the books remind me of what might happen if Indiana Jones found himself in a Dan Brown novel, though the writing is a lot stronger. While it would help if readers are already familiar with ancient Egyptian history, I do think that Adams does a nice job of explaining the important details and theories tied to the 18th Dynasty in general and Ankhenaten specifically. This is a rip-roaring read that is quick paced. While you would probably have to dispend your believe, you can really enjoy it all the same.