Napoleon's Pyramids

Book excerpt: An American ex-pat attempts to solve a 6,000-year-old riddle with a mysterious medallion won in a card game in this swashbuckling historical thriller. What mystical secrets lie beneath the Great Pyramids? The world changes for Ethan Gage—one-time assistant to the renowned Ben Franklin—on a night in post-revolutionary Paris, when he wins a mysterious medallion in a card game. Framed soon after for the murder of a prostitute and facing the grim prospect of either prison or death, the young expatriate American barely escapes France with his life—choosing instead to accompany the new emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, on his glorious mission to conquer Egypt. With Lord Nelson’s fleet following close behind, Gage sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. And in a land of ancient wonder and mystery, with the help of a beautiful Macedonian slave, he will come to realize that the unusual prize he won at the gaming table may be the key to solving one of history’s greatest and most perilous riddles: who built the Great Pyramids . . . and why? Praise for Napoleon’s Pyramids “[A] 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 unbeatable adventure rivaling the exploits of George Macdonald Fraser’s Harry Flashman. Readers will cheer.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “It has a plot as satisfying as an Indiana Jones film and offers enough historical knowledge to render the reader a fascinating raconteur on the topics of ancient Egypt and Napoleon Bonaparte.” —USA Today “Rich in period detail and ancient mythology. . . . The novel is a big, exciting romp that will keep high-concept thriller fans on the edge of their seats.” —Booklist