Set to claim his birthright as the next Pharaoh of Egypt, 19-year-old Tutankhamun wants to return his powerful empire to its previous glory before wars and discord spoiled its true character. But there are those who oppose any change and will do whatever it takes to bring down the young King.
When threats to Tutankhamun escalate, Rahotep, chief detective in Thebes, is brought in to investigate. It doesn't take long for the intelligent and determined Rahotep to uncover clues that lead to other sadistic acts taking place throughout the area, as well as corruption in the upper echelons of the empire. Will Rahotep be able to protect his King and Queen from the evil set to bring them down?
A brilliantly woven tapestry of the royal life in ancient Egypt. With realistic characterization, it brings to life a long-ago civilization that continues to fascinate to this day. Drake has written a stunning follow-up to NEFERTITI, Book of the Dead, as he takes readers on an exciting adventure through secret passages, opulent palaces and mysterious tombs during the golden age of the Pharaohs.
As Egypt's young king is crowned, a vicious killer waits in
the shadows. . . .
Egypt's next Pharaoh, the young Tutankhamun, is ready to
claim his birthrightβa vast, powerful, and sophisticated
empire. It should be at the height of its glory, but it is
troubled by long-lasting foreign wars, public dissent, and
internal struggles. With his new wife, Ankhesenamun, the
daughter of Nefertiti, Tutankhamun undertakes an audacious
plan to consolidate his power and return tolerance and
enlightenment to his land. But not everyone wants the
ambitious new Pharaoh to succeed, and soon sinister "gifts"
begin appearing in the royal palaceβevil objects designed to
terrify the nineteen-year-old King.
Rahotep, the stalwart chief detective of the Thebes
division, is summoned to the palace to investigate. As he
begins to piece together the clues, he realizes that the
mysterious gifts have much in common with a series of
sadistic murders plaguing the city. Rahotep's determination
to protect the vulnerable King and Queen makes him a target,
too, and he is soon enmeshed in a web of intrigue and danger
that reaches from the top command of the army to the dark
heart of the empire's government. What he discovers will
change his life and put everything he loves at risk.
In this compelling second novel, set against the dazzling
splendor of the golden age of the Pharaohs, Nick Drake takes
an imaginative and historically accurate look at one of the
most fascinating reigns in ancient history. Drawing on the
latest archaeological evidence, he crafts a sophisticated
and gripping thriller that explores one of the greatest
unsolved mysteries of ancient Egyptβthe untimely death of
young Tutankhamun.
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