An eighteenth-century adventurer chases an Egyptian scroll from Israel to the Americas in the Pulitzer Prize-winner's "rollicking sequel" to Napoleon's Pyramids (Publishers Weekly).
The year is 1799. As Bonaparte's army descends upon Israel, intent upon conquest, American adventurer Ethan Gage finds himself searching the Holy Land for a legendary Egyptian scroll imbued with awesome powers. The raffish and resourceful Gage must keep the mysterious document from his enemy, Napoleon—or, failing that, wrest it from him, even if it means pursuing his vengeful adversary back to France. And the wisdom of his great mentor, Benjamin Franklin, will offer Gage no solace should Bonaparte succeed in unlocking the terrible secrets of the Book of Thoth, and seizing ultimate power.
"An utterly captivating romp from the treacherous tunnels beneath Jerusalem to the lost City of Ghosts (Petra, Jordan) to the tumult of revolutionary Paris. . . . Dietrich spins a merry magical mystery tour, winningly intricate and anchored to actual historical figures and events. . . . Mr. Spielberg! Mr. Lucas! It's your move." —Seattle Times