About this ebook
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
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
Ratings and reviews
4.2
4 reviews
Erynn
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August 29, 2019
It, as another reader said, is slow going for the first half. For me, it was slow going up until the last four chapters or so. There was a lot of focus on describing battles and it felt to me that Ethan Gage hardly spent any time trying to work out the mystery of the medallion, instead stumbling his way through Egypt to get lucky at finding some hidden treasures. All in all, not a bad book, but it took me a long time to get through it.
1 person found this review helpful
Kamas Kirian
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February 6, 2016
It's a fun little romp. Historical fiction about Napoleon meets Indiana Jones and National Treasure. There are plenty of true facts, and even more fantasy. If you aren't looking for something deep, this could be a could choice.
Matthew Gibson (Matt)
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March 8, 2016
Checked out the book from the library. Found it to be quite enjoyable. Gage has a fun tone similar to other adventurers. If only more of my favorite books were this price.
About the author
William Dietrich is the author of fourteen novels, including six previous Ethan Gage titles—Napoleon's Pyramids, The Rosetta Key, The Dakota Cipher, The Barbary Pirates, The Emerald Storm, and The Barbed Crown. Dietrich is also a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, historian, and naturalist. A winner of the PNBA Award for Nonfiction, he lives in Washington State.
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