"Prospects for the 1907 archaeological season in Egypt are
looking somewhat dull to Amelia. As a result of Emerson's
less-than-diplomatic behaviour, they have been demoted to
examining only the most boring tombs in the Valley of the Kings --
mere leftovers, really.
And then, in a seedy section of Cairo, the younger members of the
Peabody Emerson clan purchase a mintcondition papyrus of the famed
Book of the Dead, the collection of magical spells and prayers
designed to ward off the perils of the underworld and lead the
deceased into everlasting life. But for as long as there have been
graves, there have also been grave robbers -- and so begins a new
adventure into antiquity. The season rapidly switches from dull to
deadly as Amelia strives to untangle a web woven of criminals and
cults, stolen treasures and fallen women -- all the while under the
unblinking eye of a ruthless, remorseless killer."
