Egypt, 1912--Amelia Peabody and her dashing archeologist husband,
Radcliffe Emerson, are once again in danger as they search for a
priceless, stolen bust of legendary Queen Nefertiti and Amelia finds
herself the target of assassins in this long-awaited, eagerly
anticipated final installment of Elizabeth Peters' bestselling, beloved
mystery series.
Arriving in Cairo for another thrilling excavation season, Amelia is
relaxing in a well-earned bubble bath in her elegant hotel suite in
Cairo, when a man with knife protruding from his back staggers into the
bath chamber and utters a single word--"Murder"--before collapsing on
the tiled floor, dead. Among the few possessions he carried was a sheet
of paper with Amelia's name and room number, and a curious piece of
pasteboard the size of a calling card bearing one word: "Judas." Most
peculiarly, the stranger was wearing a gold-rimmed monocle in his left
eye.
It quickly becomes apparent that someone saved Amelia from a would-be
assassin--someone who is keeping a careful eye on the intrepid
Englishwoman. Discovering a terse note clearly meant for Emerson--Where
were you?"--pushed under their door, there can be only one answer: the
brilliant master of disguise, Sethos.
But neither assassins nor the Genius of Crime will deter Amelia as she
and Emerson head to the excavation site at Amarna, where they will
witness the discovery of one of the most precious Egyptian artifacts:
the iconic Nefertiti bust. In 1345 B.C. the sculptor Thutmose crafted
the piece in tribute to the great beauty of this queen who was also the
chief consort of Pharaoh Akhenaten and stepmother to King Tutankhamun.
For Amelia, this excavation season will prove to be unforgettable.
Throughout her journey, a parade of men in monocles will die under
suspicious circumstances, fascinating new relics will be unearthed, a
diabolical mystery will be solved, and a brilliant criminal will offer
his final challenge . . . and perhaps be unmasked at last.
