A very atmospheric book that was lovely insomuch as it really set the mood. But it's neither about antiquities nor enough of a mystery to garner it a place on my keeper shelf. It's written in a very stylized way in which the events are communicated via journal notes and letters which gets a bit repetitious and even tedious. But overall it's a simple story that evokes a particular time period very well. Having been to and studied ancient Egypt and the antiquity trade, I thought the descriptions of 19th century Egypt were so vivid that I could imagine myself exactly there. But I wanted more of that (we don't even get to Egypt until quite a way into the book), more mysteries of ancient Egypt, more characterization, more action, less repeatedly speaking about trivial things. I suppose it's a matter of preference but I felt this book didn't live up to it's potential. Like the previous reviewer, I shan't be reading anything else in this series. 19th century Egypt and Britain hooked me, the weak characterization and boring delivery left me cold.

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