The Lost Army of Cambyses

By Paul Sussman

Book Overview

An adrenaline-packed thriller and archaeological adventure by and outstanding new storyteller In 523 BC, the Persian emperor Cambyses dispatched an army across Egypt's western desert to destroy the oracle of Amun at Siwa. Legend has it that somewhere in the middle of the Great Sand Sea, his army was overwhelmed by a sandstorm and destroyed. Fifth thousand men were lost. At first, the incidents appear unconnected. Inspector Yusuf Khalifa of the Luxor police is suspicious, however. And so too is the archaeologist's daughter, Tara Mullray. As each seeks to uncover the truth, they find themselves thrown together in a desperate race for survival--one that forces them to confront not only present-day adversaries but also ghosts from their own pasts. From a mysterious fragment of ancient hieroglyphic text to rumors of a fabulous lost tomb in the Theban Hills, from the shimmering waters of the Nile to the dusty back streets of Cairo, Khalifa and Mullray are drawn ever deeper into a labyrinth of violence, intrigue, and betrayal. It is a path that will eventually lead them into the forbidding, barren heart of the western desert, and the answer to one of the greatest mysteries of the ancient world. At once an adrenaline-packed thriller and a wonderfully evocative archaeological adventure, "The Lost Army of Cambyses marks the debut of an outstanding new storyteller.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312301537
• ISBN13: 9780312301538
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.6" x 1.4" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Secrets in, and under the sands

This book is great read for both history and thriller readers. Tara Mullray comes to Egypt with the intent on seeing her archeologist father only to learn he is one of many casualties caused by a terrorist organization that wants to find a legendary lost army that could fund their operations indefinitely. She is aided by her former lover and by an Egyptian inspector who has his own reasons for being involved as they both race against time to find the site of the army and stop the terrorists from making off with it. It's one of the most thrilling, historical fictions that leaves you reading to the end.

Muy buena

Una novela muy entretenida.Es como una pelicula de Indiana Jones,tiene un poco de todo.La descubri por casualidad y es una de mis novelas favoritas

Murder and mayhem in the desert

This book is perfect for beach reading, which is where I was when I read it. The plot is convoluted, and the action fast and furious. There are some gruesome murders, and it's almost impossible to tell which character is exactly what he or she appears to be. The author is obviously quite familiar with Egypt and its history, and the search for this lost army is extremely interesting. There is a very dangerous terrorist-type in the book, and he haunts the life of the policeman-protagonist. Everything comes together in the end, and all of the mysteries are solved, but I still wonder how many people in this book could spend days crossing the desert without having something covering their heads? Just one of life's unsolved mysteries, I guess.

strong police procedural

English zoologist Tara Mullray visits her renowned Egyptologist father Michael at a dig only to find her dad dead. At approximately the same time, a black market antiquities seller is also found dead with his mutilated corpse lying by the Nile covered with cigar burns. Inspector Yusuf Khalifa of the Luxor Police Department is assigned to investigate both homicides. Because of the nature of their respective professions, two sides of the same coin, Yuseuf seeks a link between the murders. He quickly learns of a third facet when an elderly Cairo antiquities dealer is killed (with cigar burns on the body) in his shop, but nothing is stolen. Yuseuf interviews Tara who informs him that the excavation site where her father died contained the odor of cigar smoke. Soon the Egyptian and British politico take an interest in how much Yuseuf knows because terrorist Sayf al-Tha'r lingers in the background. THE LOST ARMY OF CAMBYSES is a strong police procedural that interweaves archaeological elements into the plot, but though engaging and educational never slows down the pace of the story line. The tale is at its luxurious best when Yuseuf investigates. The novel remains powerful even when the British embassy and the Egyptian Antiquities Bureau interfere with the inquiry due to a fear of Islamic Fundamentalist involvement. When the plot twists more into a thriller, it retains its excitement, but veers away from its prime theme of murder investigations at the Pyramids. Still this is a tremendous first dig into the mystery world by renowned archaeologist Paul Sussman and hopefully he will provide more exciting tales for his faithful students. Harriet Klausner

EXTRAORDINARIA

MUY, MUY BUENA, INCREIBLE DESDE EL COMIENZO ,DURANTE Y EL FINAL DE LA NOVELA. COMPRE LA NOVELA POR CASUALIDAD Y HE QUEDADO MUY IMPRESIONADO,YA TENGO EL GUARDIAN DE LOS ARCANOS Y PUEDO ASEGURAR QUE ES TAN BUENA COMO ESTA. COMPRENLA Y LEANLA LES GUSTARA MUCHO. ES UNA PENA QUE EN ESPANOL EL AUTOR SOLO TENGA DOS NOVELAS.

Excellent thriller

This book is very well written and does an excellent job of intertwining an archaeological mystery with modern terrorists. It has a particularly nasty villain. It also brings an unusual setting -- modern day Egypt -- to life, with interesting, believable characters. I found it very engrossing and recommend it highly.