BLOG TOUR: The Mark of Eternity (The Egyptian Stones Book 2) - Murray Bailey

An ancient code. A deadly killer. A truth buried beneath the sands of time.

FBI Special Agent Charlie Rebb thought the Surgeon - a notorious serial killer - was a ghost from the past. But when a new series of murders erupts, each marked with strange, arcane symbols, the trail leads Rebb across continents to Egypt... and to a chilling revelation: the Surgeon has returned, and this time, his killings follow a pattern—one tied to a purpose more terrifying than anyone imagined.

Meanwhile, in Egypt, Alex MacLure has uncovered more encoded messages in ancient tablets. An ancient Egyptian was searching for a forgotten symbol. His name appears in a programme written by a brilliant AI student. The student reaches out with a wild theory - but before MacLure discovers the truth, he’s arrested for a murder he didn’t commit.

Thrown together by fate and hunted by forces beyond their understanding, Rebb and MacLure must unlock an ancient secret. They must stop the Surgeon before he unleashes a plan, millennia in the making.

 

What did I think?

Murray Bailey is really giving Dan Brown a run for his money with this fantastic Egyptian Stones series and having read The Heretic Cypher, I couldn't wait to read The Mark of Eternity.  You could definitely read it as a standalone as it has its own contained storyline featuring Egyptologist Alex MacLure.

Now I have to say that I thought I had opened the wrong book on my Kindle when I started reading as the story starts with what looks like religious murders in Atlanta, Georgia.  Well this isn't Egypt, I thought...but it's not my first Murray Bailey book so I knew that everything I was reading would fit together somehow and wow it sure does.

The pacing is blistering as the case in Atlanta moves to Cairo and there's always that magical element of mystery and buried secrets where the ancient Egyptians are involved.  I had my heart in my mouth at the end and couldn't read fast enough to get to the breathtaking conclusion.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I am enjoying The Egyptian Series more than The Robert Langdon series.  Yep, Bailey is better than Brown!  It almost feels unfair to compare them but with codebreaking and ancient mysteries they do have similarities.  I am completely invested in Alex MacLure's story and Murray Bailey is such a skilful writer that every word is there for a reason and there's no padding required.

Riveting, action-packed and mysterious, The Mark of Eternity is an absolutely cracking thriller and I can't wait for the next book in the series.  Very highly recommended.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon

Follow the tour:

The Heretic Cypher (The Egyptian Stones Book 1) - Murray Bailey

When Egyptologist Alex MacLure’s friend and mentor dies he’s stunned to discover she’s left a message—hidden, encoded, and meant only for him.

With a mysterious artifact and a trail of cryptic symbols, Alex is thrust into a deadly race against time. What begins as a quest to finish her research quickly spirals into a chilling conclusion: her death was no accident. She was murdered for what she discovered.

Now he’s the next target.

Hunted by a ruthless adversary, Alex finds himself swept from the academic halls of London to the heart of Egypt’s oldest sites.

As he races to decode a forgotten truth buried beneath centuries of deception, powerful enemies close in—willing to kill to protect a secret—a revelation so explosive, it could rewrite everything we know about ancient Egypt and religion.

 

What did I think?

What an absolutely cracking start to a new series!  I love Ancient Egyptian history so I jumped at the chance to read an early copy of The Heretic Cypher, the first book in The Egyptian Stones series. It's a breathtaking thrill ride filled with danger and deceit and I couldn't put it down.  

The pacing is rapid as Egyptologist Alex MacLure finds himself in a race against time to decipher clues left by his friend Ellen before she died.  Alex soon realises that the secrets with which Ellen has entrusted him have put him in danger and he doesn't know who he can trust.  Eeeeek! I didn't know who he could trust either and see-sawed back and forth between adding certain characters to my baddie list.

I was completely entranced by the book from the start and the writing is so evocative that when the location switched to Egypt I really felt as if I was there.  Although I already have some knowledge of Ancient Egyptian history, you don't need to have any prior knowledge to enjoy this book but it may whet your appetite to learn more.

Filled with mystery and danger, The Heretic Cypher is an outstanding thriller that had me on the edge of my seat right until the very end.  Move over Indiana Jones, there's a new archaeologist in town!  I can't wait to catch up with Alex MacLure in the next book in the series, The Mark of Eternity, that comes out next year.  Do not miss this very highly recommended read.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Follow the tour:

The Blackstone Key (Mary Finch #1) - Rose Melikan

1795, and a young woman called Mary Finch travels in haste from Cambridge to the Suffolk coast. She has been invited to meet her wealthy uncle - and so end a twenty-year estrangement. But before she reaches her destination she discovers a dying man on the road. He is a stranger, and yet he is carrying an oddly familiar watch bearing her uncle's initials. He also seems to know who Mary is, and hints that she is in terrible danger. 

His whispered warning soon exposes Mary to a ruthless conspiracy that threatens not only her family's reputation, but her very life. Far from home, Mary must learn quickly how to distinguish friend from foe. Can she trust the two men who want to help her? What is their interest in the mysterious Blackstone Key? Does it guard a secret treasure, or might it have a more sinister purpose...?

The first in an exciting new mystery series, The Blackstone Key is a gripping and vivid historical adventure that will appeal to fans of such classic tales as Jamaica Inn.

What did I think?

I bought this in a pack of 3 from The Book People quite a while ago and it got lost in my overflowing bookcase.  When I noticed it, whilst rearranging (stroking) my books one day, my interest was piqued so I thought it was time for a spot of historical fiction.

The book started well as we join Mary Finch whilst she makes her way via coach to visit an uncle she has never met.  I got the impression straight away that she is a confident, brave, intelligent young woman and couldn't imagine many women travelling alone at the end of the 18th Century.  On the way, her coach is stopped by a blockage in the road: an injured man.  Mary volunteers to stay with this man whilst the coach goes on to raise the alarm and bring help.  Mary is shocked to find that the man is carrying a watch identical to hers which belonged to her father, identical but for the initials engraved upon it: those of the uncle she is travelling to meet.

As Mary continues her journey, she is joined by Captain Holland who seems to latch on to her.  I was naturally suspicious of him and my suspicions increased when he accompanied Mary to her uncle's house, but thankfully he was there when they encountered a band of smugglers taking up residence.  It left me wondering whether he saved Mary or whether it was all a big set up so she would take him into her confidence.  Then it all got a bit confusing with a bucketload of characters thrown in and a narrative that confused my brain as to which time period I was supposed to be in.

I really enjoyed the code-breaking storyline but I did lose track of all the characters and wished I'd written them down.  Mary has two men vying for her attention: Captain Holland and the exotic foreigner, Mr Paul Déprez.  Do both of them have honourable intentions?  I then got a bit waylaid with Captain Holland's visit to Sir William.  It was here that I felt the time period slipped as Sir William's daughter, Charlotte, could have just stepped out of the 1920's with her mannerisms and expressions.  I'm not quite sure what value this family added to the story as it only resulted in confusing me.

With a strong beginning and end, it was quite a good little story; I just felt like it lost its way in the middle and had a tendency to be a little boring.  On its own, it's not one I'd recommend but I'll see how I feel when I read the next two books in the series, although I do think it will be a while before I pick the next one up.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon