The Egyptian by Layton Green

 

At a mausoleum in Cairo's most notorious cemetery, a mercenary receives a package containing a silver test tube suspended in hydraulic stasis. An investigative reporter tracking rogue biomedical companies is terrified by the appearance of a mummified man outside her Manhattan apartment. A Bulgarian scientist who dabbles in the occult makes a startling discovery in his underground laboratory. These seemingly separate events collide when Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, private investigators of cults, are hired by the CEO of an Egyptian biomedical firm to locate stolen research integral to the company's new life extension product. However, after witnessing the slaughter of a team of scientists by the remnants of a dangerous cult thought long abandoned, Grey and Viktor turn from pursuers to pursued. From the gleaming corridors of visionary laboratories to the cobblestone alleys of Eastern Europe to a lost oasis in the Sahara, Grey and Viktor must sift through science and myth to uncover the truth behind the Egyptian and his sinister biotech - before that truth kills them.

My Review
My Rating 3.75

I enjoyed this thrilling adventure that is actually the 2nd in a series featuring the cool, indomitable Dominic Grey. This book stands alone quite well, but the author cleverly manages to pique my interest for his first book, The Summoner, by the way in which he doles out brief glimpses of Grey’s previous assignment during the course of this one.

There were numerous secondary characters, and I felt that most of them were endowed with personalities, quirks and traits; making each memorable. I was disappointed that often the story transitions were difficult to follow – sometimes even occurring within the same paragraph. It was jarring to be invested and following a scene in one sentence and then to be suddenly jettisoned across the world to an entirely different, though connected, story line in the following sentence.

A complex story, rich in historical detail, and played out in exotic locations around the world, this book appealed to me on several levels. At times, though, I felt inundated with just too much trivia; I would have preferred a little less background and a little more action – particularly in the middle. All the players come together near the end for a final tumultuous show-down that left me breathless.

Reviewed by Laurie-J
Night Owl Reviews

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