The Alexander Cipher

THE ALEXANDER CIPHER Will Adams Grand Central Publishing $7.99 - Paperback ISBN: 978-0-446-40470-9 464 pages Reviewer: Annie Slessman The main character of this work is Alexander the Great and the impact he has had and continues to have on the world at large. However, THE ALEXANDER CIPHER by Will Adams spawns a cast of characters that challenges the imagination. Daniel Knox, well know and respected Egyptologist resigned his position as an archeologists and finds himself making a living as a scuba diving instructor. When he attempts to rescue a young woman who is being raped by one of the most powerful men in the country, Knox finds himself fleeing for his life. Knox's travels bring him to Alexandria and the site of an excavation to uncover an ancient catacomb. Secretly, Knox explores the site himself and suspects it may actually be the final resting place of Alexander the Great. He is not alone in his discovery and it at this point, the story really takes off. Adventure, intrigue, romance and a fair amount of interesting Eqyptian history takes the reader on a roller coaster ride to be remembered. Once you start this book, allow ample time to finish it. You will not want to stop reading. Adams proves to be a capable researcher who has taken the historical parts of this work seriously. If you are a historian at heart, you will find this book enjoyable reading. If you like adventure stories, this is your book. If you just want to lose yourself in a book for a few hours, leave now for your local bookstore. Will Adams lives in Essex, England and after a varied career writing corporate histories and working in the communication field, he now spends full-time writing fiction.

Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (5/09) "The Alexander Cipher" is a fictional story about the search for the tomb of Alexander the Great, the powerful and beloved ruler of Egypt from 336 B.C. to 323 B.C. Many individuals, as well as groups, are interested in locating the tomb, and each has his own personal agenda for doing so. Of course, there are those with noble reasons who are interested in learning about the historical significance of the artifacts and preserving them for future generations to experience. But there are also those who want to use the treasures as bargaining chips - one to help his terminally ill daughter and one who intends to do something far more sinister. The parties race against each other and against time in an attempt to be the first to locate the correct site. Author Will Adams creates some strong characters in the book. Daniel Knox is an archaeologist who has made a lot of people very angry because seemingly everyone in the country is after him. He must utilize his intelligence, cunning, and determination to survive. However, a softer side of Knox is also shown through his loyalty towards, and concern for, those he respects. In contrast, papyrologist Gaille Bonnard is angry with everyone because of events that happened in her past. She must learn to trust again if she has any hopes of doing what she believes is right and moving forward in her career. There is plenty of action in this book, but after a while reading about the fight scenes became a bit redundant. However, they would probably be great if by chance this story is made into a movie. I appreciate the Egyptian history lesson the author provides through this story. I enjoy learning about the past and the treasures it held. This book offers a historically accurate account of ancient Egypt while still providing action and adventure to entertain the reader. "The Alexander Cipher" by Will Adams will appeal to all adults, but especially to those interested in ancient history and/or archaeology. In addition to containing copious amounts of action, it also features some great characters who will allow the reader to experience their journey vicariously.

This is a genre I absolutely love - combining historical fact with fiction. Will Adams has admirably done both in The Alexander Cipher. This was Adam's debut novel - and the first in the Daniel Knox series. Knox is an Egyptologist. His primary interest is in Alexander the Great. For years, historians and archaeologists have been trying to find the final resting place of this fabled leader. When an unexplored catacomb is uncovered during the building of a parking lot, it may hold some answers. There are many groups who want to be the ones to find Alexander. For a group bent on restoring Macedonia to it's former glory, they see this discovery as a catalyst to further their cause and will stop at nothing. For Daniel, it would be the find of his life, but will it be at the cost of his life? The story cuts between seemingly disparate stories in the beginning, but all are connected to Alexander and his lost tomb. Adams gives us enough history to whet our curiosity, but not so much that your eyes glaze over. Many times I went and googled part of the story, fascinated with the history Adams presents. The undercurrents of greed, betrayal and manipulations are skillfully combined with history to produce a novel full of action, intrigue and adventure. The thrill of discovering the unknown is conveyed in his writing. Fans of Steve Berry, Dan Brown, Clive Cussler and James Rollins would enjoy this book.

If there's one thing that //The Da Vinci Code// did for publishing, it's that it created a thirst for brainy historical treasure-hunt adventures like Adams' //The Alexander Cipher//. The story focuses on a number of characters - archaeologists, curious Americans, Macedonian separatists - all desperately seeking the lost tomb of Alexander the Great. Adams does an excellent job bringing the ambitions and motivations of each of the characters involved to a climactic knock-down, drag-out standoff in the desert. For readers uninterested in the minutiae of the life, death, and burial of Alexander the Great, the long-winded conversations of some characters may get tiresome after a page or three. Coincidence (and sheer dumb luck) plays a larger than strictly believable role in many crucial scenes. For all that, the thrill of the search and its intersection with the personal lives of the people involved, each driven by their demons of lost loves, fathers, countries, or children, is enough to drive readers to the end of the story. The good guys are good, the bad guys are bad, and sacrifice to own the treasures of the past is the highest calling of all - what more can be asked of an archaeological adventure? Reviewed by Michelle Kerns

In Alexandria, excavation of a site to construct a new hotel reveals the ruins of an ancient tomb. Construction manager Mohammed el-Dahab shuts down work to notify the authorities of the find as proscribed by Egyptian law. The Feds send archeologists to catalogue the tomb. The professionals quickly determine the artifacts come from the age of Alexander the Great. As a side consequence of an Alexander age discovery, there is renewed interest in finding the tomb of the Great Macedonian conqueror. As the fervor arises Daniel Knox works on a dive vessel in the Red Sea until his chivalrous nature gets him in trouble when the Good Samaritan rescues a woman from a sexual predatory mobster with money, connections and anger. Forced to flee, he rushes to Alexandria where he has a haven to hide in with an archeological friend Augustin until the Red Sea incident becomes forgotten. Daniel gets inside to see the new Alexandria tomb and realizes the greatness of the discovery because there are clues to where Alexander the Great was buried. He soon meets ancient Egyptian language expert Gaille Bonnard, who is part of a team working on an Alexander dig to the north. Before he knows what happened Daniel is in love and searching for Alexander's tomb. Although overwhelmed with too many subplots, THE ALEXANDER CIPHER is a terrific thriller that cleverly interweaves historical tidbits of Ancient Egypt and Macedonia during the Alexander era into the contemporary adventure. Readers will root for Knox, a sort of modern day Indiana Jones, who gets into one hot water situation after another until the audience assumes he is an over cooked hard boiled egg. Fans will enjoy his escapades in an entertaining brisk archeological thriller. Harriet Klausner