It is part of the 'Egyptian' series of novels by Smith and follows the exploits of the adventurer Nicholas Quenton-Harper and Dr. Royan Al Simma.

[2][3] This book is set in the present and follows the adventurer Nicholas Quenton-Harper and Egyptologist Dr. Royan Al Simma as they uncover the tomb of Tanus.

Royan heads to Britain and convinces an old friend of Duraid, Nicholas, of the existence of Pharaoh Mamose's tomb.

With the help of his right-hand man Jake Helm, Colonel Nogo of the Ethiopian military, and Duraid's former assistant under his command, he acquires a strong force that are willing to go to extreme lengths.

How Nicholas and Royan manage to find the tomb and escape from von Schiller forms the rest of the novel.