MANFREDI, Valerio Massimo - Pharaoh - (Paperback)

Book still in a very good condition.   >>>     A rip-roaring archaeological adventure from the master of historical fiction. Jerusalem, 586BC, the Kingdom of Judah is on the verge annihilation by the Babylonians. In the chaos the Prophet Jeremiah rushes to save the sacred Ark of the Covenant. As he locates the preordained hiding place which will make it impossible to be found, he makes a terrible discovery . . . The Middle East, in the early 2000s. William Blake, a renowned Egyptologist has been called in to oversee the discovery of an amazing, magnificent and strange tomb of a Pharaoh many miles from the Valley of the Kings, located in a militarily sensitive spot. His research will lead him to an amazing and world shattering discovery concerning Moses and the tribes of the Israelites and their flight from the land of Egypt. 'Manfredi . . . shows silly old Dan Brown how it should be done'  (Daily Express)         I expected this to be an average read but thoroughly enjoyed it.  Disgraced Egyptologist William Blake is approached by a mining company to investigate an untouched tomb they've discovered whilst drilling in the Middle East.  He isn't told where he's going and everyone seems a little cagey.  The tomb turns out to be that of a pharaoh, but why was he buried so far from the Valley of the Kings?  William begins his investigations into the identity of the pharaoh and soon realizes that he's hit on something that will shake the foundations of the Christian world.  People in high places are plotting for his silence and he ends up in grave danger.  Meanwhile, around him, a war is raging between the Israelis and surrounding Muslim countries which adds to the danger.   -   A cracking good read.   -   A new author to me, but one I'd be prepared to read more of.    (Aileen on Goodreads)