It begins in 1353 BC with a very confusing prologue. The following interlude in 1798 is equally confusing. That contemporary intro didn't pull together about the ship that sets off the toxic cloud.
There's, however, an interesting summary of back history on the military-industrial complex of Egypt. The one that ruled the country from 1952 until the Rebellion in 2011.Clive Cussler has a flair to weave history into his contemporary stories. That bit about the Italian spies was one of those tidbits that brings an extra depth to the overall story.
Kurt and his most trusted friend, Joe, find themselves tangled with a ruthless powerbroker scheming to build a new Egyptian empire as glorious as those of the Pharaohs.Part of their adversary's plan rests on the manipulation of a newly discovered aquifer beneath the Sahara, but an even more devastating weapon at his disposal may threaten the entire world - a plant extract known as the black mist, discovered in the City of the Dead and rumoured to have the power to take life from the living and restore it to the dead.
With the balance of power in Africa and Europe on the verge of tipping, Kurt, Joe, and the rest of the NUMA team will have to fight hard all the way to discover the truth behind the legends - but to do that, they have to confront in person the greatest legend of them all - Osiris, the ruler of the Egyptian underworld.When a toxic cloud puts Lampedusans into a deadly coma, Kurt and the NUMA team respond to the distress call for help. They must struggle to understand what has caused this disaster. As they investigate the incident further they uncover a far greater threat.
This is an example of what Tariq Shakir is willing to do to control North Africa and is only part of a diabolical plan to bring these desert countries to their knees, by controlling the water supply.The Cussler stories are always good adventuresome fun. And The Pharaoh’s Secret is no exception. With their ability to use a blend of ancient, recent and present mysteries, the authors weave an ensnaring and fairly plausible net of intriguing threads that always come together, ensuring a nail biting finale.