The Rosetta Key (Ethan Gage Series #2) » (Reprint)

William Dietrich is the author of eight novels, which have sold in twenty-eight languages, as well as several works of nonfiction. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, historian, and naturalist, and teaches at Western Washington University.

Surviving murderous thieves, a nerve-racking sea voyage, and the deadly sands of Egypt with Napoleon's army, American adventurer Ethan Gage solved a five-thousand-year-old riddle with the help of a mysterious medallion. But the danger is only beginning...

Gage finds himself hurled into the Holy Land in dogged pursuit of an ancient Egyptian scroll imbued with magic, even as Bonaparte launches his 1799 invasion of Israel, which will climax at the epic siege of Acre. Pursuing Napoleon to France, where the general hopes ancient secrets will catapult him to power, the wily and inventive Gage faces old enemies with unlikely new friends, and must use wit, humor, derring-do, and an archaeological key to prevent dark powers from seizing control of the world.

Entertaining and vividly evocative, The Rosetta Key is William Dietrich at his fast-paced, cliff-hanger best. For lovers of stirring historical adventure laden with intriguing mystery and puzzles galore...

Publishers Weekly

The packaging of this audiobook says "performed by Jeff Woodman," and does he ever perform! Woodman executes a variety of accents in both sexes as he brings to life this rollicking Indiana Jones-like story of an adventurer in search of ancient secrets, and the woman he loves, set during Napoleon's attempted conquest of Palestine and Egypt. Woodman creates a memorable first-person protagonist in American Ethan Gage, who remains likable despite his many foibles, con-artist morals, frankly admitted cowardice and frequent use of annoyingly folksy similes. Woodman also pulls off convincing French, British and Arabic voices. His pacing never flags through the endless twists, turns and hair-raising escapes that make up this treasure-hunting tale. This enjoyable audio should be accompanied by a large bowl of popcorn. A Harper hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 18). (May)

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