The Pharaoh Key by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Gideon Crew, Book 5

Synopsis: “I just want to be crystal clear about this: if it has value, we’re gonna steal it. Are you with me?”
Effective Engineering Solutions has been inexplicably shut down and the head of the company, Eli Glinn, has all but vanished. Fresh off a diagnosis that gives him only months to live, Gideon Crew is contacted by one of his coworkers at EES, Manuel Garza, who tells him the two have mere hours to collect their belongings before the office closes forever. After years of dedicated service and several high-risk missions, theirs seems like the most ignoble of terminations-until Gideon and Garza happen upon an incredible discovery. After centuries of silence, a code-breaking machine at EES has cracked the long-awaited translation of a centuries-old stone tablet, the Phaistos Disc, that dates back to an otherwise completely unknown, ancient civilization. The mysteries of the message itself hint at incredible treasures, and perhaps even a world-altering secret. No one remains at EES to take on this most remarkable mission but Gideon and Garza. The two agree to solve the mystery of the disc’s message and split the spoils: the perfect parting gift their employer doesn’t know he has given. What lies at the end of the trail may save Gideon’s life-or bring it to a sudden, shocking close. As Gideon and Garza soon discover, some missions are more dangerous than others. But as Gideon has proved again and again, there’s no such thing as too great a risk when you’re living on borrowed time.

Review: I really like the novels of both authors and if I did not read this series, I was eager to dive into it. If I have not read the previous novels, I did not think it was a problem and I must say that I really had a great time!

Gideon and Gaza cross the road of a very intriguing enigma. Indeed, they fall on a code which could well lead them to a treasure. But here it is, the place is in Egypt, in a forbidden zone, and lost in the middle of nowhere. Going there is a very complicated adventure, but our two heroes are determined to discover what lies behind all this, even if this journey will endanger their lives several times.

As usual, the authors managed to completely take me by their story and I loved discovering their ideas. The chapters are not very long and it’s very difficult to stop reading it. I love everything about Egypt, so I was delighted to be in this country and to find out what Gideon and Gaza were going through. Another character joins them and if, like Gaza, we suspect that something is not clear, I loved discovering more about Imogen too.

It was once again a great novel by both authors and I can only recommend you to get started! As for me, I really have to get the previous ones !!!