Intended as the first book in a proposed trilogy Bailey's 'The Heretic Cypher' follows intrepid math and Egyptology whiz Alex MacLure as he struggles to decipher hidden meanings and clues left behind by a close friend who just may have been murdered for what she knew about an ancient tomb.

There's a nice mix of fiction and history on display here, and the narrative moves quickly (sometimes a bit too much so) with the conspiratorial angles providing just the right amount of danger and intrigue.

I will confess to not completely following some of the ancient reveals laid out by Bailey, to the point where I wasn't fully comprehending 'the secret that could rock the foundations of faith' that the cover blurb promised. There was, however, plenty of old maps and papyrus scrolls and fast-paced math to soften those edges.

RIYL archeology-centric adventures and cryptic puzzle solving...

Author has blended Egyptian mythology with mystery. The writing is flawless and characters are multifaceted. The plot is multilayered. Alex’s friend is found dead and her death has shook him. But the thing that surprised him most is the messages and hidden codes left by her. The more he is getting close to the mystery and the more dangerous it is becoming for him. There are betrayals, secrets, mystery, secret organisation and there is so much going on beneath the surface. Alex is oblivion to everything that is happening around him.

Read the book to know if Alex will suffer the same fate as his friend and what will happen when centuries old buried truth will come out.

4.5/5

Thanks to the Publisher.