Quick Summary: A hmm-eureka-what mystery/thriller

My Review: The Heretic Chapter by Murray Bailey is book 1 of Egyptian Stones series. It is scheduled for release on 7/25/25.

About the Book: "BENEATH THE SANDS OF EGYPT LIES A SECRET THAT COULD SHAKE THE FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH.

When Egyptologist Alex MacLure’s friend and mentor dies he’s stunned to discover she’s left a message—hidden, encoded, and meant only for him.

She was murdered for what she discovered.

Now he’s the next target."

In My Own Words: It all begins with a secret. A mysterious death follows. Clues, codes, calls, and clandestine meet ups come next. Can Alex figure out what is really going on before it's too late, or will he get unalived like his best friend?

About the Characters:

- Ellen's introduction and lingering presence set the story up and kept it going so well.

- Alex, the lead character, was textured in a way that made him appealing. He was brilliant, but he was also clueless. He was too trusting. Even though he was open and transparent, he was also closed and obtuse, in a sense. It was a strange dichotomy.

- The Sups (supporting cast) positioned themselves in the light and in the dark. The whole time I read, I was trying to figure out their angles and how they fit into the mystery at large.

My Final Say: I will admit that this was a very entertaining read. I was immediately drawn into the story. The intrigue and suspense, the ongoing action and the ever present tension, and the character placement and movement made the story highly engaging. I became excited by what was revealed, as well as by what was buried in the unknown. I liked it.

Other: Readers who enjoy stories with Egyptian antiquity and mythology, stories involving history and archaeology, stories steeped in crime fiction, and stories containing thrilling action should like this novel.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 💬🕵👍
Series: Yes
Note: This would do well as an audiobook.

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Heritage Books UK | Three Daggers), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own thoughts and opinions. I am grateful for the opportunity.

The Heretic Cypher was a complete surprise—and a very welcome one. I received an advance copy via NetGalley and, although this was my first time reading anything by Murray Bailey, it certainly won’t be the last.

Bailey expertly blends historical intrigue with modern thrills, weaving a compelling narrative that kept me hooked from the first page. The pacing is razor-sharp, the research meticulous, and the twists genuinely satisfying. I was especially impressed by the layered storytelling—rich with codes, secrets, and a sense of danger that felt both immediate and intellectually engaging.

If you’re a fan of smart, fast-paced thrillers with historical depth (think The Da Vinci Code but sharper and more grounded), this one’s for you. Highly recommended.

An interesting read about ancient Egypt and untold secrets. Lots of Egyptian history and the role of numbers. Very detailed in parts and attention was needed to follow. Not a quick read but interesting.

If Dan Brown and a BBC crime drama had a baby that was raised on conspiracy theories and museum field trips, The Heretic Cypher would be it.

Murray Bailey delivers a fast-paced, twisty mystery full of secret societies, ancient manuscripts, and just enough theological spice to keep me flipping pages past bedtime. Is it as layered or literary as a Dan Brown novel? Not quite. But it is a lot of fun—and let’s be real, sometimes I just want a wild ride with a side of ancient secrets.

Some of the twists I clocked early (cue dramatic head tilt and whispered I knew it), but a few genuinely caught me off guard, which is always a delight. The pacing moves like it’s being chased, the settings are vivid, and while the characters lean a bit tropey at times, they’re still engaging enough that I already want to see where they go next.

Definitely a solid read for fans of puzzle-box plots and high-stakes historical mysteries. I’ll be grabbing the sequel for sure.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review—this one scratched the code-cracking, relic-hunting itch I didn’t realize I still had.

When Alex MacLure's friend is found dead in a tragic gas explosion he is devastated, even more when it's discovered that Ellen was actually murdered, could it have something to do with the research she had been doing.

Whilst fast paced, I found the start especially woolly and in one chapter, Alex seemed to be at home, then appeared to be in the park with his dog, the scene just jumped, I had to read it a few times to make sure I hadn't missed a paragraph out.

I understand far fetched books, you have to suspend disbelief but would you really just go off with a stranger after you had been shot at? Also would you trust a person who is a proven liar, not once but multiple times?

A character who was at the beginning of the book and quite relevant just disappeared and was never mentioned again.

Whilst I admire the research that went into the book, I didn't enjoy it and found it laborious unfortunately

Thanks to Netgalley and Heritage Books UK for the advanced copy of this book.

BENEATH THE SANDS OF EGYPT LIES A SECRET THAT COULD SHAKE THE FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH

When Egyptologist Alex MacLure’s friend and mentor dies he’s stunned to discover she’s left a message—hidden, encoded, and meant only for him.

With a mysterious artifact and a trail of cryptic symbols, Alex is thrust into a deadly race against time. What begins as a quest to finish her research quickly spirals into a chilling conclusion: her death was no accident. She was murdered for what she discovered.

Now he’s the next target.

Hunted by a ruthless adversary, Alex finds himself swept from the academic halls of London to the heart of Egypt’s oldest sites.

As he races to decode a forgotten truth buried beneath centuries of deception, powerful enemies close in—willing to kill to protect a secret—a revelation so explosive, it could rewrite everything we know about ancient Egypt and religion.

I found this book contained too much math description. Also I thought I was dry, too technical. 2.5 out of 5 ⭐️

An interesting book but just a little too much math discussion. I know it is part of the plot but was overdone. I did like the story and characters

This was a nonstop thriller from London to Egypt, modern times to ancient. There was barely time to pause for breath because something was always happening, the plot moving along at a enjoyable pace.

Alex, our MMC was way too trusting. It was almost refreshing but at the same time there were moments when I wanted to reach inside the book and slap him silly for trusting either yet another brand new character or someone he knows has betrayed him at least once. Yet somehow it was endearing, he is a math nerd who just likes puzzles and history and gushing about stuff. He needed to be protected. And hugged. He was a refreshingly different hero, and a good character overall.

It was perhaps best not to think too deeply on the plot. It went in alternate directions for me - there were moments when it was got really deep into the history, into the math and then there were moments when you just really shouldn't think too hard. Its strange to read a popcorn action adventure and a historical event in one. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

I'm not really sure how I feel about the shadowy group behind a lot of it, but by and large it was a good story.

The book title and description promise a clever code straight from King Tut's tomb. But there's not much clever about the writing of this novel. Lots of unnecessary prose and descriptions that neither add to the character- or plot development. Prose is confused and at times difficult to follow; littering the pages with unnecessary information, vague characters (both primary and a whole storehouse of minor characters), and indiscernible character relationships.

The characters' descriptions, motives and actions are often confusing. One minute a character is trembling and about to faint and a few paragraphs later the character is a quick thinker and controlled under pressure. Our hero is an accountant, an Egyptologist (student? Researcher? not a teacher), a cryptographer? Doesn't seem to have a job. Access, but with no real reason why.

Our hero tears off from London in the middle of the night on a 4-hour round trip journey to Highclere Castle (of Downton Abbey fame) for a clandestine search that could easily have been undertaken during opening hours without any secrets at all. Hiding information from the police for no apparent reason. Press mobs showing up for no discernible reason. Is our hero famous? Our victim? No.

The author seems to have read some mystery thrillers and mushed all the different tropes together. At times this book seems to be a poorly researched police procedural. At other times, a "da Vinci Code" want-a-be. Then out of no where, toss in the idea of the Polish mafia and espionage - ???! The book is a wild ride but not in a good way. More like waking up in a tumble drier.

I really enjoyed THE HERETIC CYPHER by Murray Bailey! Think National Treasure meets The DaVinci Code but have it based on Egyptian history/lore. It’s a fast paced adventure with lots of fun puzzle clues along the way, and grabbed my interest right from the start.

Egyptologist Alex MacLure’s friend (and one-time romantic partner) is murdered. But before she died, shed hidden a clue for him to find so he could finish her research. While he is trying to solve the (many) riddles and translations of what she was working on, people are on the hunt to stop him.

I really liked all these factual information about ancient Egypt woven into the storyline. It’s obvious that Bailey took the time to really research when writing this book…which I appreciate.

If you like a fun adventure with just enough suspense and action (along with just a touch of romance)…I highly recommend! I’ll definitely be checking out the next book in the planned series when it’s released!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and netgalley for this Advanced Reader Copy provided in exchange for my honest opinion.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date- July 25, 2025

A great thriller about ancient Egypt and an untold secret. I was fascinated with the story. The book will keep the reader engaged until the end.

Thank you NetGalley for a pre-release of The Heretic Cypher by Murray Bailey.

National Treasure meetings Egyptology. This fast paced thrilled will have you on the edge of your seat. Who’s friend, who’s foe, and what mystery did the murdered friend, Ellen leave behind? This novel kept me guessing until the very end. Murray Bailey rivals the suspense and action of Steve Berry.

The Heretic Cypher by Murray Bailey is exactly up my alley. National Treasure/Da Vinci Code but make it Egyptian, and I couldn't have needed that more at the time. It's a super fast read, as the action and main issue happen immediately, so I was hooked and had to find out the mystery. I absolutely loved getting the clues, puzzles, and secrets, plus the look at history as well as the historical conspiracies. All things the I love. There were parts that were pretty predictable but maybe I read too much in the genre. The MC is naive and trusting to the point of it being a frustrating reoccurrence, hence the 4 stars instead of 5, but still a hit with me.

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.