A few years earlier Knox met an Australian named Rick who was very interested in Knox’s knowledge of Egyptian archeology in addition to his diving skills. On a recent dive Rick had found a bit of jewelry that has a symbol associated with Alexander the Great. He wishes to explore the site where he found the item with a knowledgeable diver and Knox seems to fit the bill. In return Knox is able to expand Rick’s knowledge of Alexander to the extent that the proposed dive site looks very promising.

The nature of the terrain in Egypt is such that almost any construction that occurs these days unearths evidence of past civilizations. In Alexandria there are plans for a multimillion dollar hotel, which as digging commences shows evidence of an archeological site. The head of the construction is Mohammed El-Dahar, who, having lived in Egypt all his life with an adequate knowledge of archaeology knows he has uncovered something important. He also knows it is his duty to report his discovery to Supreme Council for Antiquities. However, if he does report his finding, he will almost certainly lose his construction job and he desperately needs money to pay for treatment for his ailing daughter.

These disparate scenarios each proceed at a rapid pace. While the only common link at first seems to be the setting, the characters lives soon intersect with each character’s needs and desires conflicting in somewhat amazing ways.

Although The Alexander Cipher is Will Adams first foray into the novel genre he has impressive writing credentials. He also either has an interest in Alexander the Great and Egyptian archaeology or has done some impressive research in that area. While writing an adequate thriller, he has treated his readers to a concise history of Alexander the Great’s time in Egypt and a synopsis of archaeology in Egypt as it pertains to Alexander. While the information does not flow seamlessly into the story, it is written carefully enough that even those readers with no background in the area can easily follow the history. In addition the protocol for archeological digs in Egypt is described giving the flavor of Egyptian bureaucracy at work.

As a first novel, The Alexander Cipher is not without its faults. The coincidences that occur which allow the main characters lives to intersect stretches the reader’s imagination. Deaths of family members, seemingly the result of other character's ineptitude, in more than one case are a bit implausible. Some of the situations involved in diving sequences are equally only short of fantastic. Knox, who is an accomplished diver doesn’t seem to take adequate precautions and promptly ends up in trouble.

While most thrillers are long on plot and short on character development, Adams makes an attempt to gives his characters more depth, though Knox is an enigma. He seems compassionate and caring, yet he loses his temper and comes close to killing a man. He appears thoughtful and then does something supremely stupid. Other characters seem ruthless as well in one scene, but do an about face in the next.

One of Knox’s enemies is at a distinct disadvantage. He has the use of (presumably) a trained tracking dog. Dog and handler are within a few feet of Knox and Rick though the dog fails to smell them. This does not seem at all probable.

As a thriller The Alexander Cipher has plenty of the correct ingredients. There is face to face confrontation between opposing sides, a great treasure as a prize, heartache for those who have lost or are fearful of impending loss of ones dear to them, as well as the usual greed and distain of the baddies who think themselves a breed apart. The upside is the treat of learning something about Alexander the Great, his presence in Egypt, and some of the unique difficulties in archaeological digs in Egypt.

--Andy Plonka