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The Giza Cipher
A stolen artifact. A tempting puzzle. A global catastrophe.
In this explosive sequel to The Hermit Kingdom, Shane Riley, indomitable retrieval specialist, finds himself on a new high-stakes mission. A stolen artifact – an ancient relic shrouded in mysteries and encoded with a cryptographic puzzle – has landed in the wrong hands.
Riley's objective is clear yet recover the relic and solve the enigmatic code...
...Before it sets off a catastrophic global event.
When an underground black-market dealer known only as Vyse — clearly an historical throwback — targets the Great Pyramid of Menkaure, he has more in mind than a simple burglary. The relic he snatches contains a deadly cipher, an ancient puzzle linked to the mysteries of the stars, and it harbors the potential to shake civilizations to their core.
With every intelligence agency in the world on the hunt, only one man can beat them to the Shane Riley.
Riley, still bearing the emotional scars from his previous mission, has sworn off retrieval operations involving people, preferring the company of inanimate, less complicated objects. But as he delves into the complexities of the Giza Cipher, he soon realizes that it's more than just an object. It's a ticking time bomb, and time is running out.
Thrown into a shadowy world of conspiracy and danger, Riley navigates cryptic clues, historical mysteries, and treacherous adversaries. As he follows the relic's trail across the globe, he uncovers a shocking connection to his own past. This journey will challenge everything he knows about himself and the world around him.
The Giza Cipher is an adrenaline-charged adventure that combines cryptology, history, and non-stop action. It's a race against the clock where the past and present collide, and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
In this explosive sequel to The Hermit Kingdom, Shane Riley, indomitable retrieval specialist, finds himself on a new high-stakes mission. A stolen artifact – an ancient relic shrouded in mysteries and encoded with a cryptographic puzzle – has landed in the wrong hands.
Riley's objective is clear yet recover the relic and solve the enigmatic code...
...Before it sets off a catastrophic global event.
When an underground black-market dealer known only as Vyse — clearly an historical throwback — targets the Great Pyramid of Menkaure, he has more in mind than a simple burglary. The relic he snatches contains a deadly cipher, an ancient puzzle linked to the mysteries of the stars, and it harbors the potential to shake civilizations to their core.
With every intelligence agency in the world on the hunt, only one man can beat them to the Shane Riley.
Riley, still bearing the emotional scars from his previous mission, has sworn off retrieval operations involving people, preferring the company of inanimate, less complicated objects. But as he delves into the complexities of the Giza Cipher, he soon realizes that it's more than just an object. It's a ticking time bomb, and time is running out.
Thrown into a shadowy world of conspiracy and danger, Riley navigates cryptic clues, historical mysteries, and treacherous adversaries. As he follows the relic's trail across the globe, he uncovers a shocking connection to his own past. This journey will challenge everything he knows about himself and the world around him.
The Giza Cipher is an adrenaline-charged adventure that combines cryptology, history, and non-stop action. It's a race against the clock where the past and present collide, and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
- GenresThriller
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 20, 2024
100 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Nick Thacker
109 books442 followersNick Thacker is a thriller author from Texas who lives in Hawaii. In his free time, he enjoys reading in a hammock on the beach, skiing, drinking whiskey, and hanging out with his beautiful wife, two dogs, and two daughters.
For more information, visit Nick online at www.nickthacker.com
In addition to his fiction work, Nick is the founder and lead of Sonata & Scribe, the only music studio focused on producing “soundtracks” for books and series. Find out more at www.SonataAndScribe.com.
In addition to his fiction work, Nick is the founder and lead of Sonata & Scribe, the only music studio focused on producing “soundtracks” for books and series. Find out more at www.SonataAndScribe.com.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 13, 2025
Egypt can be a Dangerous Place
The Giza Cypher, by Nick Thacker, is a labyrinthine story as full of seemingly dead-end tunnels and double-crossing agents as the great edifice for which they are searching. The legendary Osiris' Pyramid is getting closer to being found.
Thacker throws together the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and all of their security forces against a scheming woman who sees only dollar signs and several real archaeologists and various hangers-on. Oh, and did I mention the death cultist's protecting the Pyramid from being found?
What happens in and around the Pyramid is under the category of spoilers and will therefore not be discussed in this book review. I can say that you should probably take notes.
What a combination of a mystery to be solved, a high-stakes thriller, and a Harry Potter live chess game. If you're like me, you will be bouncing back and forth trying to figure out who's on first. Such a fun read and one with an ending you'll never see coming.
Another Nick Thacker novel and another happy reader. Wouldn't you like to join the group?
The Giza Cypher, by Nick Thacker, is a labyrinthine story as full of seemingly dead-end tunnels and double-crossing agents as the great edifice for which they are searching. The legendary Osiris' Pyramid is getting closer to being found.
Thacker throws together the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and all of their security forces against a scheming woman who sees only dollar signs and several real archaeologists and various hangers-on. Oh, and did I mention the death cultist's protecting the Pyramid from being found?
What happens in and around the Pyramid is under the category of spoilers and will therefore not be discussed in this book review. I can say that you should probably take notes.
What a combination of a mystery to be solved, a high-stakes thriller, and a Harry Potter live chess game. If you're like me, you will be bouncing back and forth trying to figure out who's on first. Such a fun read and one with an ending you'll never see coming.
Another Nick Thacker novel and another happy reader. Wouldn't you like to join the group?
September 22, 2024
The Giza Cipher seems to be an action-adventure story with an Indiana Jones-ish element sprinkled in. Many pages are given to chasing, racing, attacking, shooting, double-crossing, and hiding. For me it seemed like the “good- guys” were in various stages of trying to figure out what to do next, with no clear leader for the first half of the story.
As the story progressed the “good-guys” and “bad-guys” began to separate themselves into distinct objectives which helped to explain earlier actions and gave a more three-dimensional view of each character’s interests. However, it seemed as though what should have taken just a few pages to describe or narrate, dragged on like someone stretching a rubber band.
The Giza / Orion element of this story is one that the History Channel’s “Ancient Aliens” has touched on, but this story certainly adds several intriguing variants to that speculation.
As the story progressed the “good-guys” and “bad-guys” began to separate themselves into distinct objectives which helped to explain earlier actions and gave a more three-dimensional view of each character’s interests. However, it seemed as though what should have taken just a few pages to describe or narrate, dragged on like someone stretching a rubber band.
The Giza / Orion element of this story is one that the History Channel’s “Ancient Aliens” has touched on, but this story certainly adds several intriguing variants to that speculation.
July 28, 2024
The search for Osiris' tomb is perilous and unpredictable
Jack, an archeologist with a theory about the location of undiscovered pyramids, Isiah, a student archeologist, Shane, an article retriever and Lydia a mysterious woman with special talents who Shane met before, are thrust into a desperate search for these uncovered pyramids. A radical group steeped in history and a corrupt Egyptian minister are both trying to find the same pyramids -simultaneously trying to kill them and use the four to find the pyramids - especially the one that is the resting place of Osiris.
There is much violence, hints of romance, oodles of intrigue and suspense with a historical backdrop and potential looting of ancient artifacts.
An entertaining and enjoyable read.
Jack, an archeologist with a theory about the location of undiscovered pyramids, Isiah, a student archeologist, Shane, an article retriever and Lydia a mysterious woman with special talents who Shane met before, are thrust into a desperate search for these uncovered pyramids. A radical group steeped in history and a corrupt Egyptian minister are both trying to find the same pyramids -simultaneously trying to kill them and use the four to find the pyramids - especially the one that is the resting place of Osiris.
There is much violence, hints of romance, oodles of intrigue and suspense with a historical backdrop and potential looting of ancient artifacts.
An entertaining and enjoyable read.
July 23, 2024
The Giza Cipher - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Move over Indiana!
Shane Riley's the new guy in town, helping uncover a mind-blowing ancient treasure within a subterranean location.
Of course, along the way there's a pseudo cult leader, a megalomaniacal General and a female assassin, who each has their own self-seeking agenda
...trying to kill Shane, while using Egyptology Professor Jack Swain and Isaiah Howe, a young archaeologist with a mysterious past, as guides.
Nick Thacker's The Giza Cipher is a riveting adventure thriller, guaranteed to grip you firmly by the imagination throughout. Grab a copy today & tell all your friends not to miss out!
Move over Indiana!
Shane Riley's the new guy in town, helping uncover a mind-blowing ancient treasure within a subterranean location.
Of course, along the way there's a pseudo cult leader, a megalomaniacal General and a female assassin, who each has their own self-seeking agenda
...trying to kill Shane, while using Egyptology Professor Jack Swain and Isaiah Howe, a young archaeologist with a mysterious past, as guides.
Nick Thacker's The Giza Cipher is a riveting adventure thriller, guaranteed to grip you firmly by the imagination throughout. Grab a copy today & tell all your friends not to miss out!
August 4, 2024
This book, like the other thriller series I've been reading, is fun and sometimes informative -- the authors actually do some research. However, they are all flawed to some degree by a lack of editing -- probably no editing at all. This one was particularly flawed -- so many incorrect words, sentence fragments, etc. Actually enough errors to really detract from the story. At more than one point, the author forgot what he wrote at the beginning of a sentence only to contradict that later in the same sentence. My favorite was when one of the characters heard the "retort" of a gun. Sigh
November 27, 2025
Lots Of Surprises
If it's a book about Shane Riley, it's going to have lots of mystery and shooting, people dying. This book is so much better than the first one. Still lots of death. Some off scene, but fictional people are dying.
This is very much an archaeology thriller. The mysteries start right at the beginning, and don't let up until the very end. A very satisfying end.
I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.
If it's a book about Shane Riley, it's going to have lots of mystery and shooting, people dying. This book is so much better than the first one. Still lots of death. Some off scene, but fictional people are dying.
This is very much an archaeology thriller. The mysteries start right at the beginning, and don't let up until the very end. A very satisfying end.
I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.
August 28, 2024
A worthy parallel with Kevin Tumlinson's sagas.
Hoping that this novel about archaeology, in Egypt no less! is not the only one, I've enjoyed the personages, the pace, and the intrincated plot.
I'll see for another one soon.
Thank you Mr. Thacker.
Monica Beltrami, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Hoping that this novel about archaeology, in Egypt no less! is not the only one, I've enjoyed the personages, the pace, and the intrincated plot.
I'll see for another one soon.
Thank you Mr. Thacker.
Monica Beltrami, Montevideo, Uruguay.
August 17, 2024
A man walks into a bar... And chaos ensues!
Shane Ripley is quietly taste testing different ginger beers when a frightened young Middle Eastern young man comes in asking "Mr. Riley?" as the place explodes with gunfire!
Shane Ripley is quietly taste testing different ginger beers when a frightened young Middle Eastern young man comes in asking "Mr. Riley?" as the place explodes with gunfire!
August 21, 2024
Little bit of Indiana Jones
Shane makes for an interesting character, complex but simple minded. He gets hooked into a big plot for some Egyptian god and fights for survival. Well thought out and written
Shane makes for an interesting character, complex but simple minded. He gets hooked into a big plot for some Egyptian god and fights for survival. Well thought out and written
November 26, 2024
Excellent read!
Exciting, interesting, informative! Held my attention all the way through. I hurried back to it each time I had to put it down. Thank you, Mr. Thacker for such a good read.
Exciting, interesting, informative! Held my attention all the way through. I hurried back to it each time I had to put it down. Thank you, Mr. Thacker for such a good read.
August 28, 2025
loved the story, style and suspense!
Very engaging and compelling. Having been to Egypt twice leading Biblical tour groups, it was familiar and fascinating. Plot lines and characters were so engaging and memorable I could hardly put it down. I recommend The Giza Cipher highly!
Very engaging and compelling. Having been to Egypt twice leading Biblical tour groups, it was familiar and fascinating. Plot lines and characters were so engaging and memorable I could hardly put it down. I recommend The Giza Cipher highly!
November 3, 2025
Gripping Story
I was not sure if I would enjoy this book but how wrong can you be. I burned the midnight oil as it was so gripping. It just got better and better l could not get to the end fast enough .
I was not sure if I would enjoy this book but how wrong can you be. I burned the midnight oil as it was so gripping. It just got better and better l could not get to the end fast enough .
September 26, 2024
Another winner
I have read most of his books, and have yet to be even slightly disappointed. Keep the storytelling coming. All characters all the plots never become boring. Thanks
I have read most of his books, and have yet to be even slightly disappointed. Keep the storytelling coming. All characters all the plots never become boring. Thanks
March 23, 2025
Great story
If you have any interest in Egyptian history, you will truly enjoy this novel. Mystery, suspense, and intrigue. This book has it all.
If you have any interest in Egyptian history, you will truly enjoy this novel. Mystery, suspense, and intrigue. This book has it all.
December 3, 2025
Excellent action filled thriller with interesting characters and plot. Thought provoking theories about Egypt and the pyramids.
Ready for the next adventure.
Ready for the next adventure.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews