The Amarna Heresy

by John Scherber

Three archaeology grad students and their professor sidestep a riot in Cairo to arrive in el Amarna, the ancient capital of the Pharaoh Akhenaten for a routine dig. Sorting through mounds of limestone chips, they discover an intact royal tomb whose startling contents could set the western world on its ear. When a dark and sinister brotherhood gets wind of their find, a chase is set in motion across the dangerous wastes of Wadi Rum, in the northern Arabian desert, ending in a shattering climax in the Roman theater in Amman.
Is the world ready for the truth?

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 13, 2013

About the author

John Scherber, a Minnesota native, settled in México in 2007. He is the author of 15 Paul Zacher mysteries, (The Murder in México series), set in the old colonial hill town of San Miguel de Allende, as well as his three award-winning nonfiction accounts of the expatriate experience, San Miguel de Allende: A Place in the Heart, Into the Heart of Mexico: Expatriates Find Themselves Off the Beaten Path, and Living in San Miguel: The Heart of the Matter. In addition, two volumes of the Townshend Vampire Trilogy have appeared, and a paranormal thriller titled The Devil’s Workshop.
His work is known for its fast pace, irreverent humor, and light-hearted excursions into the worlds of art and antiques––always with an edge of suspense. Neither highbrow nor lowbrow, his books are written as entertainments and dedicated to the enjoyment of reading. While he has acknowledged being no single one of his characters, he also admits to being all of them.

Reviews

[Msgypsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not a Dan Brown epic

This was enjoyable enough. The characters are interesting, if sometimes inconsistent. There were a few things I wish had been fleshed out, especially about the professor. But it wasn't a bad book.

However, it reads like an early Dan Brown novel, but it lacks Brown's air of academia. Granted, these are grad students and not the world renowned symbologist of Brown's novels but I just think it would have benefited from some better academic exposition. I was once a grad student. Even I didn't take most of what the characters said all that seriously.

I'm putting some of Scherber's novels placed in Latin American on my to-read list. I think he has potential to keep me captivated, just not in this particular book.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three grad students, thinking they are being careful when they happen among a riot at Tahrir Square. Then on a dig they discover a find, an intact tomb. Wadi Rum into the desert, they are chased. Professor tells them, they have so much time, and with riots, they must keep to the dig. There may not be another chance to get over there.. They find themselves among terrorists, and bizarre events on way to Amman. Will what they encounter, be more real after they get home. A good plot, and adventure, to keep you to the end.

[Meg Onthemove Reading · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up! Which is something I rarely do but this was one of those books so totally unbelievable that it isn't even enjoyable: cardboard cut out characters, absolutely no understanding of archeology, characters who do a 180 in less time than it takes them to pee, a ludicrous understanding of police and security forces in Egypt, incredible stupidity (why would you trust the archeological community of Egypt when it's state controlled) .... Way too aggravating!

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good read. The story's plot involves three archaeology students on an archaeological cataloging trip to gain credits under the direction of their college professor. They are sorting limestone chips and find that there is a discrepancy between the origins of the chips in a particular area of the quarry. They remove the chips and find a sealed tomb. Thus begins the students' journey into an ethical as well as dangerous decision.

[Kathy Floyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Adventure

For three archaeology students, it was just supposed to be a routine dig sorting through limestone chips. But, then they found a dead body, then a royal grave... and from there, all hell broke loose! I truly enjoyed this book and hope there's another adventure with these three kids involved.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journey

All of life is a journey, some is following footsteps from the past. It falls to the future to catalogue the past. History is rewritten by the conquerors. Some journeys are fraught with misteps and holes. Secrets have owners.

[Karen Soud · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good and thought provoking read

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was mentally provocative and well paced. There were a few parts that needed editing for consistency but I would love to get read more from this author.

[Martin Hanlon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read

This work executes an entertaining premise. It is clunky at times. The character development not top notch. The plot moves at a steady pace and has some unpredictable elements.

[Peter M. O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Historical Fiction

This is a very good historical and dramatic read set in Egypt of the pharaohs and also of today! Fun read!

[Bruce Biggin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting and clever plot lines. Unfortunately plenty of loose threads at the end.