The Cleopatra Cipher

Adrian West Adventures #1

by L.D. Goffigan

The secrets of a powerful queen. A priceless treasure. A race against time...

Former FBI profiler turned professor Adrian West is in Rome for academic conference when she learns that her friend and colleague, Doctor Sebastian Rossi, has been abducted.

Her former partner, Nick Harper, believes that his disappearance is linked to stolen artifacts related to one of the most famous queens in history—Cleopatra.

When another of his colleagues is found murdered, and Adrian framed for the crime, it's a race against time from the streets of Rome and Cairo to the ancient temples of Egypt.

Adrian must prove her innocence, find Sebastian before it's too late, and stop a shadowy secret society from using the secrets of an ancient queen to cause the loss of countless lives...

For fans of James Rollins, Steve Berry and Dan Brown, start reading this fast-paced archaeological thriller now!

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Adventure, Fiction, Action, Suspense, Amazon

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2022

About the author

L.D. Goffigan writes fast-paced thrillers and action-adventure with historical intrigue.

She is passionate about history, adventure, thrillers, and hidden mysteries waiting to be uncovered…

She studied film and dramatic writing at New York University.When not writing, you can find her traveling to places she’s never been, reading the latest thriller which has her on the edge of her seat, watching a documentary about ancient mysteries, or seeking her next adventure.

Stay in touch and join the adventure—

subscribepage.com/ldgoffiganbooks

Reviews

[meghann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was such a fun ride. I really liked Adrian and Nick and following their journey to rescue her friend and solve the mystery behind Cleopatra's rumored missing treasure. I appreciate the author including a note on the historical facts. I feel like I came into this only knowing a little about Cleopatra, and now I want to read all I can on her. There was a great cast of characters in this and a very interesting group that Adrian had to face. I am so excited for book two and can't wait to see what they are up against next.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed the fast pace of the book. My biggest complaint was the tediousness and repetition of the events toward the end. Adrian and Nick, along with whatever companions they had at the moment kept discovering new clues about the treasure and new places to head. Every time this happened Yara received information from one of her innumerable moles and caught up with them. The good guys are captured and somehow manage to escape. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

298 pages

4 stars

Adrian West is a former FBI profiler. She left the FBI when the terrible cases became too overwhelming for her to continue.

Her former partner calls her one day and tells her that her friend and mentor Dr. Sebastian Rossi has been kidnapped. She rushes to join him to assist in any way she can.

So begins a fast-paced chase around the world. This book is filled with action, tension, priceless treasure and lots of bad guys.

The book is well written and the characters are interesting. I like that sufficient background information is given to flesh out the protagonists. I always like getting to know the characters.

The book is strongly reminiscent of James Rollins’ thrillers.

This is my first Ms. Goffigan novel and I will certainly be looking at her other books.

[Macarena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandonado al 70%. Es que ya ni cuesta arriba, era como escalar una montaña. Quizás no era el momento de leer este libro, no sé, pero no he conseguido engancharme ni un poquito. Así que para qué seguir con los artefactos de Cleopatra, los malos de serie B y los del FBI a remolque

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical fiction adventure as Adrian West, Nick and Julian in order to find Sebastian, try to find Cleopatra’s treasure. Nice fast read mixing fiction, action and adventure.

[Charity E. Beaudoin]

I was first intrigued by the title because I have always been enamoured with all things Egyptian, and I am so glad that I picked up this book. There has always been a mystery surrounding the place of Cleopatra's tomb and her treasures.

This is an excellent take on that mystery. Former FBI agent Adrian West is searching for her kidnapped friend, Dr. Sebastian Rossi. She teams up with her former partner, Nick, to help in her search. As their search intensifies, they realize they are up against an organization called the Daughters of Cleopatra, who want the treasure for their own nefarious means.

This is an action-packed story with ciphers and clues to solve from Ptolemaic Egypt. It takes you from Rome to Egypt to other surprising places to find the treasure. It leaves you even more curious as to the whereabouts of Cleopatra's true tomb and treasures.

[Tippi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cumple el cometido de distraer y divertir. Es lectura ligera pero la verdad es que a la mitad me empezó a aburrir y siento que ahí empezó el declive, porque la realidad es que empezó muy bien.

[Adam Peters · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of eye rolling moments...
I don't love it. I don't hate it, it is ok!, I don't like the story telling, a lot of emotion and description, like the author is using feelings and a bunch of unnecessary words to make a quota. I don't think we need to know what the characters are feeling every 2 1/2 seconds, stilling with pulses thrumming! I liked the concept of the story, secret societies and hidden messages with a bit of history thrown in, but I wish more thought had gone into the archaeology aspect of the novel and less about the chase. Way more information (made up or otherwise) on the secret society would have given the story another star, but the writing style let it down for me and makes for dull reading. Sorry but I expected way more and almost couldn’t wait till it was over. Not bad for a "first in series", but I don't think I'll go back to this.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a book similar to Dan Brown's novels but much shorter and with less detail, then this is it.
This story had a few interesting angles: the cover is gorgeous and the description caught my eye, not to mention the Daughters of Cleopatra (though made up) were soooooo cool.

However, I didn't care for Adrian West or Nick Harper.
Reasons being:
1.) West is a former FBI profiler (when aren't they?) who's left the field to pursue an academic career (much more interesting) but has a hard time letting go of what happened to her father 10 years previously (ugh, MOVE ON ALREADY!!).
2.) Harper is her former partner who now works in a different department (but really, he seems too good to be true).
3.) It's implied that there's some romantic vibes between the two when really it's not needed (KEEP IT OUT!!).

Sebastian and Julien were far more interesting and even Yara (despite what happened to her in the end) too. I wish that these three were the main characters.
The plot was good but lacked in sticking to it: finding Cleopatra's tomb instead of veering off course with different law agencies causing delays and looking at the wrong suspects. Besides that the Daughters (even though they were the most interesting part of the story) prone to violence was a little too much.
(Note: if you want to find something and you're part of a powerful secret organization, STOP killing off the people who can help you!!)

Despite my better judgement I'll try the next book. Goffigan's theories are what interest me, not the characters proving if they're true.

[Lyn Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrian West is a former FBI profiler, now making her mark in the world of academia and attending a conference in Rome when she finds our her beloved mentor and colleague Dr Sebastian Rossi has been abducted. Dr Rossi and West's interest in all things Eygptian including lost languages and relics has made their bond even more so. West helps to find Rossi when there are further crimes committed and a subsequent race between finding her colleague alive and ensuring that valuable history is not lost.

Goffigan takes the reader on a wonderous journey through the life and times of Cleopatra and her children and the linkages back to current times. Cleopatra was a strategic thinking woman in her time and she did whatever she could right up until her death to protect her children and their future and their standing in the world.

But did Cleopatria die when everyone thinks, where is her tomb, what clues did she leave behind?

This is where Goffigan builds a beautifully paced suspenseful story where West and her colleagues are in a race against time to discover Cleopatra's secrets that have remained untold for eternity and also ensure Dr Rossi is found safe and sound to return to his wife.

I enjoyed listening to the brilliantly narrated audio version of this book.

A brilliant read.

[Neelabh Pratap Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cleopatra Cipher by LD Goffigan is a gripping archaeological thriller reminiscent of Dan Brown and Steve Berry. The storyline reminds of "The Da Vinci Code" with an engaging protagonist, Adrian West, a former FBI profiler, who finds herself accused of murder and embarks on a thrilling journey across Greece, Egypt, and India.

The author's attention to historical detail is commendable, as the clues from Cleopatra-related artifacts add an exciting layer of depth to the plot. The fast-paced adventure is packed with a secret society, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout.

One aspect that stood out to me was how the action scenes were described - short and crisp, ensuring the story's momentum never waned. LD Goffigan truly knows how to keep readers hooked from start to finish.

I can't wait to see what happens next for Adrian West in the series. "The Cleopatra Cipher" has left me eager to get my hands on the next book. If you enjoy archaeological mysteries, captivating history, and action-packed thrillers, this book is a must-read!

[Stephanie Coniff · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad I browsed my Chirp audiobooks app and found this great and fast-paced archeological thriller!

Mini synopsis:
This is book 1 (of 5) in the adventures of FBI agent Adrian West, who teams up with agent Nick Walters to solve the mystery of the whereabouts of Cleopatra's tomb and lost treasure.

Adrian and Nick race to solve ciphers and clues with the help of Ptolemaic expert Professor Sebastian Rossi against an evil ancient organization called the Daughters of Cleopatra who seek the same, but for terroristic and greedy reasons.

Opinion:
I loved the pacing of the book and it's short and cliffhanging chapters! The narrator Amelia Hugh also deserves praise as she successfully (in my opinion) voiced many characters with various accents of both European, Asian, and African countries! I am really looking forward to continuing Adrian's adventures in the next book and this story really drew me in.

If you're a fan of Lara Croft or Indiana Jones-like adventures, this book is definitely for you!

A solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read. I wouldn't say to expect much. It's clearly an Indiana Jones/Angels and Demons dupe. But I don't think it's saying it's anything else (I hope). Predictable storyline, romantic or otherwise. But overall it's intriguing and suspenseful, to a point. It goes to some lengths to make you think that characters are dispensable so you're actually fearful for the main character or their love interest, but in the end it becomes clear that nothing can happen to anyone in this book and the Lara Croft type protagonist will eventually fix everything AND get the guy.

Overall I'd say that it's a fine airplane read but honestly I'm not sure I want to read the sequel so that doesn't bode well. If you're bored and have about 2.5 hours then enjoy this cheap thrill.

EDIT: I initially gave it 2 stars due to all the spelling and grammatical errors but will upgrade it to 3 simply because it appears to be self-published.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cleopatra Cipher - a review by Rosemary Kenny.

Robert Langdon-like MC, Doctor Sebastian Rossi, is kidnapped by a mysterious cult, The Daughters, who're determined to seize the treasure supposedly revealed by the code in a stolen Egyptian artefact. 


Can FBI Agents Adrian West and Nick Harper rescue Sebastian, as the body count rises and at least three lives are in peril? 

Who's Julien Caron?

An international treasure-hunt ensues, with all to play for, as the loser will pay with his or her life!
L.D. Goffigan and Craig Martelle weave a thrilling web of lies and betrayal, reaching to all levels of national and local security in The Cleopatra Cipher.

Get your copy today - and tell all your friends.


Recommended to fans of Kristi Belcamino and Dan Brown's novels, or Lara Croft movies.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, you get a call in the middle of the night from your former partner, telling you that a dear friend is now among the missing? What do you do?!? If you're Adrian West, you join that partner on an epic adventure to find the friend and solve a mystery of Cleopatra sized proportions! Sebastian Rossi is onto something - he has been searching for clues to the real hiding place of Cleopatra's lost treasure for quite some time and he thinks he's found clues leading to it. He's shared this information with two friends but suddenly he's kidnapped, his family under surveillance and threatened, one of the friends murdered. Adrian is on the hunt and found his hidden notes and knows that he's in grave danger and needs her help. She and her partner, Nick, along with a group of interesting side characters make this a fun romp of a read.

[Melissa Halbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my go to book while waiting to be seen for appointments or waiting for family in their appointments. While their are a few key points right from the beginning that affect the "flow" of the story (the text has been highlighted and highlighted again and again on Kindle so that the author has more context - see chapter 4 on Sebastian's hands being bound behind him and then suddenly, they are in front of him), this is a fast paced read, and overall I found it intriguing enough to keep reading. I have a deep and profound fondness for ancient history, and I was interested to see where the author would take this and I was excited to explore the depth of the research involved and wrapped into the story. The author did not disappoint, and I found myself on a wonderful adventure. I look forward to reading more upcoming books.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing journey to find Cleopatra!

If you’re looking for an exciting adventure, this book will keep you entertained. But beware, it may keep you up to the wee hours, as it did me! The characters, Adrian West and her partner FBI agent Nick Harper are joined by Julian are on the trail to deciphering clues hopefully leading them to Cleopatra’s tomb and treasure. But they are being pursued by an extraordinarily nasty woman, the head of a woman’s cult named Daughters of Cleopatra! I highly recommend this book for an exciting read! I received a free copy of this book and write this review voluntarily.

[Jodi Pomerleau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this Indiana Jones-Dan Brown thriller. Sebastien Rossi is kidnapped by a group intent on finding Cleopatra's long lost treasure to use as collateral to affect world change. Adrien West, a former FBI profiler and former student of Rossi, well versed in Egyptology, is called upon to help find him. This begins a race around the world to find the clues to the treasure and ultimately secure it before the bad guys do. It is a little farfetched but definitely in the realm of Indian Jones with a lot of action and where the good guys always come out on top. Very enjoyable and I would be happy to read another in the series.

[Teresa Cage · Rating 4 out of 5]

It book one is this good think of book 2

The author takes us on an incredible journey through the history of Cleopatra. Weaving fact and fiction to fit her story, our author fills the pages with action and adventure tossing in some archaeology too.

What I loved best is how she allows her characters to slowly reveal themselves to the reader. They can even be view with suspicion at times.

But in the end as the reader you agree where everyone stands. Tonight I’m stating Book 2 and I can’t wait.

[James Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

review of the Cleopatra Cipher by LD Goffigan

It’s always refreshing to find a new author that writes exiting adventure novels that stretch the imagination. I found myself immediate engrossed in the story line and the possibilities it suggested. In another life I could have been an archeologist but probably would not have had the patience required. A new hero emerges in this novel along with a host of supporting cast and characters including villains. It kept me guessing the whole time to the exciting conclusion. I highly recommend this book JJ

[Richard Gilbertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleopatras missing treasure, an ex FBI agent and a secret society. This is a fast paced thriller that could have been a 5* book but also wavered on being 3*s at times. There are moments of clumsy writing and some repetitious phrases that could have been solved by a reread and a thesaurus and the ‘deus ex machina’ moment nearly killed it for me, though it probably would have worked had the seeds been sown earlier rather than the ‘plot twist’ just being crowbarred in
Over all though an enjoyable read and I’ll probably pick up another book by this author at some point

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, Fast Paced Read

This is the 1st book in this series as well as the 1st book I have read by this author. From the 1st page until the last, this book held me captive. The character and world building was wonderful and the twists and turns within the storyline made the book's pace an exciting ride filled with adventure, danger and interesting historical information. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Stephanie Strazinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story! Convoluted but easy to follow. Lots of twists and turns. It was a quick and easy read. Not sure I felt the chemistry between the two main characters, but that will improve as the series goes on, I’m sure. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars was because i felt it needed a little more editing. Would totally recommend this if you’re a Dan Brown/National Treasure lover. Can’t wait to start the next in the series.

[Zachary Creasman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fun and entertaining and very fast paced, almost too much so. While the characters are interesting and enjoyable you barely get a chance to know them when the story races through at a breakneck pace. In fact most of the story occurs over only 2 days and the final conflict is over in only a few paragraphs. Goffigan could certainly benefit from expanding her characters so that there is more depth to them. I'm still intrigued to read more of these stories though.

[Sheila Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleopatra will for ever be a mystery

Adrian West was almost pulled in to the mystery of finding Sebastian he had been kidnapped as an archaeologist had interest in Cleopatra’s tomb while West is being pursued by the FBI for a murderer she didn't commit only to be shot at friends hurt and having to hide from the authorities. Its fast moving and exciting taking her and Nick also FBI across the world while being perused by a villain and the authorities. Well worth the read

[Kasey Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing story…

I wish this author had a better editor, the plot was great, but difficult to follow because of lack of punctuation and action mistakes. I finally gave up. I would love to read a second edition - after a GOOD editor helps the author clear up the errors. When characters running forward don’t land on their backs when tripped and people in fights actually suffer injuries from face punches and blows by paperweights.

[Iuliana Genunchi-Castillo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was fine. Its a quick summer read without much depth. Think DaVinci code but less interesting facts. It was an OK attempt at honing in on Cleopatra's story. Characters were shallow in my opinion. Everything happened so fast in the timeline of this story that it's a wonder these characters were not plain delusional. A little disappointed on the historical aspect, because i love ancient Egypt history and mysteries.

[Beth McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleopatra could have ...

This book moves fast, so it doesn't lose your attention, but it is also a book of history that has enough truth in it to keep you fascinated! Great take on what could have happened to Cleopatra and her enormous treasure. Whether you are a history buff or not, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat as you travel through this treasure hunt. Very well written.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would describe it as a "cozy thriller." Lots of action, historical puzzles and intrigue without all the violence or foul language. Maybe a little too tame? I certainly hope real agents, when faced with professional assassins, don't shoot suspects in the leg. If you like a good adventure but can't take all the R-rated series out there, give this one a try. I look forward to listening to the next book.

[Simon Gosselin · Rating 3 out of 5]

When former FBI agent turned professor Adrian West arrives in Rome for an academic conference, she learns that her friend and colleague, Doctor Sebastian Rossi, has been abducted and her former partner, Nick Harper, believes that his disappearance is linked to one of the most famous queens in history: Cleopatra.

This is an entertaining read with fast pace action and a very light Dan Brownesq feeling!