I will admit as the characters age and their children become more a part of the story I enjoy these books even more. Egypt is on the brink of war in 1914/15 and Ramses is to all appearances a conscientious objector, but really he is in the Great Game for British Intelligence. Emerson is trying his damnedest to do a dig, but the war and Peabody's meddling in other affairs keep getting in the way. And the Master Criminal shows up! This one was quite a bit of fun.