The Alexander Cipher (2007)

Will Adams has written an entertaining, if perhaps not profound thriller in his debut novel, The Alexander Cipher. Perhaps the strongest element is the introduction of his protagonist, Daniel Knox. He is an archaeologist, who as the novel opens, has come upon hard times and has perhaps been almost literally drummed out of the profession or at the very least has become something of a pariah. To pay the bills he works for an unsavory shipping magnate, Hassan al-Assyuti, as a diver instructor—an occupation that allows him to continue dabbling in underwater archaeology in the area off the Sinai Peninsula. Knox earns the murderous wrath of Hassan by humiliating the industrialist and quickly finds himself on the run in an attempt to evade Hassan’s hired thugs. He flees to Alexandria, Egypt, where he hopes to hide out with his old friend and fellow archaeologist, Augustin Pascal. . . .

. . . The final denouement is exciting, imaginative and just a bit goofy, but in its totality this is a very entertaining adventure-thriller. Adams works in a good bit of Macedonian and Alexandrine history while at the same time maintaining a break-neck pace of action—but never without real purpose. But perhaps his most notable achievement is in the creation of the protagonist, Daniel Knox, who can be dashing, brave and honorable but can also display weakness of character and a ready eye for the main chance.