The Egyptian Stones book 2
Murray Bailey

Publication date: 6/3/26
SYNOPSIS
An ancient code. A deadly killer. A truth buried beneath the sands of time.
FBI Special Agent Charlie Rebb thought the Surgeon – a notorious serial killer – was a ghost from the past. But when a new series of murders erupts, each marked with strange, arcane symbols, the trail leads Rebb across continents to Egypt… and to a chilling revelation: the Surgeon has returned, and this time, his killings follow a pattern—one tied to a purpose more terrifying than anyone imagined.
Meanwhile, in Egypt, Alex MacLure has uncovered more encoded messages in ancient tablets. An ancient Egyptian was searching for a forgotten symbol. His name appears in a programme written by a brilliant AI student. The student reaches out with a wild theory – but before MacLure discovers the truth, he’s arrested for a murder he didn’t commit.
Thrown together by fate and hunted by forces beyond their understanding, Rebb and MacLure must unlock an ancient secret. They must stop the Surgeon before he unleashes a plan, millennia in the making.
MY REVIEW
Another absolutely cracking thriller from one of my must read authors. Murray never fails to serve up fast paced addictive thrillers which always keep me awake well past bedtime.
In Mark of Eternity Murray cleverly weaves a present day FBI hunt for a serial killer together with an Egyptologist searching for an ancient Egyptian secret. This is one for DaVinci Code fans.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this new series, The Heretic Cypher, and in this second book (which can be read as a stand alone) we continue to follow young Egyptologist Alex MacLure on his quest to decipher ancient stone tablets and reveal their hidden secrets. He becomes a person of interest to the police, and is arrested on suspicion of murder.
FBI agent Charlie Rebb is chasing a serial killer who has fled from Atlanta to Egypt. He has been given the name ‘The Surgeon’ because he has a precise way he murders his victims, leaving a strange mark behind. She must work with the local police in Egypt, who do not make her feel exactly welcome.
The two storylines are seamlessly brought together when the investigating local police officer realises there is a connection between the two cases.
Absolutely fascinating storyline, as both Alex and Chris follow leads, taking them right into the heart of the pyramids and secrets which lead back to the pharaohs.
Absolutely recommend this series, along with everything else Murray has written!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Murray Bailey Is the author of the Ash Carter thrillers, inspired by his father’s experience in the Royal Military Police in Singapore in the early 1950s. From the prequel series, based in Cyprus and Israel, The Prisoner of Acre won the 2025 Page Turner Award. A post-Singapore series is based in the Philippines. The Heretic Cypher is the first book of a trilogy featuring a young Robert Langdon-type character decrypting secret messages written by an ancient Egyptian.
Murray is well traveled, having worked in the US, South America and a number of European countries throughout his career as a management consultant. However he also managed to find the time to edit books, contribute to articles and act as a part-time magazine editor.
Murray was born in Manchester and now lives on the south coast of England with his family and two dogs, Teddy and Muffin.





















