There is much in Ancient Egyptian history to fascinate young minds, from the mysteries of hieroglyphs to the Egyptian pantheon of glamorous deities, not forgetting the tombs and pyramids - and who better to explore them with than plucky Theodosia Throckmorton, an 11-year-old version of Elizabeth Peter's indomitable Amelia Peabody, except that Amelia can command attention with her trusty sharpened parasol and the authority of adulthood, whereas nobody takes Theo seriously, especially not her parents. Theo's father runs a museum of antiquities in Edwardian London (early 1900s, 1906 to be exact), while her American mother gallivants around Egypt uncovering new treasures for the museum in the Valley of the Kings and elsewhere. On the outside, Theo is ...