When Egyptologist Alex MacLure’s friend and mentor dies he’s stunned to discover she’s left a message—hidden, encoded, and meant only for him.
With a mysterious artifact and a trail of cryptic symbols, Alex is thrust into a deadly race against time. What begins as a quest to finish her research quickly spirals into a chilling conclusion: her death was no accident. She was murdered for what she discovered.
Now he’s the next target.
Hunted by a ruthless adversary, Alex finds himself swept from the academic halls of London to the heart of Egypt’s oldest sites.
As he races to decode a forgotten truth buried beneath centuries of deception, powerful enemies close in—willing to kill to protect a secret—a revelation so explosive, it could rewrite everything we know about ancient Egypt and religion.
It's my pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for The Heretic Cypher today. Many thanks to Murray Bailey for inviting me and for my advance copy of the novel.
The Heretic Cypher is the first book in Murray Bailey's The Egyptian Stones series and although it represents a departure from his interlinked Ash Carter and Blackjack series as it is a contemporary rather than historical thriller, it is still obvious just how much research went into creating this exciting, intriguing novel. A modern day thriller featuring fiendish puzzles, secrets and religious conspiracies dating back to ancient times will inevitably invite comparisons with Dan Brown's books – although I'd argue that this is better!
Alex MacLure is a likeable protagonist with an interesting back story; his family don't have an important part to play here but Murray Bailey still ensures his relationship with them is given enough coverage for us to have some understanding of what has helped shape him. His decision to give up accounting to become an Egyptologist may have been helped by an unlikely stroke of luck but it's not unbelievable and in spite of his impressive aptitude for solving numerical puzzles, he is a relatable, reluctant hero who is determined to discover what led to his best friend, Ellen's death.
It's evident right from the start that there are people who are prepared to take drastic, even violent action but their aims are a mystery and to complicate matters still further, it quickly transpires that Alex is being watched by more than one person. He's a person of interest to the police but as he becomes convinced that Ellen's tragic death has to be linked to her research, he has far more pressing concerns to deal with.
Although most of the third person chapters follow Alex, there are some scenes which make it clear that he is under constant observation and the people watching him are always one step ahead. What isn't revealed, however, is what their ultimate objectives are and exactly how far they are prepared to go to achieve them. However, with a rising body count and some nerve-racking chases, there is no doubt that Alex should be fearful for his life.
One such encounter leads him to building an alliance with Rebecca, who helps him when he is targeted by a thug before being shot at. Their growing chemistry and the easy humour which develops between them adds human interest to a story which twists and turns from start to finish. As Alex figures out Ellen's cleverly cryptic clues. all paths inexorably lead to Egypt. Here, Murray Bailey's vivid sense of place really shines and Alex has to contend with the significant challenges of chaotic, authoritarian state post-Mubarak as well as his constant pursuers.
The cat-and-mouse chase is complemented by the riveting historical details; the uncertain fates of well-known figures from Egypt's rich past such as Nefertiti and Akhenaten are brought thrillingly into the modern day and the mysteries which surround them are even more puzzling than the complex cyphers and symbols Alex has to decipher – particularly as it is terrifyingly obvious that there are people determined to protect these age-old secrets at almost any cost. There is also another, more touching tale that Alex uncovers which I'm looking forward to seeing developed more in a companion story, The Scorpion and the Tomb – Murray Bailey always excels with his interconnected novels and short stories.
As events in The Heretic Cypher build relentlessly to their electrifying conclusion, there are yet more shocks in store for Alex – and for readers. I was completely engrossed throughout and this intelligent, gripping thriller kept me guessing until the final page. I can't wait to read what lies in store for Alex MacLure next! Highly recommended.
The Heretic Cypher will be published on 25th July 2025 and can be purchased here.
Follow the blog tour, details are below.
About the Author
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.
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