In Higley's second book in the Seven Wonders series, Hemiunu is the Pharaoh's Grand Vizier, as well as being his cousin and the builder of the Great Pyramid that will house the Pharaoh's tomb.  As the thousands of workers struggle to quarry the stones and build the Great Pyramid ever higher above the sands of the Egyptian desert, the overseer of operations, Mentu, is murdered.  Then follows a series of murders that force Hemi to delay the important project to hunt down the killer. The beautiful daughter of the man that Hemi appoints to take Mentu's place is a distraction to Hemi as she leads him to the secret meetings of the followers of the One True God.

This exciting story takes place in the exotic setting of ancient Egypt and during the building of one of mankind's greatest achievements.  Nothing is as it seems and friends may be enemies. The old gods are angered as the past that they have tried to forget comes back to haunt Hemiunu and the Pharaoh Khufu.

City of the Dead is historical fiction at its best. The political posturing of the Pharaoh, who believes himself to be a god, and the well researched culture of the period transported me to the banks of the Nile.  The suspense escalates to an unexpected climax in this totally engrossing novel.  I am looking forward to reading the other books in this Seven Wonders series.