Prologue: an archaeological adventure -- Tunnel of legends -- Clues by candlelight -- Opera of a vanished civilization -- Death on swift wings -- A brutal postmortem -- Palm wine, spices and myrrh -- Letters from Liverpool -- Secrets from blood and bone -- X-raying the pharaohs -- Living image of the lord -- Evil pyramids and murderous mold -- Sliced, diced, brought back to life -- Third door -- Fingerprints, forensics and a family tree -- DNA down the rabbit hole -- Spare ribs and hand kebabs -- Revolution -- Audience with the king -- Afterword: a brief window.