The Rosetta Key

Ethan Gage #2

by William Dietrich

“An utterly captivating romp from the treacherous tunnels beneath Jerusalem to the lost City of Ghosts (Petra, Jordan) to the tumult of revolutionary Paris….Dietrich spins a merry magical mystery tour, winningly intricate and anchored to actual historical figures and events….Mr. Spielberg! Mr. Lucas! It’s your move.”
— Seattle Times
 
Dashing and courageous American adventurer Ethan Gage returns in William Dietrich’s The Rosetta Key —the thrilling sequel to the Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s acclaimed Napoleon’s Pyramids . An eighteenth century Indiana Jones, Gage swashbuckles once again, this time in pursuit of a precious Egyptian relic that would give its owner the power to rule the world. The Rosetta Key an adventure in reading that is not to be missed, especially by fans of George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman novels and aficionados of a grand literary tradition dating back to Jack London, Robert Lewis Stevenson, and H. Rider Haggard, and carried on today by such notables as James Rollins, David Liss, Steve Berry, and Kate Mosse.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adventure, Thriller, Historical, Mystery, Egypt

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

William Dietrich is a NY Times bestelling author of the Ethan Gage series of eight books which have sold into 28 languages. He is also the author of six other adventure novels, several nonfiction works on the environmental history of the Pacific Northwest, and a contributor to several books.

Bill was a career journalist, sharing a Pulitzer for national reporting at the Seattle Times for coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. He taught environmental journalism at Huxley College, a division of Western Washington University, and was adviser to Planet Magazine there. He was Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, and received several National Science Foundation fellowships for reporting on science. His travels have taken him from the South Pole to the Arctic, and from the Dead Sea to the base camp of Mount Everest. The traveling informs his books.

He lives in Anacortes, WA, in the San Juan islands, and is a fan of books, movies, history, science, and the outdoors.

Reviews

[Paul Weiss · Rating 2 out of 5]

“If the text promised immortality, I wanted nothing to do with it”

When I reviewed NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS, the opening novel in William Dietrich’s Ethan Gage historical adventure trilogy, I wrote:

There are those who would criticize NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS as a dead ringer derivative from INDIANA JONES and THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. To them I say, “Boy! Right on! It could hardly be closer!” You’d be very hard pressed to fit a piece of onion-skin flimsy between the two in terms of narrative style and general plot outlines – the wise-cracking hero and the aloof but slowly warming romantic love interest, the collection of mean dudes chasing after the hidden artifact (not to mention the charms and affections of the afore-mentioned female), the historical underpinnings behind the meaning and the value of the elusive prize, the overlaid widespread conflict, the outrageously booby-trapped hiding place, and, of course, layer after layer of ingenious puzzles safeguarding the actual location of the ultimate sought for prize! But I’d also suggest that it doesn’t make NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS any less gripping or enjoyable.

The story line, such as it is in THE ROSETTA KEY, picks up right where NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS left off. But sadly, despite its underpinnings in the astonishing reality of Napoleon’s attempted conquests in Asia and the Holy Land in his drive to become emperor of his native France, THE ROSETTA KEY falls into every pit that NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS deftly sidestepped. It loses all charm and becomes a derivative, juvenile, cartoonish, repetitive, video game screenplay. The question is not whether Ethan Gage will escape the traps laid for him in his quest to find and translate the Book of Thoth or whether he will evade the futile attempts of his many opponents to dispatch him in a typically ridiculous, mustache twirling, bad boy villain style. The question is only how high you will raise your eyebrow as you read about his escapes. And, of course, knowing that this is the second novel in a trilogy means that your hopes for an actual ending are futile long before you actually reach the final page.

Not recommended. And, unless I come across a free copy in the local street library box, I’m not planning on reading THE DAKOTA CIPHER (Ethan Gage #3) any time soon.

Paul Weiss

[Lewis Weinstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed book 1 in this series but not this one ... it is a bad imitation of Indiana Jones

[Beatriz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro muy entretenido y tan bien escrito que es un placer leerlo. A su personaje principal, un embaucador y aventurero de lo más encantador, ya lo conocimos en la primera novela, Las pirámides de Napoleón, por lo que ahora sólo tenemos que disfrutar su capacidad de meterse en problemas, así como salir de ellos.

Esta segunda parte mantiene el estilo de aventuras, intrigas y combinación de hechos y personajes históricos con los de ficción, que producen un resultado muy atractivo. Se cierra el conflicto principal, pero queda una ventanita abierta para la que podría haber una continuación.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another exciting Ethan Gage adventure! Just a heads up: this is the second Ethan Gage saga, so there may be spoilers to Napoleon's Pyramids in this review.

I'll admit: it took me a minute to warm up to these books. I thought that Ethan Gage was a bit pretentious and the story a little implausible in the first book, and had trouble getting past that. BUT once you decide to just sit back and enjoy the ride, these books are such fun! Yes, Ethan is still a bit pretentious, but I think that's at least partly due to the historicity of the books. They're set in the late 1700s, when upper class white males did honestly think themselves better than most other people. And when Ethan repeatedly refers to himself as a "savant," he's not being snobbish (in that moment); he's using the word in the historic, literal sense, and telling us that he's well-educated and well-read. The Rosetta Key also continues to be pretty implausible, but it's fiction. Go ahead and let yourself be carried along on the adventure and you won't regret it!

The Rosetta Key finds Ethan still in the Middle East, but this time in Jerusalem. He's looking for the Book of Throth, to keep it from falling into the wrong (Napoleon's) hands. Along the way, he also hopes to find Astiza. If you remember, he lost her when she fell from the hot air balloon into the Nile. I assumed her dead.... I have now learned a lesson in keeping up hope! Especially in fiction. ;) Turns out she's alive and well and needs to be found. Ethan practically singlehandedly fights off the British and the French and the king of Egypt in order to outsmart them all in following the clues and finding the Book of Throth. (I warned you that it's slightly implausible.) With this one, though, I let all logic fly out the window and ended up loving seeing how Ethan would tackle each new problem or puzzle that arose. I cheered for him whenever he'd solve a clue or overcome an obstacle, and laughed at some of his naivete in some social situations. There's a whole scene involving two women that I found particularly amusing. :)

Then the book ends... with a heavy hint at the next Ethan Gage adventure! I've already downloaded The Dakota Cipher to listen to next! Got to see where that crazy Ethan Gage ends up.

I listened to The Rosetta Key, as opposed to reading a physical book, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The narrator gives Ethan a voice that seems real, and does believable, noncondescending accent for the foreign characters. The cadence and pacing feel good: not too fast and not too slow. I would certainly recommend this audiobook.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second fast-paced rollicking historical adventure featuring Ethan Gage. A former student of Benjamin Franklin, Gage has survived the adventures recounted in Napoleon's Pyramids and has now engaged upon a search for a legendary Egyptian scroll, the Book of Thoth, in the Middle East. The action takes place among the backdrop of Napoleon's 1799 campaign along the coast of Palestine as he tries to emulate the success of Alexander the Great and make inroads to Asia. Ethan and his cohorts participate (sometimes accidentally) in warfare at Acre, Jaffa, and the Battle of Mount Tabor. Several historical personages make an appearance here including Sir Sydney Smith, General Phelipeaux, Haim Farhi, and Djezzar.

Gage's time in the Holy Land is, of course, fraught with danger as one adventure leads to the next. Just when he manages to extricate himself from one near fiasco he falls into the next. He is often driven by his love for a woman...or sometimes, it is for the love of a different woman. Most of what happens to him is not by his own design but somehow always manages to land him where he needs to be. Sort of a cross between Indiana Jones and Maxwell Smart. He suffers from extremely bad luck on multiple occasions but, fortunately, this is balanced by extremely good luck when his life is at stake.

The thing I find intriguing about this character is not so much his swashbuckling adventurer side, but rather, his scientific side. As a student of Ben Franklin, Gage has absorbed a thirst for scientific knowledge as well as a gift for applying his knowledge in practical ways. His innovative use of electricity from crude batteries actually turns the tide of battle in one scene.

I'm enjoying these adventure novels and looking forward to the next.

[Ellen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book is saved from being a one star by the pleasing number of times the entire, and I mean the entire, cast of the characters take turns just slam DUNKING the egregious self-obsessed Gary-Sue of a main character into a dumpster fire. Just... one after another. This book is just a delightful catalogue of a dumb thotty slut ricocheting between one well-earned punishment to another and the twit never learns a goddamn thing. It's like watching a mouse run repeatedly into a mousetrap, step back and wait for it to be reset, then charge right the hell back it. Breathtakingly dreadful little man. What a disaster. What an incomprehensible tit.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has it all: Indiana Jones-type escapes, the Knights Templar, Petra, Napoleon... all topped off with bad writing and plotting. If you absolutely love this genre, well, I'm sure you'll like the book.

[Dorothy Caimano · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Indian Jones type of story set in Egypt, Israel and France, late 19th century. Entertaining. Suspend disbelief before opening the book.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rollicking good 18th century fun in the middle east. This is a sequel to Napoleon's Pyramids, and it helped to have already read that one. Ethan Gage is part Indiana Jones and part Robert Langdon. In his pursuit of the Book of Thoth, he is at times friends with Napoleon and at times his enemy, since Ethan is an opportunist, not a political animal. He suffers many near-death experiences in battles and sneaking under the Temple Mount and exploring booby-trapped Templar tombs. Da Vinci Code type clues abound. I could see the two books together being a mini-series with Chris Pratt as Ethan Gage. Fun reading.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel to Napoleon's Pyramids is another action packed, fast paced adventure story. I enjoyed this second story of American adventurer, Ethan Gage, and his misadventures. The ending of the book leads the reader to believe that there will be further stories of Ethan. I look forward to the next one.

Ethan Gage accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte to Egypt in Napoleon's Pyramids. Now Ethan is trying to find out if Astiza, the Egyptian woman he has come to love, survived a fall from a hot air balloon into a river. He is also looking for a magical book that is rumored to exist, The Book of Throth. Ethan's quest for the fate of Astiza and the magical book is filled with travel, adventure, and betrayal. Ethan makes new allies and must face his old enemies once again.

The Rosetta Key seemed even more action packed to me than Napoleon's Pyramids. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical adventure stories. I found this book easier to read than Napoleon's Pyramids because it did not have the detailed mathematical explanations that were contained in the first novel. I enjoyed this book, and hope to have the opportunity to read more about Ethan Gage.

[Steven Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

A vigorous tale that wraps Napoleon's African conquests, the Rosetta stone, and a former apprentice of Benjamin Franklin into a tale that mixes history and light science into an adventure that is somewhat reminiscent of an Indiana Jones movie.

Ethan Gage, an adventurer with a taste for exotic women, races against the French in search of ancient mysteries which hold the fate of the world.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

An American gambler and adventure continues his adventures in the middle east as he continues his search for the ancient Book of Toth while being captured by Napoleon's forces and escaping, searching under the dome of the rick in Jerusalem defending Accra from the French attackers, finding and losing love and generally having a rough time.

[Jeff Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A roaring adventure in the vein of the pulp classics but with a modern wit and eye for historical detail. Just as fast paced and fun as the first. Cornwell's Sharpe meets Indiana Jones with a fascinating historical plot that Dan Brown wishes he had the skill to write.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as some other thrillers i have read.

[Grettel Perez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Libro entretenido, buscare Las Pirámides de Napoleon, donde leo inician las aventuras de Ethan Gage.

[Iris Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series! The author is a genius at never going where you think he will...or want him to.

[Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was serendipitous to discover this book which combines my interest in historical novels about the Napoleonic Wars and archaeological mysteries. Ethan Gage, Astiza, and Alessandra Silano engage in the hunt for the secret to the Templar's wealth, a book of mysterious magic, called the book of Thoth, written during the heyday of the ancient Egyptian civilisation. All against the background of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and Palestine in 1799, culminating in Napoleon's coup in France, which the novel suggests was achieved by use of the book of Thoth, before the book and Count Silano died a rather fiery death.
Earlier writers mining this historical period have not touched on what was happening in the Ottoman Empire at the time nor what Americans were doing. I think the first writer to set a novel in this part of the world was Seth Hunter. Now we have William Dietrich.
There isn't much naval deering do in this novel. Most of the action takes place on land in Palestine, Modern Jordan and Lebanon. The novel shows that Napoleon and his generals could beat superior Ottoman forces because their troops were more disciplined. While Nelson's victory in the Battle of the Nile cut off Napoleon's supply route, it was disease and the fact Napoleon was counting on the support of the local people that meant his campaign failed. I had not realised that he intended to emulate Alexander the Great, raise an army of Arabs and conquer India by crossing Iran.
There is a lot about the Templars, their fabulous wealth, the possibility of secret vaults under Temple Mount and a final refuge deep in the desert. It's too good for a writer of archaeological thrillers to pass on. Much of the action resembles the plots of two of the Indiana Jones movies, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. There are spectacular escapes during which most of Ethan and Astiza's companions are killed but those two miraculously survive. Ethan is gifted with surviving, He escapes the massacre of the prisoners at Jaffa, an attack by a lion, being poisoned and thrown to a crocodile, being buried in the desert sand. If you think about it, the whole thing seems so incredible.
Dietrich also plays with the narrative timeline. He begins with Napoleon's massacre of his prisoners at Jaffa, then without telling us how Ethan Gage will escape he takes us back to the time Gage was rescued in the sea by a British warship, only to be put ashore to work as an unwilling British spy. The novel them follows a conventional narrative order but that "media res" certainly grabs the reader's attention from the start.
Dietrich has carried out research on the ground for this novel, visiting Acre and Jaffa as well as exploring tunnels underneath Jerusalem, and the ruins of Petra. It all gives the novel a feeling of verisimilitude. The only thing for me that was unanswered is his reference on Page 7 to a religious sect called the Mantuwelli. If you google the term, you come back to that page in this novel. I can't imagine that Dietrich invented the sect. He had no need to.
What is most appealing for me is the first person narrative and Ethan Gage's facility for humorous similes:
"The province was splintered among too many religious and ethnic groups, each about as comfortable with the other as a Calvinist at a Vatican picnic....
"plans building in his brain like an approaching squall....
Gage is always moving from predicament to predicament but is always hopeful and with few exceptions is able to extricate himself. When he is rescued as in the desert, it sees like a deus ex machina but the final conflict with Silano is well set up. Nothing in this scene occurs by chance.
By the end with Napoleon determined to deal with Gage personally, we accept his change of mind allowing Gage to escape yet again.
You can learn a little history and the geography of Palestine if you read this novel, but more to the point you will be richly entertained

[Carlos Mock · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Rosetta Key (Ethan Gage, #2) by William Dietrich (Goodreads Author)

This is not a stand-alone book. It's a sequel to Dietrich's Napoleon’s Pyramids. You should read the first book before reading this one

Surviving murderous thieves, a nerve-racking sea voyage, and the deadly sands of Egypt with Napoleon's army, American adventurer Ethan Gage solved a five-thousand-year-old riddle with the help of a mysterious medallion. But the danger is only beginning...

Gage finds himself hurled into the Holy Land in dogged pursuit of an ancient Egyptian scroll - The Book of Thoth - imbued with magic, even as Bonaparte launches his 1799 invasion of Israel, which will climax at the epic siege of Acre. Pursuing Napoleon to France, where the general hopes ancient secrets will catapult him to power, the wily and inventive Gage faces old enemies with unlikely new friends, and must use wit, humor, derring-do, and an archaeological key to prevent dark powers from seizing control of the world.

Narrated from Ethan Gage's first-person point of view, the book is a slow read. There are too many references to Benjamin Franklin and Napoleon’s Pyramids book. I found the characters unappealing and boring, most likely because the author chose to use the first-person point of view which, in my opinion, diminished them. The plot was OK but it was ruined - for me - by too many references to the first book. I wonder how I might have enjoyed it if I had read the books in order

It was not what I expected and I would not recommend it.

[Mike Futcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

While The Rosetta Key lacked the novelty that I encountered with the previous Ethan Gage book, Napoleon's Pyramids, it is at least heartening to know that the first book wasn't a flash in the pan, and that it likely won't be a mistake for me to invest more time in the rest of the series. The novel is a great mix of Indiana Jones-style treasure hunting adventure in the early 19th century (well, 1799) and Sharpe-style historical fiction (I felt I learned a fair bit about Napoleon's campaign in Egypt, particularly the massacre at Jaffa and the siege of Acre), with a dash (alas, not enough) of Flashman-esque flair.

The story sometimes hits against its limiters with a bump (one or two story beats seem forced, as did the use of electricity in the final fight scene) and some of the content can't bear the load (the Astiza relationship was beginning to look a little played-out, and while I enjoyed it in Napoleon's Pyramids I'm glad it seems to end here). Nevertheless, it's more than capable in its writing, pace and characterisation and, when allied to some personal idiosyncrasies I can't help but fall for (I love treasure hunts, lost artefacts, hidden cities, as well as adventure fiction and anything that gives even a whiff of the peerless Flashman), I find myself enjoying every minute I've spent in Gage's company. It won't be for everyone, but I've found a series here that suits me to a tee. As a casual read, this hits the spot for me.

[Cliff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't make up my mind between 2 and 3* for this book. It is well written, however, and deals with historical facts accurately (except Jaffa oranges weren't being shipped in 1799, they didn't appear following accidental hybridisation until the middle of the 19th century). But the book does read like a grown up version of a Boy's Own Paper story. Grown up as there are a few inoffensive sex sexual scenes and lurve stories. Boy's Own Paper story because it is full of the derring do of our hero, Ethan Gage with numerous escapades in which he first gets into trouble but then escapes by the skin of his teeth. The subsidiary characters are not that well fleshed out - they seem to exist as backdrops against which Ethan can be placed. I enjoyed reading the book (I haven't come across part 1 of the series incidentally) but won't be cutting a path to the library or bookshop to find it or subsequent volumes

[Geoffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The adventures of Ethan Gage, a former apprentice of Ben Franklin, continue to unfold in this sequel to Napolean's Pyramid by William Dietrich.
Gage sets off, after a rescue by the British Navy, under orders from Sir Sidney Smith. This time he is to recover the Book of Thoth, which holds untold secret powers and is rumored to be hidden somewhere in the Middle East. This task leads Gage on a twisting trail where old foes (Count Silano), old friends (Mustafa), and lost loves (Astiza) resurface.
It also brings him face to face with Napolean Bonaparte, who is questing toward Asia like Alexander the Great. In the previous book he served as one of Napolean's savants.
Gage returns to Egypt as a foe to Napolean and in search of the elusive Book. Then, he ultimately comes full circle with a return to Paris.
An entertaining tale that details actual historical events of Napolean, France, and others.

[Troy Kaspers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in this series was fun and entertaining as the characters developed and the plot of the story was revealed. Once the "cliffhanger" ending was revealed, I had hopes for a story that continued the adventure and introduction of new characters and a bigger story. I realized that my hopes were dashed once I had reached the midway point of the novel. As nice as it is to keep characters over a series, I was disappointed with the lack of variety in the characters as new ones were introduced. The story moves along but does not build a ton of suspense or intrigue. The protagonist is portrayed as a "superman", capable of surviving explosions, crocodiles, gun shots, stabbings, and seducing any woman he finds attractive. Entertaining but not a deep story.

[Deon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte is marching across the Middle East to confront history and gain power.

Ethan has his own reasons for being in the region. When last he laid eyes on the beautiful Astiza she was falling from a balloon into the Nile. Uncertain if she survived, Ethan knows she was searching for an ancient scroll rumored to be in the Holy Land, Jerusalem seems an apt place to seek her.

Napoleon is not a man you want to make an enemy. In the last book, Ethan managed to get on the wrong side of Bonaparte, a dangerous place to be. Of course Ethan will get into trouble!

[Christine Jeffords · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like Indy Jones, you'll like Ethan Gage. It's that simple. Ethan's lower-tech (instead of a bullwhip and revolver he carries a steel tomahawk and a Kentucky long rifle, but he's very good with both), and a bit more devoted to the accretion of personal wealth. But, like Indy, he encounters many strange things and travels to distant, exotic lands. Good historical adventure with an occult angle. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate how well the author used real characters and historical truth . Many of the battles did occur. The added characters of fiction created quite an enjoyable read. If we could do half stars I’d give it 4 and half but I’m going to bump it up to five for sheer creativity. They were more than a few times I rolled my eyes at a few of the things I considered rather chauvinistic . I decided I would just put it in the context of being set in 1799.

[Ian Racey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shaky. Gage's regular reminders that he's a Federal-period American through Founding Fathers based epithets ("By the lawns of Lexington! By Hamilton's dollar! By the greed of Benedict Arnold!") wavered between charming and annoying. ("A bigger ego than Aaron Burr" seemed anachronistic for an American in 1799 who's been living abroad for years.) The episode in which he defeated and wooed Big Ned didn't ring true in the slightest.

[Spencer Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I had to look it up. This book is just a few years after The DaVinci Code. Haven't looked up when the film came out, but talk about jumping on the bandwagon. To its credit, it doesn't have all those Dan Brown....every chapter is a cliffhanger...thing. But I mean, Rosicrucians, Knights Templar, yada, yada. It's old hat, with a little Indiana Jones and Flashman and that's OK to while away some time, but nothing amazing.

[GBC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting continuation of the first book. I eventually got tired of Ethan Gage and his weakness, women. I found it hard to believe he could describe a love and life with one to sneak off to find another and then chase her into perils. I get it...but I think it made him out to be the fool twice over.....

[Goodies4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a campy adventure, a light-hearted version of a hybrid of Indiana Jones-and-The DaVinci Code, this is a good bet. It has a few too many references to the first Ethan Gage adventure, which I haven’t read, but I had fun following the adventures, mishaps, and romances of Ethan in 1799 and mostly in Palestine.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an adventure that would be good for young adults. It reminds me of the movie "National Treasure" in it's simplicity. It is a good story but there is little depth of character. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed watching "National Treasure" with all its many flaws, as I enjoyed this book. The Rosetta Key is a fun and easy read.