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A mysterious ancient relic. A forgotten civilization. A truth that could change the world forever.

In 1906, an Egyptologist uncovered a map carved in stone inside an ancient temple. Convinced that it pointed to a lost city of gold somewhere deep in the desert, he set out on another expedition the following year. He was never seen again.

In present day Yale, a professor is brutally murdered on the university campus, and a mysterious artefact is stolen from its vaults.

Former Delta Force operator Ethan Frost is used to high-pressure situations, but when his former mentor Professor Goodwin is murdered and an old journal in his care is stolen, Ethan is pulled into a world he thought he'd left behind. Intent on bringing Goodwin’s murderer to justice and retrieve the stolen artefact, Ethan teams up with the professor's research assistant and three of his former associates from the military.

They soon discover that the professor’s murder is connected to a conspiracy led by a ruthless Egyptian magnate seeking to re-write history and reshape the world in his image. Following the clues from the journal, the team venture to Cairo and the barren, sun-scorched deserts of Egypt, where a forgotten city and a truth that could change the world wait to be uncovered.

With a trail of bodies in their wake and nefarious forces bent on their destruction closing in, Ethan’s team must race against time to find the lost city and unravel the ancient mystery.

Indiana Jones meets Bruce Wayne - you will not be able to put this book down!

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2026

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About the author

Lex Faulkner

25 books31 followers
Lex Faulkner is the Amazon bestselling author of the Andrew Sterling action-adventure series and the Ethan Frost archaeological thriller series. His novels have consistently ranked in the Top 10 Amazon Rankings for their individual categories, and they have been enjoyed by thousands of readers the world over.

Lex's novels combine historical facts with contemporary fiction, weaving together compelling stories that take the reader on fast-paced journeys back through time and across continents in a way that echoes the author's own favourite genres – archaeological and historical thrillers, mystery novels and military action thrillers. The result is page-turning books in the vein of Indiana Jones, Jason Bourne and James Bond. His novels can be read independently of each other and in any order.

Lex has travelled extensively in Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa and Japan and speaks several languages.

He now lives in London and is currently working on his next novel.

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5 stars
354 (42%)
4 stars
295 (35%)
3 stars
129 (15%)
2 stars
39 (4%)
1 star
20 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
Profile Image for Matt.
5,303 reviews13.2k followers
December 7, 2025
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Lex Faulkner, and Boldwood Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always eager to discover authors new to me, I reached for this ARC, a series debut by Lex Faulkner. When an Egyptologist uncovered a map in 1906, it told of a lost city that held riches of many varieties, When the man trekked off to discover this land, he was never seen again, but left a journal behind for others to follow. In the present day, a Yale professor took up that task and uses an ancient artefact to fuel his own expedition. However, someone obviously wanted the truth kept away from prying eyes, killing the professor in his office and stealing the artefact. Enter, former Delta Force member, Ethan Frost. With excessive amounts of family money, Ethan is used to dodging people, but also prefers to protect those dear to him, When he learns that one of his former professors was murdered, Ethan begins a mission to set things right. He wants justice and to return the artefact to Yale. Working alongside a small group je's put together, Ethan leads an effort over to Egypt to uncover the truth and ensure something can be done. Dodging bullets, accusations, and a rewriting of history, Ethan hopes to find something that will solve the mystery that has long lingered in the Egyptology community. A great series debut that has me interested in reading more by Lex Faulkner.

I am quite intrigued about the work of Lex Faulkner, particularly how he combines fact and fiction. The narrative works from the outset, building in a variety of ways to keep the reader curious. There is much going on and the approach used helps hook the reader from the outset. Thorough chapters delve deeply into a number of subjects, presenting discussions about them, which will require the reader to remain attentive. While simply the debut, I can see there are great things to come, should Faulkner keep writing and offering more about Ethan Frost and his ARC group, as discussed in the epilogue.

Characters are well-placed, as their backstories connect with ongoing development. The thorough introduction of Ethan Frost paved the way for much more discovery about the protagonist as the book progressed. Adding a handful of others who matter helps give the reader something on which to latch as the story progresses, There are good secondary characters as well, each of which serves their own purpose to flavour the piece and add something worth the reader's time. I am eager to see if some of those who helped Ethan will be back as the series progresses, as they have made an impact here.

Surprises work well in thrillers and Lex Faulkner does not skimp at any point. Keeping things from being too predictable is key to the success of the piece. Twists emerge, not only to dispel fact and fiction, but to add a layer of intrigue that is sure to develop as the series continues. I liked how Faulkner kept the reader on edge as things progressed and made sure nothing was entirely predictable for those who paid close attention. I am eager to see where things are headed and how Ethan Frost will emerge in various ways throughout.

Kudos, Mr. Faulkner, for a strong series debut!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Profile Image for DeannaK ✨.
381 reviews13 followers
February 26, 2026
I had really high hopes for The Golden Sphinx, with the touch of Egyptian history and a thriller element.

Unfortunately it felt like a B-grade movie that was undeveloped. All action, no build up and a tidy finish. The main character is rich as hell and a former delta force member, so there is no hoops to jump through for anything, if it’s restricted security footage, hacking into ultra high tech equipment or obtaining weapons, it’s all just a phone call away.

When it came to the discovery of any kind of treasure or artefact it was just sitting there waiting for them to walk into. I like the ending and how they are going to proceed with protection of artefacts but overall I am left feeling a bit disappointed.
Profile Image for Stephen.
2,311 reviews470 followers
July 25, 2026
Enjoyed but felt wasnt as good as the 2nd book in the series
Profile Image for MrsHarvieReads.
545 reviews
February 15, 2026
Thank you to Libro.fm and Boldwood Books for a listener’s copy of The Golden Sphinx by Lex Faulkner in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Golden Sphinx by Lex Faulkner is a suspenseful thriller that feels like a combination of Batman and Indiana Jones. The complex plot features Ethan Frost, a hunky tech billionaire, former Delta Force operator, and archaeology student. When Ethan’s former Yale professor is found murdered, Ethan and the professor’s knowledgeable and beautiful research assistant, Sophie, join forces to find the killers and solve a mystery involving an ancient lost city in Egypt.

I listened to this audiobook on a roadtrip with my husband. The narrator, William Hope, did an admirable job with the majority of accents and kept us engaged. We were both intrigued by the premise, and there was no shortage of action scenes with imminent danger and heroics. These scenes and the dialogue were far fetched at times, but entertaining. I would have liked for Ethan to have more emotional depth and more of a connection between the characters. This appears to be the first novel in a series, so I anticipate more character development in future installments. Overall this is a breezy, fast-paced page-turner that feels like a summer blockbuster. 3/5⭐️
Profile Image for Meg Pearson.
747 reviews15 followers
January 26, 2026
The Golden Sphinx by Lex Faulkner is a fast paced, action packed thriller that delivers a thrilling adventure from start to finish.

Set against the striking desert landscapes and ancient mysteries of Egypt, this story pulls you in quickly and never really lets go. When Ethan Frost’s longtime mentor is murdered and priceless artifacts are stolen, Ethan refuses to sit back and wait for justice. Instead, he teams up with the professor’s assistants and follows a trail of clues that stretches across continents and deep into history.

I really enjoyed how unique this story felt, blending modern day action with historical threads reaching back to the early 1900s. The pacing keeps things moving at a steady clip, with plenty of suspense, danger, and discovery along the way. The Egyptian setting adds atmosphere and intrigue, making the story feel cinematic and immersive.

This is a solid choice for readers who enjoy globe trotting thrillers, ancient artifacts, and nonstop momentum. A gripping and entertaining read that kept me turning pages and left me eager to see where Ethan Frost’s adventures lead next.
Profile Image for Robert.
186 reviews11 followers
April 25, 2026
This is the beginning of an Ethan Frost archeological adventure series by an author who is well-known for writing excellent, well-researched historical-action fiction. This new series also has some interesting researched, ancient Egyptian information that questions the timeline of Egypt’s remarkable history.
As some reviewers have indicated, the main character seems like a mixture of Indiana Jones and Bruce Wayne. You could also add in military special forces expertise to round out the actions that drive the story. Ethan (and his team of four) sets out to bring to justice those who killed his friend, Yale professor Godwin, and find Egypt’s lost city of gold that many had pursued dating back to the early 1900’s in an area detached from the Nile River valley.
I would compare this archeological thriller to those of James Rollins, Ernest Dempsey, Matt James, and Nick Thacker. I look forward to reading his next Ethan Frost adventure.
2,155 reviews55 followers
December 9, 2025

This is a fascinating look at ancient Egypt as Ethan, once in Delta Force, travels there as odd things are happening that point to disturbances there (bombings, a long-lost journal, and other weird anomalies). He has no idea what to expect and what he ultimately finds will blow his mind as he connects with others who are mystified as well!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
803 reviews6 followers
March 10, 2026
An action packed, suspenseful thriller that delivers and then some- it was a combination of Indiana Jones meets Bruce Wayne with the thriller aspect of a Robert Langdon adventure, The Golden Sphinx had me gripped and hanging on the edge of my seat throughout the book. It explores the journey which is taken by the main character Ethan Frost from present day America to the dust storms of Cairo in order to avenge the death of his university mentor whilst retrieving a lost artifact and stopping a ruthless man and his nefarious plans of a takeover of Egypt.
Ethan works with two of his friends from his Delta days along with two women (one of whom is very well versed in Egyptology from pre pharaohs and Giza up until the present day) in order to get justice and save the lives of millions of people in the process.
An amazing book with very informative ancient historical facts that tied in perfectly to the story.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Thankyou to Net galley and Bold wood Books for an arc of this book.
Profile Image for gillian.
111 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2026
Loved it

Well I have been on tender hooks awaiting the arrival of this new series from Lex Faulkner. And it didn't disappoint. Superbly written and as usual for this author a lot of research has gone into this adventure where he uses historical facts and turns them into a fantastic work of fiction. He introduces you to likable characters that will no doubt be the basis for future adventures and lays the foundations for moving forward. I am a great fan of Andrew Clawson, Steve Berry, Luke Richardson if you enjoy those authors then read Lex Faulkner's work you won't be disappointed, I have already pre-ordered the next installment.
117 reviews2 followers
May 8, 2026
Hold on to your seat.

Yes hold on to your seat it's a wild ride that you don't want to miss. Best adventure I ever read. Written to be fun to read and exciting to be a part of. Don't miss this book for sure. Page after page it's going to get you. Such a great story. A few places it is to descriptive but that's nothing for the joy you will find here. Get this book.
53 reviews
July 2, 2026
New adventure!

The author has created a group of characters with skills and personalities! I look forward to reading more of the wonderful things they find. Maybe Cleopatra's Tomb!!
Profile Image for Xena018.
44 reviews8 followers
February 3, 2026
This book was a thrilling read from start to finish.
26 reviews
February 10, 2026
Another series of great books

I just couldn’t wait to get to the end of the book, couldn’t put it down.
Pre-ordered the next already!
Profile Image for Lynn Shanahan.
11 reviews1 follower
March 27, 2026
Egyptian History Being Rewritten

Great first book in the new series.
Looking forward to the next installment.

New characters, new adventures and history being examined
58 reviews
June 11, 2026
Loved it

It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did what more could I say, I loved it.
I love these archaeological thrillers, and this one really had me gripped.
Profile Image for Barbara W..
8 reviews
June 12, 2026
Looking forward too the next one

Fast,exciting ,keeps you onyour toes, makes me want more. Each character has a adding talent. Cannot wait to start the next one.
3 reviews
June 18, 2026
JetReader

Action packed. High tech and ancient history in one fast paced read. Hope there is a sequel to the Golden Sphinx.
Profile Image for Jackie Gibbs.
1 review
August 1, 2026
The Golden Sphynx

Great read. Fast action, adventure, great characters.
Plenty to keep you interested in the story line. Look forward to next book.
Profile Image for JD Freeman.
9 reviews
August 2, 2026
A fast paced adventure

This is kind of an educated Reacher style action adventure. Interesting Egyptology plot mixing recent news and conjecture about ancient civilizations.
61 reviews1 follower
April 11, 2026
great

Great characters, fast paced, historical. Plenty of action and plenty of historical facts that I believe in, cannot wait for the next book
26 reviews
June 3, 2026
Wow! Action-packed, seat-of-your-pants thrills. Hard to put down. Intriguing archeological thriller. Faulkner creates believable relatable characters. Great start to a series.
2 reviews2 followers
May 14, 2026
great time

If you like adventure and archeology this is a book for you. Heroes and villains with a very plausible turn on ancient history. Fun read!
Profile Image for Dennis Bainbridge.
27 reviews
September 8, 2026
Journey into the past

This was a great story that takes you back into The Egyptian archaeology and possibly what could of actually be out there unknown
Profile Image for Yvonne.
1,847 reviews139 followers
December 10, 2025
This is the first time I have read a book by this author, and what better place to start than with the first book in a new series.

This is a fabulous read and one that is based on fact, and then warped with various conspiracy theories and the author's fictional angle. All blend with ease and make for a thrilling ride. His main character is ex-Delta Force operative Ethan Frost, a man who has been around, has family wealth, and tries to make his own way in the fields that interest him. Someone you can call on when things hit the fan! When he is approached to look for an ancient artefact, it is not something that is out of his area of expertise. It is something he is knowledgeable about, then his former tutor is killed, and things start to develop, making other connections, he is suddenly in the midst of a thrilling mystery and needs the help of others.

This first book paves the way brilliantly for what will follow. The story brings together people with different experiences, backgrounds, and together they start something new. Getting to know the team and how they work is as much part of the story as is the race across continents and deserts. Looking at ancient clues, reading journals, following markers and all manner of other long-forgotten theories and items from history.

The pacing of the story is great; there are areas where it slows for explanations, and again, this is very much part of the story. Then they are off and running again, trying to beat "The Baddies" to the end goal. This is one of those books that you need your eyes to read faster than they are able; talk about addictive.

I really enjoyed this book, it was adrenaline-fuelled, with some great characters, lots of drama, tension and danger, good explanations and just an absolute pleasure to read. One of the tag lines mentions this as being a blend of "Indiana Jones meets Bruce Wayne ", and this is absolutely spot on.

If you are looking for an action and adventure treasure hunt style of thriller, then this is one you want to have on your list. I am definitely looking forward to reading more in this series, and I would definitely recommend this one.
Profile Image for Chad Rexin.
218 reviews2 followers
June 23, 2026
Like a modern day Indiana Jones

This book has mystery, history, and adventure rolled up into one. It follows Ethan Frost who has a love of history but is also a former Delta Force member. He ends up with a small group of other highly trained people in their own fields and tracks down both a plot to take over Egypt, a murderer of his former history professor and what appears to be an ancient and previously unknown location with antiquities in Egypt. Fun read.
15 reviews
August 31, 2026
Good mix of action and loosely based historical places etc; a good all American Hero in the making and will clearly have more good reads and adventures to come; overall an enjoyable read
6 reviews
September 27, 2026
Archeological thriller!

Ethan Frost is a likeable heroe. The story is well written. I like the combination of archeological findings. Different history an mystery is a good combo.
Profile Image for Josephine Vita.
5 reviews
July 23, 2026
fast paced and very interesting

Great book that has non stop action and historical context. Excellent first book. Looking forward to reading more adventures and stories
11 reviews
August 31, 2026
excellent book

Gripping, fast moving thriller . Action packed. Highly recommended as a really good read with a good mix of science and history
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews