It's 1910, and archaeologist Amelia Peabody heads for Palenstine hoping to prevent an English adventurer called Morely from causing damage during his search for the vanished treasures of the Temple in Jerusalem.

The War Office fears increasing German influence in Palenstine and insists Morley is working for German intelligence.

In the meantime, her son Ramses is working on a dig at Samaria where he encounters a female German archaeologist, and a mysterious man of unknown nationality and unknown past.

Ramses' curiosity leads him to a startling discovery about the pair.

He must pass the information on to his parents in Jerusalem but can he get there alive?