Amy and Dan are hot on the trail of the fourth Clue, but their ruthless relatives will stop at nothing to eliminate them from the competition. Their hunt leads them to an ancient city that has been a hot bed of Cahill activity for centuries. All that stands between the siblings and the Clue is a cryptic riddle, a missing relic, and the secret of their grandmother's past. The clock is ticking for Amy and Dan, but can they really solve a mystery that has eluded their ancestors for generations?
This was fast paced and action packed and it was wickedly good. Unlike Alex Rider it's not overly sad and unlike Cherub - I like the main characters. As a reader, I relate to Amy but I love Dan's way of looking at things. They're a great team. Nellie, the au pair, is hilarious. She's laid back and loyal and can speak a seemingly million different languages. The rest of the Cahill family kind of suck, but what's an adventure story without a villain? Or ten? The plot is riveting - the mix of fiction and history is fascinating and I'm flying through the series. They're not particularly long - but then this kind of book never is - or at least never feels like it is. I can't wait to read the rest. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Irina's backstory is teased at but unlike when I felt momentary feeling for Ian, I still don't like her. I hate that Dan and Amy fight in this one - I wish they'd just have it out instead of being all passive aggressive. As much as I enjoyed the book though, I would've liked to see more of Egypt - tomb raiding and archaeology details/facts/anecdotes, etc. I felt that it was kind of bland on that aspect of the quest - there was lots of danger and action but not as much substance as the previous three books.
