House of Two Pharaohs

A novel of ancient Egypt

By Wilbur Smith

The multi-million copy bestseller Wilbur Smith returns with his most thrilling novel yet.

Hidden in the shadows, an evil force begins to rise. Egypt trembles as secrets buried deep within the sands resurface to challenge the gods themselves.

The gripping story of House of Two Pharaohs begins with the clash between loyalty, power and destiny.

A city reborn

Piay, appointed Nomarch of Memphis by the God-Pharaoh Rameses, transforms his city into a beacon of prosperity. He rebuilds the famous white walls and feeds the once-starving citizens. Under his leadership, the wealth plundered by the barbarian Hyksos returns to Memphis.

But peace never lasts long. When a murdered scribe is found sealed inside the city’s newly constructed vault, terror spreads through the population. The mark of Anubis, god of death, is scrawled beside the body in blood. This horrifying discovery sets the stage for the dark events that follow in House of Two Pharaohs.

The call to wisdom

Desperate for answers, Piay calls upon the only man he trusts to uncover the truth: his mentor, the great sage Taita. Upon Taita’s arrival in Memphis, chaos intensifies. Soon after, the bloody mark of Anubis appears again, spreading fear across the city.

Taita and Piay must face a ruthless enemy, a criminal mastermind who has become a warlord. Their adversary’s goal is simple yet devastating: to restore the Red Pretender’s kingdom and destroy the armies of Rameses.

The battle between wisdom and brutality reaches its height in House of Two Pharaohs, as Egypt’s fate hangs in the balance.

A battle for Egypt’s soul

Drawn into a desperate struggle of strategy and survival, Taita and Piay fight not only for their lives but for the unity of Egypt itself. They must act quickly before treachery consumes the kingdom.

Can they finally reunite the two kingdoms, or will the shadow of the Red Pretender tear the land apart once again? The prophecy looms large, and the question remains: who will survive the final confrontation in the House of Two Pharaohs?

About the author

Wilbur Smith was born in Central Africa in 1933. After the success of When the Lion Feeds in 1964, he became a full-time writer. Over the decades, he published more than fifty international bestsellers, captivating readers across generations. His most acclaimed works include the Courtney Series, the Ballantyne Series and the Egyptian Series.

He also wrote the Hector Cross Series and several standalone novels, each demonstrating his mastery of storytelling. Smith’s meticulous research and inspiration from his global expeditions gave his books extraordinary realism.

With a career spanning over fifty-five years, Wilbur Smith built an unmatched global readership. His enduring influence and rich legacy continue to inspire through powerful stories such as House of Two Pharaohs. Crossfire remains a lasting testament to his brilliance and contribution to world literature.