Kate Lord Brown

An unforgettable dual-timeline story that interweaves glory-seeking desert archaeologists, priceless treasures, Nefertiti's tomb and the decadent cabarets of Second World War Cairo with restless expat lives in bohemian Beirut. As her home, Beirut, teeters on the brink of war, Polly Fitzgerald has one last story to tell - about her best friend, Juno, and their life in thirties Cairo. Juno was vital and brilliant - and determined to succeed in her ambition to uncover Nefertiti's tomb.
But Juno and Polly's friendship was bound by a secret, one that has never been told. Now, as Polly's daughter, Lucie, travels to Beirut to be with her dying mother, the mystery of what happened many years ago must finally be revealed... From the cities to the deserts, this epic yet intimate story of a lost generation transformed by war is a study of great love and sacrifice in all its forms.