Dr. Edward Day is a respected archeologist who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. His daughter, Carla, has completely re-arranged her life to assure proper care for her father. She has taken a job in the assisted living center, spends her spare time with him, and takes him to see the sarcophagus lid that he discovered and spent his life studying. When the director of Egypt Regained offers Dr. Day a position in residence at the museum Carla sees it as both a blessing and a problem. She can’t understand what role the delusional Dr. Day can fill for the museum but is grateful that during his times of coherence he is happy in his study and memories.

The mystery is well-crafted and secondary in this story. This is not intended as a slight or criticism, but as a description. The thing that tied this book together for me was the vulnerability of Dr. Day, the people who love and respect him, the people who hate or fear him, the confusion of Alzheimer's for everyone involved, and how they all work together to redefine "normal" in Carla’s life. There were moments that you could do nothing less than love Carla the Caregiver for her patience and tenderness and then seamlessly Carla the Daughter when her father came back for a moment or two.

This book is one to read for the people, not the puzzle, although you will enjoy the puzzle as well.