It's 1910, and all the fashionable elite are off to spend the winter holiday in Egypt. At the grand Cataract Hotel, Iris Cavendish's family expects her to secure a proposal from eligible bachelor, Cecil Fortescue, by the end of their holiday. Unfortunately, Cecil wants nothing to do with her. And then the murders begin. A local woman in the village of Aswan has been mummified, her vital organs placed into four canopic jars in the style of the ancient Egyptians. Worse still, the murderer is suspected to be one of the elite guests staying at the Cataract Hotel. Mabel Shaw, the fiery lady's maid of Iris's sister, works with Iris to solve the mystery of the murder before the killer strikes again. But there are other mysteries to solve, as well: Is the Cavendish family hiding a secret? Who stole the jackal-headed mask from the archeology dig on Elephantine Island? What is the mysterious illness that is afflicting the guests at the hotel? And why does a jackal seem to be following Iris wherever she goes