The Cartographer's Gambit Book Two of The Imperial MysteriesA James Westbrook and Eleanor Reed adventure.London, 1880. When a mysterious map arrives at Professor James Westbrook's office-its coastlines subtly distorted, its settlements bearing names that exist nowhere in Egypt-he suspects another cryptographic puzzle. But this one comes with a price written in blood.Sir Marcus Harding, renowned cartographer and recent returnee from an Egyptian expedition, lies murdered in the Royal Geographical Society with Westbrook's name carved into the scene. The killer's message is clear: the professor is being drawn back into the shadow world of imperial conspiracies he thought he'd left behind.Reuniting with Dr. Eleanor Reed and Inspector Sullivan, Westbrook follows the map's deadly cipher from London's gaslit streets to the sun-scorched landscape of the Nile Delta. What they discover hidden in Egypt's ancient sands threatens far more than British interests in the Suez Canal. Someone is conducting experiments that blur the line between medical advancement and monstrous transformation-experiments that could reshape the balance of power across the entire Empire.But in the treacherous currents of Egyptian politics, where the Khedive's ambitions clash with Ottoman authority and rising nationalist fervor, distinguishing friend from enemy becomes a matter of survival. As chemical secrets buried in desert petroleum merge with imperial ambitions, Westbrook and his companions must navigate a conspiracy that reaches from Cairo's dusty bazaars to the highest corridors of Whitehall.The cartographer is dead, but his gambit has set forces in motion that will determine whether the Empire's future lies in human progress-or chemical slavery.About the Author: Charles Snodgrass is a historian with a penchant for fiction writing. He places this series in Victorian-era London and the complex sociopolitical landscape of the British Empire. His attention to historical detail and ability to weave fact with fiction creates an immersive reading experience. This is the second novel of a three-part series featuring the characters of James Westbrook and Eleanor Reed. Through historical fiction, he examines enduring social patterns, particularly how institutions balance progress against ethical considerations and how individuals navigate systems larger than themselves.