Maha Khan Phillips

A mysterious mummy discovered in a remote Pakistani desert could rewrite history. But the closer archaeologist Gul Delani gets to the truth, the more dangerous her investigation becomes. Gul is a respected museum curator and one of Pakistan’s leading experts on ancient civilisations. For three years, she has also been haunted by the disappearance of her teenage niece, Mahnaz. When police summon Gul to examine a seemingly authentic mummy discovered during a drug raid, she hopes the unexpected assignment will offer a welcome distraction. Instead, the extraordinary artefact—with symbols linking it to the ancient Persian city of Persepolis—draws her into a world of antiquities smuggling, corruption, and powerful hidden interests. As the mummy disappears and threats close in, Gul begins to suspect that the archaeological mystery and her niece’s disappearance may be connected. Determined to uncover the truth, she must navigate Karachi’s criminal underworld while confronting painful questions about her own family. Blending archaeological intrigue with a gripping modern-day mystery, The Museum Detective explores the connections between history, power, and justice—and the lengths one woman will go to uncover what others want buried. Inspired by a real-life antiquities scandal in Pakistan, it launches a crime series featuring a compelling heroine.