Living in Cairo with her archaeologist parents, 10-year-old Carrigan Carter is used to exciting discoveries. But when her mother vanishes on a dig, leaving only a mysterious map behind, Carrigan must make her most important discovery yet-finding out what happened to her!

With the help of her best friends, Bram and Atlas, the parrot, Carrigan, sets out for the desert. There, they must decipher clues, battle dangerous creatures, navigate the shifting sands, and avoid being sent home all under the watchful eye of the snarky sphinx.

With time running out, will the mystery of the map reveal itself, or will Carrigan's hopes be buried forever?