Deep in the basement of London's Museum of Legends and Antiquities, newly unearthed treasures wait to be prepared for exhibit or to unleash their evil curse... it all depends on the artifact. Theodosia Throckmorton, eldest child of the head curator, seems to be the only one who gets the chills when these calamitous relics are unwrapped. Despite her many protests, her father declines to wear gloves when touching this foul items or wear the amulets of protection that she has lovingly researched and made for him.

Theodosia, though only 11, knows more about Egyptology, magic, and curses than any one else in early twentieth century London. But that may be because her parents keep forgetting to send her to school and she spends all of her time in the museum, reading, researching and sleeping in a sarcophagus. Not only is her dad the head curator, her mom is in charge of all the expeditions to exotic lands and the retrieval of the ancient treasures. With parents like these, you'd think they'd understand Theodosia's unique talents, but alas, they think she is overly imaginative and prone to confabulation.

With some help from her brother, a secret society, a little magic, and her own ingenuity and sneakiness she is able to disrupt the pending chaos started by her mother removing the Heart of Egypt from its hidden tomb and encouraged by some very unpleasant Germans.