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Summary: Peabody and Emerson triumph again
Review: A wonderful sequel to Crocodile on the Sandbank! I loved that it opened in England - after all, the Emersons don't live in Egypt year-round, and the contrast to how much more fully alive they are once they reach Egypt is delicious. Immediately the wonderful equality between Emerson and Amelia is forefront as they debate a challenge to come to Egypt and take over a "cursed" excavation. Is the curse supernatural or simply nefarious? While I miss Evelyn, there are lots of new characters whom I hope to see again - O'Connell the journalist is particularly fun, dodging Emerson's attacks and beating even Amelia with his sensationalism. I was so involved in the interactions among the characters I almost didn't care "whodunit" - but that denoument was completely satisfying. The friendly competition between Emerson and Amelia is a delight, and really helps keep the focus on the characters and locale rather than getting bogged down in the murder. So glad there are more in the series!!!!
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Summary: Introduction of Ramses
Review: Another wonderful book in the Amelia Peabody series. It is especially good because it introduces Amelia's son, Ramses, a very clever child.
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Summary: Small Historical Facts can't save this Unoriginal Plot!
Review: As a reader, the first problem you are struck by while reading Elizabeth Peters' The Curse of the Pharaohs is: Who is her audience? Who was this book meant for? The strikingly banal "mystery" plot is enough to make Authur Conan Doyle puke, suggesting the book was aimed at a fourth to sixth grader. Peters' frequent name dropping of ancient Egyptian pharaohs, temples, and gods (which, perhaps, is the novel's only quality) however, elevates the academic level of the book, suggesting it was written for someone older and with a substantial knowledge of ancient Egyptian history. This problem haunts the reader throughout the entire book. Reading lines such as: "I was able to intercept him, for I had calculated the intersecting angles accurately. Knowing him well, I did not attempt to stop him by touching him or grasping him lightly; instead I threw the whole weight of my body against his . . . As I had planned, Emerson was underneath." makes me question both the qualifications of Peters' editor and the respect Peters holds for her reader. Aside from this primary conflict, I was also quite taken aback by the rampant sexism of the relationship between Peters' two main characters, Radcliffe Emerson and Amelia Peabody Emerson. One would expect an educated woman such as Peters (who is really Egyptologist Vivian Davies) would use her female characters to promote gender equality. On the contrary, lines such as, "You are letting your feminine weakness for gold cloud your wits, Peabody. Use you brain. Unless you would like me to enlighten you . . ." not only succeed in demeaning the book's protagonist, but also women as a whole. In short, if you are looking to learn the names of a few ancient Egyptian pharaohs and gods without having to think or read any real, historical texts, then The Curse of the Pharaohs is right up your alley. If, however, you are insulted by, unoriginal plots, overly simplistic writing, and flagrant sexism, then I strongly recommend against this novel.
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Summary: Another fun adventure!
Review: Continuing the story of characters established in a previous book can be a risky business, but Elizabeth Peters pulls it off masterfully. "The Curse of the Pharaohs" is every bit as enjoyable (if not more so) as "Crocodile on the Sandbank." Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe Emerson are back with every bit of their wonderful and crazy personality traits. And Peters creates new characters that are totally entertaining and enjoyable. Amelia and Emerson -- now married and with a precocious, young son, Ramses -- finally decide to leave behind Ramses and England for another archaeological season in Egypt. They are asked by a Lady Baskerville to continue the work of her late husband, Lord Baskerville, who died under mysterious circumstances. And other mysterious deaths follow. An enterprising journalist calls it a curse, and only Amelia and Emerson can get the superstitious locals to continue working. While the first Amelia Peabody mystery focused on Amelia and Emerson and Evelyn and Walter getting together, this novel has more of the mystery element. I correctly guessed the murderer before the end, but the way the mystery unfolds makes it enjoyable. Amelia and her acquaintances have several adventures. Peters' has incredible talent for creating fun, engaging characters and providing interesting, factual descriptions of archaeology. Amelia and Emerson are two of my favorite characters in literature. And the new characters are entertaining, too: Ramses, the reporter, the widowed and flirtatious Lady Baskerville, Mr.Milverton (who has a secret), the shy and feminine Miss Mary, and (my favorite) the hilariously loud, eccentric and obnoxious Madame Berengeria (Mary's mother, who thinks she is a reincarnated Egyptian queen and that Emerson is or was her husband/lover). The descriptions of Egypt and the archaeology make this novel unique, intelligent and entertaining.
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Summary: A Waste of Time
Review: Dull and inane come to mind. Consists mostly of Peabody's artificially "catty" - sometimes racist - first-person remarks about everyone she meets (even the cat), fuzzy descriptions of Egyptian "archaeology" (...). The plot is slow moving, cliché and peopled with characters that come across as cardboard cutouts. I found more of pennance than pleasure in this read. Avoid it.
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Summary: Intriging, engrossing adventure
Review: Elizabeth Peters draws you into her intriguing plots. She is adept at keeping you quessing what will happen next. Her viviv story-telling is so engrossing I could hardly put the book down. There is so much action I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter. Her heroine's bravery, sense of adventure and good old common sense gives a fresh look at mystery novels. Ms. Peters is my new favorite next to Agatha Christie.
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Summary: Picks Up Where the First Book left off
Review: Elizabeth Peters has done it again. The second book in the Amelia Peabody series is just as tongue-in-cheek funny as the first. Her narratives of location make the locations come to life for the reader. The mystery is amusing, as most of Elizabeth Peters murders are. They are taken seriously, yet the characters are not. I say that because of the characters' reactions to murders and mummies in the book. This series of books is great fun to read.
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Summary: Praise for Amelia Peabody! Indiana Jones, watch out!
Review: Elizabeth Peters wrote this amazing novel with her usual genius and bubbling enthusiasm. My tremendous acclaiming to her as a master crime fictionist is unduly deserved. Extreme effort and care went into planning a superb, informed storyline. Amelia Peabody is a character never short of being as impetuous and headstrong as D'Artagnan before the storming of La Rochelle, but at the same time, she is full of hilarious acumen and perception, always shooting back with clever remarks and sharp retorts, and never once releasing hold of her immeasurably calm nature. Emerson, her charming, handsome husband, is the very picture of an impatient, devilishly arrogant Englishman, but behind doors, his tender sentimentality is an attribute I'm sure (ahem) Amelia greatly appreciates. The novel moved at a suspenseful pace, every turn and every bump leading up to a murderous climax. This book was masterful. I really enjoyed it. I advise it to anyone who loves to solve puzzles.
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Summary: An Easy Read
Review: Elizabethan Peters continues her Amelia Peabody series in The Curse of the Pharaohs. The book is fun to read. It is perhaps not the best-written of the bunch, but it is the most traditional mystery novel.
Archaeologists Amelia Peabody and her former competitor Emerson are now happily wed although pining for a return to Egypt to continue with their career after several years in the English countryside raising their son Ramses and being bored. Their chance comes when another archaeologist, Lord Baskerville, dies while excavating an Egyptian tomb that is rumored to be both untouched by grave robbers and cursed. Lord Baskerville's will provides that, in the event of his death, the tomb excavation must continue. The widow Lady Baskerville asks Emerson to lead the excavation. Peabody and Emerson jump at the chance.
Emerson is only interested in excavating the tomb, but Peabody wants both to learn the secrets of the tomb and the secrets of Lord Baskerville's death, since she believes he was murdered.
The book focuses on Peabody's investigation, the numerous attempts on Emerson's life that may or may not be related to the curse, and the wild eccentricities of all the people interested in the excavation. The actual excavation of the tomb takes a definite backseat to these other issues.
The murder mystery is definitely enough to provide for a good plot and enjoyable reading. Peters keeps everyone under suspicion. The mystery revealing is very enjoyable. I recommend this book.
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Summary: Objects of Submission: Female Characters of Liz Peters
Review: Even though Elizabeth Peters narrates The Curse of the Pharaohs through the female voice of Egyptologist Amelia Peabody, the novel fails to assert a feminist resistance to the docile roles our culture subjects women to, and rather depicts many of these women as submissive, antagonistic, patriarchal yielding figures. The relationship between Amelia and her husband, Radcliffe, represents how both followed defined stereotypical assertions of a man and a woman's place in society. Comments from Radcliffe directed to his wife included: "What are you doing here anyway? Get back to work " (130); or "Peabody, fetch Karl and Abdullah...Peabody, go back to the house and -..." (162). Not once were these patriarchal demands countered by Amelia who instead compliantly responded: " I put up with it [she says] because I was anxious to see the work proceed apase-I moved at once to obey" (130). Why, if the female narrator had control over the recount of the story did she neglect to resist her husband's treatment? I expected a feminist encumbrance to this and instead, Peters, depicts female characters such as Madame Berengeria, as a gluttonous, deranged, mad-woman; Lady Bakerville as a snooty, cleavage-displaying adulterer; Miss Mary as a passive, beautified object for marriage; and Amelia herself as a target her husband uses to assert his masculine power. Peter's should have taken advantage of Amelia's narration and used it as a weapon to counter male dominion. In addition, there existed a notable lack of mention of a seemingly primary character in the story: Ramses. After a great portion of the beginning painstakingly discussed the significance of their son Ramses, his character remained almost entirely excluded from the plot line, and seemed forgotten after his parents Amelia and Radcliffe ventured out to the golden sands of Egypt. Peters realized the long absence of Ramses' character and in an effort to re-include Ramses into the story, Amelia and Radcliffe receive one letter from him. Why spend a great deal of time discussing his prodigal talents, exceedingly elevated knowledge, and rigid, pharaoh-like attributes if his mention occurs only at the beginning, and in one other glimpse of the novel?
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