Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Precisely Peabody!! Review: For those not familiar with this series you're in for a treat. Amelia Peabody is a proper Victorian woman who's married to a famous Egyptologist, but don't be fooled by her. She's, by far, an unusually unpredictable woman. She finds trouble, solves mysteries and foils the "master criminal" and manages to still have tea on time. A great read!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Peters Not on Par, But Still a Far Cry Greater than Most Review: Having postponed being completely enamored with Elizabeth Peters for as long as humanly possible, I've just recently started to read her Amelia Peabody series.This being the second book in the series I found it a bit more traditional in the mystery genre than the first that I have read. The cast of characters comes straight out of Agatha Christie with its masquerading nobility, craven widows, the begrudgingly accepted American, the poor young lovers, and the rejected social climber. Yet, despite the fact that this book is more of a traditional cozy than her last, Amelia's enjoyable and matter of fact narraration and the unusual setting of the excavation of a Pharoah's tomb breath life into the tired genre. Likewise, Peters draws heavily from her previous book. Amelia's efforts to take Mary Berengeria under her wing and manage her romantic affairs were too reminiscent of her relationship to Eveleyn in _The Crocodile and the Sandbank_. (Although the ending was a nice surprise.) Also, the element of the curse of the Pharoah seems standard Egyptian ghost story fare much like the living mummy that appeared in the first book. Hopefully, in her later editions Peters gains enough confidence to stray from these constants in anything to do with Egypt. Despite these flaws, I can't help but give this book five stars. Peters is amazing at what she does. In every paragraph she writes you can tell she is having fun -- and in her fun we find enjoyment as well. She loves her protagonist and due to the first person narrative, Peters often toys with her giving her readers the impression that Amelia might not know as much as she lets on. You've got to love a mystery where neither of the sleuths actually solve the crime as a result of their own deduction.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Escapism at it's Best Review: I enjoy reading all the books in the Amelia Peabody series, and have greatly enjoyed re-reading them after long intervals. The characters Amelia, Emerson and Ramses (as well as Abdullah and others) are original and humorus, and I appreciate her tongue in cheek portrayals of some more sterotypical characters. Reading other reviews I was surprised at the vehement criticism of Peters lack of a feminist viewpoint and how she allowed Amelia's character to be bullied by Emerson. Two things to note is that Amelia's allowance of Emersons bullying is a compromise as any relationship, mosern or otherwise, demands. (and he's really joking, you know) And secondly, for Amelia to be in the position to share her husband's work in the early 1900's shows exactly how much of a feminist she is. This was a time when most women stayed at home and invited lady friends for tea and gossip, and to make Amelia some type of fanatical feminist crusader would be contradict this already established character. If you want more feminism, try one of the later Amelia Peabody books and enjoy Nefret. In the meantime, relax, laugh and enjoy the ride!
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Can Be Skipped Review: I give this book three stars simply because Ms. Peters writes such great characters, but the plot of this book seemed a rehash of Crocodile on the Sanbank. Unless your an aboslute fan of the series and need to read every book, then it won't hurt to skip this one. Go on to the next one, it's better.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Can Be Skipped Review: I give this book three stars simply because Ms. Peters writes such great characters, but the plot of this book seemed a rehash of Crocodile on the Sanbank. Unless your an aboslute fan of the series and need to read every book, then it won't hurt to skip this one. Go on to the next one, it's better.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: 2nd in a series I am completely hooked on Review: I got hooked on Amelia Peabody from the first book, Crocodile on the Sandbank. No sooner had I finished it when I bought the next 2 in the series. The Curse of the Pharoahs is the 2nd book in the Amelia Peabody series. Amelia is back, as witty, smart, and wryly humorous as ever working with husband Emerson to solve a purported case of a pharoah's curse. The plot is convoluted enough to keep you guessing but not to lose you in the middle and the satellite characters are, as usual, well-fleshed out with their own quirks and personalities. This book introduces one of my favorite secondary characters, Kevin O'Connell a reporter for the rag sheet, The Daily Yell. Peters includes a good helping of Egyptian history and archaeology weaving it deftly through the well-plotted mystery.
Rating: ![1 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-1-0.gif) Summary: Once I put it down... Review: I hate not finishing books, I really do. But I found Curse of the Pharoahs so contrived and precious, I just had to quit after about 75 pages. The plot is painfully slow. The characters are perfect Victorian stereotypes, except for Ramses (Rameses?!?!), who is nothing more than an overindulged, precocious brat. But worst of all is Amelia, from whose point of view the book is presented. The cat who got the cream. Her commentary is coy, sarcastic, narcissistic, and oh-so-witty; the only person more self-centered and self-satisfied in this story is probably the pharoah. To paraphrase Mark Twain, once I put this book down, I couldn't pick it up again.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Better than the First One Review: I just started on the Amelia Peabody books. Crocodile on the Sandbank I thought a little stilted and the writing a little dull, even though I loved the characters. The plot is lightweight but still entertaining. But I really thought this book was much much better: the writing was crisper, funnier, snappier. I find the relationship between Peabody and Emerson an updated version of Jane Eyre and Rochester--or the wonderful couple from Bronte's Villette. If you don't like that kind of interaction you won't like this. As a feminist I find nothing insulting or backwards about this portrayal. It is ironic and hilarious, strange and refreshing. The mystery is fully enjoyable.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: The Ghost of the Pharaoh Strikes Again Review: Lord Baskerville is dead! Three suspects: Lady Baskerville , Arthur Baskerville alias, Milverton , and Mr. Armadale , all are after his fortune. A body of a night watchman is found laying on the ground! Who did the deed ? I liked this book because it takes place in Egypt, and Emerson , Father of Curses , is one stubborn archaeologist that won't let a Master Criminal interfere with him! Hilarious!
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: Abusive characters in a co-dependant relationship Review: Okay, am I the only one who found the (audio) version of this novel extremely irritating? I guess its just me, judging by all the positive comments about this book, but Amelia Peabody and her verbally and physically abusive hubbie, Emerson are complete zeros in my book. The plot seems to be a mirror of the previous novel...And the characters...:sigh:. Amelia: Amelia is a complete cold fish, referring to her baby in the first part as 'it', and talking 'down' to the reader in a most condescending manner possible. 'Emerson,' is a coward and a bully, 'growling' and threatening and bullying people to get his way. At one point he shoves a man down the stairs in a fit of pique. Not hero material in my book. Ugh. I don't know why Amelia stays with him a single second longer than she has to. Overall, since I bought it, I'm forcing myself to finish it, but I find this book to be extremely irritating and tedious... Mostly because the main two characters just did NOT work for me.
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