The Deeds of the Disturber

Rating:
Summary: A suspensful change of setting
Review: I bought several Peabody mysteries based on wildly enthusistic reviews on this site. To say I was disappointed is putting it mildly. The suspense level and depth of this book are on a par with Nancy Drew. Characters are so one dimensional, I was sick of them halfway through. The plot is predictable and the reader doesn't much care if the thing gets resovled or not. It is a well-constructed little formula mystery I would recommend for 10-12 year-old girls.

Rating:
Summary: Solid, but not inspiring
Review: I found this a solid read, but not one of the best Amelia Peabody books I have read. The characters are as lively and entertaining as ever - though I can't stand Ramses - and it's always nice to catch up with the next installment of their lives. The Deeds of the Disturber was particularly well written, and I think it was an improvement on Lion in the Valley in that respect. I just didn't think that the plot of The Deeds of the Disturber matched up to some of the other books in the series.

Amelia and her husband, Emerson, return home after another season of archeological exploration in Egypt. The plan is to stay in London, so Emerson can consult the resources of the British Museum to finish his book. Yet there are mysterious goings-on at the Museum, all focused upon a mummy whose curse has already claimed one life - or is it just journalistic hyperbole? Through their connections to the archeological and Egyptian communities, Amelia and Emerson find themselves drawn into the mystery. Matters become stranger and stranger, leading to a highly melodramatic conclusion. Set against this is a tiresome sub-plot involving their son Ramses and his two little wretches of cousins, Percy and "dear little Violet" - really, how obtuse can two parents be?
Peters makes an atmospheric setting out of the murk of London, and Amelia moves through society both high and low with her usual panache. The return of Kevin O'Connell, journalist extraordinaire, was particularly welcome, and Miss Minton makes a good addition to the cast of recurring characters. There are a number of very funny scenes in The Deeds of the Disturber, and we do learn more about our favourite characters, but the mystery plot does not really add up to anything and is not, in the end, particularly interesting. I was pleased with myself that I managed to figure out part of the mystery, because that's a feat usually well beyond my powers. I'm not convinced, though, that Peters ever gives her readers enough clues to figure it all out.
If you're a fan, you should enjoy this - my criticisms are a matter of opinion, after all. If you haven't read any of the Amelia Peabody mysteries before, you would be better advised to start with a different book - perhaps The Curse of the Pharaohs.

Rating:
Summary: I Too Loved This Book!
Review: I have been enjoying the Amelia Peabody series up to now, but my biggest complaint was that at times it appeared a bit fantastical and far-fetched, but Ms. Peters can get away with this in her stories because of the settings - Victorian Egypt with a good dollop of the superstitious Ancient Egypt. This book is set in England though, and even though there is still an Egyptian cast to the plot, it's more about chasing a gang of criminals in Victorian London. Amelia and her Emerson are totally charming, and in this book they appear to become even more human. Ms. Peters has a real knack for characterization. Even their precosious son Ramses become much more likeable in this outing. Amelia and Emerson are on the tail of mysterious priest who seems to leave dead bodies behind him. They get in their usual scrapes, and there's still the usual love interest in the book (although this one takes more of a secondary role in the story). The book is funny, endearing and utterly delightful.

Rating:
Summary: Loved It
Review: So far this has been my favorite in the series. It is thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end. Some of the most hilarious exchanges between Peabody and Emerson yet. Ramses becomes more adorable and less annoying. (I agree that Peabody's attitude towards him is a little disturbing. That's the only drawback to the series, in my opinion.) The "mystery" is fun and moves along. You won't be disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: Loved It
Review: The Deeds of the Disturber finds the Peabody Emersons returning home to England so that Emerson can finish his book, but it's not long before they are embroiled in yet another mystery. The mystery here is interesting enough, but Amelia and Emerson belong in the hot sands of Egypt, not foggy, damp London. The book shines a light on the character of O'Connell, a wily, Irish (if not a bit stereotypical) newspaperman and introduces us to the newspaperwoman Miss Minton. Both are great characters that drive the plot. There is also the introduction of a woman from Emerson's past, which creates an interesting subplot of jealousy for Amelia. Also introduced in this book are Amelia's nephew and niece: Percy and "dear" Violet. Both are necessary, but extremely obnoxious, characters that bedevil Ramses and reduce him in the eyes of his parents. This whole storyline is the main reason I've lowered my rating to 4 stars. Amelia's treatment of her only son borders on abuse and it just spoils an otherwise good book. Don't let that stop you from reading The Deeds of the Disturber, though. The mystery is good, and different, and you'll find yourself well invested in the plot and characters - even the annoying characters.

Rating:
Summary: A fine read - enjoyable and amusing
Review: The Deeds of the Disturber is one in a series of books about Amelia Peabody Emerson. This is perhaps one of the best mystery series I have ever read. Each one of the books has romance, mystery, adventure and education about other cultures. This particular book, unlike most of the others, takes place strictly in England. Although there is not a profound emphasis on Egypt, the presence of the mummy keeps the book right in line. I enjoyed the different adventures of the individual family members and the personal touches that make the characters so real (i.e., the annoying brother and his even more annoying children). I would recommend this book to any reader.

Rating:
Summary: One of MPM's best
Review: The Deeds of the Disturber is one of the best books in the Amelia Peabody series. Not only is it absolutely hilarious, it marks the debut of a pivotal character (Percy Peabody) who later wreaks havok in the Emersons' lives.

The Deeds of the Disturber is a respectful tribute to Wilkie Collins and The Moonstone; MPM gives Collins' Inspector Cuff a new lease on life.

This volume is the last "pre-Nefret" book; the tenor and character content of the series changes dramatically in subsequent books. The Deeds of the Disturber is well worth the read, and is one of the few books that actually makes me laugh out loud.

Rating:
Summary: A suspensful change of setting
Review: This book was indeed a nice change of setting. I'm working my way through the series in order, and after Lion in the Valley (which I enjoyed) I was nevertheless a little tired of sand, Egypt, superstitious villagers, and all that. But Deeds of the Disturber's setting (London) and new characters (including Peabody's--um--"delightful" niece and nephew) really perked up this entry. Also, I found this a significantly darker book than its predecessors--it's never really gloom and doom (this is an Amelia Peabody mystery, after all!) but there's a sense of tragedy around several of the characters that seems more real and more sad than in the previous books. Too, Ramses continues to be the most disastrously endearing child in fiction. I also was pleased to see that, after the events at the end of Lion of the Valley, the tables are turned a bit in this novel.

Speaking of Lion of the Valley--in that novel I found Peabody to be insufferably, arrogantly smug. The author, I think, got rather carried away in that one (Peabody is smug, Emerson is angry, Ramses is long-winded, end of story). In Deeds of the Disturber, the characterization is much better: Peabody, especially, is back to her highly intelligent but essentially admirable self.

My only real complaint about this book is that "de cat Bastet" is present so briefly!

Rating:
Summary: Pure fun with poor subplot
Review: Wow! this book takes me back! The Emersons are so much younger in this book. I almost forgot that I even read this. I loved Ramses when he was a child! I miss his long winded speeches. I love how Amelia just goes looking for trouble. Some things never change. I hope we all can enjoy the Amelia series for years to come.