Rating: Summary: The begining of it all... Review: Ah, the begining of it all! Of course you should start out with this one, to understand what is going on. Emerson turned me off in the begining, (foolish males), but he grew on me in the end. The mystery was a bit weak, I enjoyed the develoment of the characters more. The end was wonderful, and I confess I was relieved, but I'm not going to give it away. Most readers will figure it out, the Peabody-Emerson relationship, I thought was inevidable. If you are just starting out, welcome, come in and enjoy the ride. If you are rejoining them, welcome back.
Rating: Summary: A Great Start Review: Elizabeth Peters masterfully writes a wonderful mystery set in the scorching sands of Egypt. Not only was the plot compelling, but you feel connected with the characters. They are very funny and very well thought out (on Ms.Peters' part). I cannot understand why people do not like this book. The wording, though a bit hard to grasp at the beginning, is amazingly simple. The plot is complex not because it is hard to understand, but because it involves many interesting characters and clues. The book is set in the Victorian Times Egypt. The plot in brief is about two women and three men who try to crack the case of a Mummy. Ms. Peters' knowledge of Egypt is great. You will sometimes find yourself laughing out loud; the way she writes is hilarious. However, to grasp the rest of the series, you probanly want to read this one first. Excellent book.
Rating: Summary: A female Indiana Jones Review: A great read. My wife has read all of this series, and finally convinced me to read this first story. I am now a big fan, well written, very clever plot a perfect beach read.
Rating: Summary: moral principles and umbrella Review: Wherever Amelia Peavody goes, she has two very useful assets: her moral principles (solid victorian upbringing) and her umbrella (great against the rain, the desert sun and any rascals that may attempt to hurt her or her friends).In fact, one of the funniest things about this character is how, by way of scrupulously and stricly following her ethical code --which is supposed to be shared by all her fellow countrymen--, she manages to be an extravagant outsider, almost a revolutionary. And the whodonit plot seems a showcase for this, since it actually provides perfect occasions for Amelia to assert her ideas and character. Another very funny thing about this character is her love life. The romantic part of this book follows the well known (and irresistible, if well done)hate-at-first-sight-that-turns-into-love formula. And I warn you....you will inevitably fall in love with Emmerson!
Rating: Summary: What fun! Review: A charming suspense novel, travel book and romance rolled into one, with a liberal helping of humor. This book made me want to sail the Nile by dahabeeyah and to visit the tombs of ancient pharaohs.The book's protagonists, Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe Emerson, are a delight. Amelia claims she cannot abide Emerson, while Emerson views Amelia as an interfering busybody. But in truth, they are falling head over heels in love. I look forward to spending more time in the company of Amelia, Emerson and their family and friends.
Rating: Summary: Amelia does it again!!! Review: Superb writing from my favorite mystery solver. Amelia Peabody, that lovable Victorian Egyptologist and her family get into trouble again and manage to foil the "master criminal" and come out on top. A great read, hard to put down and a MUST HAVE for every Egyptologist buff! Thank you Elizabeth Peters!!!
Rating: Summary: You might as well buy a Romance Novel Review: I'm really in to mysteries and I'm not snobby about it -- I like them all, from Agatha Christie to Sue Grafton to Janet Evanovich to Elizabeth George -- you get the point. I read tons of mysteries and even with the wide ranging styles of authors I read, I love them all. This is the first book (mystery or no) that I didn't want to finish. I actually did finish it -- although it was a struggle -- I read it fast to get it over with. The book reads like a trashy romance novel -- no there isn't any explicit sex and yes Amelia is somewhat of a women's rights figure -- however it still has that feel to it. It's just not good. I feel cheaper for having read it and want the wasted minutes of my life back. That said, I'm sure someone out there appreciates this book, I'm obviously not Ms. Peter's target audience.
Rating: Summary: Great! Review: This is the story of spinster Amelia Peabody, and her sidekick Evelyn Barton-Forbes. Amelia Peabody is smart woman with one goal in mind, to see Europe, and to do it in style. When her maid falls ill, Amelia conveniently hires Evelyn a British heiress-in-distress. Together, these two women hire a ship and travel down the Nile. Along the way, Amelia and Evelyn run into the Emerson brothers (Archaeologists) who are excavating the ancient ruin of Amarna, former home/temple of the heretic king Akhenaton I really LOVED Crocodile on the Sandbank, and look forward to reading the rest of these novels, but I had two problems with COTS, which I will detail. First: I'm probably the only one in the world, but I didn't care for the 'gruff, rude, alpha-male' Emerson. I didn't find this character very charming, I didn't like the way Amelia and he bickered, nor did I find him at all romantic. Also, I found the romance between Amelia and Emerson to seem rushed, and quite frankly unbelievable. (Must EVERY single character in this book 'find someone?' By the end of the novel?) Second: The mystery element was rather transparent. It was easy to guess the murderer right from the beginning. In fact, I found it so obvious that I thought I must be wrong! Overall, though, I enjoyed COTS, with or without its flaws. Can't wait for the sequel.
Rating: Summary: Fascinating first Review: This is the first novel in the Amelia Peabody series of antique Egyptological mysteries (but hardly Peters' first book!). Other reviewers have listed the serial order of these novels because the publisher shamefully omits to do so. I read an heirloom 1988 Warner pb whose pages are yellowing (but not yet fatally brittle): what is one to do to save a great series for future kids? Yes, you'll probably be hooked. And you can comfortably read these stories to kids, too. Besides the requisite plotting for a satisfying mystery, the author has four entertaining propensities. 1) The characters are well differentiated and all have something to bring suspicion upon them, whether it is criminal or in a love interest. The recurring characters (later including an obnoxious child) really grow and change through the series, so be sure to start with this book first, giving the hilarious circumstances under which Amelia and Radcliffe Emerson first meet. 2) There's lots of spoofing of male habits by the redoubtable and feisty young heroine. I emphasize it is good-natured, sometimes tongue-firmly-in-cheek, and enjoyable by all. 3) Another pleasant feature is the 19th century historic details contemporary with the story, like the Sphinx still buried in the sand, Shepherd's Hotel in Cairo, or the few brave tourists sailing the Nile. If you like archaeology the descriptions of monuments and the antique period methods will attract you. Particularly amusing are the characterizations of the actual famous Egyptologists of the period (with Amelia's "advanced ideas" modeled most closely on those of Flinders Petrie). 4) Mild horror enters from time to time, as you would expect from the Egyptological setting of "efreets," dim tombs, and mummified corpses. These episodes counterpoint and provide opportunities for Amelia's extreme rationalism. All in all these are enjoyable stories about an interesting family frequently in danger.
Rating: Summary: Wonderful, delightful novel !! Review: This is a wonderful , excellently written novel that begins the Amelia Peabody series. This novel establishes her relationship with Emerson & Evelyn. If you begin to read this you'll have a very hard time putting it down! I must have given this book, to friends & family, probably 10 times this year alone; and most wind up reading the entire series. My husband just adored the novel (he has written 3 N.Y. Times best selling novels...so he is really PICKY). If you like anything to do with ancient Egypt, Victorian times, murder, mystery & intrigue.......This is your novel!! I only have two complaints: I wish there was a life-time supply of fresh Amelia Peabody stories available. The other complaint is that there is nothing inside the book on any of the novels that helps create a 'time line' of all the novels in the series. In other words, I read the fifth book first & had no clue as to what was the first book, second book, etc. in the series. I had to go & do a comparison between the dates when they were written and check the story lines to figure this out. Most series list the available novels in a chronological order somewhere in the book. So...for all future & current lovers of the series, here a list of all her books for the Amelia Peabody series & the Vicky Bliss series: Amelia Peabody Series Book #1-Crocodile on the Sandbank Book # 2- The Curse of the Pharaohs Book # 3-The Mummy Case Book # 4-Lion in the Valley Book # 5-The Deeds of the Disturber Book # 6-The Last Camel Died at Noon Book # 7-The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog Book # 8-The Hippopotamus Pool Book # 9-Seeing a Large Cat Book # 10-The Ape Who Guards the Balance Book # 11-The Falcon at the Portal Book # 12-He Shall Thunder in the Sky Book # 13-Lord of the Silent Book # 14-The Golden One Vicky Bliss Series Book #1 1-Borrower of the Night Book #1 2-Street of the Five Moons Book #1 3-Silhouette in Scarlet Book #1 4-Trojan Gold Book #1 5-Night Train to Memphis
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