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Summary: Tomb Be or not Tomb Be
Review: The Golden OneI tend to stick with certain authors through a great deal of thick or thin before I give up totally. But I have to admit that the last few of Amelia Peabody/Emerson's adventures have been a bit trying. She and her husband Emerson have always been strong-minded to the point of obnoxiousness, but, beyond a certain point, it gets monotonous and even a little sad instead of funny. It is quite a relief to find that Elizabeth Peters is back on track, if not headed down another path entirely. Make no mistake; this is the usual heady brew of stolen antiquities, hidden tombs, Ramses' heroics and Amelia's infernal meddling. And it is the regular cast of nearly 20 very eccentric characters. But something special seems to have happened. Peters has made them all lighten up and take themselves quite a bit less seriously. Not only is the end result far less ponderous, but the tongue in cheek interplay of the characters reveals not just their faults, but many of their more endearing qualities as well. The story takes place in 1917, with the Emerson's returning to Egypt for some extended digging. They have decided to settle in for the duration of the war rather than risk being sunk by u-boats while traveling back in forth. They arrive amid rumors that thieves have found and emptied yet another tomb. The Emersons descend upon Luxor determined to unearth the culprits. Of course, they quickly find that the emptied tomb isn't quite empty. Someone seems to have left a corpse in it. There was a time when this would have provided enough plot for an entire Emersonian melodrama. But, in those days, there were four or five regular characters, not the twenty we have now. This time Ramses is again drawn into the deadly game of spies. It seems you can never have just one Emerson, though, and all four Emersons pile into a motorcar and race off to Gaza, behind enemy lines, checking up on a certain cousin Ismail. Before the Emerson's are done, they will have baffled the Turks, terrorized the thieves, embarrassed British military intelligence, chased back and forth across the desert in search of a mysterious tomb and... Well, suffice it to say, that almost everything that could happen does, repeatedly. In fact, there are more than enough loose ends to guarantee a sequel. And enough excitement to ensure that this reader will once again line up to buy it. Be warned, this series is long past the point where it is easy to dive right in and understand all the subplots. The book is enjoyable on its own, but seeking out some of the earlier novels in this series will make it even more rewarding.
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Summary: Continuation of the Peabody Saga.....
Review: Elizabeth Peters has given us another wonderful story about our favorite characters, the Peabody's and Friends. Folks, I own the complete set of this series, and I'm hooked. As a reader, it's really the characters I love and care about. The story, as always is light, but fully paced as we really do want to know what happens next, and who was that, and how did that happen, and...and...but always with a light, delicate touch, that gives the reader pleasure, and not pain. Although the Peabody series is labeled "Mystery", I would reccommend this series to anyone who enjoys a "delightful" read.
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Summary: Excellent Adventure!
Review: Elizabeth Peters does not disappoint in the latest adventures of Emerson clan. The novel is fast-paced, the characters as interesting as ever, and the plot intriguing. She does a wonderful job in the further development of her characters, and it's like a family reunion of old friends. Her trademark sly, ironic humor keeps the reader turning every page. Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not great
Review: I am a died in the wool Amelia and Emerson fan, but this latest book did not have the 'spit and vinegar' that I have come to expect from Peters. It was slow going in many sections and the thrill and excitement were not there for me. In other words, the plot(s) were flat. I still enjoyed the book and loved meeting the old characters again but they lacked the vim and vigor they had in earlier works. Of course Amelia and Emerson are getting older so the adventures are rightfully passed to the younger generation. But I hope to see the old Amelia return.
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Summary: Elizabeth Peters: The Great One
Review: She entertains me, over and over. I eagerly await each new installment of the Amelia Peabody series, and have never been disappointed. This book is especially entertaining because two (at least) story lines are goin' on. I like the way historical facts of the region are incorporated into her fictional plots. Also, since I have Arabian horses, I really like the way she includes the lovely horses in the Emerson family. Read and enjoy! If you're a new fan, you're going to want to read them all, over and over again, like I do.
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Summary: AN EAGERLY AWAITED ADVENTURE
Review: Few tales are as eagerly awaited as another in the addictive Amelia Peabody mystery series. After all, what other heroine is intrepid, tastefully dressed, and secretes a sword in her parasol - just in case. When first introduced in the 1975 "Crocodile On The Sandbank," Amelia Peabody was a stalwart spinster who determined to use her hefty inheritance in pursuit of her overriding interest - Egyptology. It was 1884, yet she set out for Egypt where she was to be confronted with a number of perplexing circumstances. With "The Golden One" it is 1917, and Amelia is married to Radcliffe, the most famous archeologist in Egypt. Ramses, their son is a chip off the old blocks; he is an investigator wed to Nefret, who is, of course, beautiful. Choosing to overlook German submarines lurking in the waters, this encourage sets out for Egypt. Their plans for an anticipated excavation are interrupted with the appearance of Sethos, Radcliffe's ne'er-do-well brother. Matters are further complicated when they hear that royal tombs have been robbed, and a body is found. Those who have read the Amelia Peabody series in the past will be thrilled with this latest adventure. Those who have not have a treat in store. - Gail Cooke
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Summary: Hot and Spiffy Entry in Fantastic Series!
Review: Contrary to the image projected by some other reviews, this book is a wonderful entry in E.Peters' long-running series. And the books just keep getting better and better! The plot is taut and tense, and the narrow escapes hair raising. The archaeological background is good and intriguing. The characters are fully realized. The already-large Emerson clan continues to grow! The yarn keeps turning! This book will have the greatest impact on those already deeply immersed in Elizabeth Peters' series. But then, that seems like a very good place to be immersed! I get impatient each year for the new volume. I hope Ms. Peters (and I, of course) live forever. I can hardly wait for the year of King Tut's tomb! In short, you have just got to read this book!
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Summary: Another Bookmark Ruined
Review: From lack of use, that is! The latest installment of the Amelia Peabody mysteries doesn't fail to interest. I found myself staying up all night to finish it! The Golden One continues the adventures of the Egyptologically-inclined Emerson family: the vociferous Radcliffe, his indomitable wife Amelia, and their son Ramses with his wife Nefret. Rounding out the entourage are Gargery, the loyal butler, and the precocious child Sennia, a newer addition to the clan, along with several other familiar and not-so-familiar acquaintances. WWI still rages on, but that doesn't stop the Emersons from continuing their beloved excavations. Until, of course, the ineluctable dead body turns up. What unfolds from there will not be revealed by this reviewer, as Ms. Peters' talent is best enjoyed first-hand. Rest assured, though - this addition to the series is as brilliant as its predecessors!
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not great
Review: Pretty good read overall. There isn't a book by this author I haven't read, and this one is just alright. The plot meaders from time to time, where usually Ms. Peters writes very tightly. Nice to see all the old favorites back, plus the intros of some new characters, and soon to be adding some more. It could have been better, but it wasn't awful.
Rating: 
Summary: Flat compared to her earlier Peabody books
Review: As a devoted fan of Amelia Peabody, I've faithfully followed the series with each book. The earlier novels were funny, infused with Ramses' precocious exploits as a child, Amelia's musing on the inferiority of the male gender, and rich displays of romantic imagination. As Ramses grew into a teen, the novels became a little less campy and a little more serious, the tension of the novels often residing in the Ramses-Nefret relationship or the Amelia-Sethos-Emerson triangle. In this latest novel, Peter's heart just doesn't seem to be in it. The plot seems forced, the sense of what-will-happen-next is missing (Rames and Nefret are safely married, Amelia and Sethos are a "has been" item), and the war has erased the humor. The tension in the novel comes almost wholly from a rather mundane plot versus the characters' relationships, making it fairly dull compared with earlier Peabody novels. Amelia's character, the heart of the book, seems to lack the love of life she used to have and none of the characters around her are as interestingly as they used to be. Has Peters grown tired of the Peabody series? This book reads as if it has been churned out rather than written with Peter's former humor and warmth.
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