Rating: 
Summary: Another wild Amelia Peabody ride!
Review: I'm beginning to understand why this author's Amelia Peabody series is so popular. The pace is fast, the quips are faster and Amelia and her Emerson are two of the most likeable sleuths out there. They are a perfect foil for each other, and each is a strong character. These books are a nice combination of mystery and romance done with a light hand. In this book Amelia and Emerson take up where they left off in the previous book. They are a year later in their chronicle, but they're still trying to capture the Master Criminal. Who is he and what's his game? They can't seem to figure it out. There are a couple more dead bodies that turn up with this particular quest, and still they don't really know who they're looking for. He is a master of disguise and an elusive phantom that nobody can really describe. But we have a lot of fun throughout anyway.
Rating: 
Summary: Action from Page One
Review: Lion in the Valley ranks, in my mind, as one of the best in the early Amelia Peabody Emerson novels. In this one, Amelia and Emerson finally get the chance to dig at the Black Pyramid in Dahshoor -- and you know how Amelia loves those pyramids. This book brings backs the great characters of old and adds some very interesting new characters. "Nemo" was an especially interesting character (at least until we find out about his situation) and Ramses is as precocious a troublemaker as ever. This books ratchets up the tension between the Peabody Emerson and the Master Criminal, or M.C. for the sake of Emerson's bruised ego. These stories are written with fun and excitement in mind, and if you can accept the tongue-in-cheek nature of the plots, then you'll able to sit back and enjoy a rollicking ride.
Rating:
Summary: Action from Page One
Review: Lion in the Valley ranks, in my mind, as one of the best in the early Amelia Peabody Emerson novels. In this one, Amelia and Emerson finally get the chance to dig at the Black Pyramid in Dahshoor -- and you know how Amelia loves those pyramids. This book brings backs the great characters of old and adds some very interesting new characters. "Nemo" was an especially interesting character (at least until we find out about his situation) and Ramses is as precocious a troublemaker as ever. This books ratchets up the tension between the Peabody Emerson and the Master Criminal, or M.C. for the sake of Emerson's bruised ego. These stories are written with fun and excitement in mind, and if you can accept the tongue-in-cheek nature of the plots, then you'll able to sit back and enjoy a rollicking ride.
Rating:
Summary: Peabody!
Review: Recently I re-read this book, and I've got to say, I think it's one of my favorites. It's one of the simpler Amelia Peabodys, before the industrious family gets involved with politics, war, and quite a number of characters. While the Master Criminal had a minor role in "The Mummy Case" it's in this one that the Peabody-Emersons come face-to-face him, or rather, one of his many faces! When Amelia finally gets to talk to this genious of crime, he admits that he is in love with her! Hilarity ensues. While I don't quite agree with the San Francisco Chronicle's review of this book: "A sexy romp", there IS more romance and less excavation in this book than the usual literature by Ms. Peters, so if you read the books for the in-depth look at Egyptology, you might skip this one, although I personally think it would be a mistake.
Rating:
Summary: exceedingly tongue in cheek
Review: Right from the supposed foreward of the book we are set up with the wonderfully ironic tone that Elizabeth Peters takes in her Amelia Peabody mysteries - this is the 4th in the series so far I think. Although we know these are fictional characters the foreward treats them as real mentioning that 'certain names have been changed to protect the identity of individuals' - and almost makes the priceless observation that "It would be a serious error to assume that [Amelia Peabody] was equally accurate in reporting [other people's] conversations with her, for, like her distinguished husband, she has a tendency to attribute to other people opinions of her own." ...and she does of course - and Peters uses this to great advantage for we often see actions greatly at variance to the confident dominance of Amelia's prosaic narration which makes for a very comic time indeed. I liked this book because Elizabeth Peters takes this ironic observation one step foreward by creating a nameless - well almost nameless, 'Master Criminal' - who in her usually unimaginative way, Amelia refers to simply as just that. But strange things are going on in Egypt - and there are a great many people hanging around the dig which Amelia, her husband Emerson, and their precocious 8-year-old son Ramses are working on. A great many people obviously in disguise - probably minions and tools of the Master Criminal. Clearly tsomething is afoot - but none of them can quite work out his diabolical plan might be until Amelia herself is abducted and her practical commonsense-nature is tested to the limit by the most romantically bizarre of crimes.
Rating:
Summary: exceedingly tongue in cheek
Review: Right from the supposed foreward of the book we are set up with the wonderfully ironic tone that Elizabeth Peters takes in her Amelia Peabody mysteries - this is the 4th in the series so far I think. Although we know these are fictional characters the foreward treats them as real mentioning that 'certain names have been changed to protect the identity of individuals' - and almost makes the priceless observation that "It would be a serious error to assume that [Amelia Peabody] was equally accurate in reporting [other people's] conversations with her, for, like her distinguished husband, she has a tendency to attribute to other people opinions of her own." ...and she does of course - and Peters uses this to great advantage for we often see actions greatly at variance to the confident dominance of Amelia's prosaic narration which makes for a very comic time indeed. I liked this book because Elizabeth Peters takes this ironic observation one step foreward by creating a nameless - well almost nameless, 'Master Criminal' - who in her usually unimaginative way, Amelia refers to simply as just that. But strange things are going on in Egypt - and there are a great many people hanging around the dig which Amelia, her husband Emerson, and their precocious 8-year-old son Ramses are working on. A great many people obviously in disguise - probably minions and tools of the Master Criminal. Clearly tsomething is afoot - but none of them can quite work out his diabolical plan might be until Amelia herself is abducted and her practical commonsense-nature is tested to the limit by the most romantically bizarre of crimes.
Rating:
Summary: The Master Criminal Strikes Again
Review: The Emerson family are an unholy trio: Radcliffe Emerson the prickly archaeologist, Amelia Peabody Emerson his officious wife and amateur sleuth, and Walter "Ramses" Peabody Emerson, their 7 year old son who reads lots of sensational fiction and is writing his own Egyptian grammar. In the days of modern air travel they would be the family you hated to have any where near you on the plane; in turn of the century Cairo, you wouldn't have wanted to get near them either! For wherever they go, murder, mayhem, and the Master Criminal cannot be far behind. I loved the Mummy Case because we got to know Ramses who provided some leavening into the already hysterical antics of Amelia and Radcliffe. As he lisped about in the sand discovering priceless relics and running rings around his parents, the reader realized that he was going to be a great addition to the series. Here in Lion in the Valley, Ramses really comes into his own. Now 7, he is twice the trouble and twice the detective. The plot hinges on the actions of the "Master Criminal"--a mastermind of devious and deadly plots who is organizing the grave robbers of Egypt into a formidable criminal underworld. We briefly met the MC in the Mummy Case, but here he takes center stage, pushing aside any hope of interest in the archaeological dig itself. By the end of the book Amelia and the MC have met...and it is hilarious. If you like your mysteries with a laugh track then this is for you. Fans read them for Amelia and the 101 things she can do with waterproof matches--not for the labrynthine plots--and increasingly for Ramses as well.
Rating:
Summary: The Master Criminal Strikes Again
Review: The Emerson family are an unholy trio: Radcliffe Emerson the prickly archaeologist, Amelia Peabody Emerson his officious wife and amateur sleuth, and Walter "Ramses" Peabody Emerson, their 7 year old son who reads lots of sensational fiction and is writing his own Egyptian grammar. In the days of modern air travel they would be the family you hated to have any where near you on the plane; in turn of the century Cairo, you wouldn't have wanted to get near them either! For wherever they go, murder, mayhem, and the Master Criminal cannot be far behind. I loved the Mummy Case because we got to know Ramses who provided some leavening into the already hysterical antics of Amelia and Radcliffe. As he lisped about in the sand discovering priceless relics and running rings around his parents, the reader realized that he was going to be a great addition to the series. Here in Lion in the Valley, Ramses really comes into his own. Now 7, he is twice the trouble and twice the detective. The plot hinges on the actions of the "Master Criminal"--a mastermind of devious and deadly plots who is organizing the grave robbers of Egypt into a formidable criminal underworld. We briefly met the MC in the Mummy Case, but here he takes center stage, pushing aside any hope of interest in the archaeological dig itself. By the end of the book Amelia and the MC have met...and it is hilarious. If you like your mysteries with a laugh track then this is for you. Fans read them for Amelia and the 101 things she can do with waterproof matches--not for the labrynthine plots--and increasingly for Ramses as well.
Rating:
Summary: The Master Criminal Strikes Again
Review: The Emerson family are an unholy trio: Radcliffe Emerson the prickly archaeologist, Amelia Peabody Emerson his officious wife and amateur sleuth, and Walter "Ramses" Peabody Emerson, their 7 year old son who reads lots of sensational fiction and is writing his own Egyptian grammar. In the days of modern air travel they would be the family you hated to have any where near you on the plane; in turn of the century Cairo, you wouldn't have wanted to get near them either! For wherever they go, murder, mayhem, and the Master Criminal cannot be far behind. I loved the Mummy Case because we got to know Ramses who provided some leavening into the already hysterical antics of Amelia and Radcliffe. As he lisped about in the sand discovering priceless relics and running rings around his parents, the reader realized that he was going to be a great addition to the series. Here in Lion in the Valley, Ramses really comes into his own. Now 7, he is twice the trouble and twice the detective. The plot hinges on the actions of the "Master Criminal"--a mastermind of devious and deadly plots who is organizing the grave robbers of Egypt into a formidable criminal underworld. We briefly met the MC in the Mummy Case, but here he takes center stage, pushing aside any hope of interest in the archaeological dig itself. By the end of the book Amelia and the MC have met...and it is hilarious. If you like your mysteries with a laugh track then this is for you. Fans read them for Amelia and the 101 things she can do with waterproof matches--not for the labrynthine plots--and increasingly for Ramses as well.
Rating:
Summary: Amelia+Emerson+Ramses+A dashing gentleman thief=Amazing fun
Review: This book has got to be one of my all time favourites. Ms.Peters incomparable skill at writing an Egyptian mystery near the end of Queen Victoria's reign is demonstrated by the witty dialogue, interesting twists and unforgettable characters. In the thick of the mystery is our lovable heroine, Mrs. Amelia Peabody-Emerson (affectionatly caleed "Peabody" by her amazing husband), Emerson--the egyptologist spouse and their little rascal son, Ramses. The mysterious, yet fascinating Master Criminal has fallen for Amelia and tries to woe her heart while creating intriguing twists in the process. Amelia fights his advances all the way and the duel between Emerson and his rival certainly provides some entertainment!! When there is a worthy heroine, great dangers, a mystery to die for set in the most wonderful country, Egypt, how can it not be a great yarn, eh? I can't seem to be able to write a review worthy of this book without giving away everyting. My advice, please buy this book, you will NOT be disappointed.
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