Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody #1)

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Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody #1)

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 · rating details · 20,868 ratings · 1,633 reviews

Amelia Peabody, that indomitable product of the Victorian age, embarks on her debut Egyptian adventure armed with unshakable self-confidence, a journal to record her thoughts, and, of course, a sturdy umbrella. On her way to Cairo, Amelia rescues young Evelyn Barton-Forbes, who has been abandoned by her scoundrel lover. Together the two women sail up the Nile to an archeol...more

Paperback, 262 pages

Published January 1st 1988 by Grand Central Publishing (first published 1975)

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Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

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Cozy Mystery Series

3rd out of 292 books — 978 voters

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Best Historical Mystery

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May 14, 2012 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

If my memory serves me correct, this is the first Amelia Peabody mystery novel. I now have probably at least 15 of these books on my shelf and Elizabeth Peters keeps popping a new one out every year. Amelia is a Egyptologist at the beginning of the 20th century. Each book contains new mysteries ("every year, another body") that threaten the archeological digs in which she participates. You get to watch the characters grow over the years, deal with real historical issues (Britain's occupation of...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Hayes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-prior-to-2009, read-in-2012, favorites

I'm sick of reading tiresome things, so I'm going to read this fun thing and the next two in the series... so there!

That was fun. Cheered me up immensely.

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Oct 31, 2007 Celia Powell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, favourites

What a marvellous, marvellous book. I've seen Elizabeth Peter's books around, of course, but knew nothing of what they were about, and the covers never particularly attracted me. After seeing them recommended on someone's blog, I thought I'd pick up the first of her Amelia Peabody series - and what a joy it was.

This is a nominally a mystery, but it's not really the meat of the book, nor what is so enjoyable about it. Amelia Peabody - strong-minded, independent, sarcastic Amelia, striding along...more

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Aug 19, 2012 bookyeti rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, 2012-reading-list, series-or-set, reviewed

My rating: 3.5

What fun!

This enjoyable light read offers a playful romp through Egypt with a bit of mystery (albeit, predictable), romance, intrigue and humour thrown in for good measure. I'm looking forward to delving head-long into the rest of Peters' series - she writes with wit and a deft turn of phrase, but also bestows a certain amount depth to her characters.

Narrator and unlikely 'heroine', Amelia Peabody, is matter-of-fact, unflappable and very believable. I took to her in an instant. Wh...more

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Oct 15, 2009 Julie (Mom2lnb) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Cozy Mysteries or Adventure Stories in Exotic Settings

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-2009, cozy-mystery

Reviewed for THC Reviews
It has been many years since I've read a mystery story, and I wasn't quite sure if I would still like them as much as I had in my youth. Either I do, or I simply chose the right book with which to renew that genre interest, because I found Crocodile on the Sandbank to be an enjoyable read. It reminded me of a cross between Indiana Jones and a younger version of Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher (I loved Murder, She Wrote when I was a kid), or perhaps a more mature version o...more Reviewed for THC Reviews
It has been many years since I've read a mystery story, and I wasn't quite sure if I would still like them as much as I had in my youth. Either I do, or I simply chose the right book with which to renew that genre interest, because I found Crocodile on the Sandbank to be an enjoyable read. It reminded me of a cross between Indiana Jones and a younger version of Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher (I loved Murder, She Wrote when I was a kid), or perhaps a more mature version of the Nancy Drew books that I was crazy about in my tweens/teens, only in a more exotic location. Crocodile on the Sandbank, and the entire Amelia Peabody series, fall into the cozy mystery genre as they are very gentle mysteries that aren't particularly frightening and don't have any objectionable elements. Even more mature content like Evelyn's affair is merely alluded to and never spelled out in so many words. This made for some fun, old-fashioned sleuthing that is, in my opinion, appropriate for mystery aficionados of all ages, although the advanced vocabulary and authenticity of the historical voice would probably be more suited for teen and adult readers. Elizabeth Peters began writing the Amelia Peabody series in the 1970s, and had I heard of it back then, I may have been reading them as a teen.

Amelia was a fun character to read about. She is a firmly on-the-shelf spinster who has no intentions of marrying and an independent woman of means, so she decides to indulge her passion for history and her dream of traveling by going on a trip to Egypt. Amelia is an unflappable, no-nonsense woman with a plucky, adventurous spirit and a very straight-forward way of dealing with life. This forthright nature was very much in evidence in the first question that she asked Evelyn after her friend confessed to having had an affair. Somehow, it didn't really surprise me, but it did make me laugh nonetheless. Amelia is also a feminist who has little use for the traditional Victorian conventions, and sometimes wishes she had been born a man, so that she would be more respected. Even though Amelia is very much a thinker and a scholar, it is obvious that she has a very kind heart and a willingness to help others. She is quite skilled in medical matters and assists many people along the way who are sick or injured which always seems to help put her in their good graces. She is also the consummate matchmaker when she realizes that Evelyn has fallen in love. I found it interesting and amusing that Amelia immediately recognized Evelyn's love for Walter, but when she started falling for Emerson, she didn't initially discern it as the same emotion in herself. All in all, I really admired Amelia, and a part of me would love to be her, but in reality, I'm probably much closer in personality to Evelyn.

Crocodile on the Sandbank is told in first-person perspective with Amelia, of course, as the narrator. It is written in a slightly different style than other first-person books that I have read, so it took me a little while to get used to it. For me, the reading of the book was rather like sitting down to tea with Amelia while listening as she related her story. It had a rather quaint, intimate feel to it. The book takes a “just-the-facts” approach and is a little light on descriptive details of the environment. In fact, early in the story, Amelia comments that she will not indulge in such descriptions so as not to bore the reader, and if the reader wants more detail, they should go read a travelogue. Normally, this would be a downside for me, because I tend to enjoy lush, vivid depictions of the setting, but for the most part, enough information was given to make me feel like I was in the hot sands of the Egyptian desert with Amelia. There are also not a lot of deep insights into the secondary characters. The reader really only gets to know them through Amelia's eyes. Even though I usually prefer to know the other characters' thoughts and feelings, I once again, for the most part, did not view this as a weakness as I normally would. I think this was owing in large part to the genre. Since the story is primarily about the mystery of a mummy stalker who appears to be trying to scare them away from their archaeological dig site, rather than the relationships, I didn't necessarily feel a burning need to get inside the other characters' heads like I would if it were a romance.

As things were, I got to know the other characters well enough. I liked Amelia's friend, Evelyn. She is a sweet, and perhaps slightly naïve, young woman who allowed herself to be seduced by a scoundrel which ruined her relationship with her grandfather and left her destitute. Amelia rescues her off the street and hires her as a companion for her trip. On the outside, Evelyn seems very delicate, but on the inside she is made of much sterner stuff than one might think at first glance, and in spite of her indiscretion, she has a certain strength of character as well. I adored Evelyn's love interest, Walter, the more charming and amiable of the two Emerson brothers, a team of archaeologists who are working to unearth the history and treasures of Egypt. If he were one of my romance heroes, he'd be the sweet beta who gets all moony-eyed over his lady love, but can't quite bring himself to declare his feelings. Yet, when he finally does (at Amelia's prodding), it was in the most romantic way possible, giving me a major, “Awwwww!” moment. Then there is Emerson. Actually his name is Radcliffe, but Amelia never calls him by his first name. It's OK though, because he always call her Peabody instead of Amelia too. If Walter is the romantic beta, Emerson is the alpha. He's rude and abrasive, rarely having anything nice to say about anyone, and he gets under Amelia's skin in more ways than one right from the moment they meet. Although Emerson certainly tries his best, Amelia never allows him to run rough-shod over her, instead giving back as good as she gets whenever he let the insults fly which made for some fun bantering. Even though he could be a real bear sometimes, I liked that Emerson's heart was in the right place when it came to the preservation and proper study of the antiquities that were being treated with flippancy even by the government agency that was supposed to be protecting them. Other than the antiquities though, Emerson could seem pretty cold and indifferent at times, so it took me a while to really warm up to him. When he finally started to reveal his feelings, it was worth the wait.

Aside from the colorful characters, Crocodile on the Sandbank had a fun plot. In fact, I waffled a bit on my star rating, and the only thing that really prevented it from earning keeper status from me was that the pacing is a little too slow in places. Especially during the first half of the book, there are several long passages of narration where there isn't much excitement or action. There are also a couple of passages where a secondary character goes off into what is essentially a soliloquy of narration. Preferring a more liberal mixture of narrative and dialog, I found these passages to be a bit too sluggish for my taste, leaving my mind occasionally wandering. Once the mystery portion of the story really got going, I thoroughly enjoyed the action, adventure and intrigue, as well as trying to figure out the answer to the puzzle. I did correctly discern the culprit and their motive (although not all the details of “how”) before it was revealed, but it didn't detract from the fun of getting there, as I ended up second guessing myself more than once. Overall, the narrative built very nicely to an exciting conclusion. Anyone who enjoys a good mystery/adventure yarn with a plucky heroine, an exotic setting and a dash of romance, should like this book. Crocodile on the Sandbank is the first of the Amelia Peabody series, and my first read by Elizabeth Peters. I found it to be a nice departure from my usual romance fare that has left me looking forward to trying the next book in the series when I'm, once again, in the mood for something different. There are currently 18 books in the Amelia Peabody series. A complete list of all the books and their recommended reading order can be found on the official Amelia Peabody website.(less)

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Apr 04, 2009 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-mystery, series

This was a really fun, light read! I fell in love with Amelia and her witty personality. There was so much humor laced throughout the story, and I think I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading it. I guessed the "mystery" part of the story fairly early on, but I still enjoyed seeing how it all played out.

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Jan 31, 2013 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourite-series, strong-female-characters, favorites, victorian-era

Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe Emerson are two of THE most delightful, intelligent and funny characters I have come across in a very long time! Two Brits who meet up in Egypt and instantly dislike one another intensely (or so we are led to believe!), they are nevertheless forced to spend time together as they become embroiled in a mystery involving his younger brother Walter, her younger travelling companion Evelyn, and Evelyn's suitor/cousin Lucas. Not to mention any number of Egyptian locals.

As...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Caroline rated it 3 of 5 stars

Feisty Victorian spinster Amelia Peabody goes off to explore Egypt, in spite of political disruptions - including the besieging of Gordon in Khartoum. She’s not a woman to let herself be put off by piffling politics. En route, she picks up the beautiful and distressed Evelyn Forbes, recovering from a shameful love affair, who happily takes up the post of companion to our gritty heroine. Together they sail forth to Egypt.....the land of pink sunsets and starry nights.... and on up the Nile.

On on...more Feisty Victorian spinster Amelia Peabody goes off to explore Egypt, in spite of political disruptions - including the besieging of Gordon in Khartoum. She’s not a woman to let herself be put off by piffling politics. En route, she picks up the beautiful and distressed Evelyn Forbes, recovering from a shameful love affair, who happily takes up the post of companion to our gritty heroine. Together they sail forth to Egypt.....the land of pink sunsets and starry nights.... and on up the Nile.

On one of their river stops they bump into a pair of brothers met earlier in Cairo, the sweet and charming Walter Emerson, and his boorish brother Radcliffe. Both are passionate archaeologists, digging and sweating happily on their site under a hot desert sun....The ladies, both adventurous souls, are smitten with their work, and soon the Misses Peabody and Forbes have rolled up their sleeves (but not their petticoats) to join them in their endeavors.

All is not well though, and as the days move on things get stranger and stranger (featuring a cousin, a painted path, a mummy, a snake and so on and so on). As things keep taking a turn for the worse we get to see our gallant party doing some nifty detective work in an effort to sort things out and restore equilibrium. All their hard work pays off. After much running around, gun shots and faintings, and other assorted shenanigans, everything is sorted.... Right triumphs, love triumphs and everybody gets to live happily ever after.

This was not the first book I read in the Amelia Peabody Murder Mystery series. I adored the first one I read – though I can’t remember its title. I was therefore very pleased to find this – the first book in the series – sitting on the library returns shelf. Regrettably I found it rather less than gripping. Most of the characters were fairly simplistic. Whilst this complemented the simplicity, humour and charm of the story, for me it really undermined the ways in which the people in this book related to one another, and therefore the way things worked out. It was almost like a children’s story for adults, and in some ways I would have preferred it to be a bit more grown up.

I still quite liked it though, and the degree to which I enjoyed the other book I read in this series has seared its way into my heart. I shall therefore look for more of her books with enthusiasm.

(less)

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Sep 18, 2012 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Amelia Peabody is anything but your typical Victorian-era woman. When she inherits her father's sizable estate, she determines to fulfill her life-long dream of traveling the world rather than settling for something more conventional -- like getting married. She travels to Egypt where she meets Evelyn, a young lady with more than her own share of baggage and secrets. Amelia -- purposeful, unflinchingly blunt, and and unfailingly loyal, joins forces with the quiet, shy Evelyn, and the two embark...more Amelia Peabody is anything but your typical Victorian-era woman. When she inherits her father's sizable estate, she determines to fulfill her life-long dream of traveling the world rather than settling for something more conventional -- like getting married. She travels to Egypt where she meets Evelyn, a young lady with more than her own share of baggage and secrets. Amelia -- purposeful, unflinchingly blunt, and and unfailingly loyal, joins forces with the quiet, shy Evelyn, and the two embark on a Nile tour. Along the way they join an archaeological expedition run by the Emerson brothers -- the gallant Walter and his irascible, surly older brother Radcliffe. When Radcliffe and Amelia meet, sparks fly, but soon sinister forces intrude on the dig site and their delightfully quarrelsome relationship. Evelyn is the target, and Amelia must join forces with Radcliffe or risk losing her dearest friend.

I first read Crocodile in the Sandbank four years ago, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, one thing led to another and I never pursued subsequent volumes in the series. But since reading Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series, featuring another Victorian-era heroine with a propensity for using her parasol as a weapon, I resolved to revisit Amelia's world. This book is SO much fun! It's as if Agatha Christie wrote a female Indiana Jones-style character, with a dash of the humor and spunk that characterizes the character of Evelyn (played by Rachel Weisz) from the films The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. My favorite Christie mysteries were always the ones set in Egypt, and since the number of those books are finite I'm thrilled to have this series to explore -- and I'm determined to progress past the initial volume thanks to this re-read!

Within the pages of Amelia's debut, Peters delivers a rich atmosphere and a veritable wealth of historical detail. Though the villain and resolution of the "Mystery" are a tad obvious, it didn't impact my overall enjoyment of the story since its real strength and draw lies in Amelia's prickly, blunt, forthright character. I absolutely adore watching her budding relationship with Radcliffe Emerson unfold as they butt heads over archaeological and investigative methods. I was struck even moreso on this second reading of the powerful spark to their romance -- the fact that neither Amelia nor Radcliffe possess the qualities normally found in the hero and heroine of a traditional romance novel make their love story, to my mind, all sweeter and entirely more memorable. I cannot wait to see where Amelia's insatiable thirst for adventure takes her next!

******

As mentioned above I originally read Crocodile on the Sandbank in September 2008 -- since that review never made it to my blog archive, and since I decided I simply HAD to re-read it, I've reworked and expanded my old review a bit...because why leave well enough alone when you can EDIT??? *wink* (less)

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May 17, 2008 rabbitprincess rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: historical mystery fans, Egypt aficionados

Recommended to rabbitprincess by: Top 100 list

Shelves: top-100-crime-novels, bibliotheque, 2008

I can definitely see why this book was added to one of my Top 100 Crime Novels list -- it is brilliant.

The story begins in Rome, where Amelia Peabody, an irrepressible, resolute woman, rescues an unfortunate young lady from death in the streets. The young lady, Evelyn, was disinherited by her wealthy grandfather after she was seduced by a cad named Alberto. Alberto, of course, was after her fortune, and when she no longer had access to it, he left her behind. Amelia takes Evelyn under her wing,...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Shelli rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this mystery! Amelia Peabody is a great character and I had many laugh out loud moments. While this was lighthearted and fun, it also had interesting subject matter and history thrown in. Radcliffe was another great character and I look forward to reading more of their adventures. This was an audio for me and the narrator was great too. I came across this series on GR and this has been on my TBR for awhile, so I'm glad I finally got to it!

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Jun 29, 2009 Marcy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I always enjoy a little Amelia Peabody. I put an * next to my favorites (since they get a bit formulaic), and I just bought those 5 to add to my library. If you do read them all I recommend skipping #11. I think she's now written more in the series, too.

1. Crocodile On The Sandbank*
2. The Curse Of The Pharaohs
3. The Mummy Case
4. Lion In The Valley*
5. Deeds Of The Disturber
6. The Last Camel Died At Noon*
7. The Snake, The Crocodile & The Dog
8. The Hippopotamus Pool
9. Seeing a Large Cat
10. Th...more

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Feb 02, 2008 kellyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was sick with a virus and didn't move off the floor for 5 days while listening to this on CD. I love Amelia dearly, so much so that in the days after I've finished one of her 'memoirs' I find myself wondering how they are and what they must be doing next.
Amelia 'Peabody' Emerson and her husband 'Emerson' are Egyptologists and explorers and their adventures are set in Victorian era England (and, of course, Egypt). Amelia is a feminist in the truest sense of the word. She adores her husband 'Em...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Lynne Tull rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

I said I would give Elizabeth Peters another try. The only choice for me was her Amelia Peabody Series. I am not much into Egyptology, but I didn't let that hinder me. This is the first book of the series so I am still in the 'not sure' mode. I did like this book and its characters. All of the details about Egypt didn't disrupt the story. It's just that the story takes place in Egypt. This Elizabeth Peters is a completely different author than the author that wrote the Jacqueline Kirby Series. I...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hilarious! Very understated humor and a great plot!

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Sep 09, 2011 Myfavoritegeorgie rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: mystery lovers, Egypt lovers.

Shelves: british-mysteries, and, strong-women

This book is the first in a series about Amelia Peabody, and one of my favorites of all time. It has become a "comfort read" for me when I need to escape for a little while and don't want to be too taxed.

Amelia inherited a large sum of money and decided to see the world. She considered herself an old and unmarriagable spinster and decided to enjoy herself and do the things that she had not done as her father's "keeper".

In Rome, she picks up a "stray" gentle Englishwoman on the edge of death and...more

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Dec 07, 2010 Kirsty Darbyshire added it · review of another edition

Delving out into the realms of books which come to me with good reports but I'm not really sure are my thing and I found myself in 1880s Egypt with the first episode of a long series featuring Amelia Peabody. For the first half this was a fun book, it's pretty much a parody of 1880s writing and of what ladies should be like at that time, and I enjoyed it in a slow kind of way. Amelia is a likeable character and it's pleasant to pass the time with her.

It wasn't until the middle of the book that

...more

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Mar 31, 2009 Terran rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-fun, reviewed

I read this book on advice from my friend Amanda, who's a big fan. It was a fairly light read, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

Like many Europeans since the Eighteenth Century, I am fascinated by "antiquities" and especially by Egypt. It's such an ancient and alien culture, yet one that has, in some ways, shaped who we are today. And those who know me will also know my interest in the Victorians. So what better to do than take a romp down the Nile in the late Nineteenth Century and...more

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Jan 25, 2009 Karin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fiction, audio-edition, brit-lit, mystery, egypt, funny, archaeology, gentle, borrowed-from-the-library

Amelia inherits a large sum of money and decides to use this to go traveling in Egypt. During her travels she meets a young woman, Evelyn, who was abandoned by her lover under *very* scandalous circumstances. Amelia invites her to be her traveling companion and protects her from her former lover, and a most persistent cousin. While they are working on an archaeological dig, they discover a mummy, which then seemingly comes to life and begins harassing them. Amelia makes it her business to find o...more

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May 01, 2013 Tim Hicks rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

I hope this is a parody, because if it isn't, it's a dreadful book. I'm going to assume that it is.

So ... the 1880s viewed from a mid-70s author's perspective.

Amelia and Emerson are great characters. The rest are, predictably, cardboard. Buffoons, cads, mysterious Arabs, etc.

Alberto? Eyebrow raise. The only thing he didn't do was talk-a like-a thees. In fact he came across more like Tonto in 1950s novels.

Plot? Don't fuss yourself with that. It's weak and predictable, and this story isn't abo...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Ursula rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, series, fiction

I have been aware of the existence of this series since I worked in my first bookstore. They're reasonably popular, and have distinctive covers. So when I saw this one, the first in the series, on the library's list of "currently available" books, I decided to give it a shot. I was surprised to find out that it's set in the 1880s, and the protagonist is a bit of a square peg in a round hole. Amelia Peabody is not interested in being her era's ideal for a woman - she is always rational and reason...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Spinster rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mystery

Amelia Peabody is my hero. She's a self-confident, intelligent, sensible and no-nonsense woman in a time when it was not that easy being a woman, especially one as independent as Amelia. She set the bar high for spinsterhood and I intend to follow her example.

Archaeology interests me, particularly the kind related to Egyptian, Roman and Greek history, so needless to say I was overjoyed when I picked up this book. I could almost see myself crawling in the desert, brushing away sand and discoverin...more

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Aug 24, 2012 PEI Public Library Service rated it 4 of 5 stars

Move aside Indiana Jones. Watch out Laura Croft. Murders, thieves and archeologists beware, Amelia Peabody is on the scene!

Published in 1975, "Crocodile on the Sandbank" is the first book in the Amelia Peabody series, written by the prolific mystery author Elizabeth Peters.

Amelia is a women born out of time. The year is 1884 and the place is England. Amelia Peabody - at 32 years of age - has just become an orphan. Her father, a studious academic with a passion for history and archeology, has di...more
Move aside Indiana Jones. Watch out Laura Croft. Murders, thieves and archeologists beware, Amelia Peabody is on the scene!

Published in 1975, "Crocodile on the Sandbank" is the first book in the Amelia Peabody series, written by the prolific mystery author Elizabeth Peters.

Amelia is a women born out of time. The year is 1884 and the place is England. Amelia Peabody - at 32 years of age - has just become an orphan. Her father, a studious academic with a passion for history and archeology, has died and left his entire estate to his daughter. With all familial obligations removed, Amelia is ready for an adventure. She decides to visit the place which has captured her heart and imagination since childhood - Egypt.

However, what begins as a straightforward holiday rapidly evolves into a complex and dangerous situation. First, Amelia becomes involved with Evelyn Barton-Forbes - an ex-heiress cast aside by her family after running away with her now ex-lover. However, the most significant encounter occurs when Amelia and Evelyn meet the Emerson brothers - Radcliffe and Walter- renowned archaeologists and philologists in the field of Egyptology. When Amelia decides to join the brothers' excavation at the ancient site of Amarna, she immediately incurs the wrath of Radcliffe - a hot-tempered, out-spoken yet attractive man who is against female interference. But once supernatural events start occurring at the site - namely the nocturnal sightings of an ancient mummy - Radcliffe and Amelia are forced to work together in order to solve the mystery.

The beginning volume of a very popular series [the latest installment was released in 2010 (Book #19), “The Crocodile on the Sandbank” is pure adventure and fun. With clever, witty and passionate characters set in the background of romantic 19th-century Egypt, Peters' series is a classic example of historical mystery at its best. Get ready for "Another Shirt Ruined!" [Inside joke – you will have to read the book to find out!]

Reserve a copy here: http://bit.ly/PgzwDa

Audiobook: http://bit.ly/O8OQT2

eBook: http://bit.ly/PGupfV (less)

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Jul 18, 2012 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another witty writer of British mysteries, Elizabeth Peters has created quite a character in the indomitable Amelia Peabody. She is a feminist before the times were ready for feminists! She sees herself at 32 as a confirmed spinster, but having come into some money, she intends to go to Egypt to see the pyramids and indulge her scholarly curiosity.

The times being what they are, the 1880's, she intends to hire a female traveling companion, not that she cares about offending propriety, but so she...more Another witty writer of British mysteries, Elizabeth Peters has created quite a character in the indomitable Amelia Peabody. She is a feminist before the times were ready for feminists! She sees herself at 32 as a confirmed spinster, but having come into some money, she intends to go to Egypt to see the pyramids and indulge her scholarly curiosity.

The times being what they are, the 1880's, she intends to hire a female traveling companion, not that she cares about offending propriety, but so she will not be lonely. While in Rome she happens across a young Englishwoman, Evelyn Barton-Forbes, who has been abandoned and left penniless by her Italian lover. It seems the two women fill a key void in one another's lives right at this point! Amelia takes Evelyn shopping for appropriate travel clothes and is surprised that the soft spoken girl has a mind of her own, and sees that Amelia acquires some lovely gowns that she would never have purchased for herself. Amelia learns that Evelyn left England an heiress, but her grandfather disowned her when she ran away with the Italian Lothario, Alberto. Alberto's ardor cooled considerably when Evelyn was disinherited, and she feels humiliated, sure she is unfit and totally ruined as far as polite society goes.

However, Evelyn's lovely delicate appearance still seems to draw the gentlemen like magnets. The erstwhile lover Alberto shows up while the women are in Cairo and tries to persuade Evelyn to take him back. Before long her cousin, Lord Ellsmere, the other living descendent of her grandfather, comes calling and tries to charm Evelyn in to marrying him. They also meet a pair of brothers, Walter and Radcliffe Emerson, archeologists who are on their way to a dig. The younger brother is smitten with the lovely Evelyn, and she is taken with him too, but the older brother and Amelia clash immediately and the sparks are flying!

The women are all too ready to take up residence on the barge that will be their home as they float down the Nile. It has taken weeks to outfit the barge and prepare it with the food and supplies that they will need. One of their stops is close enough to the archeological site where the Emerson brothers are working that before long the ladies are caught up in the excitement when an actual mummy is discovered in one of the tombs. The excitement turns to mystery and fear, when first the mummy disappears from the storage area, and second when it is seen walking in the moonlight around their campsite. Before long it becomes apparent that the mummy has also taken a shine to Evelyn!

The good news is that this is the first in a long series of Amelia Peabody mysteries, and her fervor for Egyptology apparently does not waver. A witty historical novel with lots of insights into the haphazard ways that both natives and tourists abuse and destroy the treasures of antiquity in their fervor, in the case of the natives, to make some money, and in the case of the tourists, to decorate their homes with cool stuff from Egypt.

A most enjoyable, cleverly written read, and yet another author and book that I would never have noticed were it not for my wonderful book club!(less)

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Jun 18, 2012 Lynn Franklin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This cozy mystery introduces Amelia Peabody, a 19th Century lady with very 20th Century ideas. Amelia's father, a widowered professor, saw nothing wrong with educating his only child as if she were male. Amelia is thirty-two when her father dies and already considered a spinster in Victorian England. When she finds herself heir to a small fortune, she throws convention to the wind and sets off to explore the world.

In Rome, Amelia befriends Evelyn Barton-Forbes, a destitute young aristocrat. Afte...more

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May 10, 2012 Kristensilvermoore rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries

I loved this mystery. I listened to it as an audiobook while working, and at first, I found the reader's voice highly annoying, but I got used to it, once I realized that the affected British accent fit the narrator, Amelia Peabody, perfectly. This book was a nice change of pace from other Victorian mystery series with strong female protagonists--Anne Perry's Monk series and her Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series. Both series have a tendency to jump perspectives and be a bit moralistic from a 20th...more

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Mar 14, 2012 okblueberry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, action-adventure, mystery

What a fun novel!! It chronicles the adventures of Amelia Peabody, a budding archaeologist in late 19th century England who, after inheriting her father's fortune, decides to go to Egypt and explore. The author of this book, Elizabeth Peters, is an egyptologist and she adds a nice punch of historical and scenic detail about Egypt, making this a colorful novel in every possible way. That's not to say that the characters fade into the very busy background, because that's not the case at all. The p...more

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Nov 09, 2011 Lina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

And I'm back to the 19th century murder mysteries with strong female characters who fall for arrrogant, proud, preferably large and hairy men (the hairy chest thing seems to be a big turn-on in these books).

Amelia Peabody, a wealthy old maid of 32 decides to go travelling after the death of her beloved, scholarly father. She is headstrong, smarter than most and does not suffer fools gladly (my favourite kind of heroine).She's bound for Egypt via Italy when her plans are delayed by the very incon...more

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Oct 26, 2011 Heather E added it

I picked this book up for a reread after a hiatus of about five years, and I have to say that it's improved with maturity (mine). Narrator Amelia Peabody, a 32 year old forward-thinking Victorian spinster, has the kind of decisive character that will either delight or grate. She is verbose, egotistical, and sentimental while being entirely convinced that she is none of those things. I find her hilarious.

The story is set in Egypt, whither Amelia has ventured in search of adventure. Peters's histo...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Ivanalessia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://illibroeterno.blogspot.com/201...…
“La sfida della mummia” (Crocodile on the Sandbank, 1975) è il primo titolo di una serie di gialli storici ambientati nell’era vittoriana.
La protagonista è Amelia Peabody, una donna ribelle e anticonformista.

Amelia Peabody è una giovane ereditiera con la passione per l’archeologia, ha una forte personalità e nonostante i suoi trentadue anni non cerca marito e vuole viaggiare intorno al mondo.
Durante una visita a Roma, salva dalla povertà una ragazza, Evel...more

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Inspiration for the Mummy?	23	182	Feb 13, 2013 05:21pm
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About Elizabeth Peters

Elizabeth Peters is a pen name of Barbara Mertz. She also writes as Barbara Michaels as well as her own name. Born and brought up in Illinois, she earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago. Mertz was named Grand Master at the inaugural Anthony Awards in 1986 and Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America at the Edgar Awards in 1998. She lives in a historic farmhouse in Fred...more

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Books by Elizabeth Peters

The Curse of the Pharaohs (Amelia Peabody, #2)

The Last Camel Died at Noon (Amelia Peabody, #6)

The Snake, the Crocodile & the Dog (Amelia Peabody, #7)

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Quotes from Crocodile on the Sandbank

“I disapprove of matrimony as a matter of principle.... Why should any independent, intelligent female choose to subject herself to the whims and tyrannies of a husband? I assure you, I have yet to meet a man as sensible as myself! (Amelia Peabody)” — 54 people liked it

“Peculiar or not, it is my idea of pleasure. Why, why else do you lead this life you don't enjoy it? Don't talk of duty to me; you men always have some high-sounding excuse for indulging yourselves. You go gallivanting over the earth, climbing mountains, looking for the sources of the Nile; and expect women to sit dully at home embroidering. I embroider very badly. I think I would excavate rather well. ” — 27 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/188230.Crocodile_on_the_Sandbank?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1306096774l/188230.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/188230.Crocodile_on_the_Sandbank?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters[/url]

Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody #1)

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