A priceless relic has been delivered to the Emerson home overlooking the Nile. But more than history surrounds this golden likeness of a forgott... read full description
reviews
Mar 22, 2011
Bonnie
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I really enjoy Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series, especially as read by Barbara Rosenblat. The characters are engaging, the plots full of twists and the historical/archaeological details interesting. It doesn't hurt that they are often really funny, mostly because of the characters' quirks: Amelia with her parasols, "little lists" and belt full of accoutrement; Emerson with his exorcisms, rage at confounded tourists (as a tourist I wince a little), and the way he is putty in th
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Jan 08, 2011
Kathy
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The Emersons do have their fun. A sensationalistic authoress thrusts a priceless Egyptian artifact onto Emerson begging him to remove the curse and destroy the black afrit who killed her wealthy husband and now dogging her path. The whole of Luxor is holding its collective breath waiting for one of Emerson's [in[famous exorcisms as disappearances and beatings occur around them.
Fortunately, David has arrived to protect Ramses' back as the entire family goes on the hunt for the true culp More...
Fortunately, David has arrived to protect Ramses' back as the entire family goes on the hunt for the true culp More...
Oct 28, 2011
Jamie
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I prefer to read series books in publication order, but I have made an exception in this case and skipped over Guardian of the Horizon. That one is a prequel, set earlier in the lives of the Emersons. This series spans four decades, and I have enjoyed watching this family age and grow as the years pass (although the author cheated a little bit concerning Amelia and Emerson's ages) and I don't want to regress them now.
This book is set in 1922, and the Emersons return to the Valley of More...
This book is set in 1922, and the Emersons return to the Valley of More...
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Aug 22, 2011
Ann
rated it: 
This installment of the Amelia Peabody series brings us back into chronological order.
The Emeraons are approached by a wealthy widow who is also a famous novelist. She appeals to them to accept a stunning golden statue which was bequeathed to her by her husband, and which she claims is cursed. She claims to believe that only Emerson can safely keep it, as his talents for escaping all kinds of danger and for excorcising evil spirits are well-known.
Soon, the Emersons are t More...
The Emeraons are approached by a wealthy widow who is also a famous novelist. She appeals to them to accept a stunning golden statue which was bequeathed to her by her husband, and which she claims is cursed. She claims to believe that only Emerson can safely keep it, as his talents for escaping all kinds of danger and for excorcising evil spirits are well-known.
Soon, the Emersons are t More...
Jun 22, 2008
Felisa
rated it: 
Ms. Peters has obviously never dwelt upon a crucial writing rule: don't include scenes that do not serve a useful purpose such as plot or character development. You can get away with this type of rambling in literature if you're good enough, but I certainly wouldn't call this literature.
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Aug 01, 2011
Shala
rated it:
In general I enjoyed the Amelia Peabody mystery series very much (although I've just now gotten around to logging that I've read them on Goodreads), in part because I read the books in order so could watch Elizabeth Peters develop as a writer. For whatever reason, I missed this one when reading the series through a few years ago. Oops.
Have made up for it now. Didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. It seemed predictable. Maybe I really did read it years ago and just didn't remember mo More...
Have made up for it now. Didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. It seemed predictable. Maybe I really did read it years ago and just didn't remember mo More...
Dec 31, 2011
Librarianforhim
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 15, 2010
Kaye
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A women gives Emerson a unique and extremely valuable artifact complete with a supposed curse. Of course she'll end up dead. Peabody and family are on the hunt for the killer. Throw into the mix some "accidents" and a theft and you have the next cozy Peabody mystery. I glanced at other reviews and the low scores are from people who are starting out this series by reading this book. Don't blame the author if you don't understand the characters that she has taken 16 other books to b
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Nov 02, 2009
I see that there are mixed reviews on this one, and I know I'm starting well into the series, but this is one of the few unabridged CDs of the Peabody mysteries at my library and I wanted to try it. I admit to finding the writing style amusing and pleasant in terms of the characterizations and some of the little humorous asides and quirky aspects of Peabody's nature (greatly enhanced by a marvelous narrator!) but I listened through two-and-a-half CDs without feeling that anything was really HAP
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Feb 18, 2011
Laura
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I used to be a big fan of Barbara Michaels (one of her nom de plumes), I've always been slightly obsessed with Egypt, and most of my friends from my IRL bookclub are fans of this series of hers. I figured I'd figure out who-was-whom relatively easily and that even though I knew this wasn't the start of the series (it is, in fact, book 17) it would give me a good idea of what it was like. I don't know if it's because it's a later book in a well-established series, or if it's the narrator, or if i
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Aug 27, 2010
Mel
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I experienced this as an audiobook--the reader Barbara Rosenblat made the characters vividly alive. Very enjoyable mystery--not gruesome in the least, complete with larger than life characters, especially Emerson. This novel combined several things I find enjoyable--the formality of the early 20th century, Brits, Egyptology. Aspects of this book reminded me of the best parts of the movie _The Mummy_ (a movie I love), but as _Serpent_ is a novel--it was much more significant, more sophisticate
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Apr 27, 2011
Brittney
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I love the Amelia Peabody series, so fun and the mystery usually keeps me guessing until the end. I listened to this one on audio during a long car trip. The reader/performer (Barbara Rosenblat) did an absolutely fabulous job. She is now my #1 favorite audio book reader. I don't know how many different voices she did in this book, dozens it seemed. All distinct, with different accents, inflections, gender, etc. I was really impressed. Read this series if you want a fun mystery and listen
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Jan 11, 2012
Bridget
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This is the seventeenth (in publishing order) Amelia Peabody mystery and takes place in 1922, three years after the events of Children of the Storm. Guardian of the Horizon was published between these two book, but its chronological placement is earlier.
The Emersons are still excavating near Luxor when a wealthy widow (who also happens to be a writer of sensational vampire novels) gives them a little statue, claiming it is cursed and killed her husband and must be returned to its ri More...
The Emersons are still excavating near Luxor when a wealthy widow (who also happens to be a writer of sensational vampire novels) gives them a little statue, claiming it is cursed and killed her husband and must be returned to its ri More...
Aug 06, 2011
Rach
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Another enjoyable volume of the wild adventures of the Emerson family. This one is line many of the others - fragmentary in some ways, but overall likable and entertaining. The two separate mysteries converging into one thing can be kinda of frustrating to follow, but I get the point of it. I'm enjoying more and more hearing Ramses' perspective, especially as he continues to open up about his feelings for his family and parents. :) I also enjoy having Sethos more involved with the family, as it
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Jan 28, 2008
Annie
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I've loved the Elizabeth Peters books for years. In general, I like the earlier ones better than the Amelia Peabody books (archaeology aside), but that doesn't mean that a new Amelia Peabody isn't a good excuse for an evening on the couch with a library book.
Egyptology, feminism, murder, mayhem. Read these. Not necessarily in order, but that's going to be less confusing.
I somehow managed to miss the last three new ones (damn you, grad school), but picked up two of them recently. More...
Egyptology, feminism, murder, mayhem. Read these. Not necessarily in order, but that's going to be less confusing.
I somehow managed to miss the last three new ones (damn you, grad school), but picked up two of them recently. More...
Oct 26, 2010
Rosemary
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On my work commutes, I'm indulging in an Amelia Peabody Egyptian mystery festival of unabridged audio books narrated by the incomparable Barbara Rosenblat. Her vocal range and faultless inflections create a world of characters. She does more than justice to Barbara Peters's often wry and humorous storytelling. I feel like I'm living in Egypt with the Emersons, fighting crime, instead of fighting traffic on the tollway.
Nov 03, 2011
Janice
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A little more complicated plot this time around. It has been nice to see the relationships that have been developed over the spread series (It always bothered me in the earlier books that Amelia had such a difficult time relating to Ramses). The Emerson family seems to get into a lot of dilemmas! This is the second to last one in the series--I will be sad to have them end. They have been a great diversion.
Mar 24, 2009
Judy
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I read this book on audio - Amanda Peabody is such an amusing character that no matter what happens in the story line the reader will enjoy it. I thought the ending went a little muddy - it begins to seem as though everyone in the book, outside Peabody's immediate family, is guilty and of course, no one is right. I would recommend reading the earlier titles in this series first to get the characters backgrounds.
Jan 29, 2009
Celia
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I did listen to this last year, but unfortunately have very little memory of the plot or how much I liked it. I do think this series has got a little stale over time, as the characters have grown older, but I still feel very affectionately towards them.
Nov 10, 2010
Kira
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i have no memory of the specifics of this amelia peabody book, but there's nothing wrong with that. they're all mostly the same, in the best way. if you like the one book, you will never be disappointed.
incidentally, the reader on this was excellent.
incidentally, the reader on this was excellent.
Mar 04, 2011
Marie
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Grabbed the audiobook from the library since I was desperate for something to listen to while commuting, and was pleasantly surprised! I think I've found a new series of relaxing mystery bedtime reads to burn through...
Feb 07, 2011
Christine US
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I enjoyed it, but I think I might have "gotten" it better if I had read some of the previous books in the series first. However, the author did a good job of providing enough background information that I could hold my own with the story -- I feel like I missed some of the insider knowledge.
Nov 05, 2009
Helena
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Why do i read these books ? They are so low brow ! You know what is going to happen .It is all so very unlikely but I still read them .Maybe it is just being set in Luxor that is enough for me I would return every year !
Mar 27, 2011
Sherelyn
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Peters' Amelia Peabody Egyptian archaeologist mysteries are always lots of fun although somewhat predictable. We were visiting The Valley of the Kings in Luxor while I was still reading it so it was a real treat!
Jul 29, 2008
Kelly Jo
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This was my first Amelia Peabody book - I got it at a used book sale. Having studied ancient art, egyptology and having been to the places in the novel (Luxor, Cairo, Valley of the Kings), I thought I'd have great fun with this novel. I was so unimpressed with the writing I almost put it down unfinished. The characters are shallow and predictable, and the mystery was resolved poorly. But what provoked my annoyance the most was the shifting point of view that broke the flow and therefore ruined t
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Mar 06, 2011
Stacey
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I am on a terrible Elizabeth Peters kick--I only have two books left in the series before I'm done with it, and then maybe I'll be able to read something by someone else!
Jan 31, 2012
Nikki
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I just don't know how I could enjoy this series any more. And, there is no doubt that what has me so hooked is as much about the writing as the way Barbara Rosenblat narrates these books.
Sep 28, 2009
Teresa
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I've read the whole series and have enjoyed them for an entertaining fast read. Unfortunately, this one fell flat. A friend loaned me the next one in the series so I'll give it a try and hope it's back to the level of the earlier books.
Feb 21, 2009
Cathy
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Just OK. yarn about a family of Egyptologists who also solve mysteries. Amelia Peabody, main character. Not my cup of tea. Picked it up by accident.
Sep 27, 2011
Russamun82
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A gripping mystery. The Emersons have returned to Egypt after the great war to find that some things do not change. Journalists, Tourists, and foolish English Citizens continue to clog the sites of Luxor. Emerson is made custodian of a priceless golden statue of a pharaoh by an excentric female writer of trashy horror novels. The widow writer then disappears leaving mystery for the Emersons. Everyone is a suspect. Who keeps trying to steal the statue? Who keeps attacking Ramses? Where is
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