The Falcon at the Portal

Amelia Peabody #11

by Elizabeth Peters

Amelia and family have arrived in Egypt for the 1911 archeological season -- after the marriage of young Ramses' best friend David to Amelia's niece Lia. But trouble finds them immediately when David is accused of selling ancient artifacts.

While Amelia and company try to clear his name and expose the real culprit, the body of an American is found at the bottom of their excavation shaft. As accusations of drug dealing and moral misconduct fly, a child of mysterious antecedents sparks a crisis that threatens to tear the family apart. Amelia brings her brilliant powers of deduction to bear, but someone is shooting bullets at her -- and coming awfully close!

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Egypt, Audiobook, Historical Mystery

464 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

Elizabeth Peters is a pen name of Barbara Mertz. She also wrote 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 lived in a historic farmhouse in Frederick, western Maryland until her death.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave the previous book in this series five stars which means this one is worth at least six! It was so good!

By this stage of the series the characters are like old friends. We have watched the adults get older and the children grow up and we have enjoyed all their exploits and their foibles along the way. Amelia Peabody has many faults but she is at the same time an admirable woman and when towards the end of the book she breaks down in tears I have to admit to reaching for a tissue.

Ramses has always been an excellent character but now he is a classic hero. Emerson and David both feature well too. But Nefret - I must admit to never liking her as much as I am probably supposed to, and in this book she is just awful. Ah well, Ramses loves her so she cannot be all bad.

There is a mystery or two, a number of people die in untoward circumstances, the family gains a new member and almost loses an old one. My greatest interest though was in the interactions between the main characters where there was high drama indeed. The book finishes without a final conclusion so I will very soon be moving onto the next one . I need to know what happens!

[victoria.p]

I love the Amelia Peabody books, some more than others, but this one I am exceptionally conflicted about, because this is the one where Nefret screws the pooch, basically, and all the tolerance and even liking for her that I'd finally built up was destroyed, and I've never really gotten any of it back. This book - or, rather, Nefret's inexplicable and incredibly asinine actions in this book (for which I'd desperately hoped there would be some mitigating explanation in He Shall Thunder in the Sky, but there wasn't) - diminished my enjoyment of the whole story. I couldn't put that I didn't like it, but I also couldn't actually say that I did like it, though there were many things in it I did like (poor Sennia, used as a plot point and then never developed beyond that), all of it is colored by Nefret's idiocy, which obviously, years after reading the thing, still makes me crazy when I think about it.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alternate title: Amelia Jumps the Shark.
The first book in the series was 262 pages. I like a good, long book, but this one just feels bloated. After letting other things take priority, I forced myself to blast through the second half of this book largely because I wanted to make my books-read total for the year an even 50. A lot of this book feels like filler. There are lots of passages in which characters dither or lurk, or talk about dithering and lurking, or go over what they know.
The plot about David getting blamed for selling fake artifacts rumoured to come from his grandfather's collection could've been more interesting if it had been tighter.
I guessed the identity of the villain quite soon.
Of course, there are numerous cute and funny bits of dialogue and silly little mishaps of the type you can always expect from the Emersons. I still like the main characters.
But the plot turned into a bad soap opera. After creepy git cousin Percy tries to assault Nefret, Ramses and Nefret finally reveal their mutual interest and impetuously make love. But then a prostitute turns up with a child said to be Ramses', a child who's the spitting image of Amelia. The child is really Percy's. But Nefret suffers a massive loss of common sense and runs off to marry another man before anyone can tell her who the child's father really is. Nefret throwing herself into the arms of another man instead of beating the tar out of Ramses and demanding the truth? Come bloody on! And the man she marries is really (wait for it) the villain! If that's not enough, Nefret suffers a miscarriage after the villain reveals his true colours. He shoots two people, including Emerson (don't worry--of course the old man is fine), then dies in a fall a la Hans Gruber (Die Hard). (Thoughtful of him, really, so she doesn't suffer the further scandal of having to get a divorce.) The baby could've been Ramses' or her evil husband's! Argh! Seriously??
I am going to read the next book in the series (which, by the way, is even longer than this one!) only because:
1) Someone has already loaned it to me,
2) I've already read Guardian of the Horizon, which takes place before the events of this book but was written after it and was actually quite good,
3) it's set during World War I,
4) and I'm enough of a masochist--or a romantic--that I have to find out how Ramses and Nefret get themselves sorted out and get together. I hope that happens in the next book, because I'm not sure how much more I can take.

[Alantie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review can be summed up in one sentence: Nefret is an idiot.

Yikes. Backtracking a little, I'll start off by saying that this book seemed a bit slower moving to me than some of the others in the series. It opens with David and Lia's marriage which I cheered for of course. But the mystery this go around seemed lacking somehow, and really didn't pick up steam until around the last third of the book. Which is part of the reason I knocked off one star. Usually I'm pretty caught up in the mystery, but this go around I really wasn't - I don't even feel that the Emersons were completely into it either, there just seemed to be so much going on that they weren't as involved as they normally were. Or the mystery just wasn't a strong aspect of this book. In any case, it was very slow moving.

Then comes the whole thing with Sennia and Ramses, and I will say my opinion of Ramses has been improving over the last few books, and this one in particular raised my approval quite a bit. There's just something about a guy who's really tender and attentive to children and women that I dig. He's also not nearly as annoying as he was as a child either, which helps a great deal. That and his obvious affection and care for his parents warms my heart.

However, my opinion of Nefret had the misfortune of lowering. I've always had sort of mixed feelings about Nefret in general. I haven't necessarily liked her, but I've never really hated her either. This book definitely swings me into a more negative mindset towards her, and that's mainly because Nefret acts before thinking, and acts out of emotion controlling her than using her common sense. Her total idiocy in the whole Ramses and Sennia thing made me just want to smack her. I mean, come on Nefret, you're not usually this dim. You've known this boy how long, seen how he is with his mother, know his opinions on how women and children are badly treated by some, and you'd really believe that of him, and not even wait for an explanation? That kind of rankled, but it was her next stunt that made me want to throw the book out the window. She picks one of her admiring suitors and marries him. Good grief. And not only that he turns out to be the villain. Wow, all I can say is can you pick them Nefret. And then her actions near the end made me put my head in my hands. I just was highly annoyed with this train of the plot, it just felt so stupid to me, and of course it's solved conveniently and quickly, but still. I just can't with this.

So yes, the review for this book basically boils down to Nefret is an idiot.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Peabody-Emerson clan are back in Egypt for the 1911 season, minus David, who recently wed Emerson's niece Lia. Before the family left England, however, they discovered that someone has been manufacturing and selling forged antiquities using David's name! Determined to keep the new groom ignorant, everyone else steps in to prove his innocence, which is difficult to do once the amulet is stolen from their home! The trail leads back to Egypt where Ramses uncovers another illegal activity being perpetrated under David's name and Amelia' nephew Percy turns up like a bad Penny. Nefret has a few English friends to socialize with, Jack Reynolds and his vapid sister Maude, whom Nefret doesn't much like, and Jack's kind friend Geoff. Geoff offers his assistance in any way he can. Mysterious accidents begin almost right away but do not deter Emerson from digging, no matter how boring the site, but when the accidents begin to seem like warning signs, the family must gather all their allies and their wits to solve the mystery. A shocking secret also threatens to tear the family apart. Will anything be the same for the Peabody-Emersons after this?

Wow. This book is dark. Darker than any of the others I have read so far. There's not just danger and dead bodies, there's also drug use/abuse/manufacturing, seedy prostitution, an illegitimate/unwanted child, Percy Peabody, the death of a young woman, and a villain so clever and without conscience. The romance plot amps up too and there are mentions that young ladies had lovers and hints that two characters did what Amelia and Emerson often do when they're alone. That surprised me and kind of creeped me out considering who it was. The darkness was too much for me. The story started off sweet, with a wedding and the usual family banter. I especially liked the servants trying to alternately be more stuffy than their employers and listen in on private conversations. I didn't expect the story to get so dark so fast. No one dies for quite awhile so when someone does, it's a huge shock. The ending was depressing and I needed more closure but none was given. I hope the final as yet to be released book in the series brings about a happier ending for the family.

I figured out who the villain was pretty early on. I wasn't positive they were the main villain but I knew they definitely knew what was going on. It was SO obvious! All the clues are there and suspicious Ramses should have put them together.

I just adore Amelia and Emerson. They are so cute together. Though as the story goes on, I found their inability to understand their children are now grown rather annoying. Emerson is pretty formidable, even with Ramses and I hate that Ramses feels he has to call his father "Sir." Amelia expresses some VERY broad minded viewpoints here. The author inserts her own opinions into Amelia's mouth. I happen to agree with her but for a middle-aged Victorian British woman to express those sentiments, not even knowing what happens in the future, to be a bit anachronistic. All along Amelia has been benevolent with the native Egyptians. She's been kind of sanctimonious and she even disapproved of David and Lia as a couple but now she's done a 180 and thinks OTHER people disapproved. Other than that, I still love her. Emerson completely surprised me in this book. He added a lot of comic relief to the darkest part of the story.

The "children" are now adults in their 20s. Ramses is scarred by past experiences and a little more mature about his feelings for Nefret. This story shows how close he and David truly are. Ramses still holds back from even his brother. Nefret annoyed the heck out of me. She was deliberately rude to Maude and then she later makes a crucial decision that I found out of character. It went against something she had stated earlier and remained resolved to follow through on. To randomly break that pledge because she was upset and needed someone to turn to just didn't seem plausible. By the end of the book I was wishing Nefret and Ramses would just talk to each other. David is the best of the three children. He's wise beyond his years and calm in the face of losing his freedom. He has strong political beliefs, despite being half raised by Englishmen and women, and is firm in his beliefs. Lia is exactly like her mother. She's a dear!

There are several other young adults who populate this novel. First is Amelia's nephew Percy. He's truly disgusting but he doesn't seem very intelligent. I didn't think he could be behind some of the things that happen because he's not smart enough. His so-called memoir is a sickening piece of imperialism and racism at their worst. Sadly, his so-called memoir was taken from real memoirs of men who spent time in Egypt in the 19th and early 20th century. Then there are the Reeds. Jack is charming enough but doesn't have much of a personality. I totally thought he could be a criminal though. His sister Maude is vapid and not very bright. I feel sorry for her because her brother bullies her, treats her like a child and Nefret mocks her. Maude is very sweet and loyal. Jack's friend Geoff is an effeminate fellow but sincere and kind. I'm not sure I entirely trust him though. He flits around a lot and the family doesn't seem to trust him enough to make him one of them. To be fair, he finds them all a bit tough to get used to.

Other characters include Karl, a German archeologist acquaintance of the family. He seems very genial and I liked him. I didn't like how Amelia kind of treated him like a child. Her tactic seemed to work but I didn't like it. Mind your own business Amelia! There's also a 2-year-old child, the daughter of a low-class prostitute and a European man. Her future fate would be very unpleasant and tragic if someone hasn't stepped in. The author completely nailed the personality of a two-year-old. She had the mannerisms down pat and I could see my nieces in Sinna. The little bird is very sweet and adds some darkness AND lightness to the story. Nefret also has a dog who barks at everyone. Ramses and Nefret seem to be the only people he likes. He makes for some funny scenes, as does Horus, the cat. It's about time the family got a dog! They like cats too much, in my opinion.

I'm finally caught up with the pre-war novels with the exception of the posthumously published final volume in the series to be released this summer. I can't wait to read it! Then I'll decide if I want to read the rest of the series.

Reread November 2021 3.5 stars
Gosh this one was a tough read because I remembered the last half perfectly. The first half was like a whole new book to me. I didn't have any memory of it at all. How dare someone accuse David of forgery let alone the honorable, sainted Abdullah of collecting illegal antiquities! Who is framing David and why? It was hard watching the Emersons stumble around searching for answers trying to keep everyone outside their inner circle in the dark, including David. When David finally returns from his honeymoon, he knows why someone would frame him and what to do about it. They should have told him sooner.

I felt a little lost because they kept referring to last year and incidents that never happened in the pages of one of Amelia's journals. The story unfolds as this novel continues but it was confusing at first to be presented with a narrative and not know what they were talking about.

The romance between Ramses and Nefret annoyed me. I thought she loved him long before this and all her teasing and prodding was to push him into showing emotion and declaring himself. It's funny that Amelia doesn't see it. Nefret's behavior in this is a little out of character. Yes she's impulsive but her moods don't usually last that long. I had forgotten how devious the villain is and how that affected her plot.

I didn't like the murder. That was dark, unexpected and uncalled for. I had TOTALLY forgotten that so I was unprepared. It was so tragic and really unnecessary.

If I hadn't remembered who the villain was, I would have been surprised. I was taken in by that person as much as Amelia. Funny how I thought it was obvious the first time! I thought there were multiple criminals committing different crimes.

Emerson is so funny as a girl dad! Who knew the misogynist would turn into a must when confronted by young females?

The Americans, Jack and Maude Reynolds, are typical of Anglo-Americans at that type. Jack is very English with his love of hunting. There's a lot about guns in this novel. The Emersons hate guns and don't approve of hunting. Maude is silly but she's young and sheltered. She is romantic and wants a storybook romance in her life. Her crush on Ramses is understandable but she turns him into a symbol of her ideals and doesn't truly understand the man behind the handsome body. Jack is a lazy good for nothing, a dull idle young man who thinks the world belongs to him. Geoffrey is a kind young man, very pleasing in manners. He seems knowledable enough about excavation based on his work with Reissner but I think he's overwhelmed working for the Emersons.

The history in this novel isn't quite as interesting as some of the others. There's less about Ancient Egypt and more about modern politics and how the Middle East came to be the way it is. Wardani, an Egyptian revolutionary, has called for a jihad, a holy war against the infidels to gain Egyptian independence. David firmly believes in the cause and will not rest until he sees his country free. However, it's complicated because he's under the protection of the Emersons who are British but technically Egyptian and his position in society is precarious.

I love the pets and they really make the story. It's such a dark book that the comic relief is much needed.

Even though I remembered how this ended, I still couldn't put it down and had to read the next one right away.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This installment of the Amelia Peabody novels literally knocked me off my feet. A few of the previous novels seemed to be lacking something, but this novel had everything that made me fall in love with the series, adventure, death, love, loss, and humor. Every action that is taken in the novel is connected to the events later in the novel and it was just wonderfully done. I have to admit that I did not see the ending coming and this is the first book in the series that didn't end happily. I am really anxious to read the next novel because there are hints that it will be even more emotional than this one, which I can't see how that is possible, but I know that Amelia will have it all work out in the end. I can't see the series as a whole having an unhappy ending, but I just wonder how many of the Emerson clan and friends will make it to the end and to be honest I am worried.

Amelia and Emerson are as amazing as always, but again I fall in love with them more because they are out of their element at times. They have no idea how to act with the children now that they are young adults and can no longer be controlled. Poor Amelia has no idea what to do at the end of the novel to fix everything and that makes her all the more amazing. When she breaks down and cries I literally felt my heart break. Ramses, the poor soul, has all my love for this novel and probably all the others following this one. He is the most brilliant, self-sacrificing, and noble characters I have ever read without being pretentious or full of himself. I think it was brilliant to start adding sections from his point of view because now we see the emotions that he rarely shows in his expressions or dialogue. When Sennia was introduced I had no idea what to make of her, but her with Ramses and Emerson literally made me so happy and so sad at the same time. I have to admit that I had little patients for Nefret throughout the novel, but at the end there was nothing you could feel for her but heartbreak. I know it was all her own fault, but to have been so thoroughly betrayed and on top of that the medical issue, I wanted to give her a hug. David and Lia were not main characters per say, but they were real anchors in this novel and I am starting to really adore them.

Percy is an asshole, a coward, and more devious than I ever believed and I hope he dies a slow and painful death

I just don't know what else to say about this novel, it made me both extremely happy and extremely sad. I think that the series is going to pick up again and can not wait to see what else is on the way for the Emersons and company.

[Linniegayl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a difficult book for me the first time I read it. Part of the rather dark "internal quartet" of the Amelia Peabody series, it leaves us hanging in undoubtedly the darkest place for the main characters.

The book begins on a happy note, in England, with the wedding of David (the grandson of the Emerson's longtime reis (foreman) Abdullah to their niece Lia (daughter of Walter and Evelyn). However, while in England the Emerson's learn that forged artifacts are being sold to dealers around the country, and the dealers are told that the seller is David, from the "collection" of his recently murdered grandfather.

The Emersons are determined to prove the rumors false, and discover who is actually selling these artifacts. Once they return to Egypt (settling again for a less than desirable excavation site due to Emerson's difficulties with those in command), there are also a number of attempts on their lives. Are these attempts connected to the forgeries?

The mysteries (as there are a number) are interesting, but perhaps more heartbreaking for this book is what happens with Ramses and Nefret's relationship. But never fear, all will be cleared up, and in a wonderful fashion, in the final book in the "internal quartet": He Shall Thunder in the Sky.

Despite the unhappiness, this is one of my favorites in the series, and I give the narration and the story an A. HOWEVER, this should not be read in isolation. Start back with the first in the series!

Re-listen June 26, 2019: Oh my! Everything I wrote above still holds true. From the heights of happiness to the depths of despair (sounds like an Amelia saying) for so many characters. This had my crying at several points at some of the heartbreaking events. But it ends with a glimmer of hope in Amelia's final dream of Abdullah, when he tells her, “The worst of the storm is yet to come …. And in the end, the clouds will blow away, and the falcon will fly through the portal of the dawn.” On to the storm, and ultimate victory and happiness in He Shall Thunder in the Sky!

Re-listen August 27, 2020: Everything above still holds true. So ready for He Shall Thunder in the Sky!

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The delight in this series comes from the wonderful comedic characters and family dynamics, the constant arguments, sneaking around, and tolerance for each other’s weaknesses. They get into trouble together, and get out of it together, even if they go about it on their own often.

Listening to these highly entertaining family squabbles narrated by Barbara Rosenblatt is a real treat. She is an ensemble cast all by herself: everyone has a different voice and personality, and she acts out each role superbly. It is difficult to imagine that only one person is behind all the roles - they are so distinct.

With a series this long it is hard to give a review on each installment, especially when I just want to go on listening to the next one. While they all follow the same characters and formula, Peters is able to vary up the plot to be interesting, and over time the family also grows with new children and adoptions. The children have already grown up in this one, and the main action is now driven by the younger generation, with Emerson and Amelia having to deal with letting go of the control and treating them as adults. In the last few books, Peters has also started to kill off some of the long term members of the cast (never the main characters though), which adds some sadness to the stories. In this book, there is also a particularly heartbreaking misundestanding with long consequences that made it quite a bit darker than the others.

(I have already listened to the next one so I know it sorts itself out eventually… )

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Nefret. Deary me.

I enjoyed this book very much - much more so than the last few I've read in the series. The emotional drama was really stepped up a notch, and the tormented will they/won't they thing with Ramses and Nefret is killing me (and also creeping me out every time another character refers to them as siblings - ewww.)

Anyway, there's the introduction of a brand new character causing turmoil (awwww - er, not to the turmoil, but the new character), a terribly ruthless enemy (or perhaps two), murders, forgeries, theft, a softer side of Ramses personality... it's got lots of good stuff. But bring on the next book - I need some closure.

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this installment in the Amelia Peabody series. Quite a lot happened to her family in this story. David marries Lia, which is something everyone is delighted about. Ramses and Nefret go after a counterfeiter and then Nefret disappears. Months later, they get a letter from her saying she married the bad man - probably to save all of them. Someone has a miscarriage and has to go to Switzerland to recover. And of course, Emerson and Peabody go digging in pyramids and other historical sites in Egypt.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't stop listening, even to eat!

This has been the most emotional story yet.
I don't know what is going to happen with the characters next, but I can hardly wait to find out.

[Rebekah Giese Witherspoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

“This is the only time that I’ve ever had a character [Amelia Peabody] sort of walk on the stage and take over,” Barbara Peters said in an interview with Recorded Books. In this book, more than any of the others in the series, I felt that all of the characters had truly taken over.

Amelia lovingly bosses everybody around because obviously she knows what’s best for them:
After I had let everyone express his or her opinion, which is the inalienable right of every citizen of a democracy, I informed them of my decision.

Gruff and grumbly Emerson is easily subdued by the smallest of his species:
Professor Radcliffe Emerson, the Father of Curses, holder of innumerable honorary degrees, scourge of the underworld and the greatest Egyptologist of this or any other age, tickled her on the back of her neck.

Ramses really, really keeps his emotions under wraps until the moment that he really, really doesn’t:
The features I knew better than I do my own were the same, but now I saw the tenderness those stubbornly set lips tried to hide, and his eyes, wide open and unguarded for once, all his defenses down.

Nefret is such a free spirit, kind and tenderhearted and impulsive:
She was as changeable as a spring day in England, blowing a gale one moment, sunny and bright the next. Some people made the mistake of assuming that because her emotions were so volatile they were not sincere and wholehearted. He knew better. Nefret was perfectly capable of knocking a fellow flat on his back one minute and bandaging his broken head the next.

These lovable creatures have minds of their own and stay true to themselves, book after book, for better or for worse. But in this book, the “for worse” part was a bit heartbreaking. I need to read the next book soon to get some resolution (sniffle).

[Tarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume CAN'T BE MISSED. Some really epic changes take place in the Emerson-Peabody household. Like new marriage(s). What an intriguing mystery trail on who is ill-using David's name as a forged antiques dealer too. There's actually some emotional ups and downs. Shocking secrets pop up. I just didn't know if the surprises were ever to stop.

However, I am disappointed though in Nefret's poor decision... Why, Nefret, why??? But... perhaps it had to be done... for other (future-and-unknown-to-me) plots to come about... I don't know though.

Overall? I was entranced.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in the process of re-reading the entire Amelia Peabody series again, from start to finish in one go. They are still some of my favorite books. They must be read with tongue firmly inserted in cheek. It also helps to have an interest in and some knowledge of Colonial-era exploration narratives, fiction like that of H. Rider Haggard, Orientalist studies, the competitive acquisitive zeal of western museums at the turn of the century, and the "gentlemen archaeologists" of the 19th century who brought more treasure-hunting fever than academic and historical interest to their digs. That is to say nothing of the insight into early seeds and outbreaks of unrest in the Middle East that find their way into the middle and later novels in the series. Add to this impressive list of "ingredients" a dash of early feminism, British upperclass manners, interesting plots, and especially the academically sound Egyptian history from a legitimate scholar (Elizabeth Peters had a PhD in Egyptology from the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago) and you have the very best in historical fiction, enclosed within adventurous and funny plots led by engaging and memorable characters who, though immensely more enlightened than many of their time, nonetheless remain realistic people OF their time, seeing the world through glasses tinted by their own culture and class. Though they attempt to rise above prejudice, they cannot quite entirely do so. Elizabeth Peters showed immense wisdom of the human condition in this aspect of her characterizations, reminding us all that we cannot even be aware of - much less remove - ALL of our preconceptions through which we see the world around us. Even the best of us - like Amelia - can continually peel back the layers of lenses through which we see the world.

All these philosophical, aesthetic, academic, and historical reasons for loving the series are thus topped off with depth of characterization, imaginative storytelling, fast-paced plotting, excellent word-crafting, and an overall affectionate humor about the human condition - the whole coming together even better than the sum of its parts to make it one of my favorite series of all time. I might add that it's a series that I've read and re-read multiple times, something that I almost never do.

To be fair, my one criticism about the series is that the non-chronological nature of the last few books gets a big confusing even to me, someone who's read them multiple times. They're still very enjoyable, but holding the timeline and chronology of events in my head is not always easy. I plan to tackle the compendium "Amelia Peabody's Egypt" soon to see how that clears things up. Nonetheless, I'm waiting with bated breath for the book Elizabeth Peters was finishing at the time of her death to be published. I think it would be a great tribute to her career to publish it posthumously.

I have been really surprised when friends I've recommended the series to haven't been as enthusiastic as I am about Amelia Peabody. I think I can attribute that to the fact that my first go-round of the series was on audiobook and Barbara Rosenblat and Grace Conlin did such a marvelous job of giving the series the proper amount of irony and tongue-in-cheek humor and updated H. Rider Haggard-style adventure, that even today when I read the series I hear it in their voices in my head. If you are having trouble connecting, then, I recommend listening to at least the first several books on audiobook. It wouldn't hurt to do some quick Wikipedia research on Colonialism, Egyptology, Howard Carter, Wallace Budge, Orientalism, H. Rider Haggard, museum-sponsored archaeology of the latre 19th & early 20th centuries (especially the competitiveness between the British Museum & the Metropolitan Museum of Art(, WWI, pre-WWII espionage, dismantling of the Ottoman Empire... anything relating to history of the 19th century to early 20th century. All will add to your enjoyment of the novels as well as your appreciation for how deftly Elizabeth Peters wove history and real people throughout her fiction.

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Professor Emerson and Professor Amelia Peabody have a family now. It's kind of a non-traditional family, because they treat their servants very well, supposedly, and they adopted a girl from a family that did not treat her well. This book takes place in a year where the adopted girl is legally an adult, but does not specify her age. I'm guessing very early 20s. Also by the way, Emerson and Peabody have an adult son at this point, and coincidentally, he is in the same age neighborhood as the adopted girl. Happy family!

These books are aging oddly. Cultural appropriation cannot be avoided, since the whole premise is focused on rich, white English people traveling to Egypt every year and messing about with historical artifacts and bossing around the locals. The years where this family is doing their thing is supposed to be the 1920s and 30s, I believe, so it's in that gray area where Egypt was granted independence from the United Kingdom, but was probably monitored closely by the UK, and by many rich people who wanted to dig around in all those tempting pyramids!

The "mystery" in this book is a collection of fake artifacts, painted and aged to look very real. And a good friend of Emerson and Peabody is the only person, supposedly, smart enough to have done it. Luckily he's on his honeymoon right now, so no one can stick him in prison just yet. The family has time to solve the case!

Everyone almost gets murdered once or twice, an acquaintance DOES get murdered, the Emerson-Peabody adult children make some very bad decisions, the servants do what it is that servants usually do; they're not really part of the plot, and finally the Emerson-Peabody group adopt yet another child, hooray!

In the big picture, I'm not overly fond of this family. Their dynamic hinges on abusive. The man Emerson has a temper and curses all the time. But since Amelia habitually ignores him and does what she wants, and isn't afraid of him, he's allowed to continue his ways and feels no compulsion to improve himself. Their son, nicknamed Ramses, because he looks like a "native" Egyptian (somehow!), is emotionally withdrawn and barely communicative, which is the main cause of the catastrophe that he endures with his foster sister, during the second half of the book. And by the way, the girl is named Nefret. Two young white people with the nicknames "Ramses" and "Nefret" are going around and making bad decisions, but luckily their parents can get them out of any sort of trouble and forgive them, and they can conveniently pass all blame to the evil cousin Percy.

If you're a rich family from England, it's ESSENTIAL to have a cousin, evil or otherwise, named Percy.

[Teri-K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this book. We get to see all of the family together - except for David and Lia who are on their honeymoon in the first part of the story, and David, who is a favorite of mine, is important to the plot. Cyrus and Katherine show up, too, helping the Emersons as much as they can. The mystery(s) are ones I can care about. Though shots flew a lot without doing much real damage I hardly noticed and ddin't care.

Finally Ramses and Nefret get together! Now Ramses can stop moping. (pause) Oh no, this is a real mess. Still, I'm glad to have Ramses' feelings reveled to Nefret. It was time. (later) Darn, I liked Geoffrey. I wanted to get him out of the way by having him die from consumption. lol
I know that some readers are very upset at Nefret's actions here, but it helps to remember that Amelia is a somewhat unreliable narrator. (Did I say somewhat? Well, hyperbole is not my forte.) She goes on about how grown up Nefret is, and in some ways she is more mature than other girls her age. But she's also impulsive and very emotional. She feels things deeply and is judgmental. Given the circumstances and her confused emotions I didn't feel her actions were out of character. Plus things are explained more later in this book and the next.

I like the addition of Sennia and her effect on Ramses and Emerson. I've not been a huge fan of Ramses up to now, but here he really does appear likable and kind instead of stuffy and pining away. And I've seen my own dignified father go ga-ga over a grandchild, so Emerson's behavior made me laugh. Amelia: "I had been forced to forbid Sennia to join us for tea until Emerson learned to behave himself." lol

I agree with those who say when you finish this book you want to go immediately to the next. It's not that there's a cliffhanger, just that you want to get on with the story. :)

Emerson to Amelia, "One would have supposed that by this time you might have learned not to put your head under the blade of a guillotine in order to get a good look at the executioner."

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

June 2019: Still my favorite, oh so swoony and also downright heartbreaking, Peters-does-romance. This time I read the books Peters added in the sequence just before, and although the additions made a wreck of the romantic suspense, I actually appreciated being able to focus on the mystery this time. Or perhaps my change in focus is just that I’ve gotten so old! The mystery is well done and you can see the threads set up for the following books beautifully even though the book has its own resolution. This is crazy good. There really was a point a few books before this where Peters became a better writer (possibly she dropped the annual Barbara Michaels titles?). The characters became real when Amelia recognized her own foibles and was at a real loss. Rosenblat reads beautifully again. I always want to relisten to this one immediately upon finishing.

May 2012: The first time I read this book, right after it came out, I was entranced. Emerson suggesting he could disguise himself with "a beard...AND a Russian accent!" made me laugh for hours. This time, not reading the Ramses/Nefret love story buildup in the previous books, it was a little less enticing, but I still enjoy it most of all the Amelia Peabodies. Luckily I can now move on to the next in the series without experiencing the YEAR LONG WAIT for the resolution that nearly killed me the first time.

Read on audio, and this is the book where Rosenblat's characters are so good that I actually remember thinking "boy, that Ramses is sure a handsome-sounding attractive fella" before remembering that that handsome sound was Barbara Rosenblat, not a real man.

[Jamie Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peabody and Emerson at Zawyat el'Aryan in 1911, excavating at an exhausted, rather dull early pyramid. This season their work is interrupted not only by the requisite murder mystery, but also by the need to prove that David is not illegally selling ancient artifacts.

These novels keep getting better and better. They've become more substantial and more emotional, while still retaining the improbable, madcap adventures of the early books. The addition of the younger generation has kept the books fresh, and Ramses's narrative adds a welcome dimension to the stories - it has been great fun to see Emerson and Peabody through his eyes.

This novel had such a dramatic ending that I went ahead and started the next book immediately. In particular I wanted to see how a certain relationship worked out, after Nefret does something that will absolutely infuriate the reader.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Nefret. What the eff, girl? Her actions in this one kiiiind of make me headdesk forever.

That said, this book is a hell of a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed the mystery in this one. I love how Amelia and Emerson are a little bit "?!?!?!" where Ramses and Nefret and David are concerned. Like, they still think of them as children, even though they're now in their 20s and totally capable of running their own lives. It's pretty adorable.

I have a lot of love for David and Lia, because OMG INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE IN 1911!!!! But my absolute favourite in this book is Ramses. He finally has everything he wants in life, and then it gets ripped away from him. It gives me a lot of feelings.

That said, this did feel a little over-long at times, but on the whole I really enjoyed this one.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

#11 in the Amelia Peabody series. Although the following book in the series (He Shall Thunder in the Sky) is arguably Peters's masterpiece, I think this volume in the Amelia Peabody diaries is magnificent. Peters expertly brings the reality of WWI into the Emerson clan, forcing all sorts of revelations and heartache. I would not recommend reading Falcon without He Shall Thunder in the Sky on hand, however. Peters most definitively leaves the reader dangling from a wrenching cliff at the end that can only be alleviated with the immediate reading of He Shall Thunder in the Sky (although, when I read it, I had to wait the year until it came out...).

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The eleventh book in the Amelia Peabody series. This installment is set in 1911 and David and Lia are married and on their honeymoon. As the rest of the Emerson clan packs to head for Egypt, they discover that forgeries are beginning to turn up in Europe and they are supposedly being sold by David. The family must rally to protect David's good name. As they search for the forger, mysterious accidents begin to occur at their new dig, someone is shooting at Amelia, and an American girl who has been chasing Ramses turns up dead at their site. Not only is this book action packed, but things begin to really move in the relationship between Ramses and Nefret that we have all seen coming.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I've actively rooted for a character to die so much since Dora Copperfield but it made for a delightful read! And he did die so that was a bonus. And seriously, can the Peabody-Emersons adopt me already?! A cooler family there never has been and they just keep getting better with each book.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this book back in 1999 when it came out and being frustrated at having to wait till at least 2000 to read the next installment. Happily now I can just go on to the next volume!

[Michelle Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

QUICK PITCH: The Peabodys are at it again.

VERDICT: SO INTENSE

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again this was my audiobook in the car for a number of weeks and again Rosenblat did an amazing job with the various characters. Love her.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleventh in the Amelia Peabody historical amateur sleuth series of suspense and revolving around the stubborn yet caring Amelia Peabody Emerson and her family with this story set in the Egypt of 1911. It's been five years since The Ape Who Guards the Balance , 10.

My Take
Well, Amelia's life is never boring . . . and poor David and Ramses really come in for it this time. There are two villains running amuck when David's life unknowingly goes topsy-turvy with the reader discovering how David has managed to complicate his life due to his own principles while Ramses finally achieves his life's dream only to have it shatter with the advent of his daughter(?).

Peters uses both first person protagonist point-of-view from Amelia's perspective and third person protagonist points-of-view from Ramses' and Nefret's perspectives. Nefret's is mostly expressed through the letters she writes Lia.

Well, Percy has written a poor bit of fiction. Lord knows Nefret is having a good laugh over it. You will LYAO as you read Emerson's assessment of why Ramses has to rescue Percy.

Every time I see Ramses' name, I'm overcome with jealousy of his rapport and interest in any one of those around him. It also seems that Ramses has become a scholarly vagabond, only spending a few months of the year with his family. Anything to avoid Nefret.

Ramses also expresses his thoughts on the reformist Young Turks who replaced the Ottoman monarchy and descended into their enemies' corruption.

Peabody has her opinion on the separate classes of women: those of the harem whom she compares to upper-class ladies and the fellahin class who have more rights than Englishwomen.

It's a cozy, homey tale, typical of the series, with its quirks of why Amelia loves that Emerson calls her "Peabody", that Selim is fascinated by the waltz and wants all his wives to learn it, Peabody's secret little bottle, and that Peabody and Nefret ignore the social "rules" and go where they please — * love it!

Emerson has some intense negatives that add to the drama, including his belief in his own superiority as an archeologist. And with his temper, he manages to tick off everyone with any power to give him the digs he'd like. He does balance this with his acceptance of intelligent people, his love of drama and theatrics, and the fantastic tales told about him. Then there's that well of love he has for Peabody, envisioning every man being in love with her. As for Sennia, it seems that Emerson does have his childish side, lol.

Speaking of tales, Peabody's fairy tale translations have benefited from the sketches David contributed.

I love that David's family came to England for the wedding and all the fun everyone had. Peters uses the series to blast the belief in European superiority that too many whites have. Even now.

Ooh, that Nefret can be sarcastic! Of which Peters makes good use to emphasize the difference in intellect between her and others. Nefret can also be impulsive, acting without thinking, and in The Falcon at the Portal, that impulsiveness is disastrous.

Carter certainly is paying his dues, as an artist and Egyptologist with no independent income. That Geoff is a sweetie, planting Peabody's courtyard with all those flowers, trees, and vines. Then all the support he's providing Jack after his tragedy . . .

There's plenty of action, driven primarily by these characters with a fast pace through the ambushes, attacks, betrayals, all those men proposing to Nefret, and so much more.

As Abdullah alway said, "another year, another dead body".

The Story
Representatives of David's family have come to England for the wedding of David and Lia. A joyous occasion marred by rumors of forgeries being sold by David.

Meanwhile, Percy is in Egypt and complicating the Emersons' lives and betraying Nefret, just as she's feeling "like an exile who has finally come home".

The Characters
Amelia Peabody Emerson, a.k.a. Sitt Hakim (Lady Doctor), is an opinionated suffragist who knows everything and cares for everyone. She's married to Professor Radcliffe Emerson, a.k.a. Father of Curses, who is a brilliant archeologist to whom the knowledge is everything. Walter "Ramses" Emerson, a.k.a. Brother of Demons, is their equally brilliant son with a fascination for costumes, a facility with language, and a secret love for Nefret. David is Ramses' best friend and blood brother.

Dr Nefret Forth, a.k.a. Nur Misur (Light of Egypt), is as a daughter to the Emersons — they've certainly imbued her with their beliefs ( The Last Camel Died at Noon , 6). Lucky girl! Hathor, one of the cat Bastet's descendants, has had another litter. Horus is their cat in Cairo.

At the Emersons' English home, Amarna House, in Kent, Gargery is the interested butler, Rose is their housekeeper, Sarah is a new maid, and Bob and John are some of the footmen.

In Egypt, the Amelia is the Emersons' dahabeeyah, captained by Reis Hassan.

Professor Walter Emerson is the younger brother, a brilliant scholar, is married to Evelyn, an excellent artist and the granddaughter of the Earl of Chalfont (I guess grandad got downgraded from duke). Chalfont Castle is their country home where the wedding is held. They informally adopted David Todros, Abdullah's grandson and a brilliant artist and Egyptologist as well. Being Egyptian, David also espouses the cause of Egyptian independence. Lia is their daughter who is engaged to David. Raddie is their eldest and has graduated from Oxford. The comic Johnny and more serious Willy are the twins. Margaret is the younger sister.

Lieutenant Percival "Percy" Peabody is Amelia's nephew and an absolute jerk who has joined the Egyptian army. James, a hypocritical, sanctimonious, mendacious cretin, is Amelia's brother and Percy's father both of whom we met in The Deeds of the Disturber , 5.

Egypt is . . .
. . . legally an Ottoman province but practically a British protectorate, a.k.a. the Veiled Protectorate. Kitchener has been appointed as consul general. Abd el-Quadir el-Gailani is one of the big men. Thomas Russell was head of the Alexandria police and is being transferred to Cairo as assistant commissioner with a warning about David. Harvey Pasha is the commissioner. Weigall is the inspector for Upper Egypt. Gordon is the American consul. Sir John Maxwell has influence with the Department of Antiquities.

Selim, Abdullah's youngest son and David's uncle, is the Emersons' reis and has a passion for engineering. Daoud, the Beau Brummel of the family, is his second-in-command and one of David's cousins. Kadija is Daoud's formidable wife. Fatima, the Emersons' housekeeper, is David's aunt. Karima, Fatima's niece, is not considered sensible by Fatima. Elia, one of Fatima's stepdaughters, wants to be Nefret's lady's maid. Ahmed, one of Selim's cousins, is the night watchman. Mohammed is in charge of the stables. Additional crew include Hassan, Daoud's son, and Sayid. Basima will become the nursemaid. Many of Abdullah's extended family live in Luxor or in the village of Atiyah and work for the Emersons.

Risha and Asfur are the thoroughbred Arabians gifted to Ramses and David by Sheikh Mohammed ( Seeing a Large Cat , 9). Moonlight, Nefret's horse, is one of their offspring.

Dr Sophia, a Syrian Christian whose expertise is in gynecology, is in charge of the clinic for women Nefret has established in Cairo. Nefret also rescues injured animals — birds, dogs, gazelles, etc. She names the dog Narmer. Dr Willoughby is a doctor and friend in Luxor.

Memphis is an ancient capital four hundred miles north of Cairo. Zawaiet el'Aryan has two pyramids and had been explored by Signor Barsanti, a conservator and restorer, in 1905. Mr and Mrs de Garis Davies are very good artists.

The wealthy Cyrus and Katherine "Cat" Vandergelt are friends of the Emersons from Egypt ( Seeing a Large Cat , 9). Cyrus is fascinated by archeology. Bertie and Anna are Katherine's children. Sekhmet had once belonged to the Emersons but preferred the lifestyle at the Castle. The Valley of the Kings is their dahabeeyah.

Reisner, an American archeologist, has a permanent expedition quarters, Harvard Camp. Some of Reisner's people include Clarence Fisher who is his second-in-command, Jack Reynolds (the silly, clueless Maude Reynolds is his sister), Geoffrey Goodwin, Rex Engelbach, and Ernst Wallenstein.

M Maspero, the head of the Service des Antiquités, is holding on to Dashur. Other archeologists include Petrie (Hilda is his wife who hates Peabody) who is at Kafr Ammar with Lawrence, Howard Carter has a new patron in Lord Carnarvon, James and Annie Quibell — she's copied reliefs in the past, and Theodore Davis who had had the concession for the Valley of Kings in Thebes. Karl von Bork's wife, Mary, is a good artist, although she is sick now ( The Curse of the Pharaohs , 2). Von Bork is working for Professor Junker in the Western Cemetery. Signor Schiaparelli of the Turin Museum gave up the Italian concession.

The married Kevin O'Donnell is the star reporter for the Daily Yell and a sometimes friend of the Emersons. Esdaile is a dealer in antiquities. Aziz Aslimi runs his father's, Abd el Atti, antiquities shop ( The Mummy Case , 3). Shepheard's Hotel is Peabody's favorite and now owned by Mr Baehler. Freddy is the new manager. Friedrich is the head steward. Wardani is the Nationalist leader of the Young Egypt Party.

Sethos is the Master Criminal with a passion for Peabody. Ahmed Kalaan is a notorious pimp in Cairo. Rashida is one of his whores and the mother of Sennia.

London
Renfrew is a collector of artifacts, and he has unwelcome news. Frank Griffith is an Egyptologist. Walter Budge works for the British Museum as the Keeper of Egyptian Antiquities, usually purchasing illegal antiquities. Needless to say, Emerson hates him.

Hiram Applegarth is a dealer. M Dubois in Paris has some questions about his acquisitions.

Percy's novel
Feisal is the eldest son of Sheikh Mohammed. His people have a blood feud with Zaal. Shakir is one of Zaal's men.

Bouriant was convicted of selling forgeries. Curtis/Curtin is a classmate of Lia's from Saint Hilda's. Sir Arthur Evans, a distinguished archeologist, has invited David to restore frescoes in Crete. Denshawai was a disaster, a dark and shameful blot on the British. An incident that provoked the assassination of Boutros Ghali Pasha, the prime minister. Abd el Hamed had been David's master back in The Hippopotamus Pool , 8.

Amelia's enemies include Alberto, Matilda, and Riccetti ( The Hippopotamus Pool ). Alice Feamington-French and Sylvia Gorst are some of the gossipy girls in Cairo.

The Cover and Title
The background of the cover is a dull golden, an inscribed wall fills the top two-thirds with a stone floor below. There's an opening in that wall descending deep inside the tomb, a carved red falcon standing next to it. Perhaps a metaphor for the Emersons' descent into horror? At the top is an info blurb in white with a testimonial in black immediately below it. Below that is the author's name in black shadowed in white. The title, in white, begins at the top of the falcon's legs and descends almost to the bottom where the series info is located in yellow.

The title is a promise from Abdullah that the horrors of today will change when The Falcon at the Portal flies through into a better future.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of complicated situations, this is a fascinating read. Just before his wedding to Lia, David is accused of selling forgeries. Ramses is suspected of killing a woman and fathering an illegitimate child and Nefret makes a disappointing decision. Someone is trying to keep them from a certain dig the family is interested in. As usual the Emersons face plenty of danger as they unravel the puzzling falsehoods that entangle their family.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reason I enjoyed this book so much was entirely because of the characters. Although these people could never possibly exist in reality, it is inspiring to read about such passionate, tireless humans who are superior in every way. Peters has created demi-gods, with flawless human forms, absolutely in control of their thoughts, words, actions, even facial expressions, loved by everyone, the epitome of honorable behavior, and nearly omniscient. It honestly makes me want to be perfect too, despite the sleep I will inevitably lose in this pursuit. (The characters only sleep 2-3 hours a night.)

I am a complete sucker for unrequited love, and the intertwining threads of love in this book interested me above all other plot lines. Muted displays of affection, access to the characters’ inner monologue and torment, and forever wondering if the inner turmoil and secrecy will be spoken out loud, I just can’t help myself. In the end I was disappointed, though, as it proved to be a ploy to sell the author’s next book. The sad part is I’ll probably read the entire series.

As far as the major plotlines that were supposed to keep me interested…big disappointment. Our heroine never did figure out the two big mysteries. Her clever husband and deducing son had to spell it out for her. I also was disappointed at the author’s lack of ingenuity. There was a villain unsuspected by the characters yet glaring in the face of the reader. The chapter headings initially betrayed motive, and the story increasingly made room for one supreme villain. Instead the evil was outsourced to the character’s number one suspect, and our master of evil only ended up responsible for crimes minor by comparison.

Odd observations: Maybe it’s just me, but this book seemed fraught with innuendo. It was so innocently inserted that I’m not sure I noticed half of it, and only once am I actually sure it implied sex. The characters also espoused beliefs outrageous for that time period. It’s possible to conceive that small groups of people may have shared one or two of those beliefs, but the additive effect further removed these characters from the realm of reality. Remember the story takes place in 1911. Here are just a few of the beliefs shared by Amelia Peabody’s household: the abhorrence of firearms and by extension hunting for sport, recognition of servants and those of lesser class, race, and sex as equals or even members of the family, championing women’s rights and supporting and enabling the women of the family to act independently of male control and encouraging female educational goals nigh unheard of at that time, the need to leave some archeological sites unmarred for excavation by those of the future with superior techniques and technology, you get the idea…

Lastly, the heroine is married to a bully of a husband. He orders the family around, he orders his peers around, he’s large in stature and as broad as a bull, and can roar like a lion. He tramples on the feet of his colleagues and gets all bent out of shape when they refuse to acquiesce to his demands. Yet our female champions this behavior; she joys when other men cower in fear because of her husband. Amelia delights when her boorish mate triumphs and you can almost feel her condescension towards those who refused to submit to his outrageous hulk of a personality. Yet, she alone refuses to submit to his rule. He controls everyone else except those within his own home. Their is a contentious relationship, and everyone around them just drifts off once it seems a fight is likely.

Although each individual is presented as perfect, single flaws or indiscretions are why I love them, and because they are so perfect, we’re able to equate their singular mistakes with their pain. All in all, the complex nature of the characters and their unique lifestyles are why I liked this book and why I’ll read more.

[Emma Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness me, that was amazing. There came a point in the series when I realised I would follow these characters anywhere. A point when the plot just failed to matter and everything was about how much I missed spending time with Amelia, Emerson, Ramses, Nefret, Lia and David. I think it's a natural progression in a series but Elizabeth Peters truly excels at writing relationships - all sorts of relationships - and this has never been more true than in this book.

The plot is simple - forgeries have started to emerge on the black market and all signs point to David, Abdullah's son, as being the culprit. It's up to our favourite characters to prove his innocence. There's a lot of dark implications in this book and loads of content warning but I felt safe throughout as I knew my favourite characters would be safe too.

In itself, it's a very thin mystery, but as you can guess from my introduction, the true heart of the matter resides in what's going with the characters themselves, especially Ramses and Nefret, and it's explosive to say the least. Amelia is as a dear to me as a friend now and she's matured so much throughout the books. The consequences of the major event that happened in the previous novel are fully explored and it's heartbreaking and beautiful. I'm loving these books - they have hidden depths that would be hard to explain to an outsider.

Lovely stuff.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, Amelia and her family get in a sticky situation, but they figure out how to get out of it together. As with her recent books, there is less archaeology happening in this book and more drama and trying to catch the killer. I hope that Ms. Peters gets back to the archaeology in future books because I miss seeing more of that.

Part way through this book, there is a wonderful scene between Nefret and Ramses - something that I've been waiting to witness for several books now. I was surprised that in the next scene, Nefret didn't give Ramses the benefit of the doubt when he was shockingly accused of something by a scumbag of a man. I felt that it was very out of character for her to just run off and not even listen to an explanation or yell at him. When she runs away, she commits another completely rash action that is out of character again. It ends up damaging the previous wonderful family dynamic as well as her own confidence and spunk. I have read others' reviews of this book and I'm not the only one to wonder what the heck she was thinking and why the author decided on this course of action. Thankfully I already have the next book out of the library and I started listening to it as soon as I finished this book.