From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody, #1)

Elizabeth Peters

Start date: September 12, 2020

Finish date: October 9, 2020

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: We have some Elizabeth Peters fans in the group, and decided to buddy read the first Amelia Peabody book.
[close] We have some Elizabeth Peters fans in the group, and decided to buddy read the first Amelia Peabody book.

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Buddy reads

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What Members Thought

Mar 26, 2008 Susan in NC rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, library-book, audiobook, tbr-with-gr-groups, currently-re-reading, reread

9/2020 - Still one of my favorite historical mystery series, proper Victorian Englishwoman Amelia Peabody kicks things off with a bang as she inherits a small fortune, and decides to see the wonders of the ancient world. I listened to the audiobook for this reread - Barbara Rosenblat is a wonderful narrator, and really adds to the enjoyment.

4/2020: Such a fun ride! When I was looking for a book for a “Travel Buddy” challenge, which advised members to “find a book with a protagonist you’d love to 9/2020 - Still one of my favorite historical mystery series, proper Victorian Englishwoman Amelia Peabody kicks things off with a bang as she inherits a small fortune, and decides to see the wonders of the ancient world. I listened to the audiobook for this reread - Barbara Rosenblat is a wonderful narrator, and really adds to the enjoyment.

4/2020: Such a fun ride! When I was looking for a book for a “Travel Buddy” challenge, which advised members to “find a book with a protagonist you’d love to travel with. Review it and in the text, tell the group why you'd pick them” I thought of this book right away!

This is one of my favorite historical mystery series, and I have reread it a few times; this first book kicked off a delightful series which became an auto-buy for me, as Elizabeth Peters annually added to the Emerson family’s archaeological exploits in Victorian Egypt. Barbara Mertz was the author’s real name, and she held a PhD in Egyptology, adding verisimilitude to the archeological information enriching these adventures. Over the years, I was greatly entertained and informed - I learned a great deal about Egyptology, Victorian manners and the life in Egypt under English control during the Victorian Age and during WWI. Amelia was a delightful character - as my paperback copy quotes Publishers Weekly, among wide and various praise for the hugely popular series, ”If Indiana Jones were female, a wife, and a mother who lived in Victorian times, he would be Amelia Peabody Emerson.”

This first book is perhaps not my favorite of the long-running series, but I love the beginning, as Amelia writes of her rather staid, spinsterish existence in a small English market town, caring for her father. The youngest and only daughter, she accepts the role of caregiver, as she alone shares her father’s scholarly interests. She is pleasantly surprised when he passes away and leaves everything to her - turns out, the old dear was rather dithery and retiring in his choice of residence and pursuits, but also enjoyed investing - and did so quite successfully!

Amelia decides to use her wealth to see the wonders of the ancient world she has heretofore studied from England - it is a treat to see her prepare for and venture out, meeting Evelyn Forbes, who becomes a traveling companion and lifelong friend, in difficult circumstances in Rome, and then onto Egypt. Here, Peters has fun with a mystery complete with rather cheesy, Gothic Victorian tropes involving mummies, tombs and damsels in distress. Rather silly, but fun and funny - sets the tone for the rest of the series.

Her descriptions of Victorian Cairo, Shepheard’s Hotel (“Everyone stays at Shepheard’s”), the Sphinx, Pyramids at Giza, traveling by dahabeeyah (luxurious houseboats engaged by foreign tourists to travel the Nile), and the dig at Amarna have always thrilled and delighted me! I have spent many hours over the years visiting these far-off places, in this wonderful character’s company, solving mysteries and having humorous and romantic adventures. (view spoiler)And they do, and I so enjoyed going along for the ride! ...more

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Nov 15, 2007 Michelle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I read this book forever ago and loved it and when I reread it at intervals, I still love it. It sounds so cliched, but the humor and spark with which the main characters are written make this a total pleasure to read. The late 19th century Egyptian antiquities setting is fun too.

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Nov 06, 2018 Nanosynergy rated it liked it

Shelves: mysteries-thrillers-espionage, series, fiction-1970s, fiction, 2018read

First book in the Amelia Peabody series. A cozy mystery. Set in the late 1880's, Amelia is thirty-something, single, intelligent, confident and now, with the death of her father, of independent means. She travels to Egypt to visit the great archaeological sights and discovers mystery, adventure, danger, and romance. ...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Wendy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series, 2012-reads, mystery

I would give this book 4.5 stars if I could. Amelia Peabody is laugh out loud funny - so endearing too. I can't wait to read more of Miss. Peabody's mysteries!
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