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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What Members Thought

Jun 16, 2022 Franky rated it really liked it

This was my first adventure into the world of Elizabeth Peters and her protagonist Amelia Peabody.

I had heard quite a bit about this series, and Crocodile on the Sandbank thus begins our heroine’s series of mysteries. And I have to say, while the book is very light on mystery and a very light mystery in itself, still it was a fun, entertaining read. It has sort of a quaint, cozy type mystery feel to it.

I would highly categorize this book alongside my “guilty pleasure” readings of sensationalis This was my first adventure into the world of Elizabeth Peters and her protagonist Amelia Peabody.

I had heard quite a bit about this series, and Crocodile on the Sandbank thus begins our heroine’s series of mysteries. And I have to say, while the book is very light on mystery and a very light mystery in itself, still it was a fun, entertaining read. It has sort of a quaint, cozy type mystery feel to it.

I would highly categorize this book alongside my “guilty pleasure” readings of sensationalist styled fictions and Victorian era novels that have quite a bit of theatrics and melodrama, yet an engaging plot and an entertaining (and sometimes humorous) lead character who narrates all. Crocodile on the Sandbank has all of these qualities in my opinion and then some: damsels in distress swooning, villains and diabolical shenanigans, heroic characters bursting onto the scene at the right time, and a perplexing mystery afoot that comes in the form of a mummy who quite literally walks the Earth.

The novel begins with Miss Amelia Peabody encountering a young lady (Evelyn) who lay unconscious. Upon reviving Evelyn, Amelia comes to understand her backstory: a family scandal and a scoundrel lover have consumed her, and she does not know what course of action to take. As Amelia is engaged in a journey up the Nile, she enlists Evelyn as a companion for the journey on this adventure. Along the way, they will meet the Emerson brothers, who have charge of an archeological site in the area. However, the party will soon find out that they are not the only ones along for the adventure…

While some of the plot, interactions, and moments are silly and over-the-top ridiculous, Crocodile on the Sandbank has definite entertainment value and charm. I found the back-and-forth banter and clashing between Emerson and Amelia both a bit too much and yet humorous at the same time. The team of brothers and Amelia and Evelyn meet up with odd circumstances, accidents, “supernatural” visits, and other shenanigans.

Will Amelia and her group unearth and unmask the mummy in time, or will they be too late? And what are the intentions?

As mentioned before, this book falls more in line with the cozy, light mystery variety, so hardcore mystery fans might not be as engaged. And, in my estimation, the romance in the novel is probably more integral to the plot than the actual mystery at hand. However, I found it a fun, entertaining, easy, and quick read.

I might just keep this going and see what befalls Miss Peabody in the book two of the series. ...more

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Nov 06, 2018 Nanosynergy rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, fiction-1970s, series, mysteries-thrillers-espionage, 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!
...more

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