I have to admit that it lagged a lot in the middle, but the beginning and ending of the novel made up for the middle of the novel. It isn't even that the middle was bad, but I guess I am so used to the Emersons' being attacked at every turn that when they weren't fighting for their lives every other chapter and with their archaeological finds uninteresting I found myself wishing for something to happen. However Amelia got herself in enough trouble in the end and the kids kept everything interesting enough that the book overall was enjoyable to read, but not as much of a page turner as some of the earlier novels.I will never stress enough how much I love that we finally get to see Ramses emotions through his sections of the novel. I admit that I wasn't a fan of him to begin with, but I adore him so much and almost to the point that I just want to shake Nefret for being so dumb about everything. I want to like her and usually I am all for stubborn female characters, but the fact that she is so spoiled bothers me considerably. I can't help but think that we are given Ramses point of view to know what it would be like reading all the events from Emerson's point of view. Nefret is obviously Amelia's double though with less decorum while Ramses is like his father with more cunning and tact. I just really want to give Ramses a hug and he has quickly become my third favorite character behind Emerson and Amelia. I am also very happy to see the return of my favorite villain. I have such a soft spot for him that I am glad he is once again meddling in the Emersons' affairs. I am also glad we get the issue of Sir Edward out of the way because he was starting to bother me. As for the emotional events, well there were more than enough. I didn't know how much I liked David, even though his character hasn't been flushed out before this book and even then it is really lacking, until he almost died. Then there is the scene with the whole Emerson clan involving David and Lia which I was also torn up about. I am really starting to take a liking to David though he gets little page time. I hope that changes in later novels if he is in them. However, and this is a total spoiler so look away now, Abdullah's death brought me to tears, especially the effect it had on Amelia. I will never get over it, I feel as if I lost one of my best friends, which I guess is the mark of a great author. Overall a fun read and I am glad that the kids, who really aren't any more, are taking a more active role, but I hope there is more mayhem in the next novel to one or all parties involved.
Another excellent visit with the Emerson-Peabody family! I adore these characters, and the adventures they always get immersed in!In this outing, the family, now including not only Ramses, but Nefret and David, are back in Egypt for the new season. While they expect a dull season, since Emerson's offending everyone "official" in the excavation game has led to his being given the most boring tombs in the Valley to excavate, as usual with the Emersons, dull is not to be.Not only do Ramses, Nefret and David purchase a rare papyrus of the Book of the Dead, which it seems someone is willing to kill to retrieve, but Sethos is once again plaguing Emerson by pursuing Amelia.The best thing about this series is how natural and enjoyable the evolution of the characters is - both main and secondary - as the family grows and changes, and the events of life season them. Elizabeth Peters is masterful at fleshing out a character and making you feel like you know them personally. As always, the family members manage to get themselves into all manner of scrapes and dangerous situations. Ramses has always followed in the footsteps of his parents in this area, and now it seems Nefret plans to do the same, as she has some exciting experiences in this outing. The younger generation come into their own in this book as intrepid adventurerers extraordinare every bit as accomplished as Emerson and Amelia. I cannot get enough of the Emerson-Peabodys and love each new chapter in their lives more than the last. Great reads!
Do You like book The Ape Who Guards The Balance (1999)?
Though this book (#10 in the Amelia Peabody series) is light on the mystery aspect, I liked how Peters developed the central themes of weighing the heart in the scales of justice, the nature of true love (fraternal, familial, romantic and marital), and the pervasive nature of cultural and racial prejudice. Without giving it all away, she also killed off one of the major characters, whose self-sacrificial death saved Peabody's life. I found it heart-wrenching, but a necessary turning point for the plot-line. Probably my favorite so far, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
—Karen
The tenth installment in the Amelia Peabody series. It's 1907 and the Emerson clan is heading back to Egypt for another season of archeology. This season promises to be very boring, as Emerson is stuck in the already excavated tombs in the Valley of the Kings, but the life of an Emerson is never boring. There is an attempt made to kidnap Amelia, an attempt to harm Nefret, and Ramses and David are abducted. It appears the Master Criminal has returned, but what is he really after? Fans of this series will not be disappointed.
—Dayna Smith
Wow. Just wow. I found the previous book disappointing, so it was a long time before I got around to reading/listening to this one. I am so very glad that I did! Ms. Peters just knocked it out of the park on this one. Spoilers!!(view spoiler)[Early on in the book I guessed Abdoullah was going to die. I even guess that he would die in some active fashion. Even knowing it would happen, it was so beautifully constructed, so well written, that once it happened I cried and cried. I started crying again when I tried to talk about it later. Ms. Peters also managed to address racism both subtly and significantly. I won't even try to explain it, it's too woven into the characters and the narrative. At some point I will have to re-read this book to examine how she managed to pull off such a touching death, and how she managed to address racism so very well. Even with all this praise, I've only given it 4 stars - parts of the plotting are just too unbelievable, even for happening around the Emerson/Peabody clan. Bertha's motivations were too stereotypically feminine for me to enjoy, and both Ramses and Sethos are too omni-competent to feel entirely real. I do enjoy both characters - but they don't always hold up once the magic of the initial reading fades. (hide spoiler)]
—Hope
