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seshat59's review against another edition
5.0
In which the Emersons finally discover A Tomb.
The Hippopotamus Pool is the in between book, the novel that acts as a transition between the first half of the Amelia Peabody series to the second half. (The beginning was all very tongue in cheek and the second adds a tiny bit more heft but still a great deal of fun.) In this the eighth installment, Ramses and Nefret are both present for the season’s excavation in Egypt, but they’re still quite young: twelve and fifteen respectively. Ramses hasn’t yet transitioned to Romantic Hero, but he’s hitting puberty. Progress. Nefret is starting to show some personality, but again — I love how her affectionate, eager-to-please personality fits with all the subtle background hints MPM put into place in The Last Camel Died at Noon, but she’s still a teenage girl here. The full cast of characters is also falling into place. This book introduces David Todros as a main character and companion to Ramses and Nefret, and he’s also Egyptian. So finally a POC main character beyond Abdullah (and his miscellaneous relations with no characterization). Daoud is also given some personality amongst Abdullah’s family, setting us up for future installments as well. Evelyn and Walter are back and prominent characters; they’ve just lost their youngest child which has put a strain on their relationship, as such things do. Cyrus Vandergelt returns as well as everyone’s favorite Irish journalist Kevin O’Connell. The dashing Sir Edward Washington makes his first appearance as well, but like Amelia, I suspect I am getting ahead of myself and that I should proceed in a more orderly manner.
The Hippopotamus Pool opens with a New Year’s Eve ball ushering in the new year and new century. No ball is complete without a mysterious encounter, and Emerson and Amelia’s meeting reveals that an unknown royal tomb has had antiquities appearing on the black market. This of course whets their appetite to go to Thebes and out maneauver the tomb robbers so that they can legitimately pilfer the tomb in the name of science. Naturally, the Emersons succeed and they discover the tomb of Queen Tetisheri. How they discover it and keep the thieves at bay is the bulk of this mystery, and the hunt for the tomb is the legitimate mystery, making The Hippopotamus Pool a trifle different from the other mysteries in the series. Archaeology is not only at the forefront, it is the mystery, but the stakes are high and thieves bloodthirsty, especially with Sethos’s removal from the antiquities game after the events in the previous novel.
Minor Hints at Spoilers Ahead:
I loved Amelia’s final confrontation in this book with a returned villain. How that villain allows Amelia to prover her own cleverness without revealing her hand, but she says just enough and the newly introduced Sir Edward reveals enough to the astute reader / rereader that one knows that there is more afoot than Amelia realizes. It’s incredibly subtle and makes me love MPM all the more.
4.5-5 stars
And some Peabodyisms, as always, to conclude:
“As usual it was up to me to take the precautions Emerson refused to take—to guard him and the children, to be constantly on the alert for peril, to suspect everyone. No matter. I was up for the job.”
The Hippopotamus Pool is the in between book, the novel that acts as a transition between the first half of the Amelia Peabody series to the second half. (The beginning was all very tongue in cheek and the second adds a tiny bit more heft but still a great deal of fun.) In this the eighth installment, Ramses and Nefret are both present for the season’s excavation in Egypt, but they’re still quite young: twelve and fifteen respectively. Ramses hasn’t yet transitioned to Romantic Hero, but he’s hitting puberty. Progress. Nefret is starting to show some personality, but again — I love how her affectionate, eager-to-please personality fits with all the subtle background hints MPM put into place in The Last Camel Died at Noon, but she’s still a teenage girl here. The full cast of characters is also falling into place. This book introduces David Todros as a main character and companion to Ramses and Nefret, and he’s also Egyptian. So finally a POC main character beyond Abdullah (and his miscellaneous relations with no characterization). Daoud is also given some personality amongst Abdullah’s family, setting us up for future installments as well. Evelyn and Walter are back and prominent characters; they’ve just lost their youngest child which has put a strain on their relationship, as such things do. Cyrus Vandergelt returns as well as everyone’s favorite Irish journalist Kevin O’Connell. The dashing Sir Edward Washington makes his first appearance as well, but like Amelia, I suspect I am getting ahead of myself and that I should proceed in a more orderly manner.
The Hippopotamus Pool opens with a New Year’s Eve ball ushering in the new year and new century. No ball is complete without a mysterious encounter, and Emerson and Amelia’s meeting reveals that an unknown royal tomb has had antiquities appearing on the black market. This of course whets their appetite to go to Thebes and out maneauver the tomb robbers so that they can legitimately pilfer the tomb in the name of science. Naturally, the Emersons succeed and they discover the tomb of Queen Tetisheri. How they discover it and keep the thieves at bay is the bulk of this mystery, and the hunt for the tomb is the legitimate mystery, making The Hippopotamus Pool a trifle different from the other mysteries in the series. Archaeology is not only at the forefront, it is the mystery, but the stakes are high and thieves bloodthirsty, especially with Sethos’s removal from the antiquities game after the events in the previous novel.
Minor Hints at Spoilers Ahead:
I loved Amelia’s final confrontation in this book with a returned villain. How that villain allows Amelia to prover her own cleverness without revealing her hand, but she says just enough and the newly introduced Sir Edward reveals enough to the astute reader / rereader that one knows that there is more afoot than Amelia realizes. It’s incredibly subtle and makes me love MPM all the more.
4.5-5 stars
And some Peabodyisms, as always, to conclude:
“As usual it was up to me to take the precautions Emerson refused to take—to guard him and the children, to be constantly on the alert for peril, to suspect everyone. No matter. I was up for the job.”
ellelainey's review against another edition
5.0
Again a brilliant story.
Radcliffe is my all time favourite male lead in any story I've ever read. He blunders in like a bull but is really a soft pussycat and when it comes to Ramses, let no-one get in his way. He and Amelia have such a great relationship together, and their affection for Ramses is so well explored, but well hidden from the outside world that you really see how good a writer Elizabeth Peters is.
I think this story, more than ever, shows this. The idea is imaginative and original yet again, and Ramses as always manages to find himself getting into the most ridiculous trouble with very little effort. And it's up to Radcliffe and Amelia to get him out of it again...as usual.
Radcliffe is my all time favourite male lead in any story I've ever read. He blunders in like a bull but is really a soft pussycat and when it comes to Ramses, let no-one get in his way. He and Amelia have such a great relationship together, and their affection for Ramses is so well explored, but well hidden from the outside world that you really see how good a writer Elizabeth Peters is.
I think this story, more than ever, shows this. The idea is imaginative and original yet again, and Ramses as always manages to find himself getting into the most ridiculous trouble with very little effort. And it's up to Radcliffe and Amelia to get him out of it again...as usual.
megancmahon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I've always liked this Peabody - the first with David, and we get to see Nefret interacting with Ramses in some interesting ways. However I DO miss Sethos...
holl3640's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
1outside's review against another edition
5.0
The band of our favourite archaeologists is growing ever so bigger...and what a delight it is!
laurenjodi's review against another edition
3.0
The Hippopotamus Pool
3.5 Stars
The Emersons return to Egypt, this time with their son, Ramses, and ward, Nefret, in tow. A strange visit from a man claiming to know the whereabouts of an undiscovered royal tomb exposes the daring duo, their family and friends to various threats - jealous colleagues, nefarious criminals, and intrepid reporters. Will they survive the attacks, kidnappings and shenanigans to find Queen Tetisheri's tomb?
Series not: While each mystery in the series is a standalone, there are numerous recurring characters as well as references to people and events from previous installments as well as one or two ongoing story arcs. Thus, the books should be read in order.
As always, Elizabeth Peters's knowledge of ancient Egyptian history and mythology is unsurpassed, and it is a joy to learn of the details both large and small that she provides throughout the narrative. Moreover, the subtle contrast between the majesty of the Pharaohs lives (and deaths) and the suffering of everyday Egyptians during the Colonial setting of the series is impossible to ignore.
In terms of the characters, it is always amusing to watch Emerson and Peabody's interactions, and this time there is also the compelling character development for Ramses and Nefret, whose sibling rivalry provides interesting insight into their relationship. There are also appearances by Evelyn and Walter, the ever-faithful Reis, Abdullah, Cyrus Vandergelt, and the annoying yet rather helpful Kevin O'Connell amongst many others.
Once again, the mystery is the weakest element. There is just so much going on that it is difficult to keep track of all the parties involved and their differing/conflicting agendas. Nevertheless, the last few chapters are intense and exciting as all the plot points ultimately converge.
Overall, this is an entertaining series well worth the read for the characters despite the lackluster mysteries.
3.5 Stars
The Emersons return to Egypt, this time with their son, Ramses, and ward, Nefret, in tow. A strange visit from a man claiming to know the whereabouts of an undiscovered royal tomb exposes the daring duo, their family and friends to various threats - jealous colleagues, nefarious criminals, and intrepid reporters. Will they survive the attacks, kidnappings and shenanigans to find Queen Tetisheri's tomb?
Series not: While each mystery in the series is a standalone, there are numerous recurring characters as well as references to people and events from previous installments as well as one or two ongoing story arcs. Thus, the books should be read in order.
As always, Elizabeth Peters's knowledge of ancient Egyptian history and mythology is unsurpassed, and it is a joy to learn of the details both large and small that she provides throughout the narrative. Moreover, the subtle contrast between the majesty of the Pharaohs lives (and deaths) and the suffering of everyday Egyptians during the Colonial setting of the series is impossible to ignore.
In terms of the characters, it is always amusing to watch Emerson and Peabody's interactions, and this time there is also the compelling character development for Ramses and Nefret, whose sibling rivalry provides interesting insight into their relationship. There are also appearances by Evelyn and Walter, the ever-faithful Reis, Abdullah, Cyrus Vandergelt, and the annoying yet rather helpful Kevin O'Connell amongst many others.
Once again, the mystery is the weakest element. There is just so much going on that it is difficult to keep track of all the parties involved and their differing/conflicting agendas. Nevertheless, the last few chapters are intense and exciting as all the plot points ultimately converge.
Overall, this is an entertaining series well worth the read for the characters despite the lackluster mysteries.
gooberdawn's review against another edition
5.0
The characters in Elizabeth Peters books are just wonderful. Each character has a tenacious and colorful personality which adds true vigor & vitality to each & every story by this author. LOVE THEM. If you like Indiana Jones, you will LOVE these books.
matteo_of_eld's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0