Scan barcode
lou_lelou's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bunnycherry's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.0
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
5.0
For this and other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com and subscribe to my newsletter.
Years ago, when I first started checking out library audiobooks, I stumbled upon the Amelia Peabody mystery series and my life was changed forever. No lie. I loved the series. It combined many of the things that interested me: Victorian era, Egyptology, a feminist a bit ahead of her time, and a little bit of romance (very little). The series is like Nancy Drew all grown up and thrown back in time. In short, I’m a big fan. For years I would borrow the library audiobook and make a copy for my own personal use.
Then, in 2011, through a consumer product testing company, I got my first Kindle. It was what we now call a Paperwhite-read or listen only. The Fire tablet had yet to be invented. And with that Kindle I got a few free audiobooks. So I slowly added the entire Amelia Peabody series up to the most recent book, and then added them as they were published. My husband has walked in on me listening to the series so much over the years that he imitates Emerson with a “Good Gad, Peabody,” every now and then.
While Crocodile on the Sandbank is a very good novel, you really must listen to the series to get the full experience. Narrator Barbara Rosenblat does such a good job bringing distinct voices to the characters that sometimes I forget it is a woman voicing the men’s parts. The story just floats in Rosenblat’s hands, the characterizations great and the mystery moves along at a brisk pace due to Peter’s storytelling.
The book, while written in 1975, holds up surprisingly well because of author Elizabeth Peters (real name Barbara Mertz) knowledge of Egyptology. She had been writing paranormal mysteries under the name Barbara Michaels and standalone mystery novels as Elizabeth Peters. Her publisher approached her about taking one of her heroines and making a series. She wisely picked plucky, independent, no-nonsense, wealthy, and not your typical beauty, Amelia Peabody. And the rest, they say, is history. This first volume, because it was not planned to be a series, wraps up in a tidy way once the mystery is solved.
Years ago, when I first started checking out library audiobooks, I stumbled upon the Amelia Peabody mystery series and my life was changed forever. No lie. I loved the series. It combined many of the things that interested me: Victorian era, Egyptology, a feminist a bit ahead of her time, and a little bit of romance (very little). The series is like Nancy Drew all grown up and thrown back in time. In short, I’m a big fan. For years I would borrow the library audiobook and make a copy for my own personal use.
Then, in 2011, through a consumer product testing company, I got my first Kindle. It was what we now call a Paperwhite-read or listen only. The Fire tablet had yet to be invented. And with that Kindle I got a few free audiobooks. So I slowly added the entire Amelia Peabody series up to the most recent book, and then added them as they were published. My husband has walked in on me listening to the series so much over the years that he imitates Emerson with a “Good Gad, Peabody,” every now and then.
While Crocodile on the Sandbank is a very good novel, you really must listen to the series to get the full experience. Narrator Barbara Rosenblat does such a good job bringing distinct voices to the characters that sometimes I forget it is a woman voicing the men’s parts. The story just floats in Rosenblat’s hands, the characterizations great and the mystery moves along at a brisk pace due to Peter’s storytelling.
The book, while written in 1975, holds up surprisingly well because of author Elizabeth Peters (real name Barbara Mertz) knowledge of Egyptology. She had been writing paranormal mysteries under the name Barbara Michaels and standalone mystery novels as Elizabeth Peters. Her publisher approached her about taking one of her heroines and making a series. She wisely picked plucky, independent, no-nonsense, wealthy, and not your typical beauty, Amelia Peabody. And the rest, they say, is history. This first volume, because it was not planned to be a series, wraps up in a tidy way once the mystery is solved.
aljavi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
bookswithkellie's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
book_concierge's review against another edition
2.0
Audiobook performed by Susan O’Malley
Amelia Peabody does not suffer fools gladly. Independently wealthy and feeling constrained by the rules of Victorian society, she decides to hire a companion and travel to Egypt. Her companion falls ill in Rome and has to return to England, but Amelia comes across a destitute, beautiful young English girl. Evelyn’s past is aristocratic, but tarnished by an impetuous love affair. Still, Amelia recognizes some sterling qualities in the young woman and takes her on. As they prepare they come across a variety of young men intent on the beautiful Evelyn – her former Italian lover, her cousin who feels he has inherited unjustly and wants to share the wealth of her deceased grandfather, and the younger brother of a dedicated archeologist.
I had heard so many glowing reactions to this cozy mystery series, and was really looking forward to this book. But I was sorely disappointed. The background story goes on for at least 50 pages before the mystery begins with an intruder in Amelia’s room. Then we’re back to routine adventures of travel as the ladies make their way to the archeological site where the brothers are about to discover treasures. Around page 110 we have another intruder … or is it a mummy disturbed by the dig? And finally the pace picks up, though the subsequent events are repetitious to the point of annoyance.
The whole romance aspect of the book was boring and poorly developed. It reminded me of the movies of the 1920s and 1930s – Perils of Pauline perhaps? The characters were characterizations. The scenarios were unbelievable. I had figured out the big reveal long before the characters did. The “asides” to the reader were irritating and did nothing to help the plot or tell the story. Basically, I felt the author was trying too hard to be clever, and she failed.
I give it two stars because there was an interesting section once the plot got started, and because Susan O’Malley did a pretty good job of reading the audio version. In fact, for a while I thought I would probably try another in the series. But by the end I felt I should call it a day. Just not my cup of tea.
Amelia Peabody does not suffer fools gladly. Independently wealthy and feeling constrained by the rules of Victorian society, she decides to hire a companion and travel to Egypt. Her companion falls ill in Rome and has to return to England, but Amelia comes across a destitute, beautiful young English girl. Evelyn’s past is aristocratic, but tarnished by an impetuous love affair. Still, Amelia recognizes some sterling qualities in the young woman and takes her on. As they prepare they come across a variety of young men intent on the beautiful Evelyn – her former Italian lover, her cousin who feels he has inherited unjustly and wants to share the wealth of her deceased grandfather, and the younger brother of a dedicated archeologist.
I had heard so many glowing reactions to this cozy mystery series, and was really looking forward to this book. But I was sorely disappointed. The background story goes on for at least 50 pages before the mystery begins with an intruder in Amelia’s room. Then we’re back to routine adventures of travel as the ladies make their way to the archeological site where the brothers are about to discover treasures. Around page 110 we have another intruder … or is it a mummy disturbed by the dig? And finally the pace picks up, though the subsequent events are repetitious to the point of annoyance.
The whole romance aspect of the book was boring and poorly developed. It reminded me of the movies of the 1920s and 1930s – Perils of Pauline perhaps? The characters were characterizations. The scenarios were unbelievable. I had figured out the big reveal long before the characters did. The “asides” to the reader were irritating and did nothing to help the plot or tell the story. Basically, I felt the author was trying too hard to be clever, and she failed.
I give it two stars because there was an interesting section once the plot got started, and because Susan O’Malley did a pretty good job of reading the audio version. In fact, for a while I thought I would probably try another in the series. But by the end I felt I should call it a day. Just not my cup of tea.
beachyv's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
I'm gagged. A slow start to get going but once it did I was invested. And once that man got going, my feet kept kicking. The last line... chef's kiss
notleanna's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
le_corbeau_romantique's review against another edition
5.0
Set in the 1880s, Amelia Peabody is the the antithesis of the Victorian woman. She is feisty and serves as a great role model for girls today. I can not wait to get my hands on the next in the series! It's mystery meets adventure meets romance. The author did a marvelous job transporting the reader to British-ruled Egypt.