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jamibuch's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
biopsychosocial's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
lee25's review against another edition
3.0
[b:The Deeds of the Disturber|32139|The Deeds of the Disturber (Amelia Peabody, #5)|Elizabeth Peters|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388887764l/32139._SY75_.jpg|2176252] is the first Amelia Peabody book I didn't love.
It wasn't bad, but without Amelia's absolute self confidence some of the fun was taken out of the story.
[b:The Deeds of the Disturber|32139|The Deeds of the Disturber (Amelia Peabody, #5)|Elizabeth Peters|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388887764l/32139._SY75_.jpg|2176252] was still an entertaining read - just not quite up to the usual standard, in my opinion.
It wasn't bad, but without Amelia's absolute self confidence some of the fun was taken out of the story.
Spoiler
I didn't like her doubting herself or Emerson's devotion to her. I was also a little disappointed in Amelia and Emerson's lack of awareness of what was going on with Ramses.[b:The Deeds of the Disturber|32139|The Deeds of the Disturber (Amelia Peabody, #5)|Elizabeth Peters|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388887764l/32139._SY75_.jpg|2176252] was still an entertaining read - just not quite up to the usual standard, in my opinion.
becca_todaro's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I wish the endings were a little longer and the some of the fluff in the middle was cut.
jacki_f's review against another edition
2.0
I like this series but I thought this particular episode was overly convoluted and muddled.
rfrockwood's review against another edition
4.0
The book overall felt pretty slow but towards the end the pace really picked up and it was such a great way to end! As always, I'm low-key obsessed with Amelia Peabody-Emerson :)
seshat59's review against another edition
5.0
In which Amelia solves an Egyptological mystery in Victorian London.
The Deeds of the Disturber was not one of my favorites growing up. I didn't reread it as frequently as some others, but like The Mummy Case before it, I enjoyed it much more thoroughly in this, my great Amelia Peabody Emerson reread. The biggest thing that sets The Deeds of the Disturber apart is its setting. The Emersons have just returned home from the archaeological season covered in Lion in the Valley, and this is the only book in this lengthy series to fully take place in Victorian London. Elizabeth Peters does love to take on all the tropes, and she incorporates all the classic Victorian mystery-genre stereotypical plots but in a fresh, very Amelia Peabody way.
The yellow journalism of the time claims that a newly donated mummy to the British Museum has brought along a Curse after a nightwatchman dies on duty and various patrons twist their ankles. Kevin O'Connell, reporter of The Daily Yell and previously introduced in The Curse of the Pharaohs returns and the lady journalist, Amelia Peabody doppelganger, Margaret Minton, is introduced, working for a rival newspaper. While Amelia never, ever meddles, when O'Connell prints that Amelia and her husband will be taking up the case, what can Amelia do but oblige? After all, she's far more capable than Scotland Yard. The adventures take Emerson and Amelia to the British Museum (naturally), vile opium dens, manors of the aristocracy, and the foggy nighttime London streets.
"If some new homicidal killer stalked the fog-ridden streets of London by night seeking not unfortunate abandoned women but Egyptologists..."
On the domestic front, Amelia's brother James has foisted his children on the Emersons for the summer, and here we are introduced to the horrible Percy Peabody and his sister Violet. Ramses is of course my favorite character from the beginning to end of this series, and in The Deeds of the Disturber, he has his first redemptive narrative. Terrible as he is, there are worse children out there, and while Amelia may be blinded and biased against her son's better nature, the Peabody siblings' actions are quite transparent to the astute Reader.
"...my theories on child-raising required that we all be together as a family for one hour a day, if possible. It was a sacrifice, but one I felt morally obliged to make."
In this narrative, Amelia -- overconfident and self-deluded Englishwoman that she is -- has her first brush with jealousy, and I found it enjoyable to see Emerson and Amelia's relationship take some strain and grow throughout the book.
Also, while my reviews are written mostly for my own enjoyment and edification, I do want to address an issue I saw pop up in several other posts. Some Readers criticized Amelia for being, well, racist and blame the author. Amelia is supposed to be a very flawed product of her times -- despite her belief about being objective, enlightened, and liberal. Elizabeth Peters' beliefs best mirror Emerson -- and even more so, Ramses -- especially as Ramses ages. Amelia is a product of Victorian England's nationalism, and while she could be worse, she has a lot of growing to do ahead of her in this series. I will also counter that these books were written in the 1980s -- they aren't products of the 2010s so there are bound to have flaws, such as Amelia's fat-shaming of her brother. Even still, Amelia only shames those she doesn't like and is perfectly accepting of those she loves whose figures are far from perfect -- which again means you should stick it out to the later books.
Either way, The Deeds of the Disturber was both funny and entertaining. I enjoyed it greatly. And I do love how Elizabeth Peters relates each book to various Egyptological sources and quotes, and in this one, Amelia is compared to Isis with her incorrigible opinion and strong voice... Perfection.
4.5-5 stars
The Deeds of the Disturber was not one of my favorites growing up. I didn't reread it as frequently as some others, but like The Mummy Case before it, I enjoyed it much more thoroughly in this, my great Amelia Peabody Emerson reread. The biggest thing that sets The Deeds of the Disturber apart is its setting. The Emersons have just returned home from the archaeological season covered in Lion in the Valley, and this is the only book in this lengthy series to fully take place in Victorian London. Elizabeth Peters does love to take on all the tropes, and she incorporates all the classic Victorian mystery-genre stereotypical plots but in a fresh, very Amelia Peabody way.
The yellow journalism of the time claims that a newly donated mummy to the British Museum has brought along a Curse after a nightwatchman dies on duty and various patrons twist their ankles. Kevin O'Connell, reporter of The Daily Yell and previously introduced in The Curse of the Pharaohs returns and the lady journalist, Amelia Peabody doppelganger, Margaret Minton, is introduced, working for a rival newspaper. While Amelia never, ever meddles, when O'Connell prints that Amelia and her husband will be taking up the case, what can Amelia do but oblige? After all, she's far more capable than Scotland Yard. The adventures take Emerson and Amelia to the British Museum (naturally), vile opium dens, manors of the aristocracy, and the foggy nighttime London streets.
"If some new homicidal killer stalked the fog-ridden streets of London by night seeking not unfortunate abandoned women but Egyptologists..."
On the domestic front, Amelia's brother James has foisted his children on the Emersons for the summer, and here we are introduced to the horrible Percy Peabody and his sister Violet. Ramses is of course my favorite character from the beginning to end of this series, and in The Deeds of the Disturber, he has his first redemptive narrative. Terrible as he is, there are worse children out there, and while Amelia may be blinded and biased against her son's better nature, the Peabody siblings' actions are quite transparent to the astute Reader.
"...my theories on child-raising required that we all be together as a family for one hour a day, if possible. It was a sacrifice, but one I felt morally obliged to make."
In this narrative, Amelia -- overconfident and self-deluded Englishwoman that she is -- has her first brush with jealousy, and I found it enjoyable to see Emerson and Amelia's relationship take some strain and grow throughout the book.
Also, while my reviews are written mostly for my own enjoyment and edification, I do want to address an issue I saw pop up in several other posts. Some Readers criticized Amelia for being, well, racist and blame the author. Amelia is supposed to be a very flawed product of her times -- despite her belief about being objective, enlightened, and liberal. Elizabeth Peters' beliefs best mirror Emerson -- and even more so, Ramses -- especially as Ramses ages. Amelia is a product of Victorian England's nationalism, and while she could be worse, she has a lot of growing to do ahead of her in this series. I will also counter that these books were written in the 1980s -- they aren't products of the 2010s so there are bound to have flaws, such as Amelia's fat-shaming of her brother. Even still, Amelia only shames those she doesn't like and is perfectly accepting of those she loves whose figures are far from perfect -- which again means you should stick it out to the later books.
Either way, The Deeds of the Disturber was both funny and entertaining. I enjoyed it greatly. And I do love how Elizabeth Peters relates each book to various Egyptological sources and quotes, and in this one, Amelia is compared to Isis with her incorrigible opinion and strong voice... Perfection.
4.5-5 stars
violinknitter's review against another edition
3.0
Typical Peabody fun, except now that I know what to look for: Holy Unhealthy Orientalism, Batman! And fat-shaming, and and and.... why do I have problematic faves?