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verityw's review against another edition
3.0
ETA in 2021: Having spent the last 18 months listening to the audiobooks and rereading the series (I've been through all of the audiobooks available in the UK at least twice, and some of the books again on top of that) I came back to this as I'm rereading the series in chronological order. And I liked it a lot less than the first time and knocked a star off it, and debated taking more. Having spent all that time listening to the Emersons now (whereas in 2018 it was some time since I had read a book in the series) I noticed all the problems with this much more - the dialogue isn't write, there are continuity and factual errors and none of the characters act like themselves. It actually infuriated me a little - that it could have been a "proper" book if only Elizabeth Peters hadn't died, but instead we got a not very good approximation. And I know that makes me sound mean. Hey ho.
2018 review
I can't believe this is the last one. I mean, I know it is, and it makes sense that it would be, and I've saved it for ages because it is the last one, but I'm still sad that there will be no new Amelia and Emerson adventures.
But this is not a bad way to go out. It's not my favourite in the series - partly because of where it falls in the chronology - but it's a fairly typical (for them) season in Egypt with the Peabody Emersons - there's a murder, there are missing antiquities, Emerson is getting through shirts at a rate of knots, Sethos is loitering and the gang aren't happy with the site they've been allotted. More of a whimper than a bang - but given it was filling in a gap (and had to not have anything so eventful that we would have heard of it again in the later books!) that's not a surprise. I need to go back and reread some of these again - having read this in the midst of the Ramses Nefret estrangement, I could do with reading the one with some resolution to that!
2018 review
I can't believe this is the last one. I mean, I know it is, and it makes sense that it would be, and I've saved it for ages because it is the last one, but I'm still sad that there will be no new Amelia and Emerson adventures.
But this is not a bad way to go out. It's not my favourite in the series - partly because of where it falls in the chronology - but it's a fairly typical (for them) season in Egypt with the Peabody Emersons - there's a murder, there are missing antiquities, Emerson is getting through shirts at a rate of knots, Sethos is loitering and the gang aren't happy with the site they've been allotted. More of a whimper than a bang - but given it was filling in a gap (and had to not have anything so eventful that we would have heard of it again in the later books!) that's not a surprise. I need to go back and reread some of these again - having read this in the midst of the Ramses Nefret estrangement, I could do with reading the one with some resolution to that!
jennybeastie's review against another edition
3.0
Read it, for the closure, for the reminder of this fabulous series, and for the introduction.
My actual review is that it misses the mark. Too many red herrings, too many distractions from all the actual Egyptology, too much managing of Amelia by her family as though she is a silly idiot. She is a silly idiot sometimes, but her main accomplishments in this book are to nap and eat well, and that's not the Amelia Peabody I remember. Clearly this book was written with love and thoughtfulness and reluctance by Joan Hess. If she didn't quite capture the rest of the series, dear reader, well, who could?
My actual review is that it misses the mark. Too many red herrings, too many distractions from all the actual Egyptology, too much managing of Amelia by her family as though she is a silly idiot. She is a silly idiot sometimes, but her main accomplishments in this book are to nap and eat well, and that's not the Amelia Peabody I remember. Clearly this book was written with love and thoughtfulness and reluctance by Joan Hess. If she didn't quite capture the rest of the series, dear reader, well, who could?
jordankindig's review against another edition
1.0
DNF a while ago but forgot to mark it as finished. I bought it on a whim from Goodwill and that’s where it’ll get donated back to.
duchessofreadin's review against another edition
5.0
Amelia Peabody is back for one final adventure, and it is beyond fabulous!
When Amelia and her husband head back to Egypt, she is shocked when a man drops dead in her bathroom. Not knowing why this person was trying to kill her, she and Emerson head on to their dig site, while trying to solve the mystery.
While there, they encounter their usual round of suspects, Sethos is back but in a much different role, and the Father of Curses still knows how to command an audience...
I had to read this in one sitting, it was a fabulous book, and I absolutely loved it!
While this book was not finished by Elizabeth Peters, due to her death, Joan Hess did a great job in completing the manuscript, and doing her best to follow the writing style of Ms. Peters. While I could detect subtle instances in where they differed, it was an enjoyable read, and I am greatly going to miss the escapades of the Emerson family.
When Amelia and her husband head back to Egypt, she is shocked when a man drops dead in her bathroom. Not knowing why this person was trying to kill her, she and Emerson head on to their dig site, while trying to solve the mystery.
While there, they encounter their usual round of suspects, Sethos is back but in a much different role, and the Father of Curses still knows how to command an audience...
I had to read this in one sitting, it was a fabulous book, and I absolutely loved it!
While this book was not finished by Elizabeth Peters, due to her death, Joan Hess did a great job in completing the manuscript, and doing her best to follow the writing style of Ms. Peters. While I could detect subtle instances in where they differed, it was an enjoyable read, and I am greatly going to miss the escapades of the Emerson family.
pickachu780's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
hollyfromthebigsky's review against another edition
3.0
While I enjoyed this, it felt very repetitive. I wonder how much of that is due to having read so many of the series and the repeated themes, phrases, etc, starting to wear thin, and how much is due to the collaboration and attempt to finish the novel in the voice of Peters. In any case, fun, and I'll miss any future adventures of the intrepid Peabody/Emerson family.
kccrewdson's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Unfortunately, Elizabeth Peters was unable to finish this book and it suffered for it. By far the weakest book in the series, both in character and plot.
tculp's review
4.0
I just love Amelia Peabody. So much fun! This one, finished by Ms Hess after Peter’s death, and therefore the FINAL installment, was not quite as strong as some others, but I was happy to read it and it brought me joy. This is one of only 2 mystery series’ I have read to completion (the other being Nero Wolfe), and I highly recommend it for pure entertainment value 😀
bethb3's review against another edition
3.0
I agree with the reviewers who said it just ends--like Hess got tired of writing and just quit. I went back a little bit in my audio to see if I missed something, but no...it just stops.
That being said, I did still enjoy it especially the brother assassins and the identity reveals at the end. Having not read an Elizabeth Peters in a really long time, I didn't notice a huge difference in writing style or quality, but will bow to the other reviews more recent knowledge.
I enjoyed this final volume and will probably go back and start the series over again at some point.
That being said, I did still enjoy it especially the brother assassins and the identity reveals at the end. Having not read an Elizabeth Peters in a really long time, I didn't notice a huge difference in writing style or quality, but will bow to the other reviews more recent knowledge.
I enjoyed this final volume and will probably go back and start the series over again at some point.
crownoflaurel's review against another edition
3.0
Much more comical in tone, reminiscent of her very early work vs how this series became much more serious over time. The murderous Godwins were more the type of buffoonery that marks Die for Love, or her other stand-alones.
And it suffers from the usual issues that result from going back and trying to insert another adventure into the timeline. Sethos is treated as a friendly paterfamilias, like he has been in last few books, although at this point that specific revelation doesn’t happen for another few years. And Nefret’s repetitious discussion of Geoffrey both detracts from how her ptsd is treated later, and is in direct opposition to how she supposedly never mentions him again...?
I’m sure this is the best it could have been. I’m thankful for these characters, but I’m glad this is the end of their ride.
And it suffers from the usual issues that result from going back and trying to insert another adventure into the timeline. Sethos is treated as a friendly paterfamilias, like he has been in last few books, although at this point that specific revelation doesn’t happen for another few years. And Nefret’s repetitious discussion of Geoffrey both detracts from how her ptsd is treated later, and is in direct opposition to how she supposedly never mentions him again...?
I’m sure this is the best it could have been. I’m thankful for these characters, but I’m glad this is the end of their ride.