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sparksofember's review against another edition
3.0
I'm starting to wonder if the entire series was written by one person or if they switched to a ghost writer at some point in this series.
The Egyptology in this book was almost nonexistent. And coy innuendo a constant focus instead. Seriously - if Ahmed and his men can go the summer without their wives, I think Emerson can survive without dragging Amelia off to a tent with thinly veiled excuses or grabbing her behind locked doors with police freaking out on the other side. Amelia Peabody has always been a bit tongue-in-cheek and amusing with her mannerisms but this time she was just outright self-absorbed and very dumb. I found myself rooting for Ramses and wanting a series starring him instead of his idiotic mother who is coming off exceedingly jealous of her own child.
The Egyptology in this book was almost nonexistent. And coy innuendo a constant focus instead. Seriously - if Ahmed and his men can go the summer without their wives, I think Emerson can survive without dragging Amelia off to a tent with thinly veiled excuses or grabbing her behind locked doors with police freaking out on the other side. Amelia Peabody has always been a bit tongue-in-cheek and amusing with her mannerisms but this time she was just outright self-absorbed and very dumb. I found myself rooting for Ramses and wanting a series starring him instead of his idiotic mother who is coming off exceedingly jealous of her own child.
wordly_and_toggs's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
lsparrow's review against another edition
3.0
I love this character - not the best of the series but still love the mystery, the characters and the Egyptology.
romanici's review against another edition
5.0
Audiobook. Narrator is PERFECTION. Love this series - the characters are a slight to listen to.
hildematildez's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lee25's review against another edition
4.0
I honestly wasn't expecting too much from the Amelia Peabody series - just something light between a couple of darker books - but instead of being "filler" stories, they have got me hooked.
[b:Lion in the Valley|40495|Lion in the Valley (Amelia Peabody, #4)|Elizabeth Peters|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1297727687l/40495._SY75_.jpg|918115] is another great read from [a:Elizabeth Peters|16549|Elizabeth Peters|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1232144920p2/16549.jpg]. Amelia Peabody Emerson is now one of my favourite fiction characters.
[b:Lion in the Valley|40495|Lion in the Valley (Amelia Peabody, #4)|Elizabeth Peters|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1297727687l/40495._SY75_.jpg|918115] is another great read from [a:Elizabeth Peters|16549|Elizabeth Peters|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1232144920p2/16549.jpg]. Amelia Peabody Emerson is now one of my favourite fiction characters.
gia's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jamibuch's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
esdeecarlson's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars
One of the very best Amelia Peabody stories, centered around a beloved recurring villain—the Master Criminal himself, Sethos.
I partly love this book because it either establishes or cements some of the classic Amelia Peabody hallmarks. This is the first book where Amelia’s signature working costume comes together and is fully described; her Turkish trousers and belt of tools will make many appearances in future. Abdullah laments there being yet “another dead body,” Emerson loses his temper, Amelia hits people over the head with her parasol, and Ramses is frighteningly precocious.
But I also love this book because it’s one of the novels that has the most fun with Amelia and Emerson’s romance. Too often romantic stories end with marriage, but these books continue Amelia and Emerson’s love story through many years of matrimony, and in this particular title their bond is tested by jealousy, their competitive spirits, and—of course—external danger. It’s also one of the steamier titles, with Emerson endeavoring repeatedly to prove his devotion in a most, as Amelia would say, ‘stimulating’ manner. Everything is fade-to-black, but Amelia’s delicate (yet shameless) prose dancing around her clearly very healthy sex life always makes me grin like a fool.
The novel fully leans into Sethos as a golden-age-of-detective-fiction Master Criminal, including his fiendishly clever disguises, the unshakeable loyalty of his followers, and his larger-than-life force of character. The series could have easily ‘jumped the shark’ with this title, but in my opinion Peters plays it perfectly, playing a loving homage to the wildly fanciful romantic detective fiction of yesteryear while letting us laugh at some of the absurdity of the situation, especially as conveyed by our less-than-fully-reliable narrator. Amelia’s balance of highly sensible practicality with her vivid imagination and romanticism make her the perfect heroine for such a swashbuckling story.
It’s one hell of a good time, and one of my very favorite comfort reads.
One of the very best Amelia Peabody stories, centered around a beloved recurring villain—the Master Criminal himself, Sethos.
I partly love this book because it either establishes or cements some of the classic Amelia Peabody hallmarks. This is the first book where Amelia’s signature working costume comes together and is fully described; her Turkish trousers and belt of tools will make many appearances in future. Abdullah laments there being yet “another dead body,” Emerson loses his temper, Amelia hits people over the head with her parasol, and Ramses is frighteningly precocious.
But I also love this book because it’s one of the novels that has the most fun with Amelia and Emerson’s romance. Too often romantic stories end with marriage, but these books continue Amelia and Emerson’s love story through many years of matrimony, and in this particular title their bond is tested by jealousy, their competitive spirits, and—of course—external danger. It’s also one of the steamier titles, with Emerson endeavoring repeatedly to prove his devotion in a most, as Amelia would say, ‘stimulating’ manner. Everything is fade-to-black, but Amelia’s delicate (yet shameless) prose dancing around her clearly very healthy sex life always makes me grin like a fool.
The novel fully leans into Sethos as a golden-age-of-detective-fiction Master Criminal, including his fiendishly clever disguises, the unshakeable loyalty of his followers, and his larger-than-life force of character. The series could have easily ‘jumped the shark’ with this title, but in my opinion Peters plays it perfectly, playing a loving homage to the wildly fanciful romantic detective fiction of yesteryear while letting us laugh at some of the absurdity of the situation, especially as conveyed by our less-than-fully-reliable narrator. Amelia’s balance of highly sensible practicality with her vivid imagination and romanticism make her the perfect heroine for such a swashbuckling story.
It’s one hell of a good time, and one of my very favorite comfort reads.
spevensie's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0