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A review by krisrid
The Painted Queen by Elizabeth Peters, Joan Hess
5.0
This was such a bittersweet read for me. I ADORE Amelia, Emerson and their miscellaneous family, friends and associates, and this entire series has been in my top two of series EVER since I first discovered it. I have loved visiting with these characters in each succeeding book, and while I am sad that this will be the final new book now that Elizabeth Peters has passed away, it was a lovely visit back to Egypt with all the wonderful people in the Emerson family's world.
I don't know how to review this, really. If you have read the Amelia Peabody books, then you already know how delightful, quirky, funny and entertaining they are, and you don't need to be convinced. If you haven't read the books, I highly recommend you go get the first book in the series - Crocodile on the Sandbank - immediately, and introduce yourself to some of the most clever, unique, funny, and, yes, odd, characters you have ever come across, doing the most outrageous, but entertaining things you can imagine.
This book was again set in the past, so we go back to a time just after Nefret's disastrous short lived marriage [you really need to read the books in order in this series, so I won't say more about this to avoid spoilers] but the family is in Egypt, doing what they do best . . . which, contrary to their opinion, is not, in fact archaeology, but rather inadvertently becoming embroiled in matters of a criminal nature.
All the things I love about this series are on full display in this last book - Amelia and Emerson having snappy repartee between them as they battle for the upper hand, Ramses and David going off on their own and having danger, drama and excitement, the family inter-play among all of them, and the humour, oh, the humour! of these characters written by the incredibly smart and deft hand of Elizabeth Peters, whose wonderful perspectives on her marvellous characters will be sorely missed now that she is gone.
If you have read the other books in this series, you will want to read this final new book as well. If you haven't . . . why the heck not?! Get thee to a bookstore and introduce yourself to these fantastic characters immediately!!
I don't know how to review this, really. If you have read the Amelia Peabody books, then you already know how delightful, quirky, funny and entertaining they are, and you don't need to be convinced. If you haven't read the books, I highly recommend you go get the first book in the series - Crocodile on the Sandbank - immediately, and introduce yourself to some of the most clever, unique, funny, and, yes, odd, characters you have ever come across, doing the most outrageous, but entertaining things you can imagine.
This book was again set in the past, so we go back to a time just after Nefret's disastrous short lived marriage [you really need to read the books in order in this series, so I won't say more about this to avoid spoilers] but the family is in Egypt, doing what they do best . . . which, contrary to their opinion, is not, in fact archaeology, but rather inadvertently becoming embroiled in matters of a criminal nature.
All the things I love about this series are on full display in this last book - Amelia and Emerson having snappy repartee between them as they battle for the upper hand, Ramses and David going off on their own and having danger, drama and excitement, the family inter-play among all of them, and the humour, oh, the humour! of these characters written by the incredibly smart and deft hand of Elizabeth Peters, whose wonderful perspectives on her marvellous characters will be sorely missed now that she is gone.
If you have read the other books in this series, you will want to read this final new book as well. If you haven't . . . why the heck not?! Get thee to a bookstore and introduce yourself to these fantastic characters immediately!!