Books : The Golden One

Rating: - Book Fourteen in the Series
Elizabeth Peters was born and brought up in Illinois and earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago's famed Oriental Institute. Peters was named Grand Master at the inaugural Anthony Awards in 1986 and Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America at the Edgar Awards in 1998. She lives in a historic farmhouse in western Maryland.

The Amelia Peabody books may or may not be an acquired taste, personally I love them. They are set in Victorian times when there were still very strict rules of etiquette and polite behaviour was the norm. Although most of the books are set in Egypt, in the desert under very trying conditions and extremely hot weather the `English' way of life was still expected to be adhered to, sometimes with quite hilarious consequences.

Amelia Peabody is Elizabeth Peters' best loved and brilliant creation, a thoroughly Victorian feminist who takes the stuffy world of archaeology by storm with her no nonsense dress sense and forthright opinions.

This book brings us right into the middle of the First World War, but despite the winter storms and the prospect of German submarines prowling the seas Amelia, Emerson, Ramses and his beautiful wife Nefret are more than ready to head for another season of excavation in Egypt.

Emerson is hoping that the troubles that seem to follow Amelia wherever she goes will not materialise this year and that he can get on with his excavations with little or no distraction, but secretly he knows that it is highly unlikely.. Once more the family find a dead body, but in this case not a mummy, but a recently killed one. As if that is not enough Nefret reveals a secret that she has until now kept hidden . . .

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Rating: - A cracking Read
The Emersons are back in Egypt, the First World War is raging elsewhere and there is a dead body in a tomb ... typical Amelia Peabody territory.

If you've read the others you will love this one. All the usual characters are with us from Gargery the strange and unusual butler to Sethos the embarrassing illegitimate brother. Ramses and Nefret rejoice in married bliss (although it is very interesting to re-read the earlier books and see the changes in Ramses' character to make him a more useful, all round hero)and Amelia is still having dreams of Abdullah.

The villain in this novel is not the usual master criminal but the British Army and their attempts to involve Ramses in what they are doing. This is one plot line, the discovery of a new tomb replete with treasure is the other.

Maybe Amelia and Emerson are becoming unbelievable at times, but, what the hell .... this novel is funny, well written and enjoyable ... not one of the best in the series but head and shoulders above much else that is written these days !!

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Rating: - Another thrilling installment
One again Peters has written a book a that I couldn't put down. A fan of the Amelia Peabody fan I look forward to each installment and she does not let me down. The family continues to expand, mystery continues to stop Emerson excavating and the mysterious Sethos continues to surprise. As always a fantastic read a must for lovers of the series.