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Summary: Superb Storytelling! Great Story.
Review: It is so exciting to get the next Amelia Peabody book, and they just seem to get better!! This book starts off fast, and continues to hold the reader's attention to the last page. It both entertains and educates with Ms. Peters vivid stytle portraying Egypt in the Early 1900s. The story is fastpaced and fun. It leaves you wishing you could reach for the next book of the series.I enjoy both the Amelia Peabody series and the Vicky Bliss series so much. They have become good friends that one can reread with pleasure, and share with friends. I introduced my 14 year-old daughter to the books and she devoured them with delight. Thanks so much to Elizabeth Peters, and we look forward to future installments.
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Summary: Last &best of great series - unforgettable characters!
Review: This series of mysteries, starring an eccentric British archaeologist husband & wife team who are excavating in Egypt at the turn of the century, just gets better and better. They are witty, hilarious, ingeniously crafted mysteries, and fascinating in their depiction of archaeology at that time (Peters, the author, is actually an egyptologist and is correct in every historical and period detail). What makes them special is the relationships between the characters. Peters has assembled an all-star ensemble cast who play against eachother wonderfully. The family relationships in this group of intelligent, competitive, and passionate people are drawn with such skill that you laugh and ache with them. While the earlier books were narrated entirely in the first person by the undauntable Amelia Peabody, this latest book (and also the previous one "Seeing a Large Cat") includes parts told from the viewpoints of other family members, particularly her precocious son Ramses who we watched grow up in preceeding books. Peters captures the generation gap perfectly, deftly exposing the frailties of both groups - the tendency of parents to underestimate their children, and vice-versa. Having read the series from start to finish (about 12 books) I am completely hooked. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens next in the lives of this remarkable group of people Peters has created.
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Summary: I found the story to be very slow moving. A disappointment
Review: The usual familiar characters are here and it is fun meeting them again. But the real action does not begin until the last 40-50 pages.
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Summary: well done as always
Review: It's as enjoyable as ever spending time with Amelia and her family. My only problem with the book are the segments that are not from her viewpoint. I want Amelia's voice-her take on things-and not the younger set's.
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Summary: I guess I'm the only reader who misses the old Peabody
Review: I've been an avid fan of the Amelia Peabody series for more than 10 years. Have tried reading Ms. Peters' other books, but can't really get involved in them. I buy the Peabody books, however with great anticipation of an enjoyable read. While I did read and enjoy this latest book, I miss the old Peabody! The Peabody who, scoffed at the pretensions of polite society - who, with dirt and slime on her outdated clothes, and a glass of whiskey in her hand, would never have allowed herself to be saved by mere men. That Peabody, sadly deficient in maternal instincts, abandoned her child without regret to pursue her archaelogical (and physical) passions. In this new book, Peabody is saved about five times by one or another of the men in her life (not once by herself). Her primary concern seems to be the polite serving of tea and the proper demeanor of her children and those around her. Her passion is cold (both for Emerson and Egyptology). I really miss the old Peabody.
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Summary: Wonderful, please write more, Ms. Peters, more, more more
Review: A wonderful continuation of the series. Excellent fleshing out of the younger characters, especially David. Seemed to be setting up endless possiblities for adventures with the younger set. There are so many characters in the series, it would be quite easy to spin them off into different books. I finished the book and wanted the next one........NOW! I attened a lecture by Elizabeth Peters a while ago and she said that she had sort of written herself into a corner by giving the characters ages. The children would have to grow up and so fort. But I think she's given herself a lot of interesting ideas and a lot of places to go. A young adventurer at the turn of the Century, a female doctor in the early 1900's........Read Read Read.
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Summary: A delight!
Review: I love the Amelia Peabody mysteries and this latest novel is a long awaited delight. Elizabeth Peters writes with wit and a dash of history according to Emerson - he would probably claim to have found tomb KV5 long before it's recent rediscovery, but begin only assigned to tidying up tombs in the 1906 season was unable to reveal that he he had for the lack of a firman! It is refreshing to read from other points of view other than Amelia - the change of century brings a new style and layout to the novels, allowing more scope to explore the characters. The return of the dashing Master Criminal, Sethos is another delight as he recused the one he loves - Amelia, much to the chagrin of Emerson. One can't help thinking that he is perhaps related to Sir John Smythe from the Vicky Bliss mysteries... I look forward to the next installment.
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Summary: Loved it! Please Ms. Peters more, more!
Review: After reading and thoroughly enjoying this latest installment in the Amelia Peabody mysteries (promptly sent to me by Amazon.com), I had to get out my reference books and count the years to the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922. Amelia and Emerson must be present! I insist upon it! After all, Howard Carter was obviously following in Emerson's footsteps. I am relying on Ms.Peters to tell us the true story as only she can. We must have more of Rameses and Nefret too. What fun! When can I place my order for the next adventure?
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Summary: Some great reviews for THE APE WHO GUARDS THE BALANCE
Review: Check out these great reviews for Elizabeth Peters' THE APE WHO GUARDS THE BALANCE: "Rich in characterization, incident and humor, this latest adventure is a grand, galloping adventure with a heart as big as the Great Pyramid itself." --Publishers Weekly "Peters' witty writing and her cast of outrageous characters move the story along at a brisk pace." --San Francisco Examiner "A lively assortment of characters . . . plenty of period flavor . . . some terrific action." --Booklist "The charm of this series lies in the author's wonderful evocation of the sights, sounds and smells of Cairo, Luxor, ad the Valley of the Kings." --St. Paul Pioneer Press "Amelia Peabody is back in rare form." --The Snooper "Infectious . . . frightening and delicious . . . Amelia Peabody fans will eat this one up. . . . THE APE WHO GUARDS THE BALANCE contains the mixture of humor, familiar characters, mystery, intrigue, danger, and Egyptological lecture material Peabody fans anticipate and expect." --Gothic Journal
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Summary: A Review: "The Ape Who Guards the Balance"
Review: The many plot twists, red herrings, false leads and unexpected triumphs of "The Ape Who Guards the Balance" has been covered skillfully in other reviews elsewhere so I won't supply a plot synopsis here. It might be better to use this small space to tell why this book and this series is such a special treat to this fan. Ms. Peters gives us romance without being maudlin, action without excessive or graphic violence and mystery without melodrama. (ok, maybe a *little* melodrama) Her humor is laugh-out-loud funny and she even manages to insert Egyptian history without dogma, except perhaps when Ramses delivers one of his condescending lectures. But it is the characters we remember most. Intricate, tightly woven plots are the mark of a good mystery, but if we don't care about the characters, who cares where the plot takes us? The characters are well drawn, well thought out and compliment each other. Can you imagine Amelia without Emerson's verbal sparring? It seems Ramses and Nefret are destined to carry on this enlivening tradition: will it be the next book where they admit to each other what we all have guessed by now? Can Sethos really stay his hand from Amelia's most engaging affairs? (Not bloo- er blooming likely.) Ms. Peters has also been able to get around the limitations of the first person narrative by "discovering" additional manuscripts describing the main events but written by other combatants, er, participants. It's great fun seeing the same event described from greatly contrasting viewpoints. Anyone whose interest in Egyptology has been piqued by the recent discoveries of Kent Weeks and Miroslav Verner would be well advised to save the airfare to that troubled region. For a tiny fraction of that cost you can pick up a copy of "The Ape Who Guards the Balance" and enjoy all the mystery, danger and romance and not worry about the local water. What a bargain! I fervently wish Amelia (and Ms. Peters!) a long and fruitful life so that we may enjoy this series for years to come. Especially to the year 1922, when her friend Howard Carter makes (with much help, poking and prodding from the Emersons) the most famous descent in modern archeology: down the sixteen steps of KV62 and into the final resting place of Tutankhamun. I imagine Emerson having preceded him there, sapphire eyes snapping in the torchlight with archeological fever. Bruised, bloodied but not bowed, his torn clothing in disarray. "Don't stand there gawking, Peabody, there's work to be done," as his strong arms circles her waist. "Emerson!" she exclaims, searching the depth of those eyes. "Another shirt ruined!"
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