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Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful character development over 20 years in this series
Review: Emerson is beginning to sound a bit like Amelia in his pronouncements to Ramses and David on the key to a successful marriage. Ramses has the same intellectual curiosity & covert activities as when he was five, but now the consequences are not so comical. Amelia's dreams are the comforting thread in her inner monologue; something she would have pooh-poohed as fanciful in the first book. Ramses is even more like Amelia; the intelligent child with an eccentric and scholarly upbringing. Amelia's story began with the social outcast Evelyn, and this latest development seems in that realm again.Frankly, Nefret has been one of Ms. Peters' weakest characters for me. Nefret has never been consistent; I keep waiting for the unusual background she grew up in to somehow make her more unique. Instead she is shallow, trendy (of her time) and mercurial. I know Ramses finds this adorable, but I found it no surprise when these lightening changes of emotion led to disaster in this book. Every time she perches on Emerson's chairarm and coos, "Professor darling" I keep hoping she'll be an evil plant from the Master Criminal. And thank goodness that awful Horus got what he deserves! If the mystery and archaeological detail seem familiar, well, it was an insular period, with the sole focus on the artifacts binding most of the characters. Peters' creativity has been to open up the point of view over the last few books, with the additional "manuscript" contributions in third person or letters from Nefret. Yes, we know who the young classical scholar "Lawrence" is. Seriousness escalated in the series for me in the London-centered book, fifth in the series. When Percy first entered the plots and the understanding between Amelia and Ramses became evident. I've read that the next book may be the last. Peters may surprise us again.
Rating:
Summary: Superb as always, but must Nefret become such a Victorian id
Review: I have beed reading Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels for over 25 years and she one of my favorite authors in addition to C.S. Lewis. Amelia Peabody is obviously her favorite charcater and a possble alter ego and makes a wonderful entrance to all readers in The Crocodile on the Sandbank. Her last two Amelia Peabody's, The Ape that Guards the Balance and The Falcon..., have revived a series that had become the sligtest bit repetitve. In The Ape that Gaurds the Balance Amelia confronts an element to her character that devastates her but adds incredible depth to her life as a longstanding and lovable character. E. Peters did an excellent job of adding a very realistic foible to an endearing and irascible character; it took courage as it may have turned many loyal readers off. Read the book to find out. Two excellent books, together and separately. But, please, In The Falcon at the Portal did Ms. Peters have to turn one of the most independent and original heroines, Nefret, into an insipid Victorian miss? I am heartbroken she could make such a poor choice, Nefret I mean. Ms. Peters will have a lot of explaining to do in the next installment. I too hope it comes sooner rather than later. Given the ending of The Falcon.. it adds new meaning to clifffhanger. great book!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I have never liked the character of Nefret. I wish it had never been introduced to the Peabody series. I hope the future books are better than this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book - disappointing audio book
Review: This is one of my favorite books in the "Amelia Peabody" series, but this abridged version cuts out most of the romance, and all of the humor. Samantha Eggar does a great job bringing each character to life. The vocal portrayal is excellent. You can tell just from her voice, much about each character. And you have to; much of the text pertaining to character development has been left out. In shortening the story for the audio version, the quirky things I treasure about Peabody, and Emerson and especially Rames have been cut out. Secondary characters like Lia and Katherine pop in briefly, and only confuse the narrative. This leaves a bare and somewhat disjointed plot.
Rating: 
Summary: This book was character driven and suprising.
Review: When I finally got my hands on The Falcon At The Portal, I felt the familiar rise of Petersonian fever. I let the house go hang, sent the children out to play in the traffic, and immersed myself in the delights of Amelia Peabody and company. What followed was satisfying and surprising. Unlike most mysteries, the latest offerings in this series seem to be more character driven than story driven. The relationships among some of the main characters have become excruciatingly complicated, but in ways I never could have imagined after reading the preceeding book. Peters generates considerable heat between Ramses and Nefret. The passionate, loving and devoted marriage of Amelia and Emerson remains comfortingly central to the action. A crucial new character is introduced, cousin Percy is resurrected, and Abdullah is mourned on every page. The mystery is tidily wrapped up at the end of the book, but personal loose ends are left floating everywhere. If Ms. Peters insists on writing cliff-hangers, it is my fervent hope that she is eating properly, getting regular check-ups, and looking both ways before she crosses the street! I eagerly await the next installment.
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