Rating: 
Summary: Nefret, stop acting like a twit!
Review: I'll be blunt--I practically worship at MPM's feet, but the ongoing saga of Nefret/Ramses is ruining this series. These star crossed 'lovers' are so distracting it's hard to focus on the mystery and on Egyptology. Let's face it, we all KNOW, even before we start to read the book, who the bad guy will turn out to be. In this sense, the review, at the top of this page, definately ruins the mystery (I won't provide any more details since some of you may NOT know).The book is definately a must read for MPM fans and for anyone interested in Egyptology. It is always a joy to catch up on the activities of Amelia and Emerson, even if they ARE becomming seconday characters, and the addition of Sennia to the list of ongoing characters (at least I hope she will appear in future books) is a great one. I love Horus' reaction to her. All in all, a good read, except for Nefret acting like a twit.
Rating: 
Summary: Emotionally stunning
Review: I stayed up until 3:30 a.m. finishing this book, and then I was so emotional afterward that I couldn't get to sleep for ages. I simply don't know how I'll endure the wait until the next installment. Peters outdid herself with this one; it's wonderful and anguishing at the same time. It has far more emotional impact than any of her other many works. What happens is so painful, and yet so believably in-character, that I'm still stunned. She weaves in so much historical and personal complications, and it meshes perfectly. But, oh, the angst and pain! It broke my heart. To quote my beloved Ramses, "this family is good at melodrama, and that was a stellar performance by all concerned."
Rating:
Summary: I can't wait for the next one!
Review: Elizabeth Peters has done it again! She has captured my attention and left me hungry for the next Amelia Peabody mystery. In the Falcon at the Portal, Peters picks up several storylines from previous novels and manages to weave them with new characters and villains for an exciting future. I love how the series has evolved from one voice to many with the addition of editor's notes, manuscripts, and letters. Egyptology, romance, and adventure are the cornerstones to her success thus far. Peters has been able to enhance the series while still maintaining the intergrity of the early novels.
Rating:
Summary: How could she?!
Review: I read the newest Amelia Peabody book in about five hours. I cannot believe what Ms. Peters has done to her characters this time. It felt like a kick in the stomach. The end of this story came with the end of the forgery mystery, but it still felt to me like it was only one half of what was going on. I certainly hope that Elizabeth Peters can edit the the story of the Emerson family very quickly, and not leave us in such horrible suspense!!!
Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: I love the Amelia Peabody series and purchased this volume as soon as it became available. I then, of course, read it straight through and found myself, at 1 AM, done with the book without feeling done. I think there are too many strands left dangling, and I am uncomfortable with "cliffhanger" endings. After all, it isn't as if I can read the next installment any time soon. I also found myself becoming annoyed with a couple of the characters - Nefret and Ramses. For all the talking they do, they seem entirely lacking in communication skills, which, given the literate and verbal context of the previous novels, is so unlikely as to be an apparent ploy on the part of the author (as is, of course, the cliffhanger ending). The lack of archaeological detail was also diappointing. So why 3 stars and not fewer? The internal commentary from Amelia is still incisive, sarcastic, and entertaining and I appreciate each new encounter with her. I find myself wishing that the "children" would all head for the Antipodes...Within the past month I've strongly recommended the series to 3 people whom I thought would enjoy the books as I have. Now I hope that they start at the beginning and not with this volume, because I think they'd never read another if this were the first. (None of this will stop me from anxiously awaiting the next installment, with the profound hope that I'll want to give that 5 stars.)
Rating: 
Summary: An enjoyable read but a bit disturbing...
Review: As usual, Elizabeth Peters has provided a hilarious spoof of genre thrillers (in this case, the Edwardian variety) with a mostly-familiar cast of characters. I'm also enjoying the romance element of the younger generation; the series really flagged for a few books before "Manuscript H" and other innovations came up. That said, I'm becoming a little disturbed at the way Amelia has become less and less perceptive, and more and more a foil for others' astuteness. Moreover -- not to give away the plot -- at least two important developments in this book relied on Nefret using remarkably bad judgement. I don't want all the female characters to be Superwoman, but...well...I liked it better when the battle between the sexes was a little more even.
Rating:
Summary: Long live the Peabody family!!
Review: Once again, Amelia's adventures have kept me enthralled! I stayed up all night reading this latest installment of the world's only female Indiana Jones and company.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best!
Review: Amelia Peabody's mysteries are on of the best, in fact they are the best! Elizabeth Peters, you have done it again! I congratulate you!
Rating:
Summary: All I can say is WOW!
Review: You can certainly understand why Ms. Peters is a "Grand Master" in mystery circles. With this latest Amelia, THE FALCON AT THE PORTAL, she's outdone herself with both plot twists and character insight - it's continuous action from first page to last, with the people so real they practically pop off the page. There's theft, there's murder, there's mayhem, there's romance . . . and just about anything else you can think of, all happening at once. Be ready to shut yourself away for a day, because you won't be able to put it down. But I warn unsuspecting readers, this book is full of emotional upheaval and doesn't tie everything up in a neat little bow at the end. If you're looking for pat fiary tale conclusions, you won't get them. Bravo! Ms. Peters. NOW, WHERE'S THE NEXT ONE?!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Life gets even more complicated for the Emersons
Review: Some reviews have already given away too much, so I don't think that I will summarize the book any further. I think that this book would best be enjoyed if you read The Ape that Guards the Balance first. What luck! It has just been released in paperback. A third book that completes this period of change in the Emerson's life will be released in the future. This book has more interesting characters and gives us further insights into our old friends.
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