The Falcon at the Portal: An Amelia Peabody Mystery

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Summary: Falcon at the Portal
Review: I have been an ardent admirer of Ms. Peters and the Amilia Peabody series from inception. This last effort, Falcon at the Portal captures all of the excitement of her previous Peabosy/Emerson novels. Exciting archaeological expedition, curses, mysterious forged antiquities and all of her compelling characters united in an effort to clear youg David Todros's name!. What I found difficult to imagine is why she elected to venture in the negative direction with regards to the character of Nefret Forth. Until now she has proven to be made of heavier metal than shown here, and while I'd admit that she has been head strong, emotional and impulsive in her past, she has never been self destructive nor behaved stereotypically of a woman of 1911. We shall have to await the next saga to see if her phoenix is capabale to rise from the ashes. Ms. Peters will have a difficult time correcting this one.

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Summary: The best Amelia Peabody book yet
Review: In Falcon at the Portal, Elizabeth Peters goes far more deeply than ever before into the emotional lives of all of her characters. From the lovely evocative dreams that Amelia has of Abdullah, to the sheer passion that possesses Ramses, Peters lets us see and feel with her characters more surely than ever before, while not losing a jot of the usual madness that surrounds the Emersons every season - forged antiquities, doubts being cast on family members, and more than a few completely unexpected plot twists, turns and in fact revolutions! Brilliant writing, great fun, and deeper (and, yes, darker) than most of the series, this is a *terrific* book, and I await the next in happy anticipation. Peters is a splendid writer, long may she wave!

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Summary: Pace is a bit slow, end a bit disappointing.
Review: The Amelia Peabody mysteries are always a treat, and this is another satisfactory addition to the series. My sole criticisms are that the pace was unusually slow up to about the last quarter of the book, and I would have enjoyed a happier ending. Obviously, the ending of this book is meant to set the stage for the next book in the series, but a bit more positive closure in certain relationships would have been welcome.

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Summary: WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
Review: I can't believe this book! It was really good... extremely suspense. It totally put me in a mood swing while reading it. I can't believe what Nefret did! I love this series and I can't wait for the next book!

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Summary: Another series ruined!
Review: I am extremely disappointed in the turn this series has taken. My enjoyment in the previous books came from the wit and the adventure and the fun. It's gotten too serious. If the previous books had been "serious" I would never have continued reading the series. I could always count on a Peabody mystery for a good laugh and sense of fun and excitement. These last few have left me feeling rather depressed. After reading the past two installments I can't even go back and reread the earlier Peabody novels with the same enjoyment I had before. It's ruined. Many reviewers say that Amelia and Emerson are acting their age...well, one can get older without getting dull and serious...many people do - in real life as well as fiction. Perhaps Ms. Peters is mellowing with age and losing her spunk. The introduction of Nefret marked the decline in this series. Ramses (always my favorite character) has lost his charm. Amelia has lost her quick wit and spunk. I feel betrayed. It feels like a kick in the stomach. I will purchase and read the next in the series but if it continues in this same melodramatic vein (which, by the way, is what Emerson always detested) it will be the last I read.

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Summary: "Falcon" marks the turning point in Pea.saga-is change good?
Review: I've just completed "Falcon". I am still uncertain if I liked what I read. The style of writing was easy to read as usual. But I'm startled by the changes in the characters whom I have become so facinated by over the years. Like that, Amelia has become a laid back matron, Emerson's old feiry personality has apparently faded with age, Nefret has become a mentally unstable young woman--a far cry from her old self, and Ramses...! Well,all i can say is that for those of you who have read Jane Eyre or Once and Always, you will see that Ramses has become moody, depressing, and rather disturbing.( By the by, the same can be applied to Nefret and her relationship with him.) No longer is the mischeivous boy who could never be shut up when he went on a lecture--now, it's like drawing nails to get him to speak a sentence. I've been an admire of the Peabody mysteries for a very long time, so I perhaps I've grown so used to my favourite characters that I see any change in them offensive. If the series continue in this more "realistic" direction, I don't know if I want to read anymore. It's like, now that I know what the future is, even if I go back to the old installments, I will never be able to look at these characters in the same way again. So, I'm going to pray Ms. Peters will return to her original Amelia, Emerson and family, because the new ones are too uncomfortable to read.

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Summary: The book was a little disappoting I wish it ended happier.
Review: I am a lover of the Amelia Peabody series. However I found this last book disapointing not only because The ending was not what I wanted. I think they we the readers need to hear Neferet's point of view as while as David and Lei. If we knew that it would be much better. On the plus side I can't wait for her next book to come out. I hope she picks the story up in switzerland, and that she keeps the faimly together.

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Summary: I am watching impatiently for the next novel in the saga.
Review: Excellent and full blown story line with interest inspiring differences from previous novels by Dr Peters. The next book is eagerly awaited and required reading to close the circle on the actions involving adult characters I've known since their childhood.

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Summary: Far too upsetting!
Review: As a true lover of the Amelia Peabody series, I found this one to be far too upsetting, not to mention the unfinished dilemmas. I cried shamelessly over the loss of Abdullah in an earlier book, but found this one to be much worse. What has happened to Nefret's intelligence? Are Amelia and Emerson getting too old to participate in the adventures? One of the main attractions for me in this series is the humor- what's happened to it? Let's hope the next one gets back on track!

Rating:
Summary: Bitter disappointment
Review: I know that there is no guarantee of a happy ending in real life. However, I had been lulled into expecting a happy ending in Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series (at least for the main characters). Wrong again. What was even worse, was that the behavior that brought about the unhappiness was completely contradictory to all previous character development. (I'm not being specific so as not to give away the story.) I was bitterly disappointed in this installment.

On the positive side, I get the impression that the author may be planning a spin off series with Ramses as the lead. An undercover agent of the police force?