Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Grand Central Publishing (2013), Edition: Reprint, 352 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML: Amelia Peabody, that indomitable product of the Victorian age, embarks on her first Egyptian adventure armed with unshakable self-confidence, a journal to record her thoughts, and, of course, a sturdy umbrella. On her way, Amelia rescues young Evelyn Barton-Forbes, who has been "ruined" and abandoned on the streets of Rome by her rascally lover. With a typical disregard for convention, Amelia promptly hires her fellow countrywoman as a companion and takes her to Cairo. Eluding Evelyn's former lover, who wants her back, and Evelyn's cousin Lord Ellesmere, who wishes to marry her, the two women sail up the Nile to an archaeological site that is home to a rather lively mummy. Soon strange visitations, suspicious accidents, and a botched kidnapping convince Amelia that there is a plot afoot to harm Evelyn..… (more)
Media reviews
User reviews
LibraryThing member atimco
I'm relatively new to historical mysteries, and am a bit overwhelmed at all the 20-book mystery series clamoring for my attention. Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael is one, and Anne Perry's Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series has also been recommended. And now I've gone and got myself entangled with
In this first adventure, Amelia is a 32-year-old confirmed spinster who is travelling the world for the first time. Her scholarly father recently died, leaving her his not-inconsiderable fortune, and Amelia's main problem is finding a suitable companion to accompany her. Then she meets up with Evelyn Barton-Forbes, an erstwhile heiress who has thrown away everything to run away with her tutor Alberto... and who has been thrown away by him once her grandfather disowned her. Amelia decides Evelyn will be the perfect companion, and they set off down the Nile to spend the winter seeing the sights. They didn't bargain on meeting the Emerson brothers again, this time on a dig. Nor did they expect to see a mummy they dug up come to life to haunt the camp at night! What is going on?
Amelia, our narrator, is a hardcore feminist and while this certainly makes for an entertaining narrative voice — especially in 1880's Victorian world — sometimes it gets a bit wearing. Could there really have been a woman in Victorian England who enunciated the modern feminist movement so clearly? I love strong women in literature, but I also love historical accuracy. Though Deanna Raybourn's Lady Jane Grey books are generally inferior to the Amelia Peabody books (at least to Crocodile, anyways — can't speak for the rest till I've read them), one of the things I appreciated in Silent in the Grave was the heroine's struggle to be an independent woman while still working within the conventions of her time. That feels so much more realistic to me. (Of course, Raybourn then goes on to spoil that fascinating development by falling into the completely-modern-woman-wearing-period-clothes trap in her next two books. *sigh*)
I also didn't care for the offhand way the children were mentioned; at the end Amelia mentions having her first child between the main archaeological seasons so she will get all that out of the way and be able to work. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but it sounds like archaeology (read: career) is more important than one's children. I think it's possible to have both, sure, but it seems problematic to hint that they should be equally important.
It will be interesting to see where Peters goes in later books with the religious aspects of the Victorian period. There are some benign references to Christianity and other faiths, and some not so benign. It would be a pity to wrench such a promising start into a mere mouthpiece to criticize religion. We shall see!
Overall, I was quite entertained by this little mystery, though I did guess its solution about halfway through. Feminism and Egyptology and humor and romance — what a heady mix! I'm looking forward to reading more about Amelia, despite the way this will interfere with my neat reading plans. I suppose I should be grateful that there are only 18 books in this series...
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another fascinating historical detective, Amelia Peabody. In this first adventure, Amelia is a 32-year-old confirmed spinster who is travelling the world for the first time. Her scholarly father recently died, leaving her his not-inconsiderable fortune, and Amelia's main problem is finding a suitable companion to accompany her. Then she meets up with Evelyn Barton-Forbes, an erstwhile heiress who has thrown away everything to run away with her tutor Alberto... and who has been thrown away by him once her grandfather disowned her. Amelia decides Evelyn will be the perfect companion, and they set off down the Nile to spend the winter seeing the sights. They didn't bargain on meeting the Emerson brothers again, this time on a dig. Nor did they expect to see a mummy they dug up come to life to haunt the camp at night! What is going on?
Amelia, our narrator, is a hardcore feminist and while this certainly makes for an entertaining narrative voice — especially in 1880's Victorian world — sometimes it gets a bit wearing. Could there really have been a woman in Victorian England who enunciated the modern feminist movement so clearly? I love strong women in literature, but I also love historical accuracy. Though Deanna Raybourn's Lady Jane Grey books are generally inferior to the Amelia Peabody books (at least to Crocodile, anyways — can't speak for the rest till I've read them), one of the things I appreciated in Silent in the Grave was the heroine's struggle to be an independent woman while still working within the conventions of her time. That feels so much more realistic to me. (Of course, Raybourn then goes on to spoil that fascinating development by falling into the completely-modern-woman-wearing-period-clothes trap in her next two books. *sigh*)
I also didn't care for the offhand way the children were mentioned; at the end Amelia mentions having her first child between the main archaeological seasons so she will get all that out of the way and be able to work. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but it sounds like archaeology (read: career) is more important than one's children. I think it's possible to have both, sure, but it seems problematic to hint that they should be equally important.
It will be interesting to see where Peters goes in later books with the religious aspects of the Victorian period. There are some benign references to Christianity and other faiths, and some not so benign. It would be a pity to wrench such a promising start into a mere mouthpiece to criticize religion. We shall see!
Overall, I was quite entertained by this little mystery, though I did guess its solution about halfway through. Feminism and Egyptology and humor and romance — what a heady mix! I'm looking forward to reading more about Amelia, despite the way this will interfere with my neat reading plans. I suppose I should be grateful that there are only 18 books in this series...
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LibraryThing member _Zoe_
This is the first in the Amelia Peabody series, about the archaeological adventures of an unconventional nineteenth-century woman. They're mysteries, which wasn't actually a draw for me; I just like nineteenth-century archaeology. I had also heard frequent comparisons of Amelia Peabody to the
Anyway, I enjoyed this book quite a bit; there were lots of chuckle-inducing moments, and the story was satisfying too (although I have to admit, I didn't care too much for the mystery element). My favourite quote: " 'You unrolled it.... You might as well confess to a murder,' Emerson exclaimed. 'There are too many people in the world as it is, but the supply of ancient manuscripts is severely limited.'"
I'm definitely planning to continue with this series. My only dilemma is how confident I am that I'll continue to enjoy them.... I hate to order one paperback from Amazon when I could get four for the price of three, but I've resolved in the past not to buy multiple books in a series at once in case it ends up going downhill. Hmm. I suspect I'll probably just get the next four.
A warning: one of the blurbs on the back of the book contains an irritating spoiler. Yes, the outcome might seem obvious, but I'd still prefer not to be told explicitly. Blech.
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heroine of the Parasol Protectorate books, which I've recently enjoyed, and those comparisons were spot on. Amelia Peabody is the original, and it's really amazing how similar Carriger made her Alexia Tarabotti, although Tarabotti does have the weakness of being concerned more with fashion.Anyway, I enjoyed this book quite a bit; there were lots of chuckle-inducing moments, and the story was satisfying too (although I have to admit, I didn't care too much for the mystery element). My favourite quote: " 'You unrolled it.... You might as well confess to a murder,' Emerson exclaimed. 'There are too many people in the world as it is, but the supply of ancient manuscripts is severely limited.'"
I'm definitely planning to continue with this series. My only dilemma is how confident I am that I'll continue to enjoy them.... I hate to order one paperback from Amazon when I could get four for the price of three, but I've resolved in the past not to buy multiple books in a series at once in case it ends up going downhill. Hmm. I suspect I'll probably just get the next four.
A warning: one of the blurbs on the back of the book contains an irritating spoiler. Yes, the outcome might seem obvious, but I'd still prefer not to be told explicitly. Blech.
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LibraryThing member mccin68
32 y/o spinster, Amelia is left a small fortune by her father and decides to see the places he had only studied. she goes to egypt and meets up with Evelyn, a broken, penniless heiress, who becomes her traveling companion. upon their visit to the Antiquities Museum she encounters Emerson and his
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brother Walter. They four cross paths again on Emerson's excavation site and solve a mystery involving a cursed mummy and solidify their relationships. This book was light mystery and suspense but heavy on storytelling and laughs. Her descriptions of the interplay between Emerson and Peabody were a hoot and her details about Egypt made me want to be there. Show Less
LibraryThing member JaneSteen
When I need to relax my brain by reading for the sheer entertainment of it, I reach for a mystery novel. The Amelia Peabody novels, of which Crocodile on the Sandbank is the first, are old friends of mine that can be relied on for their high entertainment quotient.
They are, first and foremost,
I know people who intensely dislike these novels on account of the characters. They’re heroic: impossibly larger than life, preposterously resourceful, and when we get to the younger generation a few books along in the series, improbably good-looking and talented to boot. They’re possessed of great eloquence and terrifying amounts of self-confidence. But you’ve got to remember, they’re spoofs. No realism was intentionally harmed in the making of these novels. These are the creations of a confident writer who is having a huge amount of fun, and if you take them in the right spirit you’ll be laughing too.
On top of that, Peters’ writing is wonderfully crisp and spare, despite larding Amelia’s inner thoughts with sentences like “a glittering web of stars covered the indigo-blue vault” (because Amelia thinks in romance-novel clichés) and, as the series unfolds, inflicting some most distressing speech habits on her son Ramses. The plots whip along at a fast gallop to a fairly predictable conclusion, and much of the fun comes from waiting for the moment when Amelia herself cottons on to what’s happening.
As an added benefit, if you read through the series you’ll learn a surprising amount about archaeology, Egyptian history and geography, and many related matters. Several “real” historical characters or either directly portrayed or known to the fictional characters, and there’s a running Tutankhamen joke for good measure.
I’m not going to review every book in the series, but as I work my way through weightier tomes such as Gravity’s Rainbow I’ll be taking refreshing sips from the Emerson well to keep me going. A girl can’t be a literary snob ALL the time.
They are, first and foremost,
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spoofs of the Rider Haggard style of adventure novel: exaggerated characters, unlikely plots, and exotic locations. Amelia Peabody, Victorian spinster of independent means, sets off on some recreational travel and literally picks up a female companion in the streets of Rome. Her new friend has a satisfyingly murky past which follows them to their next destination, Egypt, where they meet the Emerson brothers who are conducting an archaeological dig. Amelia falls in love with Egypt and archaeology but finds herself at daggers drawn with the elder Emerson; or is that also love? Mix in a ghostly mummy and a smarmy villain or two, and you’ve got yourself a few hours of escapism.I know people who intensely dislike these novels on account of the characters. They’re heroic: impossibly larger than life, preposterously resourceful, and when we get to the younger generation a few books along in the series, improbably good-looking and talented to boot. They’re possessed of great eloquence and terrifying amounts of self-confidence. But you’ve got to remember, they’re spoofs. No realism was intentionally harmed in the making of these novels. These are the creations of a confident writer who is having a huge amount of fun, and if you take them in the right spirit you’ll be laughing too.
On top of that, Peters’ writing is wonderfully crisp and spare, despite larding Amelia’s inner thoughts with sentences like “a glittering web of stars covered the indigo-blue vault” (because Amelia thinks in romance-novel clichés) and, as the series unfolds, inflicting some most distressing speech habits on her son Ramses. The plots whip along at a fast gallop to a fairly predictable conclusion, and much of the fun comes from waiting for the moment when Amelia herself cottons on to what’s happening.
As an added benefit, if you read through the series you’ll learn a surprising amount about archaeology, Egyptian history and geography, and many related matters. Several “real” historical characters or either directly portrayed or known to the fictional characters, and there’s a running Tutankhamen joke for good measure.
I’m not going to review every book in the series, but as I work my way through weightier tomes such as Gravity’s Rainbow I’ll be taking refreshing sips from the Emerson well to keep me going. A girl can’t be a literary snob ALL the time.
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LibraryThing member zhukora
A perfectly charming novel which is a must-read for all lovers of antiquities, archaeology, and Victoriana. Peters writes about the Egyptian archaeological sites as if she had been there--and in all likelihood, she probably has--and her descriptions of the more modern people and places are
I would say it's true that the story is more character-driven than plot-driven, and it is a little light on mystery, but the characters are robust personalities that have obviously been written with gusto, and it's endlessly enjoyable to read the interplay between them. If anything, the fluffiness of the plot material fits quite neatly into the style of novels from that period. Indeed, the characters read as nearly archetypal Victorian personalities, combining with the plot to create something with a feel very true to its genre. The fact that all the loose ends are wrapped up into a tidy little package at the end simply makes it more satisfying, not deficient in twists or surprises.
I went ahead and bought the second book in this series before I was even two-thirds of the way finished with this one. I'm quite sad I hadn't bothered to read any of Elizabeth Peters' work before! It may be light reading, but it is a hell of a lot of fun.
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appreciably tinted by the colonial-colored glasses appropriate to the era and the protagonists.I would say it's true that the story is more character-driven than plot-driven, and it is a little light on mystery, but the characters are robust personalities that have obviously been written with gusto, and it's endlessly enjoyable to read the interplay between them. If anything, the fluffiness of the plot material fits quite neatly into the style of novels from that period. Indeed, the characters read as nearly archetypal Victorian personalities, combining with the plot to create something with a feel very true to its genre. The fact that all the loose ends are wrapped up into a tidy little package at the end simply makes it more satisfying, not deficient in twists or surprises.
I went ahead and bought the second book in this series before I was even two-thirds of the way finished with this one. I'm quite sad I hadn't bothered to read any of Elizabeth Peters' work before! It may be light reading, but it is a hell of a lot of fun.
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LibraryThing member LadyBlakney
So many books, so little time! But I look forward to reading the rest of this series, with it's spunky heroine, exotic setting, and engaging plot.
LibraryThing member alana_leigh
After years of seeing Elizabeth Peters novels on the bookstore shelves, glittering with the promise of Egypt and mystery (though it's hard to glitter in mass market paperback, so perhaps they only beckoned), I finally decided that it was time to give them a whirl and I am quite pleased with the
Amelia Peabody, a thirty-two year old self-professed spinster with both a figure and a personality that are decidedly not in season, has just inherited her father's half-a-million pounds upon his death. After amusing herself for a while by watching men fall all over themselves to ask for her money--er, her hand--she decides that she will not stay locked up in the house like her father, reading about far-off lands. Miss Peabody intends to venture forth to see the world for herself -- and she is not a woman easily dissuaded from a course of action. The conventions of the time might have stopped other lesser women, but not Amelia Peabody; she plans quite well for her journey, supplying herself with plentiful first-aid materials, a simpering companion whom she can bully for the entire trip, and a study parasol. Top it all off with her no-nonsense British sensibilities and confidence in the power of the British empire, there's nothing in her way -- until she reaches Rome and her companion takes ill. Even Amelia Peabody knows that society will prove quite troublesome if she disregards all convention by traveling alone, but a solution immediately presents itself when she picks up the young Englishwoman Miss Evelyn Barton-Forbes in Rome. Quite literally, she picks up a fainting Evelyn from the streets of Rome and finds a delightful and brave young woman who made the mistake of falling in love with the wrong fellow. By running off with him, Evelyn enraged her grandfather and was struck from his will -- thus resulting in her unworthy lover's abandonment. With her honor ruined and with no one to whom she might turn, Evelyn finds her savior in Miss Peabody... and Miss Peabody finds a devoted companion and friend.
Together, Amelia and Evelyn take off for Egypt... and Amelia promptly entangles them in the affairs of others after noticing that Evelyn might have a worthy admirer in Mr. Walter Emerson, an expert in Egyptian hieroglyphs who is currently working on an excavation headed by his brother. Said brother is a different kettle of fish -- introduced to us in the form of a howling bear, furious with Amelia for picking up shards of pottery in the antiquities section of the museum, an incident which only fuels his rage at the curator for failing to run a proper institution. This is Mr. Radcliffe Emerson, a temperamental ogre of a man with an unrivaled knowledge of ancient Egypt and no good opinion of tourists or English ladies. We can all see where this is going.
Noticing Evelyn's fondness for Walter (Amelia has a matchmaking streak, despite her own unwed state) and eager to see an actual excavation site, Amelia manages to reroute their own travel plans so that their paths will cross with the Emerson brothers' site. Of course, her plans are fortuitous, as they arrive just as the elder Emerson is struck will illness; Amelia manages to save his life while allowing Walter and Evelyn time to get acquainted. Evelyn, tormented by the belief that no good man would want her in her fallen state, actually finds herself with an abundance of suitors when her cousin shows up, insisting that her romantic mistake can be forgotten about if she will marry him and come home. If this seems a bit fishy, then don't be surprised when other figures appear, too -- like newly risen mummy that frightens the locals and threatens our main characters. Everything works out in the end, of course, and since we're surrounded with sensible British stock, you can bet that they get to the bottom of this mummy nonsense.
If you're looking for a great mystery novel with twists, turns, and gasps... then this isn't your best bet. The mystery and the plot are a distant second to the personalities, but if that's okay with you, then I think you'll be as delighted as I was in discovering some terribly entertaining characters. Amelia Peabody is a delightful heroine, full of enthusiasm and energy, eager to barrel into danger yet still concerned for the well-being of her friends. At once quite rational and yet imaginative enough to wildly hypothesize, she's a wonderful blend of wit and whimsy. I did rather assume that romance might not happen quite so quickly for the resigned spinster, but evidently Peters had different ideas and wanted a couple to tackle these Egyptian mysteries as opposed to Amelia on her own. With her stubborn nature, she's willing to take on both mummies and the even more foreboding Emerson... both to very amusing ends. The reader will figure out exactly what's what far ahead of the characters as far as mysteries and romance are concerned, and yet to watch everything play out is a delight.
This is clearly a novel written with the intention of being the first in a series, establishing personalities and acquainting the reader with the world of Egyptian excavations in the 1880s. It certainly helps that the characters are well worth the effort and left me eager to read anything that might come after. It also helps that Elizabeth Peters is quite a creditable writer with an unimpeachable knowledge of ancient Egypt and an ear for charming dialogue. It didn't much feel like a mystery novel, but I trust that such instincts will improve... and quite frankly, even if they don't, I'll still happily content myself with the banter between Amelia and Emerson. While Walter and Evelyn are a bit one note, they were somewhat of a relief from the strong personalities of Amelia and Emerson, and yet I suspect their presence will be limited, as characters like this have a tendency to settle down and produce a large brood of children, thus rendering them unable to run around the Egyptian deserts after mummies. As a series that will likely have each book strike a very similar chord (mystery in Egypt, Peabody and Emerson clash while adoring each other), I suppose it all has the potential to grow tiresome after a while, but I certainly hope that Peters will be quite capable of presenting fresh scenarios as we go.
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decision. They're more whimsical than I otherwise would have expected, but Peters certainly can craft amusing characters. The Crocodile on the Sandbank is the very first in a series of mysteries that feature Amelia Peabody, a nineteenth century woman with the spirit of Indiana Jones... if Dr. Jones was a bit more prone to solving mysteries and leaping to conclusions that got everyone into a spot of bother. As proof of my enjoyment, you should know that within forty-eight hours, I purchased two copies of this book -- the first for my nook and the second in paperback for my mother, as I could tell that she would never forgive me if I didn't pass copies of this series along to her.Amelia Peabody, a thirty-two year old self-professed spinster with both a figure and a personality that are decidedly not in season, has just inherited her father's half-a-million pounds upon his death. After amusing herself for a while by watching men fall all over themselves to ask for her money--er, her hand--she decides that she will not stay locked up in the house like her father, reading about far-off lands. Miss Peabody intends to venture forth to see the world for herself -- and she is not a woman easily dissuaded from a course of action. The conventions of the time might have stopped other lesser women, but not Amelia Peabody; she plans quite well for her journey, supplying herself with plentiful first-aid materials, a simpering companion whom she can bully for the entire trip, and a study parasol. Top it all off with her no-nonsense British sensibilities and confidence in the power of the British empire, there's nothing in her way -- until she reaches Rome and her companion takes ill. Even Amelia Peabody knows that society will prove quite troublesome if she disregards all convention by traveling alone, but a solution immediately presents itself when she picks up the young Englishwoman Miss Evelyn Barton-Forbes in Rome. Quite literally, she picks up a fainting Evelyn from the streets of Rome and finds a delightful and brave young woman who made the mistake of falling in love with the wrong fellow. By running off with him, Evelyn enraged her grandfather and was struck from his will -- thus resulting in her unworthy lover's abandonment. With her honor ruined and with no one to whom she might turn, Evelyn finds her savior in Miss Peabody... and Miss Peabody finds a devoted companion and friend.
Together, Amelia and Evelyn take off for Egypt... and Amelia promptly entangles them in the affairs of others after noticing that Evelyn might have a worthy admirer in Mr. Walter Emerson, an expert in Egyptian hieroglyphs who is currently working on an excavation headed by his brother. Said brother is a different kettle of fish -- introduced to us in the form of a howling bear, furious with Amelia for picking up shards of pottery in the antiquities section of the museum, an incident which only fuels his rage at the curator for failing to run a proper institution. This is Mr. Radcliffe Emerson, a temperamental ogre of a man with an unrivaled knowledge of ancient Egypt and no good opinion of tourists or English ladies. We can all see where this is going.
Noticing Evelyn's fondness for Walter (Amelia has a matchmaking streak, despite her own unwed state) and eager to see an actual excavation site, Amelia manages to reroute their own travel plans so that their paths will cross with the Emerson brothers' site. Of course, her plans are fortuitous, as they arrive just as the elder Emerson is struck will illness; Amelia manages to save his life while allowing Walter and Evelyn time to get acquainted. Evelyn, tormented by the belief that no good man would want her in her fallen state, actually finds herself with an abundance of suitors when her cousin shows up, insisting that her romantic mistake can be forgotten about if she will marry him and come home. If this seems a bit fishy, then don't be surprised when other figures appear, too -- like newly risen mummy that frightens the locals and threatens our main characters. Everything works out in the end, of course, and since we're surrounded with sensible British stock, you can bet that they get to the bottom of this mummy nonsense.
If you're looking for a great mystery novel with twists, turns, and gasps... then this isn't your best bet. The mystery and the plot are a distant second to the personalities, but if that's okay with you, then I think you'll be as delighted as I was in discovering some terribly entertaining characters. Amelia Peabody is a delightful heroine, full of enthusiasm and energy, eager to barrel into danger yet still concerned for the well-being of her friends. At once quite rational and yet imaginative enough to wildly hypothesize, she's a wonderful blend of wit and whimsy. I did rather assume that romance might not happen quite so quickly for the resigned spinster, but evidently Peters had different ideas and wanted a couple to tackle these Egyptian mysteries as opposed to Amelia on her own. With her stubborn nature, she's willing to take on both mummies and the even more foreboding Emerson... both to very amusing ends. The reader will figure out exactly what's what far ahead of the characters as far as mysteries and romance are concerned, and yet to watch everything play out is a delight.
This is clearly a novel written with the intention of being the first in a series, establishing personalities and acquainting the reader with the world of Egyptian excavations in the 1880s. It certainly helps that the characters are well worth the effort and left me eager to read anything that might come after. It also helps that Elizabeth Peters is quite a creditable writer with an unimpeachable knowledge of ancient Egypt and an ear for charming dialogue. It didn't much feel like a mystery novel, but I trust that such instincts will improve... and quite frankly, even if they don't, I'll still happily content myself with the banter between Amelia and Emerson. While Walter and Evelyn are a bit one note, they were somewhat of a relief from the strong personalities of Amelia and Emerson, and yet I suspect their presence will be limited, as characters like this have a tendency to settle down and produce a large brood of children, thus rendering them unable to run around the Egyptian deserts after mummies. As a series that will likely have each book strike a very similar chord (mystery in Egypt, Peabody and Emerson clash while adoring each other), I suppose it all has the potential to grow tiresome after a while, but I certainly hope that Peters will be quite capable of presenting fresh scenarios as we go.
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LibraryThing member MissWoodhouse1816
The first time I read this book I made the grave mistake of starting it late in the day. I was only 13, so still young enough to stay up late reading until all hours. Unfortunately for me, there was a thunderstorm that evening, so at 3 in the morning I found myself huddled under the covers in the
I fell in love with Elizabeth Peters' writing through this book. The Victorian view of ancient Egypt is beautifully portrayed, and Peters does a masterful job of weaving in real characters and events of the time in with her fiction without being boring. Her four main characters are wonderfully dimensional- Amelia Peabody (pronounced Pi-bi-ty), a brave feminist inconvenienced with a soft side when faced with certain matters; Evelyn, the gentle, wayward young woman with a surprisingly firm resolve to do what is right; Emerson, a boorish, rude, incredibly savvy archaeologist; and his brother Walter, a humble yet brilliant scholar of ancient writings. Through fate (and Amelia's meddling), the foursome end up stranded in tombs in the middle of the desert, haunted by the body of a mummy that they have unearthed.
This is a wonderful story, with just the right blend of mystery, humour, romance, and reality to keep the reader occupied. The best part is that Peters has written a whole delightful series very much worth reading- after all, you don't really can't fully appreciate Amelia Peabody until you get to know Ramses...
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dark trying to get through the last 50 pages. Even though I knew the mummy had to be a phony (I mean, there isn't really a curse- is there?), there was no way on earth I could imagine that it was! So, I HAD to finish it and wrap it all up!I fell in love with Elizabeth Peters' writing through this book. The Victorian view of ancient Egypt is beautifully portrayed, and Peters does a masterful job of weaving in real characters and events of the time in with her fiction without being boring. Her four main characters are wonderfully dimensional- Amelia Peabody (pronounced Pi-bi-ty), a brave feminist inconvenienced with a soft side when faced with certain matters; Evelyn, the gentle, wayward young woman with a surprisingly firm resolve to do what is right; Emerson, a boorish, rude, incredibly savvy archaeologist; and his brother Walter, a humble yet brilliant scholar of ancient writings. Through fate (and Amelia's meddling), the foursome end up stranded in tombs in the middle of the desert, haunted by the body of a mummy that they have unearthed.
This is a wonderful story, with just the right blend of mystery, humour, romance, and reality to keep the reader occupied. The best part is that Peters has written a whole delightful series very much worth reading- after all, you don't really can't fully appreciate Amelia Peabody until you get to know Ramses...
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LibraryThing member paradoxosalpha
I remember being attracted by the title and cover art of one of Peters' Amelia Peabody novels about fifteen years ago, and then passing it over once I had determined that it was a piece of mystery fiction without any occultist or hermetic features. But I have since discovered my own interest as a
The plot of this first of the Peabody stories is very much of the old-style "Scooby Doo" sort: no murder or theft has been disclosed, and the central puzzle is who should be going to the bother of staging a series of mishaps and ghostly hauntings, and why? The mystery element wasn't very astounding; I had puzzled out its broad outlines before the end, but that didn't in any way flatten the pleasure of the read.
Despite the rapid pace of the plot, the characters are well-delineated and entertaining. Having just read a novel by the late-Victorian Ada Leverson, and with a fair amount of other past reading in the period, I can attest that Peters gets the narrative voice of Peabody just right for her character and context, deliberately eccentric as she may be. Her scenic descriptions also recall to me my brief visit to Egypt, even though it was more than a century later that I arrived.
I wouldn't hold this up as a masterpiece of literature, but I did enjoy it thoroughly. Given that there are now some twenty novels by the author about this character, I doubt it will be the last of them that I read.
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reader in straightforward mystery-adventure set in Victorian Egypt, with an acerbic intellectual woman as the protagonist. The plot of this first of the Peabody stories is very much of the old-style "Scooby Doo" sort: no murder or theft has been disclosed, and the central puzzle is who should be going to the bother of staging a series of mishaps and ghostly hauntings, and why? The mystery element wasn't very astounding; I had puzzled out its broad outlines before the end, but that didn't in any way flatten the pleasure of the read.
Despite the rapid pace of the plot, the characters are well-delineated and entertaining. Having just read a novel by the late-Victorian Ada Leverson, and with a fair amount of other past reading in the period, I can attest that Peters gets the narrative voice of Peabody just right for her character and context, deliberately eccentric as she may be. Her scenic descriptions also recall to me my brief visit to Egypt, even though it was more than a century later that I arrived.
I wouldn't hold this up as a masterpiece of literature, but I did enjoy it thoroughly. Given that there are now some twenty novels by the author about this character, I doubt it will be the last of them that I read.
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LibraryThing member averitasm
Gotta say I love Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michael's, This has to be one of my favorite mystery series it mixes 2 of my loves ancient history and murder mystery, I haven't read the entire series yet but I can't wait to get more. Love Amelia Peabody and Emmerson, the interaction between them is
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loving, hysterical, and english, slight paranormal twists in some of her books too. Sometimes they are a bit dry but stick with them. Grab her books up I haven't had a bad one yet. Show Less
LibraryThing member vastard
This is the first book in Elizabeth Peters' wonderful Amelia Peabody series, and it perfectly sets the tone for all the books to follow. In it we meet Amelia in all her glory: her refusal to take any nonsense from anyone, her ability to force herself into any situation in which she is not wanted,
The plot of Crocodile on the Sandbank is carried forward by a delightful mystery, but the thing that sets all the Amelia Peabody books apart is their setting. Our heroes are archeologists studying ancient Egyptian culture, and it is hard to read more than a couple of the books without developing a strong interest in Egyptology. Though not everything in the books can be taken at face value (they are, after all, written for a general audience, and occasionally facts have to make way for plot), Elizabeth Peters has clearly done extensive research on ancient Egyptian civilization. It is that extra scholarly dimension that makes these books more than just standard mystery novels.
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and her unusual use of a parasol.The plot of Crocodile on the Sandbank is carried forward by a delightful mystery, but the thing that sets all the Amelia Peabody books apart is their setting. Our heroes are archeologists studying ancient Egyptian culture, and it is hard to read more than a couple of the books without developing a strong interest in Egyptology. Though not everything in the books can be taken at face value (they are, after all, written for a general audience, and occasionally facts have to make way for plot), Elizabeth Peters has clearly done extensive research on ancient Egyptian civilization. It is that extra scholarly dimension that makes these books more than just standard mystery novels.
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LibraryThing member brodeurbunny30
Crocodile on the Sandbank had been recommended to me numerous times through different sources because of my absolute love of the Alexia Tarabotti novels by Gail Carriger so I finally gave in and ordered it.
I was a little hesitant at first to read something that seemed to be a parallel universe to
As it goes, this introductory novel to Amelia Peabody's world is a lovely predecessor. Her heroine is strong-willed, forthright, intelligent and as one reviewer states, "...feminist and yet still feminine."
As any Alexia Tarabotti fan would know, reading about the characters becomes the basis of the enjoyment and the mysterious plot plays a small role by comparison.
Amelia Peabody's interactions with her companion Evelyn Barton-Forbes are endearing and heartwarming, a fantastic depiction of strength, love and friendship that any good hearted woman empathizes with.
As the intrepid Emerson brothers are introduced, the reader is sucked into a page-turning mini-soap opera style chain of shenanigans and flirtations that are both amusing and exciting. Truly, it's difficult to not like either.
I'd say more about the villains except that the thin veil of a mystery is so easily deciphered that to describe them at all is to spoil the reader.
The details of the landscape and history of Egypt are absolutely divine to read though. I've had an astute interest in Egyptology since a very young age, so that the added setting of the series had sealed my fate in beginning the series. And truly, you can tell that the author is well versed in all things Egypt when you read, the descriptions are lavish and beautiful and really have you right there with Amelia and her cohorts. I loved it.
I'm only knocking down my rating because of the shoe-string plot, the characters alone are worth reading the novel and I'm absolutely excited to pull out book two once I've finished posting this review.
Honestly, if you have been contemplating reading this series because of the closeness in recommendation and style as Gail Carriger's Alexia Tarabotti series, then I do suggest you take them up. Although, if Egypt really isn't your thing you'll gloss over many of the factual details of the landscape and history that are depicted within like a non-steampunk loving reader would in a Carriger novel.
Overall, a fantastic, light-hearted mid-afternoon read, with tea, of course.
I was a little hesitant at first to read something that seemed to be a parallel universe to
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Carriger's paranormal one, especially not sure whether this other series can hold up to the amusement of the Tarabotti novels.As it goes, this introductory novel to Amelia Peabody's world is a lovely predecessor. Her heroine is strong-willed, forthright, intelligent and as one reviewer states, "...feminist and yet still feminine."
As any Alexia Tarabotti fan would know, reading about the characters becomes the basis of the enjoyment and the mysterious plot plays a small role by comparison.
Amelia Peabody's interactions with her companion Evelyn Barton-Forbes are endearing and heartwarming, a fantastic depiction of strength, love and friendship that any good hearted woman empathizes with.
As the intrepid Emerson brothers are introduced, the reader is sucked into a page-turning mini-soap opera style chain of shenanigans and flirtations that are both amusing and exciting. Truly, it's difficult to not like either.
I'd say more about the villains except that the thin veil of a mystery is so easily deciphered that to describe them at all is to spoil the reader.
The details of the landscape and history of Egypt are absolutely divine to read though. I've had an astute interest in Egyptology since a very young age, so that the added setting of the series had sealed my fate in beginning the series. And truly, you can tell that the author is well versed in all things Egypt when you read, the descriptions are lavish and beautiful and really have you right there with Amelia and her cohorts. I loved it.
I'm only knocking down my rating because of the shoe-string plot, the characters alone are worth reading the novel and I'm absolutely excited to pull out book two once I've finished posting this review.
Honestly, if you have been contemplating reading this series because of the closeness in recommendation and style as Gail Carriger's Alexia Tarabotti series, then I do suggest you take them up. Although, if Egypt really isn't your thing you'll gloss over many of the factual details of the landscape and history that are depicted within like a non-steampunk loving reader would in a Carriger novel.
Overall, a fantastic, light-hearted mid-afternoon read, with tea, of course.
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LibraryThing member SimonW11
When I read the first Paragraph of
The Crocodile on the Sandbank
by Elizabeth Peters
I was enraptured. The style was was if anything slightly old fashioned for a supposedly late victorian author. If she can keep this up I thought I am in for a treat. Alas style is not all.
I knew that in this, the
Lovely writing, wooden characters, and a plot straight out of Scooby Doo.
The Crocodile on the Sandbank
by Elizabeth Peters
I was enraptured. The style was was if anything slightly old fashioned for a supposedly late victorian author. If she can keep this up I thought I am in for a treat. Alas style is not all.
I knew that in this, the
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first of a detective series, the heroine Amelia Peabody meets her Husband and was prepared for the conventions of a romance I was was not prepared for the lacklustre mechanical regurgitation of its tropes. The "Mystery" was hardly worthy of its title. While only the narrator was any more than one dimensional.Lovely writing, wooden characters, and a plot straight out of Scooby Doo.
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LibraryThing member Mendoza
Crocodile on the Sandbank is an excellent mystery set in Egypt in the late 1800s. The heroine is smart, opinionated, rich, eccentric, and far from an ingenue; she becomes involved with a girl of questionable past and two archeologist brothers. The book, written by a real-life Egyptologist, imparts
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information with a light hand, enhancing the well-written plot. The characters are the real key to this series success, though. It's fun, it's funny, it's well-paced. I've lost count of how many times i've reread this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Amelia is such a giggle, so typically a victorian woman who is starting to question some of the traditional moulds she's supposed to inhabit. She has always wanted to visit the places she's studied about with her father and his death provides the impetuous. A fun romp of a read.
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
This series is charming in the following ways: Amelia is strong-willed and ready to join in whatever fray presents itself - but also subject to feminine attractions. Emerson is the quintessential hero - strong, big, capable - a figure worth swooning over. Then there's the attraction of Egypt in the
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late 1800's and early 1900's. You've got historical and cultural elements to enjoy. And there's humor which is always appreciated. The mysteries seem to be more an excuse to spend time with the characters, but that never seems to bother me! Show Less
LibraryThing member kaulsu
Absolutely delightful! At first I was put off a bit by the narrator's various characterizations, but grew to delight in the absurd. Although there was no mystery about "the mystery" I still found the denouement amusing. And the ending, though expected, still renewed my faith in familial love. Oh,
A non-LT friend told me that Peters has a degree of some sort in Egyptology. I haven't done any fact-checking.
Another reviewer said there are 18 in the Peabody series. I look forward to 9-17 years of pleasant, brainless entertainment.
Another reviewer seems to think this is a murder mystery. Nope. Just a (moan, moan) cursed dig. Dare you read it? (Heh heh heh).
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yes, and romantic love, too. :)A non-LT friend told me that Peters has a degree of some sort in Egyptology. I haven't done any fact-checking.
Another reviewer said there are 18 in the Peabody series. I look forward to 9-17 years of pleasant, brainless entertainment.
Another reviewer seems to think this is a murder mystery. Nope. Just a (moan, moan) cursed dig. Dare you read it? (Heh heh heh).
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LibraryThing member AuthorMarion
I absolutely adore this book! What a pleasure to be treated by an author who considers the reader an intelligent being; no lengthy explanations of concepts but the assumption that the reader will have enough sense to understand what is being written and if not, use the dictionary. That being said,
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Crocodile on the Sandbank is the first in a series of mysteries centered around Egypt's archeological excavations during the Victorian era. Our heroine is Amelia Peabody, a British spinster who decides to travel after inheriting money. On this, her first adventure, she rescues a young woman who becomes her companion. Together they travel on to Egypt where find intrigue in the guise of a walking mummy, a big of grave digging, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. Told in a slightly humorous vein (think Victorian humor) Elizabeth Peters has won me over as an instant fan. The story is well told,there are numerous red herrings for the mystery fan to consider, and an outcome that leaves one quite satisfied. Show Less
LibraryThing member riverwillow
I stumbled across this book via a LT recommendation, which was absolutely spot on. Amelia is a fantastic character, she is an entertaining, independent, witty, compassionate, redoubtable and undauntable narrator, whose courage never fails, even when she's confronted by a ranting archaeologist or
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rampaging mummy. Absolutely fantastic and I look forward to reading other books in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
This book is great fun, and the main reason is the voice and character Peters creates in the person of Amelia Peabody. Formidable doesn't begin to describe her as she barrels forward turning over any opposition to her will. But you can't help liking Amelia, I think because of her own
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self-deprecation as well as her basic compassion. There's plenty of humor in the book, which is part of what makes it so enjoyable. In that way among the books I've read recently it reminds me of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, except Amelia is sharp and competent. The novel is primarily set in 1880 Egypt, and while I'm no expert that could pick up any gaffes, Peters is terrific in relating just the right details to bring the setting to life. This was a delightful blend of mystery, historical fiction and romance and I'm told the series only gets better. Show Less
LibraryThing member hoosgracie
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. Amelia is a wealthy Victorian spinster, who reminded me a lot of Jane Austen's heroines. She heads off on a tour of Europe with Egypt as a destination. She picks up a new companion in Rome and together they travel to Egypt, where they find mystery and maybe a
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touch of romance. Has a leisurely pace, good characterization and sense of place. Show Less
LibraryThing member elenaj
Would have been twice as good with a lesbian romance (the first half is super super slashy, yall), but that said, it's pretty good anyway.
LibraryThing member ursula
I have been aware of the existence of this series since I worked in my first bookstore. They're reasonably popular, and have distinctive covers. So when I saw this one, the first in the series, on the library's list of "currently available" books, I decided to give it a shot. I was surprised to
The book had an array of quirky characters, and they find themselves subject to various forms of mayhem at an excavation site at Amarna, Egypt. The plot was kind of like a kiddie roller coaster - there were turns and drops and surprises, but none of them were going to seriously hurt anyone or give them whiplash. It was entertaining and an extremely quick read. I can see myself reading more of this series whenever I need something light to cleanse the palate, so to speak.
Quote: "So I went upstairs, to console the other half of the pair of heartbroken lovers, and a tedious business it was too, when a little common sense on both parts would have settled the matter to the satisfaction of all."
Recommended for: women who are glad they don't have to wear bustles, fans of old movies, people with weak hearts, 1970s cartoon fans.
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find out that it's set in the 1880s, and the protagonist is a bit of a square peg in a round hole. Amelia Peabody is not interested in being her era's ideal for a woman - she is always rational and reasonable (not convinced? just ask her, she'll tell you), she wishes she were allowed to wear trousers, and she has no intention of ever getting married. She's also bitingly sarcastic, which I appreciated.The book had an array of quirky characters, and they find themselves subject to various forms of mayhem at an excavation site at Amarna, Egypt. The plot was kind of like a kiddie roller coaster - there were turns and drops and surprises, but none of them were going to seriously hurt anyone or give them whiplash. It was entertaining and an extremely quick read. I can see myself reading more of this series whenever I need something light to cleanse the palate, so to speak.
Quote: "So I went upstairs, to console the other half of the pair of heartbroken lovers, and a tedious business it was too, when a little common sense on both parts would have settled the matter to the satisfaction of all."
Recommended for: women who are glad they don't have to wear bustles, fans of old movies, people with weak hearts, 1970s cartoon fans.
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LibraryThing member readingwithtea
“Papa preferred his languages dead.”
I cannot improve on the plot summary on the blurb and thus I reproduce it:
Emancipated and forthright, Amelia Peabody, an indomitable product of the Victorian era, embarks on her first Egyptian adventure armed with unshakeable self-confidence, a journal to
I have two issues with this book. One is that Emerson is not dashing; irascible would have been a better choice, and there is a foreword describing Miss Peabody, which gives the whole game away. If you read this book, DO NOT READ THE FOREWORD.
Apart from those two minor incidents, I loved this. Sleuthing aplenty, period costume, archaeological excitements, a family fortune and a “ruined” girl – so much Victorian deliciousness. But then enters Miss Amelia Peabody…
Goodness she’s a piece of work. She reminds me a lot of Flavia de Luce (whose adventures are here 1, 2, 3) – totally unwilling to be constrained by social niceties, desperate to be recognised for her academic achievements, willing to give as good as she gets (particularly in the many altercations with Emerson) – in short, she’s wonderful and I want to get my hands on as many more of her books as I possibly can (I have ordered 7 off Bookmooch already).
I cannot improve on the plot summary on the blurb and thus I reproduce it:
Emancipated and forthright, Amelia Peabody, an indomitable product of the Victorian era, embarks on her first Egyptian adventure armed with unshakeable self-confidence, a journal to
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record her thoughts, and a sturdy parasol. On her way there, Amelia rescues young Evelyn Barton-Forbes who has been ruined and abandoned on the streets of Rome by her callous lover, and takes her to Cairo as her companion. From there, the two women sail up the Nile into their biggest ever adventure. Arriving at an archaeological site run by the Emerson brothers – the dashing Emerson and amiable Walter – Amelia discovers that their little party is increased by one: an ancient Egyptian mummy that proves to be an alarming and decidedly lively example of the species…I have two issues with this book. One is that Emerson is not dashing; irascible would have been a better choice, and there is a foreword describing Miss Peabody, which gives the whole game away. If you read this book, DO NOT READ THE FOREWORD.
Apart from those two minor incidents, I loved this. Sleuthing aplenty, period costume, archaeological excitements, a family fortune and a “ruined” girl – so much Victorian deliciousness. But then enters Miss Amelia Peabody…
Goodness she’s a piece of work. She reminds me a lot of Flavia de Luce (whose adventures are here 1, 2, 3) – totally unwilling to be constrained by social niceties, desperate to be recognised for her academic achievements, willing to give as good as she gets (particularly in the many altercations with Emerson) – in short, she’s wonderful and I want to get my hands on as many more of her books as I possibly can (I have ordered 7 off Bookmooch already).
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LibraryThing member hailelib
This is the book that introduced me to the somewhat tongue-in-cheek romantic suspense novels of Elizabeth Peters. It was wonderful and I began watching for her other books in this vein.
"Crocodile on the Sandbank" was also the first novel featuring Amelia Peabody (and her umbrella!) as well as
Later, on picking up this book to occupy a few idle moments, my husband absolutely fell in love with Amelia. Thus we have most of the books featuring her and they have all been read several times.
The novel is set in Victorian times and begins shortly after the death of Amelia's father. She has left England to visit the ancient lands that she had studied with him. After seeing some of the more prominent ruins of Rome and acquiring Evelyn Barton-Forbes as a traveling companion, Amelia departs for Egypt. There she not only falls in love with the pyramids and temples but also becomes enamoured with Emerson, a British archaeologist. After assorted adventures among the tombs, the criminals are caught, Evelyn comes into her inheritance, and Emerson and his brother each marry the lady of their choice. The book is good fun and a wonderful introduction to a series that becomes greater than the sum of its parts.
"Crocodile on the Sandbank" was also the first novel featuring Amelia Peabody (and her umbrella!) as well as
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Emerson and several of the other characters that we meet again and again in the series.Later, on picking up this book to occupy a few idle moments, my husband absolutely fell in love with Amelia. Thus we have most of the books featuring her and they have all been read several times.
The novel is set in Victorian times and begins shortly after the death of Amelia's father. She has left England to visit the ancient lands that she had studied with him. After seeing some of the more prominent ruins of Rome and acquiring Evelyn Barton-Forbes as a traveling companion, Amelia departs for Egypt. There she not only falls in love with the pyramids and temples but also becomes enamoured with Emerson, a British archaeologist. After assorted adventures among the tombs, the criminals are caught, Evelyn comes into her inheritance, and Emerson and his brother each marry the lady of their choice. The book is good fun and a wonderful introduction to a series that becomes greater than the sum of its parts.
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Subjects
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1975
Physical description
7.5 inches
ISBN
1455572357 / 9781455572359