Collection
Publication
Grand Central Publishing (1997), Edition: Reprint, 448 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. A masked stranger offers to reveal an Egyptian queen's lost tomb...and Amelia Peabody and her irascible archeologist husband, Radcliffe Emerson, are intrigued, to say the least. When the guide mysteriously disappears before he tells his secret, the husband-and-wife team sail to Thebes to follow his trail, helped-and hampered-by their teenage son, Ramses, and beautiful ward, Nefret. But before the sands of time shift very far, all will be risking their lives foiling murderers, kidnappers, grave robbers, and ancient curses. And the Hippopotamus Pool? It's a legend of war and wits that Amelia is translating, one that alerts her to a hippo of a different type-a nefarious, overweight art dealer who may become her next archenemy!.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member paradoxosalpha
This eighth novel of the series is set on the cusp of the twentieth century. It is an almost paradigmatic Amelia Peabody tale, with the highest stakes in conventional Egyptology of any of them so far: the tomb of a queen with a sarcophagus unopened since antiquity. The whole multigenerational
Peters disappointed me by showing some sloppy research: she called a copy of Blavatsky's Isis Unveiled a "slim volume"! (It's hardly such a scarce commodity that she couldn't have found out firsthand the beefiness of its two volumes.)
Again, as in the previous volume, a couple of useful maps are included--but at arbitrary points in the text which are not noted in any apparatus. A new feature is a dramatis personae list with descriptions prefaced to the novel. For those who resent spoilers (most mystery readers, I would presume), I recommend not reading this list at the outset, although I suppose it might be useful to those coming to the book without having read earlier volumes of the series. Did the author doubt her own efficiency of exposition with respect to the recurring characters? Still, it's hard for me to see the value of "Characters Appearing or Referred to in The Hippopotamus Pool," and I will certainly skip any similar offerings in later books.
The chapter titles are all quoted from the text, and they give a good sense of the witty tone, from "The Trouble with Unknown Enemies Is that They Are So Difficult to Identify" to "No Mystery Is Insoluble--It Is Simply a Matter of How Much Time and Energy One Is Willing to Expend."
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Emerson-Peabody clan is involved, and the children Ramses and Nefret (along with newcomer David) are now teenagers.Peters disappointed me by showing some sloppy research: she called a copy of Blavatsky's Isis Unveiled a "slim volume"! (It's hardly such a scarce commodity that she couldn't have found out firsthand the beefiness of its two volumes.)
Again, as in the previous volume, a couple of useful maps are included--but at arbitrary points in the text which are not noted in any apparatus. A new feature is a dramatis personae list with descriptions prefaced to the novel. For those who resent spoilers (most mystery readers, I would presume), I recommend not reading this list at the outset, although I suppose it might be useful to those coming to the book without having read earlier volumes of the series. Did the author doubt her own efficiency of exposition with respect to the recurring characters? Still, it's hard for me to see the value of "Characters Appearing or Referred to in The Hippopotamus Pool," and I will certainly skip any similar offerings in later books.
The chapter titles are all quoted from the text, and they give a good sense of the witty tone, from "The Trouble with Unknown Enemies Is that They Are So Difficult to Identify" to "No Mystery Is Insoluble--It Is Simply a Matter of How Much Time and Energy One Is Willing to Expend."
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LibraryThing member nolak
The parody of the hippopotamus comes to life as a secret is eluded to by someone who disappears after a midnight meeting. The children are now teens, with all the problems that brings. Another interesting ride in Egypt's past.
LibraryThing member Kimaoverstreet
Number 8 in the Amelia Peabody's series - best read in order! Relationships among the Emerson family, and with their friends, deepen in this thrilling novel amid all sorts of mayhem as the Emersons find their most important archeological find yet. If you've enjoyed the series up to this point, The
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Hippopotamus Pool will not disappoint! Show Less
LibraryThing member riverwillow
Back to Egypt again for the entire Emerson clan. This time they take to the water as Emerson has bought Amelia's dahabeeyah from the first book, renaming her Amelia Peabody Emerson. They sail for Thebes, where they are joined by Walter and Evelyn, as Walter hopes to excavate a previously
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undiscovered tomb, which may be at risk from tomb robbers. The usual mayhem ensues, they encounter old friends and enemies, and by the end of the book it looks as if there may be at least one addition to the clan. Wonderful fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
One of the best things about this book is the expanded cast of characters - Ramses and Nefret are old enough to be interesting, David is introduced, and Walter & Evelyn take up active roles in Egypt again. It makes for an interesting ensemble. Also fun is the fact that Emerson finally gets to make
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a major archeological discovery. Character interaction definitely makes this novel worth the read. Show Less
LibraryThing member BonnieJune54
I liked it but you need to be able to remember the characters from the earlier books.
LibraryThing member ktleyed
More adventures with the Emerson's in Egypt. A lot happens while on their latest dig: Emerson's brother Walter and his wife Evelyn are on the scene and not as the happy couple we are used to, Ramses gets kidnapped - as well as Nefret - and Amelia and Emerson take on the criminal class of Luxor. All
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told with the usual humor these books are known for. Amelia's narration by Barbara Rosenblat is fabulous as ever. Great fun though the actual plot is a bit murky and forgettable. Show Less
LibraryThing member GTTexas
Always fun, always exciting - a good read!
LibraryThing member EmpressReece
Another great adventure! I was glad to see Walter & Evelyn included this time and I just love how the Emersons acquire new kids, animals etc. like a buying a new pair of shoes. lol Looking forward to the next one...
LibraryThing member a-shelf-apart
This is back to the standard formula - which is not a bad thing, if you enjoy these books like I am. David is a welcome addition, and I find myself much more interested in the relationships between the extended Emerson clan than the revolving door of mysterious people who are not who or what the
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initially seem. Show Less
LibraryThing member kmartin802
This eighth in the Amelia Peabody series takes place in 1900. Amelia, Emerson, and their children Ramses and Nefret are in Egypt hunting for a queen's tomb. But they are not the only ones on the trail. Not one, but two sets of villains have plans for the Emersons.
When a mysterious stranger invades
Walter and Evelyn Emerson also join them in Egypt once the tomb has been discovered. Evelyn has been in a state of depression since the death of one of young children and Emerson is hoping that the work in Egypt will help her out of it. Evelyn and Walter are estranged when the story begins but through the story, she exposes depths of character that Amelia wasn't aware of when she takes part in Amelia's adventures.
With both Ramses and Nefret kidnapped in this adventure - though by two different sets of villains -- the action is fast-paced and furious in this story. The descriptions of the search for the lost tomb and the treasures they find within it was also engrossing.
This was another excellent entry into the series as Amelia's voice and viewpoint are always entertaining.
When a mysterious stranger invades
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their hotel room and offers to give them directions to a tomb not yet discovered and then disappears, the Emerson are off to Thebes. There they discover a villain creating forgeries and his apprentice who is Abdullah's grandson David. They rescue David from the forger and Ramses becomes his blood brother. Emerson is less eager to trust the young boy.Walter and Evelyn Emerson also join them in Egypt once the tomb has been discovered. Evelyn has been in a state of depression since the death of one of young children and Emerson is hoping that the work in Egypt will help her out of it. Evelyn and Walter are estranged when the story begins but through the story, she exposes depths of character that Amelia wasn't aware of when she takes part in Amelia's adventures.
With both Ramses and Nefret kidnapped in this adventure - though by two different sets of villains -- the action is fast-paced and furious in this story. The descriptions of the search for the lost tomb and the treasures they find within it was also engrossing.
This was another excellent entry into the series as Amelia's voice and viewpoint are always entertaining.
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1996
Physical description
448 p.; 4.25 inches
ISBN
0446603988 / 9780446603980
Similar in this library
Pages
448