The Ape Who Guards the Balance

by Elizabeth Peters

Paperback, 1999

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Description

Against the romantic backdrop of Edwardian Egypt, the irresistible Amelia Peabody and her charmingly unconventional family prove themselves to be formidable foes of villainy. In The Ape Who Guards the Balance Amelia must muster all of her considerable skills of detection to unravel a snarled web of stolen archeological treasures, murderous cults, and fallen women. The Peabody-Emerson family has set sail for Egypt and the 1907 archaeological season. But a mint-condition papyrus of the Book of the Dead falls into their hands, and the prospects for the 1907 archaeological season turn deadly. This captivating best-seller showcases the talent that caused the Mystery Writers of America to name Elizabeth Peters a Grand Master. With Barbara Rosenblat's dazzling narration, you will find yourself held pleasurably in the balance of this exotic mystery. An interview with Elizabeth Peters concludes this audio production.… (more)

Pages

464

DDC/MDS

813.54

813.54

Language

English

Awards

Agatha Award (Nominee — Novel — 1998)

Series

Amelia Peabody [Chronological Order] (10)

Amelia Peabody [Publication order] (10)

Genres

User reviews

LibraryThing member paradoxosalpha

In this volume of the fearsomely-long Amelia Peabody series, the second-generation Peabody-Emersons are no longer children. They are even given their own voices as narrators in the interspersed documents designated "Manuscript H" (Ramses, evidently, though he writes of himself in the third person),

and "Letter Collection B" (Nefret). The majority of the text remains Amelia's journal, although given the growing centrality of the younger characters, she is increasingly "Aunt Amelia." More than many of the other books in the series, this one is anchored in previously-developed characters and plot strands. I don't know if I have much confidence that it would read well as a stand-alone novel.

After a fairly lively start involving a theft in England and the attempted abduction of Amelia herself, the bulk of the book takes place in Egypt. The archaeological focus is in the Valley of the Kings, with the Emersons somewhat sidelined by the antiquities establishment. There are kidnappings and murders, and the perpetrators and motives remain obscure for much of the book, with some perplexity resulting from the numerous past villains at loose ends in the Emersons' world.

There's a little more action and violence here than the average Peabody book, and plenty of humor -- also, some heartache and sorrow. It's definitely worth the read for someone who has enjoyed earlier volumes in the series.

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LibraryThing member smik

This Amelia Peabody story begins in London during the protests of the suffragrette movement. Amelia recognises Master Criminal Sethos and suspects him of being involved in a daring robbery. On the family's return to Egypt the "children", Nefret, David and Ramses acquire a papyrus that shouldn't be

in circulation, David and Ramses are kidnapped, and life becomes very dangerous for Amelia. The best thing about this 13 disc CD set is the voice characterisation by narrator Brabra Rosenblaat. You have to keep reminding yourself that there is only one reader! It was the perfect things for our long drive from Alice Springs to Adelaide. #10 in a series of 19.

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LibraryThing member nolak

Amelia has come fully into the new century with the Suffragette movement, picketing in London. in Egypt, the young people get into great trouble involving women of a questionable profession and revenge aimed at Sethos. It also means the sacrifice of Abdullah and Amelia's namesake niece falls in

love.

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LibraryThing member riverwillow

The story starts in London with Amelia attending a suffragette protest organised by the Pankhursts. A crime is committed and in the ensuring melee Amelia recognises an old foe. Soon the Emersons are back in Egypt and we get the usual mix of archaeology, tomb robbing, murder and mayhem. I

particularly like how Peters has matured her characters and how she uses the device of Manuscript H and Nefret's letters pad out the story and give an interesting perspective away from Amelia's first person narrative. The story itself is the usual mix of thrills and spills, but is also, at time, quite unbearably sad. A brilliant addition to the series.

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LibraryThing member bookwoman247

This is part of the wonderful Amelia Peabody series. There are approximately 19 books in the series. Last summer, which I christened "The Summer of Amelia Peabody", I read through the first nine. It was such fun that I decided to read the remaining books in the series during this, my "Second Summer

of Amelia Peabody".

As I resumed the series, I was not disappointed. It is now "the season" of 1907. Independently-minded Amelia and her equally unorthodox family are off once again to Egypt. Amelia and her husband Emerson are disappointed that they've only been given permission to dig a minor tomb in The Valley of the Kings.

Of course, being the Emersons, it isn't long before they are distracted from their boredom by criminals, nefarious plots, and danger.

The Second Summer of Amelia Peabody was off and running with a terrific start!

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LibraryThing member Condorena

This series goes from strength to strength. When I am finished with it I will begin it again from the beginning.

LibraryThing member bookcoll

The Amelia Peabody adventure/mysteries are a hoot-and-a-half. Smacks a little bit of Gertrude Bell.

LibraryThing member tjsjohanna

I love Amelia's personality and the way that she charges at life. This episode brings her up against her own prejudices but in true Amelia fashion, she adjusts as though it were all her own idea. There is some sadness in this novel as one of the beloved main characters of this series meets a noble

end.

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LibraryThing member EmpressReece

Wow Peters does it again - solid & well written! She has not yet written a book that I havent loved! Everything she writes is fabulous! This story brought out a couple of important events & changes in the Emerson family (I won't spoil it). I'll just say it made we want to laugh and it made me want

to cry! Can't wait to see what's in store next...

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LibraryThing member antiquary

I like the Amelia Peabody series n general, though Ib tend to feel they declined as they went on. I once met Barbara Mertz (Elizabeth Peters) at a convention and she was very nice.

LibraryThing member mirrani

I really enjoy this series a lot, but after listening to the audio version of this particular book I found myself totally confused. I couldn't enjoy this story as much as I had others in the past. Recently I went and glanced through some other reviews and have found that others have had the same

problem with the audio version of this book. We like the series, but this one didn't strike us. Like some other readers/listeners, I found the story a little sluggish or hard to follow in places and kept wondering if I had missed something along the way. This is definitely a case of needing the printed word in my hand rather than someone performing it for me in an audio version. When I reread the series (because I do enjoy it that much that I know that I will) I will make certain to pick up the printed book rather than the audio.

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LibraryThing member Olivermagnus

This is the tenth book in the Amelia Peabody historical mystery series. The entire family, including Amelia, her husband Professor Emerson, their son Ramses, and adopted daughter Nefret, are preparing to return to Egypt. They have had some bad luck trying to secure a choice excavation site in the

Valley of the Kings, primarily due to Emerson's combative nature. Nevertheless, Amelia is determined to be back in her beloved Egypt.

Once they arrive, the three youngest members of the team, Ramses, Nefret, and Ramses best friend, David, disguise themselves and head into one of the most dangerous parts of Cairo. They purchase a copy of The Book of the Dead, an ancient collection of prayers and spells that will help guide the deceased through the underworld. The mystery surrounding this book will soon find Amelia dealing with the usual assortment of criminals and grave robbers.

I found this book to be enjoyable, but not quite as good as the previous books in the series. Most of the action was done by the three younger characters, but I did enjoy seeing Ramses, Nefret and David becoming more important parts of the story. I particularly found the parts dealing with the Emerson's realization of their prejudice to be quite interesting and well done. I enjoyed the audio version of the series, narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, and will continue to check in periodically on the Emerson clan.

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LibraryThing member themulhern

In this entry in the series, there are now three voices: Ameila's (as an edited diary), Ramses' (novelistic), and Nefret's (epistolary). This makes for lots of fun. And Barbara Rosenblat's narration is entirely enjoyable.

LibraryThing member a-shelf-apart

Unf, this family. My feelings. I love how this series is progressing, and the family dynamics and the kids growing up and coming into their own and the darker plotlines and just- unf. Love.

I'm glad this book addressed Amelia's reaction to David and Lia . It's always been obvious to a 2018 reader

that Amelia is super racist, albeit in a fond, paternalistic kind of a way and I've been enjoying the series guiltily regardless. It shouldn't have taken until book 10 for the author to acknowledge it, but I'm glad it happened at all.

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LibraryThing member ktleyed

I never tire of the family of Elizabeth Peabody and Emerson. Their shenanigans in Egypt never fail to make me laugh. As the series progresses, Ramses is grown now into a handsome young man, which leads to some very interesting developments. Ramses and Nefret are still playing this coy game between

each other, it's only a matter of time when they will declare their love for one another. Surprising developments between Daoud and Lia as well, which I kind of found hard to believe. As usual, the mystery is secondary to me, I find the interactions of all the characters the best part! On audiobook this is a real treat and Barbara Rosenblat is as fantastic as ever - she IS Amelia and Emerson.

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LibraryThing member jennyo

Another fun outing in the Peabody/Emerson series. I really like the addition of Manuscript H and the letters from Nefret. Though I think Amelia is fabulous, it's nice to have the story told from other perspectives too.

The books in this series are great for summer vacation. Lots of fun, some

interesting historical and archaeological details, suspense, humor, and romance. Who could ask for more?

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LibraryThing member kmartin802

In this tenth Amelia Peabody historical mystery, the Emersons are in Egypt and it is 1907. When an unknown papyrus falls into their hands, they find themselves dealing with a villain from the past. Sethos has kept his word and his distance but now a rival threatens Amelia and all bets are off.

As

Emerson closely watches archaeological rival Davies unearth a tomb filled with treasures, his family is off having adventures of their own and distracting him into hunts for murderers. With the younger Emersons including Amelia's namesake Lia on the way to Egypt, they need to be quick to track down the villains in order to keep their family safe.

With the children growing up, they are having issues of their own. David has fallen in love with Lia which doesn't please his parents or Amelia who finds that she has prejudices that she was not aware of. And Ramses seemingly unrequited love for Nefret is making things very hard for him.

The death of Abdullah who died saving Amelia from a villain's bullet, casts a pall on the group and makes Amelia realize just how important he was to her. His death seems to also shift her feelings on David and Lia.

This was an engaging story. I like Manuscript H and the letters which are apparently from Nefret to Lia which help balance the account since Amelia's viewpoint is filtered through her own beliefs and prejudices.

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