Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Crocodile on the Sandbank and The Curse of the Pharoahs by Elizabeth Peters (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Amelia Peabody, indomitable Victorian, embarks for Egypt armed with confidence, journal, and umbrella. Enroute to Cairo, she rescues dainty Evelyn, abandoned by her lover. They sail up the Nile to the archeological dig of the Emerson brothers - irascible but dashing Radcliffe and amiable Walter. A lively mummy, visitations, accidents, kidnap attempt - evil is afoot."

My Thoughts:

This is one of the best mystery series that I have started in a really long time!  I actually read this book about 4 or 5 years ago and then never continued on with the series.  Reading it a second time was like reading it for the first since I basically didn't remember much about it.  When I finished I was left wondering why I had never continued on with this series!  This book is just so good!

I adored this book for so many reasons but the main one was Amelia Peabody!  Amelia is one of those characters that you instantly like and laugh at in equal measure.  She has this dry sense of humor that had me cracking up.  And the situations that she gets herself into.  Priceless!  One of the best parts of this book were the interactions between Amelia and Radcliffe.  I instantly adored them both, and I loved how they annoyed each other.  This book was just a pleasure to read!  The mystery was fun, the pages flew by, and I found myself not ready to leave Egypt by the time this book ended.  

Books like this are why I read!  It is as simple as that.  This book had some suspense and tense moments but it really was just a fun read.  I cannot tell you how many times I found myself laughing out loud.  It was like an adventure/mystery/romance all rolled into one!  I loved it!  I found myself enchanted by the main characters and eager to continue on with the series.  This mystery series has skyrocketed as one of my favorites just from this reread.  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A must read for mystery fans!


Summary from Goodreads:

"Victorian Amelia Peabody continues to journal her Egypt adventures, toddler Ramses left in England. Husband Radcliffe Emerson's old friend Lady Baskerville fears a curse killed her husband Sir Henry, and soon engages the attentions of American Cyrus. The will funds continued excavation. But a lady dressed in white floats, flutters, spreads fear, and more death."

My Thoughts:

My love for this series has been cemented with this second book.  Was it as good as the first book?  Honestly, I don't think that it was but I still enjoyed it so much!  I still found myself grinning at Amelia's antics.  I especially love how she always manages to get herself caught up in these crazy situations that make me laugh out loud.  It makes these books so much fun to read!

I guessed the identity of the killer in this book early on but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.  Instead, I just found myself curious to see how it would all play out.  And I will admit that there were parts of the ending that still managed to catch me by surprise.  I can already tell that this is a series that I will read for the characters over the mysteries....just because I love the characters so much!  I love the relationship that has developed between Amelia and Radcliffe.  I pretty much just loved it all.  Oh yes, but how could I forget to talk about the setting of the book??  Having this series basically set in Egypt is also so interesting and fun because it makes me want to study Egyptian history.  I remember some of it from my history classes in school but reading these books make me want to go back and learn more.  It is obvious that the author has a deep love for Egypt, and its' history and that just makes these books that much better in my opinion!  I'm hooked!

Overall, this was a great follow-up to the first book in this series.  I've become a huge fan thanks to these two books and plan to read book three soon!  This is honestly one of the best mystery series that I have started in a long time.  It's kind of exciting!  Books like these make you want to read more...make me want to read the series back to back which is something I never do anymore.  I should though!  Highly, highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  Just as fun as the first book!  And a new favorite series of mine!

Disclosure-  I purchased both of these books from my local used bookstore.  They were well worth it!  And happily I have passed both of them on to my Mom (she loved them too) and now they will go on to my sister.  How fun is that?!?

5 comments:

  1. I've heard such great things about this series. I haven't read anything by the author, but I want to. Since you so highly regard it, I really must get to it sooner than later!

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  2. Yay! I've said this before, I know, but I am very excited that you enjoyed these books so much. The series remains really fun -- I think some of the later books are better than Crocodile on the Sandbank, actually. And it's a lot of fun when Rameses starts getting more involved in the mysteries.

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  3. Sounds fun :D I could read these

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  4. Sam,

    So glad you enjoyed the first two books in this series, and that you're sharing them with your sister and mom. It's great to enjoy the books you're reading! Amelia sounds like a fun character.

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  5. I hadn't heard of this series, but it looks fantastic. I love this setting, and I'm adding these to my wishlist.

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