Search - The Curse of the Pharaohs (Amelia Peabody, Bk 2)

Amelia Peabody is one of the good ones. She is a feminist, but totally loves her husband and child. She is a "busybody" but aren't all the good female investigators? In this one she and her husband are called to Egypt to investigate a recently discovered tomb - with a curse! Cats, kids, curses, killings.....this one has it all.

The book is a fun read, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I remember enjoying the first book in the Amelia Peabody series, "Crocodile on the Sandbank." I assume that the introduction of Amelia and Emerson's son, Ramses, just a toddler in this book, means the inclusion of a new character in the series. I guessed the murderer early in the book, so for those who enjoy trying to solve a mystery, you'll probably find this unsatisfying. Sections in this book also are a little too "romancy," which is not surprising considering Peters is also Barbara Michaels.

But, I do like the characters, so I'll no doubt continue on with this series.

Amelia Peabody is at it again! After the birth of her and Emersons son, Ramses and a 5 year hiatus from Egypt they jump at the chance to take over digging at a cursed tomb site. Death follows them, frustrating their work, spooking their workers and leading to both Peabody and Emerson nearly killing each other in the process!

Great read!

In this mystery, Emerson and Amelia return to Egypt at the request of a friend, the recently widowed Mrs. Baskerville. She knows Emerson from many years back and treats him with more affection that Emerson is wholey comfortable with. Mr. Baskerville died while excavating a tomb and left strict instructions that his work should continue in the event of his passing. However, a local reporter has spun the story up with a tale of a curse, causing the local workers to hesitate in assisting the Emersons in the dig.

Before you know it, other folks start dying, a one-eyed thief is trying to inspire the locals to rob the tomb, and a mysterious lady in white is roaming the area stirring up the fears of ghosts and efreets. Emerson takes more than 1 knock to the head and is nearly inadvertently shot by Amelia. He is also harassed by a deranged alcoholic woman who dresses in ancient Egyptian style and purports to have visions of her past lives in which Emerson was her lover. This adds greatly to the comedy of the book.

Meanwhile, Amelia is trying to unravel the mystery of the multiple deaths from the beginning. She also tries to play matchmaker between Mary, the aspiring artist, and her numerous suitors. At one point, she is nearly inadvertently poisoned by Emerson. Oops.

Very enjoyable, great characters and a fun read.

This is the second in the series of about 19 Amelie Peabody mysteries. Amelia and her Egyptologist husband go for "the season" of digging in Egypt in the 1890's, while their infant son Ramses stays home with friends. Inevitably, bodies and suspicious people cross their paths. This is not your usual mystery, as it is written in 1890-style language of the indominable Peabody in her journal. Aside from being fun mysteries, these books are romances and views of family life of the era, and are very, very funny. We are reading them aloud at night, working our way through the series.