“I could not endure a man who would let himself be ruled by me, and I would not endure a man who tried to rule me.”–Elizabeth Peters, Crocodile on the Sandbank
This is a fun book and it is the first in the Amelia Peabody mystery series. Set in the 1880s, Amelia Peabody is a Victorian age spinster who upon receiving a substantial inheritance, decides to travel the world–particularly Egypt. As she begins her travels, she rescues Evelyn, a young woman in distress and they become fast friends and travel companions. As they travel to Egypt, their paths keep crossing with Radcliffe and Walter Emerson–brothers who are experts in Egyptian archeology. For Radcliffe and Amelia, it is basically hate at first sight but when they are faced with mysterious circumstances, odd mummies, and danger at every turn, they are forced to work together to solve the mystery.
It has been said that if Indiana Jones had been a woman, he would have been Amelia Peabody. Amelia is a terrific heroine–intrepid, outspoken, no nonsense, pragmatic, hilarious, and her skill with a sturdy parasol knows no parallel. I am a big fan of Amelia and have read all the books in the series. They are great fun and the audio books are also delightful.
Content Advisory: Death, violence, colonialism