He Shall Thunder in the Sky

I've been a fan of the Peabody-Emersons for several years now, and have re-read all of the books at least 5 times. And like everyone else, Falcon left me on the edge of a cliff. Thankfully, Thunder brought me back. I arranged my schedule around buying and reading this book, and wasn't disappointed. (and yes, I had to read the last chapter first! ) but even knowing what happened in the end, I still loved every minute of Thunder. I loved the character development between Ramses and his parents -Amelia, who is told by Emerson in Mummy Case to be more demonstrative to her son, shows glimpses her strong feelings for her son through "measured looks" and "berserker rages," but I cried along with her at Ramses's bedside. As Ramses has grown, so has his friend David (who look enough alike to be brothers) and his "sister" Nefret. Their relationship with each other, and with the Emerson Srs, gets better with each passing book. Even my mom (another longtime fan) commented that one of the best things in Thunder is the characters- Peters has stayed true to her characters, and we see how even in Falcon, she was always true to Nefret. In Thunder, loose ends are tied up with the characters we have grown to know and love (or hate)- Abdullah, Selim, Sethos, Percy, Wardani, Asslimi, and more. The continuity and foreshadowing - Amelia's famous premonitions- is fantastic from Crocodile on the Sandbank to Thunder in the Sky. My only hope- in the next book, can we have less international intrigue and more good old-fashioned tomb robber villians? Peters has made characters so strong that they don't need spygames to be riveting- a few of Amelia & Emerson's discussions will do the trick! I have given my copy of the book to my sister to read (my mom has already finished it) so that I won't be tempted to let it interfere with my finals next week, but as you can see I'm such a Peabody Addict that I am here writing my review. As Amelia would say, "Brava!" Ms Peters, you moved me to tears first with Abdullah's death in Ape that Guard the Balance, but Thunder made me cry, laugh out loud, and cheer several times throughout the book. Thank you, once again.

As a faithful reader for some 10+ years now, I was a little disappointed with the previous Peabody book (A Falcon at the Portal). In fact, I nearly threw it out of the car, in which I was reading, at several points in the story. The joy I feel after finishing this book is 100 times greater than any problem I had with the last book. I am deeply indepted to Elizabeth Peters for creating characters that provoke such strong emotions. This book delivers the all wit, adventure, and plot twists I have come to expect from an Amelia Peabody mystery and more. While this is a wonderful book, if you don't read the rest of the series first you will not enjoy it one tenth as much as you could. Start with Crocodile on the Sandbank and don't stop until you've finished this one. You won't regret a minute of it.

After reading The Falcon at the Portal last fall, anticipation for Thunder built to a fever pitch. So when I obtained a copy of the book last night, I promptly ensconced myself on the sofa, blocked out the world for 3 hours, and finally put the book down with a sigh of complete -- satisfaction. Peters has done an excellent job with this one. Expectations have been so high that one might fear no mere book could meet them, but I think Thunder does. Many loose ends are tied up, mysteries unraveled, characters more fully and richly developed (including some delightful info. about Emerson and Amelia). The plot moves at a good pace, displaying what must have been extensive research by Peters on the Middle East and Egypt during World War I. Many comments on Falcon focused on the characters and relationship of NEfret and Ramses, and the supposed inconsistencies. I'll try not to give anything away, but will say that in Thunder a number of actions become plain. We are given deeper glimpses of both characters, Ramses in particular. I think he is Peter's best character, possibly because she's been working on him his entire life. There are also some great scenes between Ramses and both parents. And Sethos - how could I forget him? Yes, he appears again, and yes, his identity is finally and fully revealed. The climax of the book is so intense that for a minute it borders on melodrama ( a family proclivity, as Ramses remarks) but it manages to avoid it. All in all, an excellent book.

It has arrived and all fans are rejoicing! I rushed to buy the book and couldn't wait to start reading it. Everyone who has read the previous books in this series will thoroughly enjoy this new and thrilling installment. I did and now I have to read it again more slowly since I rushed through it the first time. If you have never read any of the Amelia Peabody books, buy this one but don't read it first. It is more fun to start at least with the first book featuring the adult Ramses, Seeing A Large Cat. Although I recommend getting to know his parents first in the first book of the series, Crocodile on the Sandbank. Why would you want to deny yourself some of the best summer reading available? These books offer adventure, romance, intrigue, mystery and some educational material about both Egyptology and the Victorian Age. You get to learn while enjoying a great read.

For all those who, like me, were frustrated by The Falcon and the Portal, this definitely makes everything worthwhile. Nefret's behavior is not forgotten, and her "transformation" in this novel is realistic as are the explanations given for her previous decisions. Amelia - who decidedly makes up for any "lack" of expressed maternal instincts in this novel -- and Emerson's deductive reasonings (though still quite slow on the uptake on Nefret and Ramses) are back on target, and resolution is at hand -- finally! In fact, the book ties up so many loose ends (including the identity of the Master Criminal) that have occurred throughout the series, I did wonder if indeed this novel was the last we see of the Peabody/Emerson clan -- I certainly hope not! "Thunder" is in some ways a more complex read than usual, as it is carries on many, many different plots and subplots, each complete with varying subtexts, and, being ignorant myself of the Egyptian/British situation and involvement circu WWI, it was a little difficult to keep track of what was going on and why. In addition, everyone in the family has their own agenda that, for their own reasons (most are valid), they are keeping from everyone else. But, despite the complexity, it is unequivocably a wonderful, satisfying read, and worth every minute spent on its 400 pages. And, if you are, like me, a romantic at heart, the last five pages are "worth the price of admission! Enjoy, it's wonderful!