The Falcon at the Portal

I adore the Amelia Peabody novels because they are so unlike any other mystery series. First, the bulk of the time is spent on archeological digs pursuing important scholarship in Egypt. Second, the characters are so outrageously original (Amelia is an early 20th century Wonder Woman who passionately craves her husband, Emerson is a steam boiler always about to go off on some emotional tangent or other, Ramses is a mixture of Oliver Twist and Super Boy, Nefret is Elizabeth Taylor in Dr. Florence Nightingale's role -- you get the idea). Third, the plots always involve lots of local history and interesting perspectives on manners of the period. Fourth, the whole crew is always off on some unexpected adventure or other. I often wonder how any of them ever sleep, between their day-time adventures and the clandestine night-time ones. It makes me tired just to think about them.The characters have really grown on me. This is one of the few series I have read where the characters are probably the main attraction. The Nero Wolfe books by Rex Stout have a similar attraction for me.In this book (as in the recent ones), the action revolves around tensions among the family members. Clearly, everyone wants more psycholoical space, but the others good-heartedly want to look out for each other and impinge on that space. One would think these characters had read Freud. Two characteristics of this book bothered me. It seems like the loose ends were greater in the family drama at the end of the book than they were at the beginning. I don't mind if Elizabeth Peters is going to do that, but she should bring out two books at the same time when she does so we are not left waiting so long for the resolution.My other concern is that I think that Peters cheated a bit with Nefret's actions and emotions in this one. The Nefret I had built up in my mind (child goddess of the desert who captivates all and sundry who come within her reach) disappeared in this novel, and seemed to be replaced by an imposter. I think that Peters owes it to us to close this gap with one of her upcoming books.If you have not read any of the Amelia Peabody mysteries, DO NOT START WITH THIS ONE! Most of the joy of these novels comes in the build-up of the characters from one book to the next. While you need not read them all, you certainly should work through them chronologically from the earliest publication date. Have a great time when you do, and keep your tongue firmly in your cheek!

My husband and I are avid "groupies" of Amelia Peabody & Company. The Falcon at the Portal was by far our favorite. Yes we were disappointed that Nefret was not destined for Rameses in the true Victorian sense (after all Amelia thrives on Victorian values does she not?). And yes we were disappointed when the book ended with no hint of Nefret's future...BUT this book of all the others drew us in so closely to what was taking place that we were emotionally tied to the two and felt true loss for Ramses...now that's what a good story should do! At the conclusion, although we were left hanging, we snapped out of it and ran to the computer to see if a sequel was available. What a relief it was to see that, yes indeed, Ms. Peters had been true to her readers and provided us with yet an another opportunity to follow along with her and her family as they mature through yet another episode of life. This has made her characters much more real and endearing to us. Bravo for Ms. Peters! We are looking forward to walking through the rest of lives with Amelia, Emerson and the rest of Amelia Peabody and Company!

In Falcon at the Portal, Elizabeth Peters goes far more deeply than ever before into the emotional lives of all of her characters. From the lovely evocative dreams that Amelia has of Abdullah, to the sheer passion that possesses Ramses, Peters lets us see and feel with her characters more surely than ever before, while not losing a jot of the usual madness that surrounds the Emersons every season - forged antiquities, doubts being cast on family members, and more than a few completely unexpected plot twists, turns and in fact revolutions! Brilliant writing, great fun, and deeper (and, yes, darker) than most of the series, this is a *terrific* book, and I await the next in happy anticipation. Peters is a splendid writer, long may she wave!

I read the first Amelia book when I was about 12 and have grown up with Ramses and the rest. I have waited patiently for each installment, veiwing it as a reward for surviving each school year. But this next installment cannot come too soon! This book has a very painful twist, but it just makes the book better. I bought this book in hardcover the first day it came out, and was reading it in the laundrymat when I came to the Moment (you know what I'm talking about), I lept up from my chair and started squealing hysterically. The people around me were rather alarmed, but that's just an example of how Elizabeth's Peters incredible writing affects devoted readers. This book was worthy of Amelia Peabody, and it filled in some vital parts of the character's personalities. But PLEASE, Ms.Peters, if there is anyway He Shall Thunder in the Sky could come out early...well, it would make a great graduation present, from me to me.

I NEVER buy hardcover books. However, I read the reviews and as a lover of E.Peters I had to read the book for myself. I bought it intending to read it and return it for a refund....needless to say, I changed my mind and will have to keep the book. I have always rooted for Nefret and Ramses, and this book made me want them together even more. I agree that Nefret acted out of character, but I trust that these actions will be explained in the next book, which I am eagerly awaiting. I loved the addition of Sennia despite the trouble she caused. To those who called the book melodramatic: what did you expect from the Peabody-Emersons? The melodrama is what I love about this series. Still, this novel is more a tragedy (or as much a tragedy as an Amelia mystery can be), because it ends on such a low point. I thought the mention of Nefret's dreams was intriguing, and I am hoping they will be mentioned more in the next book. I also liked Amelia's Abdulla dreams; he was a wonderful character and I am glad that he hasn't entirely disappeared from the series. I can't wait for the next! I will probably have to buy that one in hardcover, too. Luckily they are worth the money!