The Hippopotamus Pool

Reading an Amelia Peabody Mystery is like having a favorite meal. You don't have to have it every day but when you do, it is always satisfying and delicious. You can go weeks or months between this meal and yet just thinking about it will make you salivate. THE HIPPOPOTAMUS POOL by the venerable Elizabeth Peters is number 8 in her Amelia Peabody series of eighteen or so little novels. Peter's books are so easy to read and very easy to get into. You can pick them up and become interested on the first page. They are really ideal 'beach' or 'vacation' books because they are so straightforward and uncomplicated to read, even with a multitude of interruptions. Plus, I can read a book in the series and not read another one for weeks or months and know that I can get right back into these little stories with no problem. In addition, THE HIPPOPOTAMUS POOL has a glossary in the beginning that identifies all the characters. Thankfully, the entire family is together for the 'season' of excavating in Egypt and that makes me happy. Last year the children--Ramses, the 12 year-old boy genius and his adopted sister (a miniature Amelia, who at fifteen is quite the beauty) Nefret, were left at Aunt Evelyn & Uncle Walter's estate in England. David, an Egyptian orphan has been added to this entourage as well. Evelyn and Walter also lend their services in the excavation of this new tomb, supposedly of Queen Tetisheri. Since we are so familiar with this family, having met the four adults thirteen years previously during their courtship (in Egypt, of course), there is something very comfortable about rejoining the group. Naturally we have the usual murders, kidnappings, grave robbers and undercover criminals. We still have the tender yet cantankerous Emerson and his no nonsense verrrry British wife Amelia who is still anticipating every move. But the children are the ones who add a delightful diversion to this adorable little mystery. And, as always, we know that everything will come out all right in the end. Every time I read a book in this series, it is like rejoining an old friend (or having a favorite meal;-)

This is a really good addition to the Amelia Peabody series. For one thing we have the entire family with Amelia, Emerson, Ramses, Nefret, both cats and Emerson's brother Walter and his wife Evelyn. In this book we have Emerson on the verge of discovering an almost unheard of unopened tomb. The word of that gets the vultures circling, and there are two unscrupulous groups of people after the contents of this tomb. Amelia and her family are caught in the middle, and there is much danger to them all. The book moves fast and keeps the reader turning pages in order to see what happens next. This is a wonderfully entertaining series.

A wonderful and humorous adventure with a touch of battle of the sexes as well. Too good to miss, and too good to not read the preceding books. For a rousing good time, you really need to meet the characters from the start-The Crocodile on the Sandbank, and follow them on. I had to go back and find them all, after stumbling onto them in the middle. A great spoof on archeology/adventure, with character tributes to many of the 19th century greats of Egyptology, both by name, and by style. If you can get through this without laughing out loud, you need a humor adjustment.

Looking at the other reviews for this book, you may want to question what I am about write (previously wrote if you're are reading this now, which you are). To me, this is the best of the Peabody's adventures. It is even one of my favorite books of all time (which is saying a lot, putting it next to "Power of One" by Bryce Courtenay). Why this is so, I really cannot say, or write. It's just that I thought this book had more to it then the other adventures. Lots more excitement and action seemed to be present and I enjoyed the new and old characters very much. As soon as I picked it up,I could not put it down. I especially enjoyed the "witty"(or witless, depending who's review you're reading) dialogue and mischief of the children. When I finished, I told myself that I would never read another book by Peters. Any other Peabody book would just be a disappointment after "Hippopotamus Pool." Such thinking lasted for 48.6 hours; at that point I saw the next Peabody mystery. Yes, it is true, I admit I am a little biased: anything written by Elizabeth Peters and deals with Ameila Peabody will be considered great in my opinion (humble one, of course). I am writing this review not to disagree with the other reviews, but to say that if another person happens to read this book and finds it the most fascinating book ever, the best piece of literature ever written, then that person has a major problem. No, what I mean is that that person will not be alone. Somewhere out in that cold dark world there is a beacon of inspiration, someone else who agrees that this book is a true gem. Thank you Elizabeth Peters, and thank you to anybody who agrees with this terrifically pointful review.

The Amelia Peabody books are wonderful! They have to me what fiction is all about. Humour, Intrigue, Romance and a little bit of Education. These books make you want to sign up for a trip to Egypt immediately!!!!!!!!