Tomb of the Golden Bird (Amelia Peabody Series, 18)

I see there are some 4.5 stars on this book. I will take issue with that. This series has its ups and downs, but the worst is better than any other book I have read.(not including Jane Austen who is the best ever)This book, as all her other Peabody books, makes me laugh out loud! When I am reading in bed, my husband knows I am reading about Amelia and Emerson. That's the best I can say about any book. She never kills off the people I love.(even their reis, Abdul 'lives'.)If I want reality I can watch the news. A happy ending and escapism is what I want! Thank you thank you thank you...........

The depressing thing about Amelia Peabody, her husband Emerson, and the rest of her archeologist family is that they insist on getting older. One has to give credit to Elizabeth Peters for gradually letting time smooth the harsher lines of her characters. Chaos is always maintained by an influx of fresh youth, but over time even Ramses manages to become less impossible. And now his own children have arrived to keep to take his place. For some time even Emerson has become more socialized, but Tomb of the Golden Bird signals his revival as The Father of Curses. For those of you who keep track, we have reached the 1922 season for excavation in the Valley of the King's, and a very important find is about to be made. Not by Radcliffe Emerson, unfortunately, but by Howard Carter. Emerson has strong suspicions about the location of Tutankhamon's tomb, but he cannot get permission to dig so he must watch Carter and Carnarvon instead, Because of his frustration he offends Lord Carnarvon and manages to get banned from the site. Infuriating him even more. Presiding over this disaster is Amelia, as usual. But even this determined woman is confounded when her brother-in-law Sethos - one a tomb thief and not a secret agent - stumbles back into their lives in the middle of a malaria attack. Suddenly the archeological discovery of the century becomes the backdrop for a tense game of spy vs. spy, with no one quite sure exactly who is lying to whom. And the real story is that of Emerson family themselves. Amelia has come to realize the there are only a few seasons left for excavations in an Egypt which has fallen to increasing political unrest. It is time for Ramses and Nefret to strike out on their own, and Amelia continually reflects on the fact that neither she nor her husband have the strength that they once did. But they remain indomitable, and I dearly hope that there are at least a few more volumes to go in this series. Tomb of the Golden Bird has both action as well as the details of the Emerson's madcap life that continue to make this one of the most entertaining of the 'cozy' genre. In addition, this volume is full of little details and insights into the Tutankhamon excavation and the politics of an emerging Egypt. I'm not sure of the accuracy of either, but they feul the imagination and keep the reader intent on the story.

Let me first say that I agree with all of the other reviewers on this book, that the mystery elements are decidedly weak. That being said, this book is a fitting end to the saga of the extended Emerson family, if, indeed, it is to be the last one in the series. Yes, it is definitely a gathering of friends and family, and yes, several loose ends from previous books in the series have been nicely wrapped up. But beyond that, Tomb of the Golden Bird is a realistic continuation of the lives of this amazing family. The characters have grown, they've learned, yet they remain a close-knit, loving family. The familial details serve as a fitting focal point to the story, not a distraction-- if anything, in this book, the mystery elements were almost a distraction from the family drama. Elizabeth Peters finally tackles the discovery and excavation of the tomb of King Tut, and she inserts the Emerson family into the excitement with great realism. Family patriarch, Radcliffe Emerson, by virtue of one of his characteristic outbursts, manages to get himself, his family and friends banned from participating in the excavation of the tomb. Despite this, we still manage to get plenty of details about the excavation as Peters manages to find credible ways to insert the Emersons into the excavation without harm to historical veracity. While I agree with the other reviewers that this book is not as strong as some of the others in the series, I am still giving it 5 stars, because Peters has maintained a consistency of quality throughout the series, and has also succeeded from keeping the familial and personal elements from becoming annoying intrusions-- unlike other writers such as Patricia Cornwell. With this book, Peters faces the problem that has long troubled writers-- how do you have your beloved characters age gracefully and how do you allow for the fact that when you write a series set in the past, you have to include the historical elements that occur with the passage of time, no matter how inconvenient they may be? Peters tackles these things head on-- rather than pretending that the Emersons were the excavators of Tut's tomb, she finds a plausible reason to leave them on the outskirts. Rather than pretending that the political turmoil in Egypt did not happen, she involves her characters in the issue of nationalism and rebellion against British colonialism. I hate to think that this is the last Amelia Peabody book, because I have loved each and every one of them. But if, indeed, it is, Peters has written a fitting ending to the series. Amelia Peabody forever!

In 1922 in Egypt, Egyptologist Radcliffe Emerson begs Lord Carnavon and Howard Carter to let him excavate in the Valley of the Kings where the duo have exclusive digging rights. Because he is well known for his findings, Radcliffe's action leads to a feeding frenzy from some of his rivals who assume something of value awaits those who dig in the Valley of Kings. They are proven right when Carter uncovers the tomb of King Tutankhamen. The incredibly preserved burial chamber contains a wealth of artifacts that attract a global invasion of curators, collectors, amateurs, the media, government and grave robbers. Among the last group arriving at the sight is Emerson's shifty half-brother, severely ailing Sethos, who carries a secret document that if it gets into the wrong hands could cause unbelievable hostilities in the Middle East. Though he wants nothing to do with a sibling he does not trust, Radcliffe tries to help Sethos, which leads to increasingly dangerous attacks on his family. Not one to wait for an assault, Radcliffe's wife Amelia Peabody begins to look into who wants them dead and whether the motive is Sethos and his document or something to do with Tut. The eighteenth historical Peabody mystery is a refreshing superb tale that uses the Tut dig of 1922 as a backdrop to the action-packed story line. Radcliffe plays the prime role more so than Amelia, which adds to the feel of briskness in spite of the desert climate. The mystery comes a little later than usual, but is well worth the wait as the early plot provides insight into the renowned Carter excavation. TOMB OF THE GOLDEN BIRD is must reading experience for Elizabeth Peters' fans while newcomers will fully appreciate a strong early twentieth century mystery with a powerful historical foundation. Harriet Klausner

A mystery surrounding the discovery of King Tut's tomb, with the usual madcap adventure and convoluted family dynamics. Amelia is wonderful as usual. This book also has one of my favorite secondary characters Sethos, Emerson's rascally half-brother, up to something shady as usual. I am as convinced as ever that Sethos is the great-grandfather of John Smythe/John Tregarth, another of Elizabeth Peters' charming rascals, in the Vicky Bliss books. Hopefully there'll be another Vicky Bliss book one day as well that will reveal that connection.