Amelia sounds like she's about 50 and the chemistry between her and Emerson didn't really come through as well as I think it would have if I had read it.Īnyway. I kept thinking that the words were better/funnier than she was doing them justice. I love audiobooks and use them all the time, but I think the voice actress in this one just didn't fit quite right. Nah, I'll just sit at home and read (I'm not luckily wealthy like Amelia and fear Egyptian snakes too much), but still.let's hear it for the Armchair Travelers.Ĭute cozy mystery set in Egypt. The ambience of Egypt erupts through the pages, making me feel a bit of an itch myself when it comes to traveling and marveling at the world's mysteries. It's a mystery without a murder, but there's plenty to figure out. Practical Amelia refuses to be scared off by demented legends of the small minded populace, but even she must face stumbling mummies wrapped in bandages when they try to break into her camp!

Side characters give fun times too - where would Amelia be without her loyal and sweet companion, Evelyn, and the brothers Walter and Emerson? It's not a particularly romantic book and it's kept completely PG, but sparks start to fly and I'm sure most readers were happy when Emerson finally starts losing his prejudice towards Amelia and sees her for what she is: an ideal partner in exploration, both Egypt and life. In this first book she discovers her love of ancient artifacts and Egypt. Prim and proper can deliver the most giggles, especially with bad luck befalls on her and her companion on their travels. She may be stuffy, but she's fun to like.

Without intention, she amuses characters and readers alike with her antics and attitude. She can get down and dirty with the best of them when it comes to discovering, uncovering and fixing up artifacts. I finally took the plunge and tried the first book in her long-running series set around Egyptian adventures.Īmelia Peabody is quite a character - feminist for her times, tough and determined, loyal and intelligent. “Men are frail creatures, of course one does not expect them to exhibit the steadfastness of women.”īarbara Mertz was one creative gal - she hooked me with her gothic mysteries under the Barbara Michaels penname, but I never indulged as much in her straight mystery stories under the name Elizabeth Peters.

Crocodile on the sandbank