The Ape Who Guards the Balance
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"* 'I can't wait for the next Peabody story... I really do think [Elizabeth Peters'] books are great entertainment.' Angela Rippon * 'A writer so popular that the public library has to keep her books under lock and key.' Washington Post Book World * 'Think Miss Marple with early feminist gloss crossed with Indiana Jones... accomplished entertainment.' Guardian"
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Prospects for the 1907 archaeological season in Egypt are looking somewhat dull to Amelia. As a result of Emerson's less-than-diplomatic behaviour, they have been demoted to examining only the most boring tombs in the Valley of the Kings - mere leftovers, really. And then, in a seedy section of Cairo, the younger members of the Peabody Emerson clan purchase a mintcondition papyrus of the famed Book of the Dead, the collection of magical spells and prayers designed to ward off the perils of the underworld and lead the deceased into everlasting life. But for as long as there have been graves, there have also been grave robbers - and so begins a new adventure into antiquity. The season rapidly switches from dull to deadly as Amelia strives to untangle a web woven of criminals and cults, stolen treasures and fallen women - all the while under the unblinking eye of a ruthless, remorseless killer.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
It helps if you have read previous books in this series. As usual, the characters spring out at you from the very first page and the humour is wonderful. I got a bit confused over who was writing which bit of the manuscript (the book is made up of several manuscripts written by different characters) but the story still flowed easily. I have 'watched' Ramses grow from a baby to an almost full grown man and I can see that there is a whole new series in the offing, featuring the 'children' Ramses, David and Nefret. I can't wait! For anyone who has read previous Elizabeth Peters books, this one is a must.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Highly regarded archeologist Professor Radcliffe Emerson has recently alienated too many administrators. In retaliation, he has been relegated to wandering around the Egypt's Valley of the Kings, which by 1907 has been explored too many times for any individual to get excited about it. However, having his beloved wife Amelia Peabody, their adult son Ramses, and their foster children (Nefret and David) along with him will ease the tedium.
In a slummy section of Cairo, the children purchase a papyrus of the Book of the Dead. Abruptly what was to be a dull season has become very exciting because two people are murdered and the Master Criminal has surfaced. This time he defeats Amelia in his game of cat and mouse, but fails to account for her now maturing allies, the next generation of Emersons, who just might tip the scales back in favor of the good guys.
The tenth Peabody novel, THE APE WHO GUARDS THE BALANCE, demonstrates why Elizabeth Peters recently was the recipient of the Grand Master Award by the Mystery Writers of America. The novel, like all the Peabody tales, is complicated but humorous and loaded with interesting historical references from two eras (antiquity and the first decade of the twentieth century) that surround an intriguing mystery. However, what makes the latest entry so refreshing and fun to read is the maturing of the next generation of Emersons. This will elate fans of the series and bring in new readers as well.
Harriet Klausner
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This series of mysteries, starring an eccentric British archaeologist husband & wife team who are excavating in Egypt at the turn of the century, just gets better and better. They are witty, hilarious, ingeniously crafted mysteries, and fascinating in their depiction of archaeology at that time (Peters, the author, is actually an egyptologist and is correct in every historical and period detail). What makes them special is the relationships between the characters. Peters has assembled an all-star ensemble cast who play against eachother wonderfully. The family relationships in this group of intelligent, competitive, and passionate people are drawn with such skill that you laugh and ache with them. While the earlier books were narrated entirely in the first person by the undauntable Amelia Peabody, this latest book (and also the previous one "Seeing a Large Cat") includes parts told from the viewpoints of other family members, particularly her precocious son Ramses who we watched grow up in preceeding books. Peters captures the generation gap perfectly, deftly exposing the frailties of both groups - the tendency of parents to underestimate their children, and vice-versa. Having read the series from start to finish (about 12 books) I am completely hooked. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens next in the lives of this remarkable group of people Peters has created.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Just gets better
Amelia Peabody Emmerson just gets better with each book. Thought by now I would have tired of Amelia and Emmerson getting into tricky situations, but certainly not. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Gran Jan
Tenth Book in the Series
Elizabeth Peters was born and brought up in Illinois and earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago's famed Oriental Institute. Read more
Published on 27 July 2007 by J. Chippindale
Tenth Book in the Series
Elizabeth Peters was born and brought up in Illinois and earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago's famed Oriental Institute. Read more
Published on 23 July 2007 by J. Chippindale
I love all of these books!
I have read all of the Amelia Peabody series and I love every single one. This one is just as exciting as the rest. Read more
Published on 29 April 2006 by Beth Hunt
Dull, Dull, Dull
Having been told how good the Amelia Peabody series was I had high hopes that this book would be something special. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2006
Another solid and entertaining addition to the series
Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody novels are normally entertaining fare and this one is no exception. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2004 by "resurgamlaura2"
Pants.
I logged on to Amazon to find myself a decent novel to take on holiday with me to Luxor, Egypt. After scouring the options available, I settled on dear old Amelia simply because... Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2000
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....
I'll try to keep it simple... If you have read other books in this series, I can only guess (based on the other reviews) that you will enjoy this book. Read more
Published on 28 Aug 1999
Great characters & mystery, set in Egypt- you can't go wrong
I needed something to read... I read the back cover and it sounded interesting so I bought it. After reading this wonderful book and falling in love with the characters and their... Read more
Published on 17 Aug 1999
The characters are one-dimensional and the story is tedious.
This is my first Elizabeth Peters novel and my last. After seeing the glowing reviews, and considering the richness of the locale, I was so looking forward to being immersed in... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 1999
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