An Amelia Peabody Novel of Suspense (Amelia Peabody Series)

This is the book that should never have been written - Miss Peters should have left it at The Tomb of the Golden Bird.
I have read all her books, and this one is terribly disappointing. The plot is unrealistic, the characters don't even seem to be presented the way they were in the other Amelia books, and if I didn't know better, I would say someone else had written it -
The style just seems tired and lacking any of the wit and style of the previous books.It is as if Miss Peters made a tremendous effort to write this book, but it just didn't come off. The characters never "came to life" and remained wooden all the way through it.

A great shame.It reminds me of what a well known sportsman said when he retired........"You go when they are still asking Why you are going, not WHEN you are going to go"

I think this last book detracts from all the other delightful Amelia books that preceded it.

I agree with some reviews that this installment was shorter and lacking in detail in places, but it reminded me of what got me hooked on this series in the first place 20 years ago - Peabody and Emerson! Peabody's "little lists"; her parasol; her self-confidence; her steely, take-no-prisoners mentality (all wrapped up in the perfect decorum of a Victorian British lady, of course); and the wonderful driving force behind the series, the passionate yet loving relationship she shares with Emerson, her hunky, hilarious, brilliant and outspoken husband, "the greatest Egyptologist of this or any other age". They are a delicious pair, with their "refreshing discussions", charging in where angels fear to tread, fighting the good fight against spies, criminals, inept bureaucrats, archeologists and hypocrites everywhere.

So, while I agree that this might not be up to the excellent standards Ms. Peters set for herself in previous books, her middling best is still better than a lot of what is out there for mystery buffs - especially those of us who enjoy a large dollop of humor in the mix - so I liked it and gave it four stars accordingly. I only hope there are more Peabody and Emerson adventures to come, whether they are set after 1922 or during the "in-between years"!

Well, I am finished rereading the series and can finally open the new book. I am excited, if wary. I truly hope Joan Hess can stay true to Amelia Peabody's voice. I am hopeful, however, since it seems as if Ms. Hess was a good friend of Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Mertz), even having one of the earlier books in the series dedicated to her.

As usual, moving back in time was a bit disconcerting, though I understand the necessity. No way should Ms. Peters mess up the wonderful conclusion in "Tomb of the Golden Bird". But I do hate that Ramses and Nefret aren't together as yet. Thank heavens Ramses doesn't go overboard with the angst and pining in this one.

I was a little disappointed Ramses was separated from the rest of the family for most of the book which made heavy reliance on Manuscript H a necessity.

I did think the different setting of Jerusalem was a nice way to spice up the series. Now on to the true, final book in the series. I will miss Amelia, Emerson and the gang, but I am grateful to know I can pick up book one and start all over again.

This was a very entertaining book about the Emerson family, even if it didn't seem that the plot quite hung together all the way through.

In this book, we find the Emerson's in Palestine instead of Egypt. Ramses has stumbled into an underground political plot. Emerson is trying to keep an amateur from ruining an ancient site, and Amelia is trying to keep everyone on track and acting sensibly ... except of course herself! LOL

Regardless of the plotting problems I alluded to, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and the last 25% was a real page turner.

I've been working my way through the series for the last few years, and now I only have the last three books left. I'm anxious to read them, yet not so anxious to never have another "new" Emerson and Peabody novel.

In 1910, Palestine bubbles with intrigue. Ramses Emerson, son of Egyptologists Radcliffe and Amelia Peabody Emerson, works at an archaeological dig in Samaria rather than spend the summer in England with his parents and his foster sister, Nefret Forth (whom he loves, and not with a brother's affection). When Ramses learns something about a visiting German archaeologist that he knows he must pass on to British authorities, he soon finds himself a captive. Meanwhile, back in England, the elder Emersons entertain a man named Morley who wants their help in excavating a Jerusalem site - one that's forbidden, since the Holy Mount of the destroyed Temple is sacred to three great religions. The War Office believes the inept Morley to be a German spy, and they want Professor Emerson's help in unmasking him. Emerson simply wants to keep the man from destroying relics that a competent archaeologist would preserve. So the Emersons head for Palestine, accompanied by Nefret and by their foster nephew (and Ramses's best friend), David Todros; and once they arrive, a cryptic message from Ramses convinces them that something must be dreadfully wrong.

This book was inserted in the Peabody chronology after the final tale's publication, and it is a delightful return to the series as it used to be. I have enjoyed the later books very much, but this one's simplicity of plot and its being limiting to the central characters only made it a pleasure to read. This is what hooked me in the first place!

--Reviewed by Nina M. Osier, author of 2005 science fiction EPPIE winner "Regs"

It is 1910, archaeologists Amelia and Emerson are at loose ends. They've been banned from digging in Egypt so there's no going back there. Then George Morley shows up on their doorstep and talks to them about the Ark of the Covenant. He believes he knows where it is located. Of course, Amelia is intrigued, while Emerson lets it be known that anything associated with the Bible is hogwash.

This is the 19th outing for the archaeologists. It was hard to tell what the story was really about. The Ark was introduced in the first chapter and then ignored for 150+ pages. Yes, Amelia and Emerson head to Jerusalem ostensibly to keep an eye on Morley as he excavates at the Temple Mount. Yes, there is some intrigue when suspected German spies are introduced, but that is really never substantiated. Amelia and Emerson essentially ignore Morley except for Emerson ordering Morley to have another archaeologist present. It is never explained why Emerson believes he can order Morley about or why Morley would pay any attention what so ever to him or why that more experienced archaeologist isn't Emerson.The more experienced archaeologist is a German woman whose credentials are not to be believed. Emerson, in the meantime, has decided to dig in the vicinity of Morley's dig, but it takes a long time to get to the whys of his decision and even then the reader is left wondering what made him choose that site.

There is so little of substance in this book, including archaeology and mystery. The only mystery is who two of the minor characters really are. Saying that this outing has anything to do with archaeology and/or mystery and the Ark of the Covenant is a doing the potential reader a huge disservice.

It didn't take long to be annoyed with Emerson. He was rude, whiny, overbearing, and a curmudgeon. Somewhere in the first chapter, I really wanted Amelia to tell him to shut up, but she didn't. By the final chapter, I was so tired of being told that his nickname was the "Father of Curses," I wanted to throw the book across the room.

By far the most interesting character was Ramses, their son, especially since he was nothing like his father. At least his actions made sense even when they turned out not to be in his best interest.

All in all a very disappointing read.

I have most of the other Amelia Peabody books and love them. Well...I love them up through He Shall Thunder in the Sky: An Amelia Peabody Novel of Suspense, I have to admit that I haven't cared for them as much since then. Ramses and Nefret being married changed both of them (and the series) too much.

But when this one came out, and I saw that it takes place back before The Falcon at the Portal: An Amelia Peabody Novel of Suspense and He Shall Thunder in the Sky: An Amelia Peabody Novel of Suspense, I was looking forward to another book back in the time before Ramses and Nefret got married, when they and Emerson and Amelia were their own version of a convoluted team. And...

Well, it wasn't bad. But it just wasn't as good as those other older ones either. I'm wondering if writing them out of chronological order is significantly more difficult. ie: Maybe Peters' writing style for these books evolved as the series and characters did, and it's just not possible to rewind that.

I was frequently both bored and confused at the same time. The plot just never really got going well enough to pull me in. There didn't seem to be much to the romance either, and I'm enough of a romance junkie that I missed it. This being the year before Falcon, I sort of figured that we'd get to see Nefret starting to fall in love but not realizing that's what's actually happening. That wasn't there.

There wasn't really much of a case, at all. A bit of spying going on, etc. but the plot was nothing compared to the spy plots in Falcon and Thunder. Amelia never rushed off, Nefret never rushed off, and Emerson never did any of his theatrical stunts. David rushed off...and got caught. Ramses did escape with David, but it was rather anti-climatic, ending with him being rescued by a mysterious group and having to write home for help because he was sick at the end.

One of the reasons I loved this series is because all four of them were always so over-the-top in a way that somehow still seemed totally believable, in that world. But none of that was here in this one...which made them all seem rather boring.

...but still quite good.

The previous Peabody book, Tomb of the Golden Bird, provides such a satisfying chronological conclusion to the series that further sequels would probably dilute it. Author Peters anticipated this, however, by leaving chronological gaps in the series which she could fill in at leisure once the series "concluded". The present book is an example of this, being set in 1910. To stir the pot even further Peters sets most of the action not in Egypt where most of the other books take place, but in Palestine.

The book does not quite come up to scratch. It's by no means bad, indeed it is quite readable. All the Peabody/Emerson banter is there and the humor that makes the series such a delight is there also. The plot however is decidedly on the weak side. Another problem is that the plot requires Ramses (and later David) to be separated from the rest for almost the entire book. This means that there are more than the usual extracts from "Manuscript H" which are not only not nearly as entertaining as the Peabody "memoirs" but give the reader the annoying feeling he's reading two different books. I found that myself becoming annoyed when coming to the "Manuscript H" parts.

But if one has read the previous Peabody books none of this is a deal breaker. One will jump at any excuse to get more adventures of the first family of archeology. While I wouldn't recommend this to any Peabody neophytes there's enough here to make this worthwhile for the old hands.

This story is based in 1910, and is concerned with Germany attempting to build a strong influence in Palestine.

Archaeologists Amelia Peabody and her husband Emerson had intended to stay in England this summer as Emerson had been banned from digging in the Valley of the Kings. Now the British War Office has asked him to go over to Palestine to check some people out. A would-be archaeologist, George Morley, insists he knows where the Ark of the Covenant is, and intends to dig for it. Emerson thinks that Morley is too inept to be a any kind of a spy, but agrees to go to Palestine. Their son, Ramses, is on a dig there.

He and Amelia let Ramses know, and ask him to meet up with them. Nefret, whom they rescued from a cult and is now a doctor, and David, the grandson of their first guide and overseer, both now considered members of the family, also go.

When they arrive, they meet a beautiful, cultured and knowledgeable German woman, Mme von Eine. Ramses also has met her and is suspicious of her as she seems very secretive.

Ramses is kidnapped. David goes to rescue him and is also taken.

Morley starts digging in an area sacred to all religions and is attacked. Emerson gets him safely away, and reports that nobody as dumb as that could possibly be a spy!

I don't want to go into more of the story as it might spoil it for the reader.

This story is quite different from the other Peabody/Emerson stories, but just as fascinating. The history is something new to me. It's still a book you don't want to put down until you've reached the end!

Highly recommend it.

Get ready to travel back in time as Peabody, Emerson, Ramses, Nefret and crew head away from beloved Eygpt to the Holy Land for mystery and mayhem.

I'm currently reading 3 of Peter's tales, trying to catch up: besides finishing this one, there's also 'Tomb of the Golden Bird' and yes, I haven't read it, 'Crocodile on the Sandbank'- Amelia's first. I've read others out of sequence, so I have an unusual perspective.

I really enjoy the newness and energy of 'Croc', but after finishing 'Serpent on the Crown' and naturally continuing into the adventures with the discovery of Tut's tomb by Howard Carter, 'A River in the Sky' took me back for a bit. As stated in the forward, it lies somewhere between 'Guardian of the Horizon'- which I really liked for all daring-doery/romance, and ' the Falcon at the Portel'-yet to read.

But I've settled into 'A River in the Sky'. I'd become too comfortable with the Emersons in Luxor and Thebes. Sitting out with them with there all too numerous discussions while the Great Cat of Re laid purring on my lap. I guess a change was needed.

Contrary to some reviewers, I believe this story is well written. I think it's actually crisper and more organized than the 2 novels before it. Yes, it's odd to now see Ramses and Nefret not married, and of course, there is a certain loss of suspense when you know what's in the future, but Peters has put a fair amount of mystery and surprise into it while still keeping the congenial familiarity we have with the Emersons.

Ghost writer? Another reviewer mentioned this. I don't think so. She always acknowledges her helpers. I know Ms. Peters/Barbara Mertz is 82, but she said she'll keep writing until she drops at 100. I really hope so. She's certainly prolific.

A note to those new to her writing. One can pick this story up and learn the characters like I did. She does refer to past events from other books, but it's not a big problem. 'Tomb of the Golden Bird' gives a nice list of who's who at the start. And you might read 'Crocodile on the Sandbank' for the original fun/mystery/romance and adventure that we eat up as fans.

Perennial bestselling author Elizabeth Peters transports Peabody, Emerson and crew to pre-WWI Jerusalem in "A River in the Sky." She also gives herself the twin challenges of writing about these beloved characters outside their archeological stomping grounds of Egypt, and of slotting this tale in chronological terms between two previous works. These two forces do impact the story arc, but in my opinion do not affect its effectiveness.

I am anti-spoiler, so I will not go into detail about the plot. However, I do feel comfortable in saying that fans of the series will enjoy the peeks Peters gives into the growth of several characters. She also -- quite successfully -- writes in a voice that is similar in style to the one she used when writing the chronological neighbors to this book, an accomplishment that is successful because it is handled so smoothly. Supporting cast members, such as Gargery, are evoked with the degree of involvement they had at this point in the overall series arc, as well, so I picture new fans of Peters, Peabody, Emerson, et. al reading this new addition where it "belongs" in the series with nary a hiccup. (Series fans, think back to Peabody's lists and the evening cocktail scenes to see how she zips these characters back to 1910.)

My main regret about this book is the relative lack of archeological doings when compared with other tales in the series. I accept the development of Ramses as a trade-off. However, I did wish that Ms. Peters had taken full advantage of the pre-WWI place and time to give us a bit more about Jerusalem. Perhaps, in her canny way, she will take a peek at Amelia's notebook and weave some yet-unseen-by-us elements into reflections in a future book?

Amelia Peabody and her Egyptologist husband, Radcliffe Emerson, are off, not to Egypt, but to Palestine. Out of chronological order, this one is set in 1910, at a time when the Ottoman Empire was crumbling and the British were trying to stem German influence in the Holy Land. The Emersons set off, at the behest of the War Office, which is concerned that a bumbling archaelogist may or may not be a German spy, but in any case is likely to engage in a dig that will antagonize Jew, Muslim and Christian alike.

As in all Peters' books, the bad guys aren't always easy to tell from the good, Ramses Emerson gets into hot water, there are mysterious societies, and what's right and wrong isn't always obvious. Unlike many of her books, though, there's a sense that Peters was going through the motions, putting in the stock scenes - Amelia with her umbrella, Emerson ranting, women throwing themselves at Ramses. There's very little emotional tension, and, frankly, the motivations of the characters are almost buried.

Not Peters' best.

The Amelia Peabody series is one that I come back to time and time again. I was so excited to read this book and to find out that it is set in 1910 before The Falcon and the Portal but after Guardian of the Horizon.

A River in the Sky begins with Amelia and Emerson at their home in England with Ramses off in Samaria on an expedition all his own. As to be expected, Amelia and Emerson encounter a bit of a mystery that leads them to an area not far from where Ramses is staying. With Nefret and others in tow, Amelia and Emerson begin their journey and investigation under the premise of an archaeological expedition. Amelia is her usual efficient and independent self with her lists and her parasol with Emerson at her side.

While I enjoyed having a chance to go back in the past with the characters and the opportunity to read about an adventure away from Egypt, I found that the story lacked some of the usual charm. The ending felt rushed and choppy. I will say that this book (at least the very beginning) reminded me why I fell in love with this series...Amelia and Emerson. Not to say that I do not enjoy Ramses and Nefret but their story is not what originally drew me to this series while I was in middle school! I would definitely recommend this book to any Amelia Peabody fan! However if this is your first book in this series I would say it would be a good idea to start from the beginning (but definitely read this in between The Falcon and the Portal and Guardian of the Horizon).

I have been reading Elizabeth Peters all my life, it seems, a great variety of different mysteries, but the Amelia Peabody series is the greatest. They mostly take place in Egypt, but this time, we have gone back into the past a bit, to 1910, and Palestine is their target, specifically Jerusalem. Palestine is still controlled by the Ottoman Empire, and World War I is just waiting to happen. Parts of the book are a collection of manuscripts by Ramses Emerson, and the rest is the diary of Amelia Peabody herself. Ramses has gone to Palestine on his own. There are spies, military persons, and the normal amount of killers on the loose and close escapes from their adversaries. Through it all Emerson Sr. creates the dilemmas, and Amelia finds a way to solve the problems. Ramses and David have been kidnapped and Amelia and Emerson leave no stone unturned. Also in Jerusalem there is an excavator who has no archeological training and Emerson vows to stop him from tearing up the place at any cost.

This is a lively book and the characters are amusing and entertaining. I read the book in a few nights, just reading before I go to sleep, sometimes waking up and finding the light on and the book across my stomach - but mostly just reading far longer than I should have and then being sleepy at work the next day.

Since her original protagonists, the redoubtable Amelia Peabody Emerson and her husband, renown Egyptologist Radcliffe Emerson, are now in their seventies and the younger generation, Walter "Ramses" Emerson and his wife Nefret are parents, Elizabeth Peters is now going back in time to fill in some of the "missing adventures" of the Emerson family. In this volume, it is 1910, and since Radcliffe Emerson has been banned from Egypt after a contretemps with the Minister of Antiquities, the family is at home in Kent while Ramses works on a dig in Palestine. Then a vague but prophetic stranger arrives at their home in the company of George Morley, who is on the track of the Ark of the Covenant.

Like the last few books about the family, the action has shifted to the younger generation, which was inevitable; this means Ramses gets involved in more feats of derring-do. However, since we know the future from past volumes, any suspense which involves the main characters is therefore nonexistent. The different setting (Palestine rather than Egypt) may also put off fans of the Egyptian settings, although I found it an intriguing change. In addition, Nefret doesn't get much to do in this go-round except worry. A nice additional family chronicle/adventure, but not one of the best.

For those that have read the 18 previous novels in this series and are just looking to spend more time with the characters you've come to know and love then this book will be a welcome addition. But for those who are looking for something new, well, you'll probably be dissapointed.

I won't replay the plot for you as most reviewers do. Since this novel takes place in the middle of the series' timeline, we obviously won't be enlightened with much new character development. After all, how can an author make many changes to a character's past without screwing up something? As a result we get the same descriptions as always, the same motivations, etc. The mystery elements of the plot were fairly straight forward but satisfying. At least I didn't solve it half way through the book.

Plotwise...well, not much really happened. If you like the Egyptian archeology aspects of this series, you won't find any in this book. In fact, it mostly takes place in Jerusalem; no digs at all and only some minor archelogical discussions. That is certainly OK but just know that before you buy.

I wonder if it's time for the author to call this series complete and move on with her many other works or start an all new series.

Ameila and family are called to jerusalem to stop a unscrupulous digger from excavating the Pool of Siloam. He is looking for the fabled Ark of the Covenant. Rumour has it there is a script a scroll that tells of the location of this artifact.
So The Emersons' are called from London to Jerusalem to Get Morely away from the dig, but before they can Ramses comes up missing from his dig that he is on.
Someone has bee attacking him, small rocks and other irritations and Ramses sets off to find out what is going on.
he is captured by a strange couple a german woman and a muslim man.
They want him out of the way, but why?
Ramses is determined to find the answers and thought he had it figured out until David is brought into his chambers with him.
More mystery abounds.
Meanwhile the Emersons are being followed by a strange cleric that swears he is reincarnated from various holy people. That does not set well with Emerson nor Amelia, who have not time for that foolishness, but the man does have knowledge of the sacred text that tells of the Ark of the covenant.

We all have those authors that we remember from waaaay back when. For some of us, back further than we want to remember. But regardless, these are the authors that we remember from our childhood and adolescence that helped us get through those rough growing up years.

And then we grow up, and don't find as much time to read, and when we do, I know I want my favorite books and characters to remain the same. I get irritated when the books have a different formula, or the storyline has been going on for so long that the characters are different from when we all first started. I know a lot of authors and characters who have changed over the years and it is SO nice to read a book after a looong period of time has passed and realize they are just the same and that they are there waiting for me whenever I can pick them back up.

Thank you for the memories!

The Emersons are off again doing what they do best keeping the historical treasures of Egypt safe for the British Museum it may not be right or fair but it was Imperialism. The family is just a lot more kinder about it then many of their contemporaries would have been that's all. That's why I have always liked the series and the author she doesn't change the values that relatively tolerant British people at the time would have had thereby making them even more tolerant. Motivations and psychoanalysis aside the plot is something you can go into as a longtime fan of the series and know exactly what you are getting as the family family has progress through time double and triple agents working for the Germans have replaced the unscrupulous antiques dealers and crazy occultists that populated the earliest stories. If this is your first book in the series you have to go back to the beginning you will only appreciate the series more.

A pleasure to read from beginning to end one last gift from Mrs. Peters (whatever her real name is I misremember) to her fanbase thank you very much.

Amelia Peabody returns in this very Peabody-esque novel, complete with Emerson (the father of Curses), Ramses (now grown and quite a personality), Nefret, and the household cats. All are in fine form. Other reviewers have described the plot in great detail, so I'll skip to what I love (and don't love) about this series.

Elizabeth Peters is a remarkable historian, and jams each of her books with tidbits of archaeology, history, geography, and more. This time, instead of the usual Egyptian thrills, the book is set in the Holy Land, and it's an opportunity to learn more about more parts of the world. Peters never disappoints in this arena.

On the down side, I find Peters a bit wordy. While her character descriptions are evocative and her descriptions of locale and action have you seeing the story in vivid color, I wonder if she really needs to go on for so long about everything. It makes it a leisurely read. You won't be finishing this book in one sitting.

But those (many) (long) sittings make for an enjoyable ride.

This is a new, 2010, Amelia Peabody mystery. If you are familiar with the series, it is set when Ramses and Nefret are young adults but not yet a couple. Ramses has taken a position working with an archeologist in Palestine. He is attacked several times and finally kidnapped. His family, home in England, are unaware of his situation but soon find themselves in a position where they, too, must go to Palestine. The story, which involves valuable ancient treasures and German versus British intrigue, is not as tightly and neatly told as most Peabody mysteries. Character development is not as good as usual and there is less "fun" interaction between Amelia and Emerson. Matter of fact, if the reader is unfamiliar with Amelia, Emerson, and family already, this book might be rather confusing. I still enjoyed it, but this is not one of the best of the Amelia Peabody mysteries.

I remember the first Amelia Peabody mystery I read. I thought it was a clever parody of romance novels, I loved it, but I never dreamt it would be a series. When I found out it was, years later, I rushed to collect every book, and read them, and loved them.
However, the last couple of books, I couldn't really get into. The "romance" between Ramses and Nefret just never seemed interesting, or entertaining. It ruined the series for me, and made me hesitant to order this one.
This one is set before the whole "Rafret" ("Nemses"?) affair, when they were still just pining away for each other, and instead of being set in Egypt, it's set in the Holy Land. It's a breath of fresh air and a welcome return to how things should be. It makes me look forward to another Egypt book, hopefully sans Ramses and Nefret and their boring, chemistry-less romance.
I guess Emerson and Peabody have all the chemistry, and there's just none left for the younger generation.

I'm delighted that Elizabeth Peters has decided to tuck more books into the spaces in between the existing books in the Amelia Peabody series. These books are filled with headlong action and suspense, so you can enjoy them just as good stories. The plots are always well-crafted, the characters appealing, and the dialogue snappy.

But there's also a lot of tongue-in-cheek poking fun at the genre of romantic suspense. There's a good deal of historical and geographic information. And there's interesting and unobtrusive social commentary as well.

River in the Sky is no exception. Amelia and her family head to Jerusalem in this story, set before the World Wars. There are spies, madmen, charlatans, secret societies, and even a sinister noblewoman. From the lively beginning to the satisfying ending, this is a book to enjoy.

While it's always enjoyable returning to the world of Amelia Peabody Emerson and the entire Emerson clan, I'm not sure 1910 Palestine was the best setting. Many of the character we've come to know and enjoy were missing and those that were there were barely supporting players. That being said, it's been four years since the last book so I happy to get my Amelia fix.

As has been the case for the last few books, the mystery itself is less interesting than the characters. Amelia is up to her usual antics and lists, Emerson barrels his way through everything, and Ramses is in peril. Normally, I'm not a big fan of the "Manuscript H" interruptions; mostly because I've found the adult Ramses to be condescending, rude, and overly full of himself. This time around they're an important part of the story and actually add value to the overall plot; whereas, normally they are filled with Ramses moaning about his overprotective parents and pining for Nefret. If the plot of this novel had been about nothing more than the family coming to Palestine to save Ramses it would have been just as good without all the throw-away plots involving spies, ancient cults, and Frauleins.

Still, it was fun to return this world and there any number of moments where I found myself laughing out loud. For fans of Amelia Peabody Emerson this should be a fun read.

In 1910 Egyptologists Amelia Peabody and her husband Radcliffe Emerson learn their son Ramses has been kidnapped in Palestine. Though the information is sketchy, apparently German archaeologist, Frau Von Eine and her Muslim partner Mansur abducted Ramses.

Amelia and Radcliffe rush to Palestine focusing on rescuing their son and preventing a looting of biblical treasures in Jerusalem by an amateur Morley interested only in money. At the same time, Ramses focuses on escaping captivity. Although they have no idea what the motive is, his parents deem their best chance of locating their son is avaricious Morley who has links with Von Eine.

This is a terrific look at Palestine in 1910 as archeologists, professional and amateur descend on the biblical treasures of the country. The story line is fast-paced throughout, as the escapades of Amelia and Emerson, and separately those of Ramses are gripping. Although the key element behind the kidnapping never elucidated, fans will enjoy this fine "memoir" in a strong early twentieth century series.

Harriet Klausner

This was the first Amelia Peabody mystery that I read. I based my choosing on the wait list for Elizabeth Peters on the bookmobile, and I wasn't disappointed.

Amelia "Peabody" and her husband, in this 1910 mystery A River in the Sky: A Novel (Amelia Peabody Mysteries), followed a Mr. Morley to Jerusalem where Morley was looking for the Ark of the Covenant. Meanwhile, their son Ramses, working in Egypt and heading over to his parents in Jerusalem, was kidnapped. The two plots were told side-by-side until Ramses and his family were reunited. The book continued with a murder and, of course, more about the dig and pre-WWI espionage.

I preferred the style of writing in Ramses's misadventure to Peabody's 19th century text, but otherwise enjoyed this book. The colorful characters and landscapes are wonderfully described for those of us who've never been on archaeological digs in Jerusalem or Egypt! Because I've never read any of the other Amelia Peabody mysteries, I don't know if this one was up to par, but it was certainly enjoyable and recommended.

This is another good offering of Peabody's world. It is 1910, and the gang is getting a little long in the tooth, but they are as sharp as ever. They get back in the saddle for another adventure, which is not as obvious as others in the franchise. The fact that you could not figure out who did it fifty pages in was a real treat, but the character development was also very good, so that also made this book a little more enjoyable than the others. All in all, a very good story relating the end of Peabody's sleuthing days. Get it an enjoy!!!!

(the first amelia peabody emerson novel that i have read)

a prominent early 20th century archaeologist and her archaeologist-husband
shepherd their extended family through the middle east,
uncovering murders and political intrigues,
while meeting roguish characters of the times.

a bit of geography, a few semitic aphorisms, some history--ancient and near-modern--
some nasty international spies, some buffoons from the foreign office--
it all comes together and works itself out in this (one-of-a-series)
mystery novel with amelia peabody emerson as the matriarch-scientist-sleuth.
wonderful characters, settings, and scenes to take the reader back 100 years or so
to an always turbulent middle-east and the city of jerusalem.

an easy few-days read--four stars because there are some better and many worse.

i liked the bits about historical and biblical convergence,
real on-the-ground, in-the-ground evidence,
described clearly and connectedly for the reader.

I have been a devoted Elizabeth Peters reader for years, but I particularly enjoy her Amelia (Peabody) and Emerson series. Therefore I was pleasantly surprised to find the duo back in in great form. Some readers have noted that this novel is not quite up to the standards set by previous Amelia and Emerson books. I would tend to agree, but I must add that I really enjoyed the novel nonetheless.The story takes place in the early 1900s and centers on an excavation of the holy ground around Palestine. There is plenty of mystery and intrigue and villains galore. There might be others in the series I'd recommend more, but this is still a very pleasant reunion with old friends and a good story to boot.

This is the nineteenth book in the Amelia Peabody series. Mrs. Peabody and her husband Emerson are very British archeologists who specialize in Egyptology in the early 1900's. This book, unlike the others, takes our adventurers to Palestine, otherwise known as the Holy Land, on a mission for the Crown. Even in these strange lands, loyal readers will find many of the familiar characters they have come to expect. Ramses, their son, has preceded them to a dig near Jerusalem, with a promise to stay out of trouble. Well, we know how that is going to turn out! The book is a light read, filled with very British, turn of the century attitudes. The author has created a world full of richness and detail. This is the first book of the series that I have read. I did not immediately take to the characters. The author seemed to be relying on instructing the reader as to whom the characters were and how they should interpreted, rather than allowing the reader to gain knowledge and insight into the characters through the action and flow of the storyline. As in any series, it would probably be best to start at the beginning and get to know the characters as they develop.

I have always heard about Elizabeth Peters books - but have never actually read one until now.
I read this on a very rainy cold day here in Dallas - and was able to get through the whole book in one afternoon/evening.

I was very impressed. The story was very light-hearted - and the characters were all very entertaining.

Things were somewhat thrown together at the end - but the details about archaeological digs more than made up for it.

I will definitely be looking to read other books in the series.

I always look forward to Amelia Peabody but this was was a big let down. First of all I missed the Egyptian setting and being in Palestine did not seem like the Emerson family at all. Also I found the writing choppy -- too many cut-aways to Manuscript H which had little to say. Selim and Daoud were not as important as they are in Egypt which is another reason for not liking the setting. I never like Nefret very much and she seemed more whiney and irritating than usual. The conclusion was exciting and up to the standards of the earlier novels -- the earlier part was not.

The next volume should be set in Egypt -- and I hope there will be another volume as there are lot of years to fill in. Personally I would like to see some books written set much earlier before Nefret came into the picture. But in all cases we must have another Amelia Peabody.

This entry into the tales of Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe Emerson was like an enchanting visit with old friends. The characters are familiar, the plot somewhat predictable, but overall, the book leaves us with a good taste. The right guys win, the bad guys don't get away (well, not ALL of them get away), and all is well in the end. I have read these books for over 20 years, and hope for more.

This is a quick read, with the usual characters but with a story that is weak, at best. The political commentary is the most interesting thing about it, given that the mystery is not very mysterious.

I do love Amelia &c, their adventures, the archaeology, the campness of Elizabeth Peters' send up of romantic novels. But, this latest in the series, a back-fill of one of the previously empty years, seems little more than a shadow of what it should be.

The motivations of the loosely assembled bad guys seem as confused to them as they are to the reader, the characters act like wooden replicas of themselves (Nefret is pretty but a little silly, Amelia organises, Emerson shouts, Rameses is sarcastic, & so on), and there is very little of one of series' main draw cards; decent historical & archaseological information. The conclusion seems to have come as a suprise even to the author herself.

I shall re-read it, but then return it to the library with little regret. And perhaps borrow one of the better ones.

Elizabeth Peters and her Amelia Peabody series are my favorite books. I have read everyone of them and am always eagerly awaiting the next one. I have even reread them while waiting for a new one to come out. Amelia and her family are wonderful characters and make each book come alive. Since I love anything Egyptian, the setting of these books is a delight for me. I hope there are many, many more adventures for the Peabody family!!!!

You either love Elizabeth Peters "Amelia" books, or you hate them. Obviously, I have come to love them. The language is archaic and a bit stilted, as if it was actually written in the Victorian Age. Once you get used to the more formal language, this series is marvelous! Not one but two great romances spanning an arc of several books each, and some books have bits of both romantic relationships in them. There is also plenty of archeological detail, and a lot of very interesting smaller side stories, as well as the main mystery in each book.