An Amelia Peabody Mystery - The Falcon at the Portal

Although I greatly enjoyed this book, I was not left with the same satisfied feeling that many of her other books left me with. It seems to be getting just slightly too involved with internal politics, with the bad guys playing so small of a role, that they seem almost an afterthought. I too do not understand why Nefret had to become so weak & tragic, but the character development of Ramesses is quite excellent. I would like to see David fleshed out a little more as well -- he really intrigues me.
I agree with many of the recent reviewers so don't have much to add.
I hope Emerson never stops popping the buttons off his shirt :-) I hope Narmer has a recurring role as well!

Once again, Emelia pulls off another mystery with the support of that incredibly handsome husband, Emerson. The Falcon at the Portal brings more of the adventures of Ramses, David (along with his new bride, Lia) and Nefret. They are now adults, and are as much involved in the adventure as Amelia and Emerson. I found myself feeling so bad for Ramses. I'm sure that we would all love for him to finally marry Nefret and end all of our frustration. Once again we get the input of Cyrus and Katherine, but their visits are short lived. We are again cursed by the presence of Amelia's miserable nephew, Percy. He is an evil presence, and you never know what to expect from him, nor do you know what his intentions are. Elizabeth has out done herself again. I always find myself learning more and more about Egyptian history when I read an Amelia adventure. I think Elizabeth is one of the greatest historical mystery writers. She brings life to a period of time that none of us lived through.

I always enjoy her Egyptology books. They're a little fanciful in terms of characters who are so incredibly multifaceted, speaking multiple languages, reading hieroglyphics at sight etc, but lots of fun with a soupcon of culture thrown in, who could ask for anything more?

The Falcon at the Portal picks up some years after the painful events of The Ape Who Guards the Balance (painful for me because I didn't like the book, and painful for the Emersons personally). David and Lia are finally to be married, Nefret and Ramses haven't sorted themselves out yet, and Amelia and Emerson are still themselves. All sounds well enough, but when David is accused of forging artifacts, and Emerson submits to blackmail to keep the accusations secret, the Emerson family detection machine goes into action to keep the newlyweds happy and safe. The mystery follows the family on their seasonal expedition to Egypt, where Amelia has a chance to excavate a (shabby) pyramid. Then the usual annoyances-- sprays of gunfire, near-fatal 'accidents,' despicable family members-- pop up, and before too long the Emersons find a very dead body at the bottom of a pyramid shaft.

I will be brief: I loved this book. The snappy dialogue and vibrant characterization I want from a Peabody book was there. The interaction between the 'kids': Ramses, Nefret, David, and Lia-- was delightful. Lia, an annoyance in the previous book, was redeemed here, and the chemistry between David and Ramses sparkles as usual. Cyrus and Katherine Vandergelt, my favourite recurring characters, also have some wonderful scenes. I don't necessary read Peabody books for the mystery, I read them because I enjoy being immersed in the atmosphere that the characters generate. This installment of the series was as richly atmospheric as any: the scenes between David, Lia, and Ramses on board the Amelia, or the "war-room" scene where the Emersons finally break the forgery story to David's family and to the Vandergelts-- great stuff. I'd love to see it onscreen. I enjoy the "mental" aspect of this book, as I watch considerable minds of these characters puzzle out the messy situation they're in.

I don't want to say more about the plotline. The storyarc is a devastating one, though I don't find the "soap-opera" label warranted. This particular novel is likely to upset fans of the series (judging from other reviews, it sure seems to). I loved it, and I feel it makes a perfect companion piece to its sequel, the magnificent He Shall Thunder in the Sky. This book ends with the fabric of the Emerson family unraveled, and "Thunder" takes those threads, mingles them with other threads from throughout the series, and weaves them into something grand.

(I will add that I read "Thunder" first, and so got the catharsis and closure *before* I read the traumatic stuff. I read them in proper order later and still liked them.)

It's still a fantastic series; it's just not the lighthearted romp it once was. The changing tone of the series fits the changing backdrop of "current events"-- genteel Victorian travellers > tourist infestation > the Sudanese war > tourist infestation > native unrest and the premonitory twitches of World War I.

I would give this four-and-a-half stars if possible.

In Falcon at the Portal, Elizabeth Peters goes far more deeply than ever before into the emotional lives of all of her characters. From the lovely evocative dreams that Amelia has of Abdullah, to the sheer passion that possesses Ramses, Peters lets us see and feel with her characters more surely than ever before, while not losing a jot of the usual madness that surrounds the Emersons every season - forged antiquities, doubts being cast on family members, and more than a few completely unexpected plot twists, turns and in fact revolutions! Brilliant writing, great fun, and deeper (and, yes, darker) than most of the series, this is a *terrific* book, and I await the next in happy anticipation. Peters is a splendid writer, long may she wave!

I don't often buy mysteries, my usual fictional tastes run to intriguing historical fiction like "To Kill a Mockingbird" or "The Triumph and the Glory". But I've heard so much about the Amelia Peabody books that I had to give one a try, and so I got a copy of Falcon at the Portal. Gee whiz are they all like this ? I thought they were sort of an entertaining romp, that the style was rather light. Ouch, this novel hurt. It was well-done, but my goodness, what was the point of so much heartache ?

Like most reviewers, I, too, have read all the Amelia titles and most of Peters' other novels. What keeps me returning to this series (as with the Vickie Bliss books) is the ongoing development of the characters. I greatly resent the incompleteness of The Falcon at the Portal. Yes, I am among those hoping for a requited love for Ramses, but I don't blame Peters for getting the most out of this romance. Romantic tension is great for fueling readers' interest. I find fault with the number of loose ends within the mystery itself. Maybe I'm doing some very wishful thinking, or I'm WAY off the mark, but I suspect Peters has set us up for a VERY complicated sequel. I suspect we will find that Nefret really didn't act like a Victorian twit. If she had, then her feelings at the end of the story would be out of place. Aside from her immediate reaction to Ramses' uncomfortable situation, she must have taken the action she did with another end in mind -- perhaps with the hope of truly helping the Emersons and David. Or, maybe I'm just trying to save a character that I love from seeming stupidity! In any event, I believe all the twists to this plot and the introduction of so many side-lines(i.e. nationalist movement, drug-trafficing etc.) pave the way for an expansion of the total "mystery" that is only begun in this book and will be wrapped up in the next. That is where I find the "rub", and why I give 4 stars instead of 5. Yes, "Falcon" is an emotional roller-coaster for readers. Yes, the obvious villian is easy to guess. And, yes, the tendrils of this tale will reach into the next. But, since when do we read historical mysteries that come out, maybe once a year, as we would read a monthly sequel in a magazine?!? I have faith in Elizabeth Peters. I have faith in her characters (though David and Lia could use a shot in the arm). I applaud her historical detail and her ability to educate us in the fields of archeology and ancient Egypt. I am, however, disappointed in her treatment of this series as a "cliff-hanging" serialization. She is worthy of more and we are worthy of more.

My first reaction is to scream, read ahead to see the ending and throw the book away. How could she? How could she do this to me? I don't remember a time other than Curtain (which was decades ago when I was 8-years-old) where I felt this raw emotion over a damn book. It's not suppose to be this way. I wish that I had stick to my original plan to buy the book next year. I am now subjected to prolonged torture of suspense.
Falcon makes an excellent reading for new readers, but for those who have let the Emersons into our heart it is heart breaking. But, Ms. Peters need not apologize for Nefret's action. The charm of this series is prompted by the unconventional characters, and were Ms. Peters to explain all the motives behind the action the story would have been conventional. I believe that Falcon will stick out from the rest precisely because of its haunting nature. And all of us did buy the novel under the mystery section did we not?
I tend to agree that Nefret's "decision" has more to it than we know, but if it is not the case then so be it. The mystery of human nature never could be easily explained. The mood of the series has indeed change, I state that as a fact not a criticism. But if it hasn't than Ms. Peters could just froze the Emersons at a time period. Imagine Ramses forever 5. I feel a tender spot for the lad when he was the commical child genius, but little children do grow. And I believe it is Amelia that says the youth of today is not impervious to the pain of tommorow -or something along that line more or less.
So tread along Ms. Peters, do not stop the humanity of the Emersons just to keep the series of being a light one. An author that can entertain, educate, and touch us -though not really in the way we want her to this time, really posseses a magical charm about her.

I have just discovered the Amelia Peabody mystery's at our public library and have been reading them all summer, I was lucky enough to begin close to the beginning, (The Mummy's Case) and have read them in order since--until I got to this book, it was checked out, I went on to the next one--don't do it! I had to stop reading and go back to the library and hunt down a copy of Falcon if you skip this one, you wont "get" the beginning of "He shall Thunder...", I liked this book, but did feel that occassionally it got a bit bogged down and had to reread a few sections to fully understand the meanings of some of prose. I do think Ms. Peters sometimes gets so wrapped up in Victorian Euphemisms, sometimes its a bit hard for those of us in the 21st century to understand--but excellent summer read.

Like most of the other reviewers, I was entranced by the story in this book, happy for David and Lia, frustrated for Ramses and Nefret...but it held together very well. Ms. Peters has developed these characters a great deal since my first reading years and years ago, and has incorporated the political realities in a very real way.
As I said in my review of "The Ape..." I would love to give 4.75 stars but the store doesn't have the facilities for that.
Read it, enjoy it, and by all means, have fun with it!

Elizabeth Peters is my long-time favorite author. I have read this particular book, Falcon at the Portal, in hardcover several times, and loved it. It is one of my favorites. This is the first time I read it in e-book form. Had I not first read it in print I would have had difficulty with the text. There are so many transcription errors, typographical errors, missing phrases, misplaced and missing punctuation. The transcription appears to have been done with no proofing whatsoever. The name 'Selim' regularly appears as 'Scum' (!), 'r n' appears as 'm', and the like, to say nothing of phrases missing altogether.

Peters is the BEST - but do not buy this ebook unless the errors are corrected. I am sending a letter to the publisher to that effect. To be fair, this is the only Amelia Peabody ebook so far to be so terribly full of errors. The rest look good.

I've just completed "Falcon". I am still uncertain if I liked what I read. The style of writing was easy to read as usual. But I'm startled by the changes in the characters whom I have become so facinated by over the years. Like that, Amelia has become a laid back matron, Emerson's old feiry personality has apparently faded with age, Nefret has become a mentally unstable young woman--a far cry from her old self, and Ramses...! Well,all i can say is that for those of you who have read Jane Eyre or Once and Always, you will see that Ramses has become moody, depressing, and rather disturbing.( By the by, the same can be applied to Nefret and her relationship with him.) No longer is the mischeivous boy who could never be shut up when he went on a lecture--now, it's like drawing nails to get him to speak a sentence. I've been an admire of the Peabody mysteries for a very long time, so I perhaps I've grown so used to my favourite characters that I see any change in them offensive. If the series continue in this more "realistic" direction, I don't know if I want to read anymore. It's like, now that I know what the future is, even if I go back to the old installments, I will never be able to look at these characters in the same way again. So, I'm going to pray Ms. Peters will return to her original Amelia, Emerson and family, because the new ones are too uncomfortable to read.

My husband and I are avid "groupies" of Amelia Peabody & Company. The Falcon at the Portal was by far our favorite. Yes we were disappointed that Nefret was not destined for Rameses in the true Victorian sense (after all Amelia thrives on Victorian values does she not?). And yes we were disappointed when the book ended with no hint of Nefret's future...BUT this book of all the others drew us in so closely to what was taking place that we were emotionally tied to the two and felt true loss for Ramses...now that's what a good story should do! At the conclusion, although we were left hanging, we snapped out of it and ran to the computer to see if a sequel was available. What a relief it was to see that, yes indeed, Ms. Peters had been true to her readers and provided us with yet an another opportunity to follow along with her and her family as they mature through yet another episode of life. This has made her characters much more real and endearing to us. Bravo for Ms. Peters! We are looking forward to walking through the rest of lives with Amelia, Emerson and the rest of Amelia Peabody and Company!

I read the newest Amelia Peabody book in about five hours. I cannot believe what Ms. Peters has done to her characters this time. It felt like a kick in the stomach. The end of this story came with the end of the forgery mystery, but it still felt to me like it was only one half of what was going on. I certainly hope that Elizabeth Peters can edit the the story of the Emerson family very quickly, and not leave us in such horrible suspense!!!

As usual, Elizabeth Peters has provided a hilarious spoof of genre thrillers (in this case, the Edwardian variety) with a mostly-familiar cast of characters. I'm also enjoying the romance element of the younger generation; the series really flagged for a few books before "Manuscript H" and other innovations came up.
That said, I'm becoming a little disturbed at the way Amelia has become less and less perceptive, and more and more a foil for others' astuteness. Moreover -- not to give away the plot -- at least two important developments in this book relied on Nefret using remarkably bad judgement. I don't want all the female characters to be Superwoman, but...well...I liked it better when the battle between the sexes was a little more even.

I adore Peabody and Emerson, and have become a huge fan of Ramses. I really enjoy the excerpts from Manuscript H, and would definitely be interested in reading about Ramses' exploits away from the family.
So all I can say is, I can't get this book out of my mind - it's simply heartbreaking. Not a fan of Nefret in the earlier books, I find it hard to be forgiving here... I notice that other readers see her behavior as uncharacteristic, but it was certainly foreshadowed. What I want to know is, what was she thinking?
"Falcon" is not as funny or light as the other books, but it's stayed with me, and I often find myself rereading certain sections, hoping the outcome will be different. Any book that moves me so much has to be good.
So if you're a Peabody fan, and you don't mind that things change [and that the mystery is somewhat less involving than usual], read this book. You may be saddened, but I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I am eagerly anticipating the next book, which will, I hope, provide some answers, and some closure.

Very good book that adds an interesting twist to the series. One character does a very reckless and impulsive act. But it is realistic. Hardest thing to like in this book is that Amelia is "out of the loop" regarding Ramses and Nefret so we readers don't get as much of that sharp whitty commentary on others actions.
I truly admire the care this author (and publisher) take to insure consistency among the various books. I eagerly await stories that fill in between the current book time and the previous book (as alluded to). Actually, I look forward to the next installment regardless of its position in the timeline.

Much as I love Nefret and Ramses, the Peabody series has always been about Amelia Peabody Emerson and her husband Radcliffe. This newest installment focuses much more (as has been the trend in the last three books) on the "children." I really liked the technique Peters uses of incorporating excerpts from "Manuscript H" and other letters, but this technique dominates the book. Significant developments with the characters of Ramses and Nefret leave the reader feeling like she just got kicked in the stomach. I was so angry, I actually stopped reading in the middle of the book until I could calm down. But after looking at the previous books, the events are heavily foreshadowed, and as much as I don't like what happened, it is more realistic than simplistic happily ever after. This just shows that Peters is not afraid to move away from the expectations of genre fiction. I still love these characters though and enjoyed the book on its merits. I feel certain that Peters intends to resolve the cliffhanger in a satisfactory way. I just hope that Peters returns her focus to Amelia, who deserves a little more attention.

It surpirses me how many readers rave about this story. Like some of the other reviewers I do not like cliffhanger endings. And I was totally put off by Nefret's actions -- she acted worse than the girls she scorned throughout the book. I wonder if Ms Peters is getting bored with this story line and is throwing in bits and pieces of extreme stuff just to add some energy into the action.

Elizabeth Peters has a strong wrap up to make THE FALCON AT THE PORTAL a satisfying mystery, but this is a novel about the family and how various relationships evolve. Well maybe, with Peters one never knows which is what keeps us reading, there are enough loose threads to bring us back for more.
Nash Black, author of QUALIFYING LAPS.

Ms. Peters' most brilliant to date. Mixture of the comedy we've come to expect from Amelia Peabody and some darker strains, beautifully handled and juxtaposed. The children are growing up and are turning into fascinating characters in their own right. The love interest is exactly the right touch, and the ending keeps me hungry for the next installment. Well done, Dr. Mertz!

I am very surprised at the negative comments made about this volume of the Amelia series. Quite frankly, I admire the fact that, instead of sticking to a "formula" for the Amelia books, Ms. Peters actually allows her characters to grow and develope -- just like real people. And just like real people, these characters do things that are unexpected and, sometimes, unflattering. Personally, I find the characters fascinating because I know that I don't yet truly know and understand them. The most interesting people are those who don't always act predictably. I, for one, hope that Ms. Peters continues to surprise us in the Amelia books -- it is what keeps me constantly anticipating the next installment.

The amazing and bullheaded Amelia is back. But of even greater significance, so is her son Ramses and ward Nefret. As usual this book entertains the reader, but there is even more intrigue when Ramses is getting in on the act. If you loved the other Peabody mysteries, this one will have you enthralled as well.

In 'The Hippopotamus Pool' Amelia's dream vision portents danger and mystery to come to her clan of children, and it has arrived with a vengeance! I fell in love with the story of Ramses and Nefret some books ago, and this book stole my heart. It weighed on my thoughts long after I had finished, and I can only hope that Ms. Peters does not keep us in suspense indefinately. I must disagree with those who deride Nefret's actions-- while certainly painful, I believe they belie her passionate temperment and the depth of her emotions. As a younger reader, I am overjoyed to see more action involving the "children" of the Peabody-Emerson family...Thank you Ms. Peters!

So far, I have loved each and every Amelia Peabody Mystery. I am especially enjoying the growth of Ramses as a character in the forefront of the series. I would recommend these to anyone. If you love mysteries and have even a passing interest in exotic locales, these books are definitely for you.

I rarely read mysteries, I prefer novels like THE TRIUMPH AND THE GLORY, or Oprah's books, or even the occaisional Grisham book, but Elizabeth Peters is such a wonderful tellewr of tales and plots her mysteries so superby that I simply Can't help but read her.

Good relationships demand honest communication, a characteristic which the younger Emersons need to develop. Their reticence leads to mayhem and much pain in a good murder mystery that kept me guessing in an entertaining manner.

I expect some seriousness, even tragic events, from Elizabeth Peters, but I *also* expect a happy ending. I was, instead, deeply depressed by the ending. I read this book immediately after reading "The Ape Who Guards the Balance" because I couldn't wait to find out what would happen between Ramses & Nefret. I was not at all pleased by the turn of events!

Just finished. . .yet not finished at all!! The characters continue to delight and develop as do all human creatures, born of flesh or born of pen. But goodness, was it necessary to leave us all hanging this way?!? I, too, want to know what happened with Neprhet. I, too, am terribly frustrated by this extended almost-coming-together and going-nowhere-fast relationship with Ramses. (Will we ever know whose child??) Percy is wretched - not a villain you love to hate (like the Master Crim.) but truly slug slime (per Ramses) The next book cannot take another year or more! Some of us won't live that long. Some of us are losing our eyesight. Some of us are losing our patience. PLEASE!

While we know most characters mellow with age, Amelia is mellowing a bit too much - honestly, cleaning the house when there are dirty pyramid passages to explore is NOT her style! As for the on-going non-romance of Ramses/Nefret - enough already. This teasing has been going on longer than "Luke & Laura" on the soaps - and Nefrets' new personality traits strain credibility. Bring back the old personalities - perhaps Ms Peters needs to re-read her earlier works where we all fell in love with Amelia & Emerson...they all seem to have lost their edge.

How could this happen? I have been a loyal follower to this series for a long time and then this? I have always loved Ramses and reading this book broke my heart over and over again. He deserves love and happiness too. I was completly shocked at how Nefret behaved in this book like some spoiled selfish brat. At some points in this depressing story I felt like crying or throwing the book up against the wall. After I finished the book I couldn't sleep at all, the cliff hanger left me excited for the next book but also sad because what this series has become. Hopefully the next book will be what many have come to expect from the Peabody Emerson gang, action, suspense, crime, togetherness, and most of all a happy ending.

I felt betrayed by my favorite author when I picked up this book. Instead of humor and whimsy, there was melodrama and tragedy. Yuck! It was like getting a kick in the stomach! I won't get the next book until I check it out thoroughly. I have read all of the Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters books, and I must say, I intensely dislike this one and hope it's an isolated example. I have never been so disappointed by a book!

I love the Amelia Peabody series, but this one was not up to par. I wish Elizabeth Peters would stick to the formula of finishing the tale in one volume. I do not want to wait months to see what happens with the Nefret/Ramses romance. I missed the romantic interludes between Amelia and Emerson this time - it always adds spice to the narrative. Ms. Peters, get the next one out fast!

I've read several other books written by Elizabeth Peters and have enjoyed them. But this book was not up to her usual standards. Combine an over use of superfluous adjectives with a weak story line and an unexplained passage of time by the end of the book you earned five stars just for sticking with it.

For devoted Peters fans, this book is hard to read: well-loved characters are put through Hell, and it has an ambiguous ending.
New readers of this book need to realize that it's not really a stand-alone novel. It's volume one of a two-volume book, with HE SHALL THUNDER IN THE SKY the second part.

This book left me feeling slightly down after I'd finished it, in contrast to the others in the series. Ramses and Nefret are just too good to be true - both rich, good-looking, intelligent - and extremely bland and annoying. Please, please put the focus back on the wonderfully flawed Amelia and Emerson!

Warning: This review contains spoilers.

Ok, this was the first Peabody novel I ever read, and it was great! I grew to know the characters, and I was left hanging at the end. However, even I could tell something was wrong when Nefret married Geoffery. However, THAT turned out all right at the end, but I won't say how.

In her most recent Amelia Peabody books, including this one, the author has used an annoying literary device of breaking the momentum of the narrative to insert "Manuscript" and diary segments from other characters. Why she doesn't just spin the next generation of characters into another series, instead of diluting the otherwise still-alluring plot and setting, is a mystery. I bought this book, as all the others, in hardback. The next book will either be borrowed from a library or purchased at a paperback exchange, and my money will go for another more deserving new mystery writer.