The Deeds of the Disturber (Amelia Peabody Mysteries) (Amelia Peabody Series)

Quite enjoyable read. Goes on a bit at times ,(edit!). But really a good read and a refreshing intellectual change from so called cozy mysteries. Strong smart woman lead. Not infallible but that’s good. Thankfully no sarcasm.

I bought several Peabody mysteries based on wildly enthusistic reviews on this site. To say I was disappointed is putting it mildly. The suspense level and depth of this book are on a par with Nancy Drew. Characters are so one dimensional, I was sick of them halfway through. The plot is predictable and the reader doesn't much care if the thing gets resovled or not. It is a well-constructed little formula mystery I would recommend for 10-12 year-old girls.

I read "Deeds" about 18 months ago, and somehow missed writing a review of it. Writing reviews as I finish books gives me a record of what I read when, so I'm a bit disappointed in myself to have missed this one!

"Deeds" is set in London, in a house owned by close relative, at the museum, and importantly at the estate of another important character. Mysterious death occurs along with the occasional brief appearance of a costumed "priest" -- ancient priest.

The list of suspects would be more confusing, but you can rely on the fact that the culprit is a character appearing in the book. Particularly in these early books of the series, Peters was good at making her villain appear to be someone "off-screen", when in fact it is a character you are already well familiar with.

Ramses continues his development into a force of knowledge and a force of nature, and the butler, Gargary, begins his increased presence in the series with the volume.

This time Amelia and Emerson are back on England's soil, a rare occurrence for readers for this series. It's interesting to see how the couple gets along in London society, when we're so used to seeing them sweat in the Egyptian desert instead.

While reading The Deeds of the Disturber, I was indeed all caught up in the mystery. The ending completely fascinates me. I didn't quite see it coming -- who would!?

As this book clearly illustrates, Elizabeth Peters has to be a follow Sherlock Holmes fan. So many little "clues" she left for the reader, even down to Emerson's deduction skills, and including the daring name of one Mrs. Watson. Some of the little clues like this made me laugh.

I do so enjoy these books, and I heartily recommend them as adult fiction. Some mature (but sweet) content is included.

A couple of observations. As a mother, Peabody is a little off center, but then their little boy is the same, so it seems to work. This story reminded me a bit of the old 'mummy' movie from the 40's. It also reminded me of the new written series, The Parasol Protectorate, which is a fantasy, but the heroine is very much like Amelia Peabody, umbrella and all. I had to wonder if Peabody was her inspiration. Excellent part of the series.

I previously read the series and am now enjoying the audio book. However, when listening to an audiobook the narrator can make or break the experience. Susan O'Malley is an excellent narrator. You do not hear her breathing, wetting her lips or clearing her throat - all disturbing while listening. Unfortunately this particular book was not narrated by Susan O'Malley. In addition, the narrator voice lends a certain personality type to the characters and when the narrator changes the tone of the characters of the book changes. This is not enjoyable when you expect the same characters with each book. Please, Elizabeth Peters, take a listen to the difference. I love your writing and Susan O'Malley. Other narrators - not so much! Book gets 5 stars - narrator on this one "zero"

Whether writing as Elizabeth Peters or Barbara Michaels, her books are always well written, blending fiction with facts, reflective of her educational background. Sound articulate writing, adventure and interesting plots and characters. Do begin with the first of the series and then also read the Debbie Bliss series to reach a satisfying conclusion to both series.

Amelia Peabody Emerson and her husband, Egyptologist Radcliffe Emerson, have just finished another season of excavation when they read in the newspapers about a supposedly cursed mummy and a dead night watchman at a British museum. To their mutual fury, they also read that the famous Emersons will be investigating this "murder" even though the watchman's death has not been classified as such by the police. Once back in England, though, of course they find themselves drawn into the case. Other things are happening at that museum, and all of them in some way involve the mummy that until recently lay in a nobleman's private collection at the estate called Mauldy Manor. Where strange things also happened, with the mummy and its curse supposedly to blame.

This is the first Amelia Peabody mystery I've read in which almost all of the story is set in England. It's great fun, nevertheless, although I did miss the Egyptian settings that author Peters describes so vividly. The Peabody-Emerson marriage, decidedly out of step with its Victorian time, provides plenty of humor; and so, as usual, does Amelia herself. Particularly in the ways she mis-perceives herself, by failing to see things about her character that the reader sees only too clearly. The introduction of her oldest brother's two annoying children also provides comic relief, and Peters does a good job of weaving those youngsters into the plot. All in all, another worthy installment in a fine series.

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

This book is an excellent addition to the Amelia Peabody series. All of the books in this series are superb.

However, this is a note to the store: This is not the first book. That is an error in the title. The first book is "Crocodile on the Sandbank".

As this fifth book of the AMELIA PEABODY series opens the Emerson's, renouned Egyptologist Radcliffe Emerson, his outspoken wife, Amelia and their son Ramses are preparing to return to their home in England. They are planning to enjoy a peaceful summer there, writing up their discoveries for publication in the scholarly journals and spending some quiet time with their extended family, the Walter Emersons. What they had not forseen was that the Peabody side of the family would intrude. One of Amelia's deadbeat brothers has intruded into the family circle with the purpose of dumping his children, Percy and Violet, on Amelia for a few weeks. The other unforeseeable intrusion on their quiet break was the arrival of a mysterious Egyptian priest, a priest of the sort who presided over the burials of the pharoahs, has been appearing in the British museum pronouncing curses.

As is the norm for this series, the mystery aspect shares, or is at times, overshadowed by, the scenes of family life. Ramses is now coming into his own as a character, the annoying lisp is gone, and he and Amelia are engaged in a full fledged battle of wits, he to pursue his many interests and she to keep the destruction and mayhem that seems to follow him to a minimum with the end goal of his survival to adulthood. Amelia's point of view is, as always, delightful. Fans will, in particular, enjoy the ongoing competition between Emerson and Amelia to solve the mysteries first, a contest that is now increasingly including Ramses.

Those who are unfamiliar with this series would be better served to begin at the beginning and proceed in order. Even long time fans might wish to at least review the earlier novels before starting this one as the overall story arc is more of a factor in this series than is typical in most mystery 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. Peters was named Grand Master at the inaugural Anthony Awards in 1986 and Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America at the Edgar Awards in 1998. She lives in a historic farmhouse in western Maryland.

The Amelia Peabody books may or may not be an acquired taste, personally I love them. They are set in Victorian times when there were still very strict rules of etiquette and polite behaviour was the norm. Although most of the books are set in Egypt, in the desert under very trying conditions and extremely hot weather the `English' way of life was still expected to be adhered to, sometimes with quite hilarious consequences.

Amelia Peabody is Elizabeth Peters' best loved and brilliant creation, a thoroughly Victorian feminist who takes the stuffy world of archaeology by storm with her no nonsense dress sense and forthright opinions.

A night watchman is found dead in the British Museum, in of all places the Egyptian Mummy Room. The watchman has a look of sheer terror etched upon his face. This immediately starts the British press talking of ancient Egyptian Curses set up to protect the long dead from the living. People even begin to ask the question, `can fear kill?' Amelia immediately takes on her practical attitude and discounts all such theories as stuff and nonsense. Husband Emerson and her son Ramses do everything in their power to ensure that Amelia does not become another victim of whoever perpetrated the crime and there are many twists and turns before the murder can be brought to justice.

Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters is the fifth book in the Amelia Peabody series. Amelia and her husband Emerson, Egyptologists and English gentry, return to England with their precocious son Ramses to find a "curse" haunting the British Museum and a reporter "friend" of theirs publishing that they are on the case to investigate. Two deaths and a kidnapped female reporter add to the suspense. The story is really only the excuse to peek in on the lives of Amelia, Emerson and Ramses, one of the most amusingly fascinating families in literary mysteries. The stories are written as though taken from Amelia's journal and she writes with asperity. It is a clever author who can write a scene through the eyes of a character while giving the impression that it may not have happened just the way the character said and while adding insight to said character. Amelia's versions of events may not always be completely trustworthy, and occasionally her interpretation of events is hilarious, even to the other characters involved. Peters writes with a bright wit and a flair for romance. Amelia and Emerson are madly in love and lust with each other and the bedroom door shuts on the reader rather regularly, although not before a bit of double entendre dialogue. The word precocious for Ramses doesn't begin to describe the boy. He is preternaturally intelligent and often poses rather pointed questions about matters he doesn't quite understand. His rescuing his parents may grow a bit old if it continues as the series goes on, but he adds a tartness to his scenes. A new cast of characters has been added with the addition of some household staff, and I hope that they return. Simply said: Peters is a delight to read, and I space out the reading of her books so that I don't read through them all too quickly and have to wait for the next in the series.

In a nice change of pace, Elizabeth Peters makes England the setting for her fifth novel in the Amelia Peabody Emerson series. Set at the turn of the century, Peters has a great eye for period detail, a good knowledge of Egyptology and Egypt, and a marvelous sense of humour.
In this mystery the action is centered around a mummy and a murder victim--both in the British Museum. Radcliffe Emerson is furiously working on his manuscript (under deadline), Ramses is struggling to maintain his composure with two young cousins who are staying for a visit, and Amelia is (as always) writing an academic paper, struggling to control her son, and alternately fending off and succumbing to her husbands amorous advances. However, the whole family soon gets involved in trying to find out more about the mysterious mummy and the Egyptian priest who appears and disappears with alarming frequency.
I found this mystery a nice change of pace with its different setting and different cast of characters. I particularly liked the introduction of a wonderful butler named Gargery, who relishes every opportunity to get involved in the Emerson family's many escapades. If you're going to England in the near future and the British Museum is on your list of sights to see, be sure to take this book along. I think that you will enjoy seeing how little the interior of that august institution has changed!

I have been enjoying the Amelia Peabody series up to now, but my biggest complaint was that at times it appeared a bit fantastical and far-fetched, but Ms. Peters can get away with this in her stories because of the settings - Victorian Egypt with a good dollop of the superstitious Ancient Egypt. This book is set in England though, and even though there is still an Egyptian cast to the plot, it's more about chasing a gang of criminals in Victorian London. Amelia and her Emerson are totally charming, and in this book they appear to become even more human. Ms. Peters has a real knack for characterization. Even their precosious son Ramses become much more likeable in this outing. Amelia and Emerson are on the tail of mysterious priest who seems to leave dead bodies behind him. They get in their usual scrapes, and there's still the usual love interest in the book (although this one takes more of a secondary role in the story). The book is funny, endearing and utterly delightful.

The Deeds of the Disturber finds the Peabody Emersons returning home to England so that Emerson can finish his book, but it's not long before they are embroiled in yet another mystery. The mystery here is interesting enough, but Amelia and Emerson belong in the hot sands of Egypt, not foggy, damp London. The book shines a light on the character of O'Connell, a wily, Irish (if not a bit stereotypical) newspaperman and introduces us to the newspaperwoman Miss Minton. Both are great characters that drive the plot. There is also the introduction of a woman from Emerson's past, which creates an interesting subplot of jealousy for Amelia. Also introduced in this book are Amelia's nephew and niece: Percy and "dear" Violet. Both are necessary, but extremely obnoxious, characters that bedevil Ramses and reduce him in the eyes of his parents. This whole storyline is the main reason I've lowered my rating to 4 stars. Amelia's treatment of her only son borders on abuse and it just spoils an otherwise good book. Don't let that stop you from reading The Deeds of the Disturber, though. The mystery is good, and different, and you'll find yourself well invested in the plot and characters - even the annoying characters.

I was hooked from the first polysyllabic-word peppered sentence. This is real writing! This first-person account exudes the rareified atmosphere of the bowels of museums, bathtub rim-running cats, competing journalists, Egypt and England, spontaneously amorous old-fashioned hubby Emerson, and best of all, precocious young Ramses with his non-school-tainted (today it's called homeschooling) erudite vocabulary and mummification projects, all self-directed and in the vein of his Egyptologist parents. The Deeds of the Disturber was the first Amelia Peabody Mystery I had read. Peters puts me right in that Cairo hotel as Emerson stomps on the blasted newspaper, stands me on the dock in London as the gritty city grime smears my face, and has my feet getting damp in the rain as I follow her walking briskly to The New Scotland Yard a whole lot faster than the fashion-hobbled ladies on the street. Now I'm ordering all of Elizabeth Peters novels including the ones written under another one of her pen names, Barbara Michaels. I wish I knew more people who talked - and wrote - in real life like Peter's dialogue. Meanwhile, I'll escape with a cup of tea or a pint of Stout and her Amelia Peabody books.

As in the other Peabody mysteries this is less about the mystery than about madcap action and humorous hyperbole. Peters does it well. The book moves along quickly, characters appropriately absurd while still functional in terms of moving the plot along. Peabody's continuous commentary is vastly entertaining. The only complaint I had in this novel was the side plot of Peabody being concerned with Emerson's fidelity; it distracted from the typical energy and closeness of the two detectives.
I'm sure within a few months I'll have completely forgotten the plot, but the memories of individual scenes (e.g. Emerson fighting off numerous "high priests" with Ramses clinging to his side) will be retained and cherished much longer.

Elizabeth Peters is a raconteur of the finest order. She has a gift for crafting outrageous, hyperbolic characters who speak in sesquipedalian sentences and still remain believable. If that sounds impossible, you haven't read the Amelia Peabody mysteries yet!
"The Deeds of the Disturber" is my favourite Peabody novel so far. It is a crazy, sinuous pursuit that shows all of the classic Peabody spirit and wit. The startling character of Ramses is developed more, and the plot is rife with twists and hints and portents.
Only don't make the mistake of reading any of the last three Peabody novels (Ape who Guards the Balance, Falcon at the Portal, He Shall Thunder in the Sky) before you read this one. I did, and I think you will enjoy the last three more if you read this one first.

This is my first Amelia Peabody and Elizabeth Peters mystery. The novel is set in Victorian times. Peabody, as her husband, Emerson, calls her, is in London with the entire family. This includes Ramses, their precocious young son, and her young niece, Violet, and nephew, Percy. The latter two are the offspring of her very disagreeable brother, James, who foisted them off for a long period of at least six weeks.

The typical who-done-it mystery ensues in the British museum, with a mummy playing a prominent role. By the way, did you know that ground mummy has been used as a medicinal treatment for various diseases?

The family is VERY wealthy, residing in a mansion in London replete with servants of every sort, including footmen. Their language is quite florid. Peabody and Ramses use about 40 words for what Spenser (of the Robert Parker series) would say in three!

At first, I thought that this story is so "talky" that I couldn't get through it. Then, I began to get into the mood of the socioeconomic milieu and enjoy it. To me, the mystery was an aside to portrait of the wealthy, elegant, intelligent, educated Victorian family. At breakfast Peabody tells a servant, "Take this toast away. . . it has become quite leathery." She shops for custom-made frocks and tea gowns. The children wear sailor suits with hats and Violet wears ruffles and ribbons.

Particularly amusing are the most discreet innuendos to Peabody and Emerson's busy and most satisfying sex life. Face it, it's difficult to be spontaneous in a house filled with servants who assist in dressing, undressing, filling the bath, delivering mail, announcing guests and tea time, dinner time, etc.

Violet, a rather slow child, is noted for her tendency to gobble every teacake, biscuit and muffin within reach. Peabody notices that she is inflating like a frog and attempts, generally futilely, to restrict her consumption of sweets.

Unlike the rest of the clan, dear Violet is a creature of few words. When Percy and Ramses suffer their frequent mishaps, usually involving tussles between them, Violet utters phrases such as, "Dead! Dead!" or "Nasty! Nasty!"

In short, the mystery seemed to be an excuse for displaying the opulence of the British Victorian era and the eccentricities of the Emerson-Peabody entourage, an amusing setting well-worth visiting.

This is a wonderful Amelia Peabody book! I love the husband-wife excavation stories, and the settings in Egypt are so well realized. Best of all, Amelia is a strong, intelligent woman who isn’t worried all that much about how she comes across to anyone else. Including her husband—though he’s a great character as well.

Back in London, the acclaimed British Egyptologists and sleuths, heroine Amelia Peabody and husband Radcliffe Emerson, attempt to solve a case involving the famous mummy's curse, after a British Museum night guard is found dead. Lords, journalists and renowned Egyptologists are among the suspects. Containing accurate Egyptological details, full of action, with a touch of romance and much atmosphere, it is an exciting, entertaining and chilling adventure for all to read.

If you've never treated yourself to an Amelia Peabody mystery, lose no more time! These are engaging and wonderfully witty books, and the only thing wrong with them is that they aren't a thousand pages long!

Deeds of the Disturber is temporally toward the middle of the series, and one of the best. It's a great mystery, and you'll enjoy the characters and the eloquent Victorian-toned writing style!

This is a wonderful series, for anyone who enjoys lighthearted mystery and adventure, comedy and romance. This is book 5 (and they should really be read in order), and I was hesitant to read it at first. Most of the books take place in Egypt, while the intrepid Emersons pursue archeology and murderers. And the Egyptian setting is one of the things I love most about the series. This book takes place in London, however, in between their seasonal digs, so I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it as much. I was wrong! This book is wonderful, I like it even better than book 4. The mystery is plenty engaging, and the passion and conflict between Amelia and Emerson is definitely at it's best. Some of the things that had been unsettled during book 4 are very nicely mended in this book. There is plenty of witty banter, and even Ramses (the Emerson's "catastrophically precocious" son) gets a dose of reality for a change. It was really a great surprise, very very good!
Susan O'Malley is wonderful as ever. I continue to sing her praises, and hope that someday the Powers That Be will have her finish narrating the series (she only narrates the first 6 books). I dislike Barbara Rosenblat's versions of the audiobooks intensely. I really cannot stand the voice she uses for Amelia, turning her into an obnoxious old schoolmarm, and making everyone sound ridiculous and over the top. Susan O'Malley balances sarcasm, whimsy, and depth for each of the characters perfectly, giving them of each their own unique style so that you always know who is speaking without having to be told. All the characters feel like old friends now, listening to her, and I can listen to these books over and over easily. I highly recommend them, and way you choose to read them!

The Amelia Peabody series is great fun for fans of classic British mysteries. Readers have to ignore dated notions about people—some outright racist and sexist in nature—but the period details feel accurate.

Wow! this book takes me back! The Emersons are so much younger in this book. I almost forgot that I even read this. I loved Ramses when he was a child! I miss his long winded speeches. I love how Amelia just goes looking for trouble. Some things never change. I hope we all can enjoy the Amelia series for years to come.

This is mostly a really fun serious. I am slowly working my way through each of these by the first rate audio books.

The usual tediums and cautions apply. You have to suspend a lot of belief to make this work mentally. So, what's not so good...?:

1) Ramses is an *absolute disaster* as a character. He was originally portrayed as so precocious as an infant, that a Mozart would be an imbecile by comparison. Now, he's just an ungovernable intellectual tyrant. He gets into so much trouble due to his cluelessly willful behavior that it simply makes no sense. His parents are entirely clueless as to how to deal with him. He acts like an adult, and more or less expects to be treated as one. He interferes, corrects, supervises, critiques everything around him, including his parents. His patents protest a bit, but it just continues. His wandering about, leaving home, and interjecting himself where no kid ought to be would be - a wakeup call to anyone with a working brain, after the very first time he did it. Instead it happens over and over, with his parents ruefully admitting they did not expressly forbid that particular behavior that led to each specific transgession. He appears to have had little real schooling, even the most basic, which is one of the points that make him so unbelievable. Hanging out with smart parents still does not give a kid the learning and experience to correct his parents and other world experts on their own area of expertise. The lack of perspective, discipline, personal control - the whole package deal of the Ramses character, just does not work, as even for a genius kid. It's just too over the top. Likely, the only safe place for him is an advanced school that can enforce some hard core disciplines - or almost forcibly locked up for large parts of the day, not popping all over the world with his parents. When he starts correcting his father's scholarly manuscripts, it's just past the point of logic or reason.

2) Amelia herself has many issues. She often goes out looking for trouble, armed with just her "toolbelt," parasol, and her unwavering self confidence. She gets out of danger, but not by much she herslf does on her own. In all manner of subtle ways, she is "rescued" by others, usually in such a way that she does not really learn her limitations. In all the times it really matters, she often has no gun, but still thinks she can prevail.

If these two characters were no longer so extreme and clueless, the overall series would be just about perfect.

Why isn't this title available in the Kindle bookstore? The recent death of Ms. Mertz reminded me of this fantastic series that I never finished as a young reader. I have purchased all but this title and the last two in the series for my Kindle (I plan on purchasing the last two soon.) I would love to have them all. Please work with the publisher to rectify this oversight! Thank you!

I would love to review this book however there is no Kindle version available therefore I won't read this book. There is an audio version available for $20 to download but I don't want an audio version. I want to read it! I'm extremely disappointed that I read the first 4 books in this series and now can't read the 5th book. I spent a lot a money on a Kindle and I expect to have all books in a series available to read. I'm not disappointed in the book and author but in the store/Kindle or the publisher. Thumbs down to the store or the publisher (whoever is responsible for this)!

These books are so good and so entertaining. Elizabeth Peters is an excellent author. She weaves factual events of the times in with her fictional characters and their lives. I now own all of this series and have loved every one of them.

I have just bought all the Amelia Peabody novels for my kindle and am taking great pleasure in re-reading the entire series. Elizabeth Peters is a delightful and imaginative writer. Because these are set in the late 1800's and early 1900's, the books do not become dated.

I would love to review this book however there is no Kindle version available therefore I won't read this book. There is an audio version available for $20 to download but I don't want an audio version. I want to read it! I'm extremely disappointed that I read the first 4 books in this series and now can't read the 5th book. I spent a lot a money on a Kindle and I expect to have all books in a series available to read. I'm not disappointed in the book and author but in the store/Kindle or the publisher. Thumbs down to the store or the publisher (whoever is responsible for this)!