Tomb of the Golden Bird (Amelia Peabody Series)

As usual, Elizabeth Peters gives us another fun mystery intermingled with Egyptian culture and archeological methods. However I do miss the young Amelia and Emerson and their romantic and often funny adventures. Always a pleasure to read.

I have nothing to add to the other reviews. Amelia and family are like visits from old friends. However, someone help me out here, not once, but twice she refers to the twins other grandparents sending Christmas presents and David John some books. I have read all of the previous books and without giving away the plot to some of the earlier ones for those who may not have enjoyed them yet, who on earth is she referring to????

The novel Tomb of the Golden Bird by Elizabeth Peters is a long and slow. Frankly, after listening to the entire unabridged version, I am still trying to understand what the plot is all about. This book lacks a conflict or a purpose and resolves nothing at the end.

Set in the early 1900's in Egypt during the discovery of the Tomb of King Tut (The Golden Bird), several British characters walk around and talk alot, but, not about much. The "sub-plot", the opening of the tomb and the vast collection of treasures contained inside was the most interesting parts of the book, but, again, they were a sub-plot.

This is really too bad, it had a great setting with an interesting event to write about, but, just nothing to say. The characters were rather flat and un-interesting. No action, no adventure, no drama, my advise is no read it. This is one you can skip reading.

Others have detailed reviews. Peters writes with wit, authority

of her subject matter and an understanding of people. I love this

series of life with the Emerson clan and eagerly look forward

to each book. I read them and re-read them. Here's hoping she

writes many more!!

I was excited about reading this book at first because it dealt with an important archeological discovery and then there was the added attraction of a mystery Peabody style...

Alas, now I know why this book was in the bargain bin.

There's more than 300 pages of barely anything happening, and then at the end a little bit of action...that was really a tedious read, and I could have cared less for most of the characters, or the way the story is told (Ramses' point of view is really quite a bore to get through).

The other Peabody mysteries I have read are far superior to this one in my opinion. It feels like Elizabeth Peters didn't quite know where to go with her plot or at least how to get there.
Beginning---------(Fluffy Twilight Zone)----------Ending

Although...I guess it might appeal to people who have read each and every book in the series, as they get reacquainted with most of the characters.
It's kind of a nostalgic farewell to the series.

Just don't expect many thrills.

I usually try to be thoughtful and reasoned when doing a review, but this book was just plain bad. This series jumped the shark several books ago, but I keep hoping Peters will realize this and turn the series over to a new generation of characters that *might* be able to breath some new life and new ideas into the plotlines.

Alas, this is nothing but a "clips show" of old material (Sethos as rogue - we get it! David entangled in Egyptian independence - done! And, PLEASE, no more visions of Abdullah, family Xmas celebrations, councils of war, tea at Shepherd's or Kadija's green goop!) thrown together in hopes of suckering fans of the series into spending money. My advice: if you *have* to read this one, borrow it from the library. I know I won't be purchasing any more books in this series.

I have read every book in the Amelia Peabody series and was anxiously awaiting this one. The first three-quarters appeared to be painfully written. It wasn't until the last sixth of the book that the quintessential Peters writing style emerged. Given the interwoven tale with the historical events, it could have been more in line with other Peabody novels.

This is the first Amelia Peabody mystery I have read and it will definitely be the last. What a bore! The character development seemed stifled, perhaps because of the very large number of them that filled space for no apparent reason. I found no suspense, no mystery, just a vague hope with each turning page that something might improve. Instead this is the first novel which I found myself constantly looking at my watch to see if I had endured enough. I suppose after 17 other stories, the rest of the series must be at least reasonable, but this one has convinced me not to attempt to find out.

Elizabeth Peters is the best of the three names she uses; the books written under this name are my very favorites. This book was a joy to read. The Amelia Peabody books are my favorites of her books.

Well, I managed to make my way through the entire Amelia Peabody Emerson series over the course of this summer. And I am sad to see it end. Amelia is domineering, sometimes arrogant, always onto SOMETHING, and almost always prepared. But she loves her family and they love her. She manages to get into her share of trouble, but also manages to get out of it again; sometimes with help and sometimes without it. Emerson, Ramses, Nefrete, Evelyn, Walter, and the extended family in Egypt provided me with many laughs, almost tears, and countless hair pulling moments throughout the series, they will be greatly missed...until I read them again!