Reviews

The Laughter of Dead Kings by Elizabeth Peters

mthorley23's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I love Elizabeth Peters so I am always happy to read another book by her. The Amelia Peabody series is really where my loyalty lies though. This was a fun, fluffy read and I chuckled at the author's highly intelligent use of language, which works for Victorian Egyptologists but somehow just seems like a quirk of the author in the current now. Peters seems new to technology herself, emphasizing the characters' use of the "Net" and the "World Wide Web." I found it charming though because I am a fan. I was also highly amused, as I believe Peters intended, by her cameo. It was a fun read but not Peters' best work.

karen62's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Reading this for the second time after reading the Amelia Peabody books was much better. I missed a lot the first time - where the diaries that the Amelia Peabody series is based on came from, Elizabeth Peters making a cameo appearance and other Peabody related references. I enjoyed seeing Feisal make another appearance and Schmidt was at his best in this book, his sword fight was excellent!

lakesbecky's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I haven't read any Elizabeth Peters for years but was tempted by this in the library. It is part of a series featuring Vicky Bliss but the first one I have read. It starts with an audacious heist of a priceless Egyptian artifact that her boyfriend is accused of taking. They travel across Europe and to Egypt with their friends trying to clear his name and recover the item. Lots of people aren't quite what they seem and her boyfriend doesn't appear to be telling the truth all the time...

I found it hard to put down at times. An interesting cast of characters with their idiosyncrasies and quirks. I will have to look out for the earlier novels.

veldhoenv's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Not at the same level as the rest of the series -- especially after the fifth book, the very best one in my opinion.

glitterbomb47's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

Poor writing.

doramac's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.0

allimoose37's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

judyward's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Barbara Mertz received her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in Egyptian Studies and during her academic career, she also wrote mystery books under the name Elizabeth Peters. In this light weight romp, King Tut's mummy is stolen out of his tomb and the Keystone Kops try to find him. Well not the Keystone Kops actually, but John Tregarth, a reformed (or is he?) international antiquities thief, Vicky Bliss, a curator in a museum in Munich, and her boss, Dr. Anton Schmidt travel to Egypt to try to find the missing mummy. This book is a little short on both plot and believability. However, Elizabeth Peters has written it with her tongue firmly in her cheek. She makes a cameo appearance as an unnamed, but well known author, who will stop at nothing to gather material for her books and she makes quiet references to several of her books and one of her mystery series during the story.

megancmahon's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The last in a fabulous series. Vicky and John's emotional arc is completed with verve and love - John fully reformed, Vicky in love and unafraid. I also LOVED the callbacks to the Peabody Emersons: John as their descendent absolutely tracks, and I loved thinking of Amelia's house in Egypt being a hotbed of mystery and intrigue even long after she left it.

I'll miss this world.

mirzokhid1's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

A great mystery and action novel. Found the storyline really interesting and will probably read other books in the series. Did not realized it was the 6th book in the series. Would recommend it to everyone.