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filipa_maia's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love Egypt, I love mummies and definitely love strong female characters. So this book was everything I could have asked for.
This was such a nice story. I love Amelia she is a strong and independent character, with a powerfull view about female role in the society she lives. Evelyn and the Emerson brothers are also very lovable characters (each one of them with a very interesting background and side story). Even the villains are very interesting and well written (and that is very important in any story).
I really enjoyed this book and I want to know more about the future of these characters. I will have to read the next few books (there are, only, 19 more).
This was such a nice story. I love Amelia she is a strong and independent character, with a powerfull view about female role in the society she lives. Evelyn and the Emerson brothers are also very lovable characters (each one of them with a very interesting background and side story). Even the villains are very interesting and well written (and that is very important in any story).
I really enjoyed this book and I want to know more about the future of these characters. I will have to read the next few books (there are, only, 19 more).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use and Suicidal thoughts
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
The delicate balance between amusement and irritation with the main character has tipped towards irritation now that she’s antagonizing an angry man instead of either of them handling the situation with gracefulness.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
singalana's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
If you like The Mummy (1999), starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, I think you will like this book.
NOTE: This story is told from the point of view of a British upper-class person and has unchallenged colonialistic views. If that is something that bothers you as a reader, then I would not recommend this. I read this book keeping in mind that these are the opinions of the character, so I will not be commenting on this aspect of the story.
Crocodile on the Sandbank is the first novel in the Amelia Peabody murder mystery -series. The story takes place in 1880s Egypt when archaeology (and I use this term loosely) was a popular pastime with the British aristocracy. The main character Amelia has inherited a significant amount of money and decides to travel. In Rome, she rescues another Englishwoman, Evelyn, and takes her as a travelling partner. Her interest in archaeology gets her involved with the Emerson brothers. But what would a story set in Egypt be without a mummy making an appearance?
This is a lighthearted mystery book with a dash of the supernatural. The characters are archetypical to what you might imagine finding in this kind of book. It feels almost campy, but as I read on, the characters grew on me, and their relationships seemed to develop organically. I found the writing to be lively and the style fitting to the story. The banter between the characters was delightful, and despite their flaws, I was rooting for the characters.
If the reader has experience with mystery books, the ending might be somewhat predictable, but because of the campy and lighthearted nature of the book, I wouldn’t necessarily count it as a flaw. All in all, I like the characters and the milieu enough to be interested in continuing the story.
However, regarding this edition of the book: There were some typos, and the printing quality was not the best. And I would skip Amelia’s biography at the beginning of the book to avoid all spoilers. At the end of the book, there’s an extract from the 18th book in the series, which is an odd choice considering this is the first book…
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A simple story in 1800s style with an Anglophile bent, having been with in the 1970s it allows a story told from the point of view of the women, despite the antics being primarily of Egyptology.
You're not going to like this story if you are disinterested in stories of rich Brits flitting about the countryside buying the time and energies of the locals, while pillaging the countryside of its relics and treasures. It's all quite ridiculous but at least, if you can hold your nose, it's not as rife with racism and misogyny as Wilbur Smith.
The sarcastic humour and dry turn of phrase is amusing. I did laugh out loud at some of the quips, and the casual banter between main characters is stuffy and kind of toxic, but is a foil for solid relationship building and mutual respect.
Not my usual flavour, but a fun little mystery, that's a bit ScoobyDoo in the execution.
You're not going to like this story if you are disinterested in stories of rich Brits flitting about the countryside buying the time and energies of the locals, while pillaging the countryside of its relics and treasures. It's all quite ridiculous but at least, if you can hold your nose, it's not as rife with racism and misogyny as Wilbur Smith.
The sarcastic humour and dry turn of phrase is amusing. I did laugh out loud at some of the quips, and the casual banter between main characters is stuffy and kind of toxic, but is a foil for solid relationship building and mutual respect.
Not my usual flavour, but a fun little mystery, that's a bit ScoobyDoo in the execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Slavery, Stalking, and War
jessgj's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Okay, so WARNING: This book was written in the 1950s as satire of the popular adventure stories of that time. I didn't know that going in so when I was recommended this book and was hit in the face with some Mighty Whitey narration, I was thrown off and did some research. Also this book is DENSE so if you're looking for a quick read, maybe this isn't for you.
With that in mind, it was easier to enjoy the fainting damsels, the brass Alpha Man and the Nobel, Intrepid British woman *Rule Britannia intensifies*. But in all serious, I listened to the audiobook and fell in love with the core cast and am excited to see what mischief they'll get into next.
With that in mind, it was easier to enjoy the fainting damsels, the brass Alpha Man and the Nobel, Intrepid British woman *Rule Britannia intensifies*. But in all serious, I listened to the audiobook and fell in love with the core cast and am excited to see what mischief they'll get into next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, and Abandonment
Moderate: Racism and Islamophobia