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ulrikedg's review against another edition
I was hoping for a cozy mystery that would allow me to enjoy Barbara Rosenblat narration. This isn't it. DNF @ 37%.
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism
filipa_maia's review against another edition
- 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
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).
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
borkyreadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Violence, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
queen_of_the_rats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Islamophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
singalana's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
erebus53's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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
amynbell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Of course, she finally meets a man who puts her in her place:
"I know you, madam! I have met your kind too often —the rampageous British female at her clumsiest and most arrogant. Ye gods! The breed covers the earth like mosquitoes, and is as maddening. The depths of the pyramids, the heights of the Himalayas—no spot on earth is safe from you!”
And she retaliates in kind:
“And you, sir, are the lordly British male at his loudest and most bad-mannered. If the English gentlewoman is covering the earth, it is in the hope of counteracting some of the mischief her lord and master has perpetrated. Swaggering, loud, certain of his own superiority…”
*eyeroll*
Several people have compared this particular Amelia Peabody book to Scooby Doo since the main storyline involves someone dressing as a mummy and terrorizing the locals, while Amelia Peabody and her friends try to figure out who it is. And I suppose that could have been interesting if the majority of the book after the mummy appears hadn't simply become vague moments of action requiring multiple readings to try to figure out, with 90% of the rest of the text comprised of characters discussing what happened and what they are going to do ad nauseam. Oh, and let's not forget the part where Amelia looks down upon all the Egyptians living in dirty squalor and preventing their children from batting away the flies that are covering their eyes and making them go blind. Really?
This book has absolutely no redeeming qualities, and the only crocodile on a sandbank is from an ancient poem. Will I read any more Amelia Peabody books? Absolutely not.
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, and Sexism
kitausu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
kalira's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
While Amelia is very much the definition of an unreliable narrator, and her perspective is very much flavoured by her nationality and the era, these things are well written to make it obvious to the reader that they are true, and Amelia herself is a delight (in all her occasionally disastrous glory). The character dynamics and relationships are wonderfully engaging, and the mystery fascinating and alarming.
The conclusion sets up the next book in the series in excellent fashion without leaving any feeling of things being left hanging.
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
monapearl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Racism and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexism