A review by laurenjodi
Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters
3.0
Lion in the Valley
3 Stars
Amelia Peabody and her husband, Radcliffe Emerson, and their precocious son, Ramses, become involved in another murder in Egypt when a noted con artist is found dead in a young English heiress's hotel room and she is nowhere to be found.
Series note: The plot in this book is a direct continuation of events in book #3 - The Mummy Case. As such, it should be read in order.
This is definitely one of the more farcical installments in the series. The twists and turns of the mystery are ridiculously obvious and could have been solved in five minutes if Peabody had allowed her son to complete a sentence. Annoying child characters are usually a no-no for me, but Ramses is rapidly growing on me. His inquisitive personality and comments on human nature are very insightful.
In terms of character development, there is a small change in tone in the relationship between Peabody and Emerson. To begin with, the references to their sex life are more overt, and it is intriguing to see Emerson experience episodes of jealousy when he is usually too immersed in his antiquities to notice. There are some particularly intense moments, especially during the scenes at the end.
The real highlight of these books is the focus on Egyptology and the subtle critique of British imperialism and superiority. The history, geography and archeological details are fascinating and add an element of realism to an otherwise silly story. Moreover, the tongue-in-cheek references to classic mystery tropes, such as the inept detective, the master criminal, and the comely heiress courted for her fortune, are also entertaining.
Overall, this book is entertaining despite the clichéd tropes and overexaggerated characterization.
3 Stars
Amelia Peabody and her husband, Radcliffe Emerson, and their precocious son, Ramses, become involved in another murder in Egypt when a noted con artist is found dead in a young English heiress's hotel room and she is nowhere to be found.
Series note: The plot in this book is a direct continuation of events in book #3 - The Mummy Case. As such, it should be read in order.
This is definitely one of the more farcical installments in the series. The twists and turns of the mystery are ridiculously obvious and could have been solved in five minutes if Peabody had allowed her son to complete a sentence. Annoying child characters are usually a no-no for me, but Ramses is rapidly growing on me. His inquisitive personality and comments on human nature are very insightful.
In terms of character development, there is a small change in tone in the relationship between Peabody and Emerson. To begin with, the references to their sex life are more overt, and it is intriguing to see Emerson experience episodes of jealousy when he is usually too immersed in his antiquities to notice. There are some particularly intense moments, especially during the scenes at the end.
The real highlight of these books is the focus on Egyptology and the subtle critique of British imperialism and superiority. The history, geography and archeological details are fascinating and add an element of realism to an otherwise silly story. Moreover, the tongue-in-cheek references to classic mystery tropes, such as the inept detective, the master criminal, and the comely heiress courted for her fortune, are also entertaining.
Overall, this book is entertaining despite the clichéd tropes and overexaggerated characterization.