The Deeds of the Disturber

Elizabeth Peters

Amelia Peabody Emerson, her husband Radcliffe, and their son, Ramses, have returned to London after a winter excavating in Egypt. Emerson has his book to finish for Oxford Press and Amelia has a speech to present on the Black Pyramid. They also agree to watch Amelia's nephew and niece while her brother is out of the country and his wife is taking a rest. They are much too busy to handle anything else.

Their return is hailed by the newspapers. There is a mummy at the Museum that is claimed to be cursed. An unusual death, strange noises, and visions of an Egyptian priest have been associated with it. Soon Amelia and Emerson find themselves immersed in the mystery. Ramses is trying to get along with his cousins and keep up with his parents as well. They have a female journalist, the pompous head of the museum and his assistant, a Scotland Yard Inspector, a couple of young, dissipated aristocrats, and an Egyptian madame involved in their case.

Once again Amelia and Emerson are fun. The mystery is well thought through and even Amelia has trouble discovering the true culprit (although she'll deny it, of course). The background of late 19th century London is well drawn with the blackening smoke, the horses and carriages, the beginning of new technology, and the murky fog. Ramses wasn't allowed to be as annoying in this book as he has been in the previous two, The Mummy Case and The Lion in the Valley. He still has his moments. He also has his cousins to bring his come uppance. This is a book I enjoyed and can recommend.

Crocodile on the Sandbank
The Curse of the Pharaohs
The Mummy Case
Lion in the Valley
The Deeds of the Disturber
The Last Camel Died at Noon
The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog
The Hippopotamus Pool
Seeing a Large Cat
The Ape Who Guards the Balance
The Falcon at the Portal
He Shall Thunder in the Sky
The Lord of the Silent
The Golden One
Children of the Storm
Guardian of the Horizon
The Serpent on the Crown
Tomb of the Golden Bird
A River in the Sky