Tomb of the Golden Bird

Elizabeth Peters
aka Barbara Mertz

4/12/2006

It's 1922. Amelia and Emerson and their family have returned to Egypt. Emerson had tried to obtain permission to work in the East Valley in the Valley of the Kings. But Howard Carter convinces his sponsor to let him work another season. Carter trusts Emerson's hunch that something exciting can be uncovered. Emerson appears to be correct. Carter (with Emerson's help) discovers a tomb. If you know your Egyptology history, you'll now know that Carter has found the tomb of King Tutankhamon.

Meanwhile, someone is trailing the Emerson family. Their rooms are searched at the first hotel where they stay. Ramses daughter Charla is approached by "a nice man" who buys her whatever she wants. When they receive an anonymous message, Emerson and Ramses follow it up and are attacked. They were prepared and not hurt, but it's one more instance that something isn't quite right - as usual for the Emerson clan.

Another season, another body - Amelia often repeats Abdullah's homily. Now she, her husband, and family are split between wanting to follow Carter's work in the East Valley and trying to discover what they are being pulled into. An old priest is killed. Then there is the man who sneaks into their home while he is ill.

This latest novel in the Amelia Peabody series is weak on mystery. It's strong on Egyptology and busy with Emerson family activities. It's fascinating to read of Howard Carter's amazing discoveries and the steps taken. Peters has fictionalized the original excavation based on facts and throws in Amelia and crew. Tomb of the Golden Bird felt tired even as I enjoyed the read. Rames and Nefret are caught between wanting to remain with his parents' work and pursuing their own careers in Luxor or Cairo. David stayed in England when they came to Egypt, but is still pulled by his nationalism beliefs.

If you haven't read any of the Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe Emerson series, don't start with Tomb of the Golden Bird. This is more of a continuation book for the Emerson family rather than one of the tight mysteries. It is, though, fine if you want to read a fictional rendition of the discovery of King Tut's tomb.

You can find more about this book at .

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