A while ago, I realised that I read this series, and most mystery serieses these days, as novels of setting and character, not as puzzles. Which was good, because this book was wonderful as a chance to spend more time with Amelia Peabody, family and friends. But as mystery, it left something to be desired. A few extremely incompetent and not at all mysterious tomb robbers, a couple of murders at the beginning that were immediately explained and that no-one really cared about anyways, and a completely unrelated spying diversion, also quite lacking in mystery. And the tomb-robber plot and the spy plot didn't really fit well together. I had the feeling that they were originally intended to be two books, and she awkwardly glued them together after realizing neither could support a book on its own. Really, rather carelessly done. ( )

Amelia Peabody #14 ( )

This is another series that I have been too far away from. Amelia Peabody and her family are trying to continue their archaeology admist, tomb robbers, WWI, and nefarious plots of all types. And enjoyable series with extremly likable characters. Although I miss the young Ramses and find the adult a bit less interesting...still this is a series that is well worth the read. Especially if you have interest in Egypt, because it takes place at the turn of the 20th century and it gives lots of info on Egypt and archaeology at that time. ( )