Crocodile on the Sandbank is the first book in the Amelia Peabody Mystery series and although categorized as a mystery I think I smiled and chuckled all the way through. Amelia Peabody is such a character – a strong willed, opinionated, bossy woman, who thinks the only appeal she has is the inheritance left to her by her father.

Touring Rome Amelia’s companion falls ill and must be sent home before they can reach their final destination of Cairo. She encounters a young Englishwoman, Evelyn Barton-Forbes, who has collapsed on the grounds of the Forum of Rome. After hearing Evelyn’s shocking story of betrayal and abandonment by a man she thought loved her, Amelia determines to takes Evelyn under her wing to mentor her and be her companion on her Egyptian adventures.

This novel is a mystery, a story of self-discovery and a bit of a comedy of errors. In the end Evelyn teaches Amelia more about life, loyalty and love than she ever expected. Beneath her prickly and spunky exterior Amelia hides a kind heart. The below quote is one of my favourites in the novel and portrays Amelia to a tee.

“I watched them with the most thorough satisfaction I had ever felt in my life. I did not even wipe away the tears that rained down my face – although I began to think it was just as well Evelyn was leaving me. A few more weeks with her, and I should have turned into a rampageous sentimentalist.”

I’ve not delved too much into Egyptian archeological history so I’m not sure how true the methodology was for techniques in preserving Egyptian antiquities but I was impressed with the level of detail and how the descriptions of Cairo and Amarna come to life even though the story is fairly short. I’m sure I’ll continue on to read the rest of the series, the second book being The Curse of the Pharaohs. I would also recommend the Lady Emily Ashton series by Tasha Alexander.

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Right away I knew Crocodile on the Sandbankwas going to be funny. In the opening scene, Amelia Peabody, the novel's main character, fakes needing an interpreter in Italy so that she has someone to carry her parcels and run her errands. She is a tough, strong-willed, and independent woman on the verge of the 20th century. Of considerable wealth and edging towards spinsterhood, Amelia decides she wants to travel to Egypt. It being the late 1800s, she needs a female traveling companion. Enter Eveyln. Evelyn Barton-Forbes is a beautiful young girl with a not-so-innocent past. Amelia takes to her immediately and the two set out for an adventure of a lifetime. What starts out as a harmless journey to Egypt turns into a mystery complete with a murderous mummy and stop-at-nothing suitors. ( )

Amelia Peabody and crew -- Emerson, Ramses, etc -- have become some of my favorite characters ever, and this was the book that started it all, though Ramses enered the picture a little later. Funny, funny Victorian era mystery.

When I need to relax my brain by reading for the sheer entertainment of it, I reach for a mystery novel. The Amelia Peabody novels, of which Crocodile on the Sandbank is the first, are old friends of mine that can be relied on for their high entertainment quotient.

They are, first and foremost, spoofs of the Rider Haggard style of adventure novel: exaggerated characters, unlikely plots, and exotic locations. Amelia Peabody, Victorian spinster of independent means, sets off on some recreational travel and literally picks up a female companion in the streets of Rome. Her new friend has a satisfyingly murky past which follows them to their next destination, Egypt, where they meet the Emerson brothers who are conducting an archaeological dig. Amelia falls in love with Egypt and archaeology but finds herself at daggers drawn with the elder Emerson; or is that also love? Mix in a ghostly mummy and a smarmy villain or two, and you’ve got yourself a few hours of escapism.

I know people who intensely dislike these novels on account of the characters. They’re heroic: impossibly larger than life, preposterously resourceful, and when we get to the younger generation a few books along in the series, improbably good-looking and talented to boot. They’re possessed of great eloquence and terrifying amounts of self-confidence. But you’ve got to remember, they’re spoofs. No realism was intentionally harmed in the making of these novels. These are the creations of a confident writer who is having a huge amount of fun, and if you take them in the right spirit you’ll be laughing too.

On top of that, Peters’ writing is wonderfully crisp and spare, despite larding Amelia’s inner thoughts with sentences like “a glittering web of stars covered the indigo-blue vault” (because Amelia thinks in romance-novel clichés) and, as the series unfolds, inflicting some most distressing speech habits on her son Ramses. The plots whip along at a fast gallop to a fairly predictable conclusion, and much of the fun comes from waiting for the moment when Amelia herself cottons on to what’s happening.

As an added benefit, if you read through the series you’ll learn a surprising amount about archaeology, Egyptian history and geography, and many related matters. Several “real” historical characters or either directly portrayed or known to the fictional characters, and there’s a running Tutankhamen joke for good measure.

I’m not going to review every book in the series, but as I work my way through weightier tomes such as Gravity’s Rainbow I’ll be taking refreshing sips from the Emerson well to keep me going. A girl can’t be a literary snob ALL the time. ( )

Date read=07/14/09 -- There is nothing I love more than an Amelia Peabody mystery. This is the first in the series, and a re-read. ( )

Barbara Rosenblat did a fabulous job narrating these unabridged audiobook editions. She developed a different voice for each character by changing tone, accent, and speaking style. It made each person quite memorable.

In Crocodile on the Sandbank, Amelia Peabody is a nigh-middle-aged Victorian-era feminist (before the term was invented, of course) who inherits a pot of money and decides to travel abroad. Along the way she encounters Evelyn, a nice girl in a spot of trouble. The two travel together to Egypt, where they meet the Emerson brothers: Rutherford (older) and Walter (younger). While the younger two hit it off immediately, the older two are at odds until the very end of the book in classic romantic antagonism. The two ladies visit the Emersons' dig, and soon thereafter a mummy appears to be haunting the expedition. While the characters and the descriptions of the scenery and the archaeology of the day were wonderful, the plot was very tired and predictable. About halfway through the story it was patently obvious who was behind the mummy and why, but our heroes couldn't figure it out for a long, long time and only after Evelyn's life was in jeapordy. That was irritating. And the gushy ending of the two couples inevitably finding love, how neat and convenient. ( )

Fun read along with an introduction to archeology; strong female characters, perhaps too pointedly so ( )

I was just recently told about Elizabeth Peters books, and once I heard about Miss Amelia Peabody, I knew that she was a character that I would love - and I do! The story takes place in the late 19th century mostly in Egypt where there is an archeological dig going on. Soon a walking mummy starts appearing and scaring everybody off.

I'm looking foward to reading more in this series, and seing what happens to Amelia! ( )

Have not read.. want to read soon!

These colorful characters will inspire you to read the next, and the next, volume in this tale of Egypt, Amelia Peaboy, her family, and archeology while solving mysteries. ( )

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Title: Crocodile on the Sandbank
Author: Elizabeth Peters
Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction
# of pages: 262
Start date: 06/05
End date: 06/09
Borrowed/bought: bought
My rating of the book, F- [worst] to A [best]: B

Description of the book: Amelia Peabody, Victorian Heiress, meets Evelyn Barton-Forbes, and go on an Egyptian excursion, where they meet two brothers at an archeological site.
Review: First, I must say I enjoyed Peabody's character with her umbrella and unconventional ideas about the roles of women. I will say though, it was almost a little too hokey for me, but I enjoyed the Egyptian/Archeological backdrop.With the development at the end of the book, I will try to continue with the series, because it was quite intriguing. ( )

Gotta say I love Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michael's, This has to be one of my favorite mystery series it mixes 2 of my loves ancient history and murder mystery, I haven't read the entire series yet but I can't wait to get more. Love Amelia Peabody and Emmerson, the interaction between them is loving, hysterical, and english, slight paranormal twists in some of her books too. Sometimes they are a bit dry but stick with them. Grab her books up I haven't had a bad one yet. ( )

I absolutely adore this book! What a pleasure to be treated by an author who considers the reader an intelligent being; no lengthy explanations of concepts but the assumption that the reader will have enough sense to understand what is being written and if not, use the dictionary. That being said, Crocodile on the Sandbank is the first in a series of mysteries centered around Egypt's archeological excavations during the Victorian era. Our heroine is Amelia Peabody, a British spinster who decides to travel after inheriting money. On this, her first adventure, she rescues a young woman who becomes her companion. Together they travel on to Egypt where find intrigue in the guise of a walking mummy, a big of grave digging, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. Told in a slightly humorous vein (think Victorian humor) Elizabeth Peters has won me over as an instant fan. The story is well told,there are numerous red herrings for the mystery fan to consider, and an outcome that leaves one quite satisfied. ( )

At last I've read the first Amelia Peabody book. The story dragged a bit but I did enjoy Amelia, she's quite a character. I'd love there to have been more travelling with her and Evelyn - I can just imagine Amelia bullying her way around the globe. I'm not sure if I like Radcliffe yet, perhaps he'll grow on me. ( )

An excellent, fun mystery with the kind of POV I like (tight POV on a character who gradually learns things over the course of the story and puts them together at the end of the book, with the audience, rather than withholding information from the audience or suddenly learning things out of thin air) and a hilarious (if not always reliable in terms of narrative!) protagonist. Loved the introduction to Amelia Peabody, Radcliffe Emerson, Evelyn, and Walter Emerson.

*SPOILER!*

I was also quite glad that the mystery was not supernatural! I'd been afraid it was (and some of the mysteries I've been reading lately have been), but no! :D That made me even more happy, and I had managed to guess the scoundrel before the ending, too. ( )

This is the first of the popular Amelia Peabody mysteries; I bought it to see whether it were a series worth getting into. For me, the answer is definitely yes - the character of Amelia cracks me up. She's abrasive, and a little insane, but that's what makes her endlessly entertaining. In this novel, she takes charge of the lovely but helpless Evelyn Barton-Forbes, sweeps her off to Egypt, and promptly begins interfering with the archaeological expedition of the Emerson brothers. Even when the mummy they discover in an ancient pyramid starts walking around at night, her relentless practicality helps to save the day. The "mystery" was transparent, but the character development more than made up for it. I look forward to continuing with the series, although I hope the mysteries do get better - as a longtime Christie fan, I don't want to settle for less!

One of our bookworms said: "I liked the book - it was an entertaining enough romp, but I felt let down a bit that in the end it turned into a Mills and Boon with Amelia swooning all over the surly Emerson! It purported to be feminist but was it really? Hmm..." Other comments included "It was a murder mystery?" ( )

A perfectly charming novel which is a must-read for all lovers of antiquities, archaeology, and Victoriana. Peters writes about the Egyptian archaeological sites as if she had been there--and in all likelihood, she probably has--and her descriptions of the more modern people and places are appreciably tinted by the colonial-colored glasses appropriate to the era and the protagonists.

I would say it's true that the story is more character-driven than plot-driven, and it is a little light on mystery, but the characters are robust personalities that have obviously been written with gusto, and it's endlessly enjoyable to read the interplay between them. If anything, the fluffiness of the plot material fits quite neatly into the style of novels from that period. Indeed, the characters read as nearly archetypal Victorian personalities, combining with the plot to create something with a feel very true to its genre. The fact that all the loose ends are wrapped up into a tidy little package at the end simply makes it more satisfying, not deficient in twists or surprises.

I went ahead and bought the second book in this series before I was even two-thirds of the way finished with this one. I'm quite sad I hadn't bothered to read any of Elizabeth Peters' work before! It may be light reading, but it is a hell of a lot of fun. ( )

First in the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters, Crocodile on the Sandbank introduces the reader to Amelia Peabody, a wealthy spinster of Victorian times, determined to see the world. In her first adventure, she meets up with a "ruined" young woman down on her luck at a time when Amelia needs a companion. Together the two set off for Egypt to see the Pyramids and Egyptian artifacts. The two ladies encounter two gentlemen in Cairo who allow them to join their expedition and dig. The book is well written since the plot builds and there is rarely a lull in the action. Full of historical background, the story does not lack for mystery or romance. The characters are vibrant and forceful. The heroine is witty and charming and the gentlemen are just what you expect for the time period. This book was delightful and informative while being very entertaining and I look forward to the next in the series. ( )

The first time I read this book I made the grave mistake of starting it late in the day. I was only 13, so still young enough to stay up late reading until all hours. Unfortunately for me, there was a thunderstorm that evening, so at 3 in the morning I found myself huddled under the covers in the dark trying to get through the last 50 pages. Even though I knew the mummy had to be a phony (I mean, there isn't really a curse- is there?), there was no way on earth I could imagine that it was! So, I HAD to finish it and wrap it all up!

I fell in love with Elizabeth Peters' writing through this book. The Victorian view of ancient Egypt is beautifully portrayed, and Peters does a masterful job of weaving in real characters and events of the time in with her fiction without being boring. Her four main characters are wonderfully dimensional- Amelia Peabody (pronounced Pi-bi-ty), a brave feminist inconvenienced with a soft side when faced with certain matters; Evelyn, the gentle, wayward young woman with a surprisingly firm resolve to do what is right; Emerson, a boorish, rude, incredibly savvy archaeologist; and his brother Walter, a humble yet brilliant scholar of ancient writings. Through fate (and Amelia's meddling), the foursome end up stranded in tombs in the middle of the desert, haunted by the body of a mummy that they have unearthed.

This is a wonderful story, with just the right blend of mystery, humour, romance, and reality to keep the reader occupied. The best part is that Peters has written a whole delightful series very much worth reading- after all, you don't really can't fully appreciate Amelia Peabody until you get to know Ramses... ( )

I very much enjoyed this book and many of the rest of the series. Companionable and always interesting. ( )

The first in a delightfully funny series, where Amelia Peabody meets Emerson (whom she marries) as they are working on a site in Egypt in the 1800's. Amelia is a woman ahead of her time, highly intelligent, and prone to stumble into many crimes that she solves with her amazing new husband. ( )

This was a must-read on my vacation, because what better series to read when you're going to see the Pyramids? I've read several books in this series, so it was nice to see how Peabody and Emerson meet. The mystery is simpler than the later novels, but enjoyable. There's seven years between this book and the second one, and I wish there was another book in there covering the first years of their marriage and Ramses' early childhood. ( )

This is the first book in Elizabeth Peters' wonderful Amelia Peabody series, and it perfectly sets the tone for all the books to follow. In it we meet Amelia in all her glory: her refusal to take any nonsense from anyone, her ability to force herself into any situation in which she is not wanted, and her unusual use of a parasol.

The plot of Crocodile on the Sandbank is carried forward by a delightful mystery, but the thing that sets all the Amelia Peabody books apart is their setting. Our heroes are archeologists studying ancient Egyptian culture, and it is hard to read more than a couple of the books without developing a strong interest in Egyptology. Though not everything in the books can be taken at face value (they are, after all, written for a general audience, and occasionally facts have to make way for plot), Elizabeth Peters has clearly done extensive research on ancient Egyptian civilization. It is that extra scholarly dimension that makes these books more than just standard mystery novels. ( )

One of the great ones. There are formulaic moments, to be sure, but melodrama and Victorian horror are sort of the themes of the series, the structure on which the wonderful characters are based. The author's encyclopedic knowledge of Egypt gives an amazing sense of place, and she does a nice job of weaving her fiction into the historical facts of the day.

Over the length of the series, the characters probably become unrealistically modern in their viewpoints, and definitely tend toward the superhero archetype. But the first meeting between Mr. Emerson and Miss Peabody is priceless, as is their eventual, apparently mutual decision to marry. ( )