What I found incredibly funny was the way Peabody talks about Emerson in the story as if he were a woman, with his fussing and hysterics and sensitivity of emotion and soft heart...yet outwardly of course he is blustery, always yelling and cursing, and quite manly. I found the more in depth description of archeological methods and techniques informative and interesting, as well as the description of the various settings, especially the Cairo's bazaars.

Normally Peter's characters are likeable or interesting even though they may be responsible for evil-doing. In The Mummy Case I did not really care for some of the secondary characters, which impeded my enjoyment of the story. There seemed to be too much going on in the plot as well, making events confusing. Actually I got irritated and finished the book as quickly as I could...I have now moved onto Lion in the Valley, the fourth book in the series. Maybe I moved on to The Mummy Case too soon after The Curse of the Pharaohs but I don't think so as I have been liking Lion in the Valley so much more.

My Rating: 3.5

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The Mummy Case is markedly darker than the preceding books. It is still light years from any kind of gothic thriller, but Peters seems to have shed some of the gauzy lightheartedness that characterized the earlier novels in favor of an earnest mystery. It may not be the most gracefully orchestrated mystery, but earnest nonetheless. She has also shed some of the previously slightly overbearing sense of homage to the pulp adventure novelettes and "penny dreadfuls" of yesteryear (and...yester-century?) in favor of a more mature and well-rounded style of novel. Amelia and her companions keep a strong continuity of personality in spite of the style shift, but now they experience (if fleetingly) real apprehension, real fear, and real distress as the events of the latest mystery unfold.

I very much dislike the scenes of domesticity in the second novel in the series, The Pharaoh's Curse, but they have improved significantly here. I suspect this has a lot to do with the fact that Ramses has learned to shut his mouth once in a while, and has developed a bit of a personality beyond "obnoxious small child".

Peters also seems to have finally committed herself to an ongoing Amelia Peabody series in this volume, as this is the first time I've seen her leave loose ends and foreshadow for a continuation of certain plot elements in the next book. Not that I'm complaining--tidy, self-contained episodic mysteries are good for casual readers who'd prefer to just pick up any random book in the series, but I suspect it would have gotten tiresome soon enough. I suppose this means that this volume indicates it's time to stop testing the waters and commit yourself! If you stick with Amelia the adventures are only going to get deeper and more involved from here on out. If you like her, that's a good thing. If you don't, perhaps it's time to bail. ( )

Who should read this book: If you are reading thru the Amelia Peabody series, as I am, this book is the third in the series and therefore should be read. The book can be read by anybody over 12 years of age as the only items that are objectionable are the occasional curse word.

I personally did not care for this story very much. My main objection is there is much focus on the personality of the main characters - Amelia, Emerson and Ramses and not as much on the story itself. Additionally, her portrayal of Christian characters is decidely antagonistic. The authors clear disdain for people of faith clearly shows through. A key item in the plot are some 2nd and 3rd century gnostic texts which she utilizes to undermine Christian belief. As a University of Chicago trained Egyptologist (or perhaps because of it) she could have provided background regarding the historical context of the documents.

In summation the mystery is week and thinnly developed, and her characters have grown a bit tiresome. If you like the characters more than the mystery then it is an okay read. ( )

Intrepid Egyptologist Amelia Peabody and her irrascible husband, who has been dubbed the "Father of Curses" by the Egyptian natives, once again set forth to uncover the treasures of the ancient pharoahs. This time they take along with them their young son nicknamed Ramses and John, a servant in their employ from England.

Relegated to digging in an area deemed 'not worthy' by husband Radcliff Emerson, they are soon in the midst of a complex situation wherein a band of antiquities thieves are being lead by a Master Criminal. As Amelia tries to do her detective work she is stymied by a host of suspects and conflicting clues and information. After she and Radcliffe are thrown into the thick blackness of an ancient burial chamber in the Black Pyramid without hope of rescue, they are left to wonder if they have indeed met their fate.

This reader found the plot confusing, as though it was searching for a way to untangle itself. The redeeming grace of this book is Ramses, who speaks with the vocabulary of a university professor with a lisp that makes him all the more endearing. The characters here are stronger than the plot and have earned this book four stars. ( )

Ramses shows his precocious beginnings in this action-packed mystery that includes the introduction of the Master Criminal and a cave-in.